Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that GCSE pupils taught by external providers have their learning validated in the absence of exams due to the covid-19 outbreak.

As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.

Our latest guidance on GCSEs is set out below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-cancellation-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2020/coronavirus-covid-19-cancellation-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2020.

The independent qualifications regulator Ofqual is working closely with exam boards to develop and implement a system for awarding GCSE grades this summer that is as fair as possible. Ofqual is consulting until 29 April on a range of aspects of that system, including the issues the hon. Member has raised. The consultation is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020.

Ofqual will be responding on those issues as soon as possible after the consultation has closed.