Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to provide support for (a) GCSE and (b) A-Level students that are required to self-isolate as a result of having covid-19 symptoms.

As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced to the House on 18 March, the Government has taken the difficult decision to cancel all examinations due to take place in schools and colleges in England this summer, as part of the fight to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The Department’s priority is to ensure that students can move on as planned to the next stage of their lives, including starting university, college or sixth form, a job or an apprenticeship in the autumn. For GCSE, AS and A-level students, we will ensure they are awarded a grade which reflects their work. A calculated grade will be awarded this summer based on the best available evidence, including any non-examination assessment that students have already completed. The qualifications regulator, Ofqual, is working urgently with examination boards to set out proposals for how this process will work and more information will be provided as soon as possible.

We recognise that many schools have already shared resources for children who are at home and are grateful for this.

The Department is working with the BBC and other partners to provide advice and support directly to parents, including online resources they can access for their children at home.