GCSE and A-level pupils can sit exams in autumn if they're unhappy with given grade

Students will be able to sit the full set of their GCSE and A-level exams in the autumn if they wish to improve on their calculated grades.

Exam regulator Ofqual published today the outcome of its consultation on exam guidance and arrangements for appeals this summer.

Exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak and students will instead receive calculated grades in GCSEs, AS and A-levels this summer.

But in a statement posted on the Government website, Ofqual said: "Exam boards must make exams available in all GCSE, AS and A-level subjects in the additional autumn series and we are therefore varying our normal rules that allow exams only to be held in May and June.

"Exam boards must base results on students' performance in exams alone and not on any non-exam assessment, with the exception of art and design qualifications.

"Exam boards must issue replacement certificates for the summer results if students request this. The exam boards must adopt the normal arrangements for reviews of marking and appeals."

The exam dates have yet to be confirmed but Ofqual said it expects AS and A levels to be held in October and GCSEs in November.

Among the 3,500 responses to Ofqual's consultation, the majority of participants wanted the exam regulator provide the full suite of exams.

Sally Collier, Chief Regulator, Ofqual, said: "We, and exam boards, are committed to helping students and their families understand how to access an appeal or make a complaint about bias, discrimination, or another concern.

"We will provide accessible information and have a helpline available to students and their parents or carers to talk about the appeals process and any other questions they may have about their results this summer."

The Department for Education is exploring how the exams will take place with a minimal burden on schools.

All students are due to return to school by September.

The Prime Minister has revealed a £1 billion scheme to help pupils catch up on schoolwork they have missed during the coronavirus lockdown, which could mean extended school days.

Announcing the £1bn package, the Prime Minister said: “I am determined to do everything I can to get all children back in school from September, and we will bring forward plans on how this will happen as soon as possible.”

Under government plans, bubbles of entire secondary school year groups could be introduced to limit the number of interactions with pupils of other ages, according to draft proposals seen by the Huffington Post.

At the moment, primary school class sizes are capped at 15 pupils to reduce the number of interactions between young children.

These so-called “bubbles” are set to be doubled to 30 pupils.

Under the plans, students will also be told to sit at desks facing forwards in the same direction, rather than at circular tables, when all children return to school in the autumn, reports suggest.

There could be a greater focus on the core subjects of English and maths to help pupils catch up, as well as on tackling disruptive behaviour following lockdown, according to the publication.

Read more

PM pledges 'new deal' in speech as Leicester lockdown tightens- LIVE

How will the whole-year school bubbles work?

Minister: Parents will be fined if they don't send kids back to school

PM to unveil spending blitz for schools in post-Covid 'bounce back'