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Schools Minister questioned by MPs on exams in 2021

The House of Commons Education Select Committee held an accountability session on Tuesday, questioning Minister for School Standards Nick Gibb. The questions focused on learning loss caused by the lockdown, ‘catch-up’, and changes to exams.

Chair of the committee Robert Halfon MP began the session by asking what the Department for Education’s policy was on exams in 2021. Nick Gibb reiterated announcements already made about delays to the examinations season, as well as the changes proposed by Ofqual to allow more time for teaching the curriculum.

Throughout the session, members of the select committee questioned whether or not these changes would be enough. Serious concerns were raised about the continued disruptions to classroom teaching, as well as the possibility that absences might prevent exams taking place at all. Particularly concerning is the differences in experiences across the country, whether this be the result of local lockdown restrictions or the varying levels of access to remote learning.

Nick Gibb acknowledged these concerns. In making changes to exams, he said there are two challenges. The first in the general learning loss experienced across the country. Nick Gibb argued that schools are well equipped and teachers are capable of supporting students in addressing this learning loss. He pointed towards the catch-up funds of £1 billion and hinted that changes to grading may be made to reflect the learning loss, and not disadvantage the 2021 cohort. However, he also emphasised the importance of catch-up beyond exam results, to prevent pupils suffering long-term from the disruption to education.

The second challenge was the difference in experiences within the cohort. Nick Gibb repeatedly said that this was a serious worry for him, pointing towards the efforts the DfE had already made to supply more laptops and devices to disadvantaged pupils.

Gateshead MP Ian Mearns discussed further the significantly different levels and experiences of disruption to education across the country, asking what must now happen to ensure a level playing field in exams. In response, Nick Gibb said that no one issue would address this. He argued that while individual measures already announced may appear modest, cumulatively they will have a big impact. These measures included the catch-up funds and tutoring programmes, the additional time created by modifications to the exam period and to the curriculum, and the requirements around provision of remote learning.

The minister was repeatedly questioned on contingency plans. Nick Gibb revealed little on what was under consideration, but he refused to rule out the use of mock exams or centre assessment grades. All these issues, he said, are currently under consideration in the discussions the DfE were having with Ofqual and the exam boards, as well as the profession. However, Nick Gibb said that schools should not preempt any particular decision being made, and should wait on announcements to be made in the coming weeks.

While it is encouraging that little is being ruled out in discussions around contingency planning, and that the Schools Minister is taking seriously the impact of disadvantage on the learning loss, announcements so far are not encouraging. Although Nick Gibb said that there was more time to plan around exams in 2021 than there had been earlier this year, it is disappointing that clear guidance and decisions were not reached by September.

Changes to exams both this academic year and in the future form a key focus of Schools North East’s policy work, and the failure of the DfE to make more significant modifications is a worrying sign that they are not adequately listening to the teaching profession. We have previously written to the Secretary of State for Education on this, and we will continue to lobby on behalf of North East schools to ensure that contingency plans properly take into consideration the impact lockdown, especially on students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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