Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to enable parents to request that their child resits the current school year in the event that educational progress has been significantly affected by the covid-19 outbreak and subsequent school closure.

We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers, carers and teachers.

We do not currently anticipate that children and young people will need to repeat a school year as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to look at all options to make sure children and young people get the support they need to continue their education and make up for time spent out of school. However, it remains possible for headteachers to agree this in individual cases, if they think it is appropriate.