GCSE and A-Level students to get pre-planned results on time amid coronavirus pandemic

16 April 2020, 14:28

Students will be getting their exam results on time
Students will be getting their exam results on time. Picture: PA

By Kate Buck

Students will get their GCSE and A-Level results on time in after exams were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been confirmed.

A-level pupils will get their results on 13 August and GCSE students will be given their grades on 20 August, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

It comes after exams regulator Ofqual said the results would be released no later than originally planned and suggested they could be made available sooner.

The Government originally said it was aiming for grades to be awarded to pupils by the end of July.

Earlier this month, the watchdog instructed teachers to provide grades for students which reflect the results they would have been most likely to achieve if the exams had gone ahead.

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GCSE students will get their results on 13 August and A-Level students on the 20 August
GCSE students will get their results on 13 August and A-Level students on the 20 August. Picture: PA

Schools and colleges have been told to rank pupils within each grade for each subject but not to share these with families until final results are issued.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: "I am pleased to confirm that GCSE and A-level students will still receive their exam results as planned this summer, on Thursday August 20 and Thursday August 13 respectively.

"I want to thank all those who are helping to make this happen despite the challenges we are facing. We know that this is an important milestone for students, parents and teachers and so I hope this news will provide them with some reassurance and clarity."

Schools in England closed more than three weeks ago to the majority of pupils, apart from the children of key workers and vulnerable youngsters, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

On Wednesday, Ofqual launched a two-week consultation on its plans for awarding grades to GCSE and A-level students amid the pandemic.

Students have not been able to take their exams this year, meaning many will be given their predicted grades
Students have not been able to take their exams this year, meaning many will be given their predicted grades. Picture: PA

The regulator had previously said only Year 11 pupils would be awarded GCSE grades, but now it is considering issuing grades to those in Year 10 and below after concerns were raised by parents.

Ofqual is also proposing that appeals should only be allowed if a school or college made a data error when submitting information to the exam board, or if the exam board made a mistake when calculating, assigning or communicating a grade.

The watchdog said: "We do not believe it would be meaningful or appropriate for students to appeal on the basis of their centre's judgment of their likely performance in the exams, had they gone ahead, or on their position in the centre's rank order."

Students will also have the opportunity to sit exams at the earliest opportunity in the new academic year, as well as in summer 2021. If they choose to do this, both grades will stand.