School exams have been cancelled this summer

A Levels and GCSEs have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The move was announced by Boris Johnson, although he did not offer any firm details of how an assessment will now happen.

The Prime Minister told a press conference: ‘Exams will not take place as planned in May and June.’

He added: ‘We will make sure that students get the qualifications they need and deserve for their careers.’


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When pushed for more details about what will happen to the 16 and 18-year-olds who have been studying for two years, he continued: ‘I totally understand people’s frustrations.



‘We will make sure they are not impeded as a result of the decisions we are having to take.

‘They will get the qualification. I don’t want to go into detail about when and how but it will be done fairly and in a way that protects their interests.’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced exams would not happen (Picture: PA)

The move came as Mr Johnson announced that schools in England will close from Friday until further notice for most pupils.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland announced closures earlier today.

Mr Johnson said the move was ‘to apply more downward pressure on the curve’ as the number of confirmed UK cases rose to 2,626.

The death toll has now risen by 32 to 104.

Students will not sit A Levels or GCSEs this year (Picture: Alamy)

Yesterday it emerged that officials had been talking to exam boards for weeks about the potential disruption to GCSE and A-level exams.

The move was welcomed by the National Education Union, who had been lobbying for school closures.

Joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: ‘We welcome the clarity that SATs, GCSE, AS- and A-Level exams are to be cancelled.

‘This offers some degree of reassurance to teachers, their students and parents.

‘We note that, at this time of emergency, the Government has decided that teacher assessment is indeed a good method of giving reliable information about young people’s progress and achievements.

‘We will return to that when this crisis is over.’

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The government felt the wrath of the House of Commons speaker yesterday when Chancellor Rishi Sunak briefed reporters before MPs about his new financial package to help businesses through the turmoil.

Today’s daily press conference happened simultaneously as the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, spoke in Westminster.

He said: ‘I can confirm that we will not go ahead with assessments or exams and that we will not be publishing performance tables for this academic year.

‘We will work with the sector and Ofqual to ensure that children get the qualifications that they need.

‘My department is working closely with local authorities, representatives of early years schools and headteachers, regional schools, commissioners and bodies such as Ofsted and Ofqual about how to deliver this change as effectively as possible.

‘And we will do whatever is necessary to support local authorities, schools and teachers through the weeks and months ahead.’