Coronavirus: Labour calls for next year’s GCSE and A-level exams to be delayed

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Labour has called for next year’s GCSE and A-level exams to be delayed to mid-summer in order to help deal with the impact of coronavirus.

Shadow education secretary Kate Green said students entering Year 11 and 13 in September, who have lost up to six months of teaching time, face “a mountain to climb” unless the timetable is modified.

Ms Green said: “Pupils across the country who have missed out on vital teaching time will have a mountain to climb to prepare for May exams unless the government steps in.

“Ministers had warning after warning about problems with this year’s exam results, but allowed it to descend into a fiasco.

“This is too important for Boris Johnson to leave until the last minute. Pupils heading back to school need clarity and certainty about the year ahead.”

Previously, headteachers across the UK have also called for delaying the exams to June. To help disadvantaged pupils make up for nearly half a year of face-to-face teaching that they have missed out due to the pandemic.

The government is considering delaying these exams.