GCSE and A-Levels: Peterborough academy trust chief calls on greater clarity from government

This week, the Government confirmed that most of the exams will now be pushed back three weeks when they are held by pupils in 2021.

The update has been appreciated by Mark Woods, CEO of the Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust, which runs Nene Park Academy and West Town Primary Academy in Peterborough, as well as Sawtry Village Academy, Sawtry Junior Academy and Stamford Welland Academy.

But Mr Woods called on the Department of Education to go further in the coming weeks with its plans.

He said: “It is important that young people have every opportunity to sit the exams they have prepared for next summer, wherever it is possible and safe to do so.

“Clearly, the Government and (exam regulator) OFQUAL also need to plan for how to fairly address the issue of the learning and teaching time that has already been lost, or may be lost in future, as a result of disruption caused by Covid-19.

“This week’s announcement of a slight delay to the exam schedule next summer goes some of the way to providing clarity, but more needs to be done and students and schools look forward to greater details and contingency plans emerging in the coming weeks.”