What happens now GCSE and A-Level exams are cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic?

STUDENTS across the UK have begun to go back to school in a phased reopening which has seen primary schools return today, June 1 and secondary schools return on June 15.

But despite schools reopening today, students won’t be able to sit their GCSE or A-Level exams after they were cancelled over the coronavirus pandemic, leaving many concerned about their grades.

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Why have GCSE and A-Level exams been cancelled?

Pupils will not sit their GCSE and A-Levels in May and June this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced: “We will not go ahead with assessments or exams and we will not be publishing performance tables this academic year.”

The move to shut schools came a fortnight before kids were meant to break up for the Easter break.

When will school students be able to sit their exams?

Currently, students will be given a predicted grade based on coursework, mock exams and teacher assessments.

The government is working with Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) on a “detailed set of measures that make sure that no child is unfairly penalised”, Mr Williamson added.

The National Education Union has suggested teacher assessment is a “good method of giving reliable information about young people’s progress and achievements”.

GCSE and A-Level results are set to be handed out before August.

Students will also have the opportunity to take exams in autumn if they wish to.

What happens now for the rest of the year?

Pupils have started to go back to school as of June 1, with students in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 heading back first.

Secondary schools will allow some face-to-face from June 15 as the Government looks to open up the UK following the long lockdown.

Prior to today, schools in England and Wales were shut except for looking after the children of keyworkers (eg NHS staff) and vulnerable children.

Those at home have been able to access learning resources online with many families reverting to homeschooling during the pandemic.