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Awarding Qualifications in 2021 and 2022
22 July 2021
Lead MP
Nick Gibb
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EmploymentChildren & Families
Other Contributors: 29
At a Glance
Nick Gibb raised concerns about awarding qualifications in 2021 and 2022 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister announced that national exams could not go ahead due to the disruption caused by the pandemic. Teacher-assessed grades will be used for GCSEs, AS-levels, A-levels, and vocational qualifications in 2021, with autumn exams available should students wish to improve their grades. The process involved extensive consultation, teacher flexibility, quality assurance checks, and robust appeals processes. For 2022, a consultation proposes four elements for GCSEs, AS-levels, and A-levels: topic choice where possible, advance information on exam content, reduced non-exam assessment burden, and use of support materials in the exam room. The Government is investing in catch-up programmes to help students recover lost learning, with access to tutoring funds targeted at disadvantaged 16-19 year-olds.
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Does the Minister believe that he has done everything in his power to ensure that this year’s process is as fair as possible? Will he outline what discussions he has had with universities, colleges, employers and training providers about how all pupils will be able to progress on the basis of their results this year?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Can the Minister confirm that the work will be fully completed before the end of term? How many grades have been or are likely to be changed in the quality assurance process?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Can he give me a cast-iron guarantee that all appeals will be processed in time for pupils to take up a place at university, at college, in an apprenticeship or in employment?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Will the Minister tell me what support staff are receiving now and what support they will receive over the summer, both professional and personal? Does he really believe it is right that schools will receive the same rebate from exam boards as they did last year, even as the workload of teachers has rocketed under this year’s system?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Will he consider following the example of Labour in Wales, which is providing additional financial support to schools to recognise this?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Why are greater topic choices available only for some GCSE subjects? Is he concerned that providing advance notice of exam content, rather than building in greater optionality, could simply embed unfairness?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Is the Minister really sure that now is the right time to return to national published league tables? Can he say with certainty that league tables will fairly and accurately reflect school performance?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
When will contingency measures be in place, and when will schools and other settings know what they are?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Can the Minister confirm that at least 94% of teachers face a real-terms pay cut as a result of the recent announcement? Instead of saying he is grateful with one breath while slashing pay with the next, will he apologise to teachers, pupils and families?
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Question
Is it not true that the Government have made policy late and failed to listen, making anxious pupils and parents worry about qualifications this year and next? Will he reassure them of support, staff backing, and fairness for every student?
Kate Green
Lab
Stretford and Urmston
Question
Critiques the Minister's statement regarding the process for awarding qualifications this year. Asks about discussions with stakeholders, support for pupils' progression, appeal process timeliness, staff support during summer break, financial compensation, GCSE subject choice availability, timing of performance table consultation launch, and teachers' real-terms pay cuts.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the need to work methodically with Ofqual, exam boards, stakeholders, and unions. Details the appeals timetable for priority and non-priority cases, confirms that exam fee rebates will be provided by boards, mentions no performance tables in 2021 but plans for GCSEs and A-levels in 2022, and discusses teachers' pay, noting a cumulative increase since 2018-19.
Robert Halfon
Con
Southend West
Question
Asks about the analysis of lost learning for pupils who have missed school due to various reasons in exam years before setting out policy. Raises concerns that requiring advance information on exam content may disadvantage pupils who experienced more lost learning.
Minister reply
Responds by explaining the consideration given to alternative approaches, including optionality and advance notice, which disproportionately benefit students with more time out of school compared to those consistently in attendance. Mentions allocation of over £3 billion for catch-up programmes.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Question
Are the Government confident that decisions made will ensure safe school reopening in October and throughout the academic year, without letting down young people for a third year?
Minister reply
There is a clear plan for exams to go ahead next year. Measures include ending self-isolation requirements for those under 18 who are close contacts, requiring PCR tests instead, and asking students to take two lateral flow device tests upon returning in September.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Question
Does he agree exams provide the fairest way of assessing pupils' abilities and avoid anxiety and mental health challenges for young people given pandemic disruptions?
Minister reply
Yes, my hon. Friend is right; when considering assessment options during the pandemic, we took into account that some adaptations may appear fair on the surface but teachers are not used to teaching them and students are not used to taking exams with them.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
Question
Can the Minister promise it will be him, Education Secretary and Prime Minister who take responsibility on results day, rather than blaming teachers?
Minister reply
We have been working closely with education sector stakeholders to devise a fair approach for students receiving their grades and moving on to next stages of life. There are rigorous quality assurance processes at every stage from within schools to exam boards designed to ensure fair and consistent grade awards.
Mike Wood
Con
Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Question
What action is being taken to ensure students completing courses next summer will not be at an unfair disadvantage compared to those who completed this summer or last summer?
Minister reply
We have set out in the joint consultation document with Ofqual adaptations to exams next year taking into account most students' education disruption by then. Decisions about grading are a matter for Ofqual, made in autumn term.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
Does the Minister recognise that young people need certainty over next few years not more U-turns? Assessing their learning journey through various teacher-based assessments would bring greater certainty.
Minister reply
I disagree; I believe very firmly exams are the fairest method of assessing pupils’ attainment. It is also a workload issue for teachers and throughout the pandemic, we have always taken into account workload implications.
Question
Can he confirm measures set out will not put undue additional pressure on teachers?
Minister reply
Teachers, support staff and headteachers have worked incredibly hard during the pandemic. We do absolutely have teacher workload at the forefront of our minds as we devise policy.
Rupa Huq
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Question
Can he guarantee A-level students next year who missed GCSEs last year will have in-person exams? Can teachers now have five weeks completely offline?
Minister reply
Our very firm plan is that exams will go ahead because it is the fairest way of assessing young people. We want to ensure we are doing everything to support teachers through this process.
Caroline Nokes
Con
Romsey and Southampton North
Question
Will he ensure teachers have materials and resources they need to give students certainty?
Minister reply
Yes, we set out in the consultation document all different options for subjects. For some it will be optionality of choice of questions whereas others may include advance notice or formulas and aids in exam room.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Question
Will BTECs continue to be funded?
Minister reply
This is as a result of consultation on level 2 and level 3 qualifications. There will be process exam boards with employers go through before decisions are taken.
Question
Does he agree exams are particularly important for disadvantaged students?
Minister reply
Yes, my hon. Friend makes a good point; his example is one reason why exams are the fairest system of assessing students. But we also know disadvantaged students have suffered disproportionately in terms of education disruption.
Jeff Smith
Lab
Manchester Withington
Question
Asks if it is fair to reintroduce performance tables given the disruption caused by the pandemic, highlighting disparities in its impact on different schools and student cohorts.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the complexity of the issue but emphasises that performance measures for GCSEs and A-levels will still exist despite disruptions. Highlights comparable outcomes as a means to ensure fairness and underlines parents' need for data when choosing secondary schools.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
Expresses gratitude towards all involved in education during the pandemic and asks for a report on appeals, individuals opting to take examinations, and the overall impact by autumn.
Minister reply
Commits to publishing data on entrants to the autumn series and assures robust quality assurance processes are in place. Emphasises rigorous checks from exam boards and headteachers' accountability.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
Requests clarity regarding assessments for 2022, urging the Minister to provide direction before September rather than in autumn.
Minister reply
Confirms plans for exams to proceed and proposes adaptations to ensure fairness. Indicates consultation documents were published on July 12th with detailed proposals.
Question
Expresses concern over potential grade inflation in summer exams, questioning its long-term impact on future disadvantaged cohorts.
Minister reply
Asserts confidence in the validity of grades awarded based on detailed guidance and robust quality assurance. Acknowledges Ofqual’s role in grading decisions to be made in autumn.
Question
Compliments the Minister's efforts during the pandemic and seeks reassurance that 2023 will see a return to normalcy for A-level exams, noting students have never taken GCSEs.
Minister reply
Pays tribute to teachers in Kettering and acknowledges the unique situation of current year 12 students who missed out on GCSEs. Assures that adaptations were designed with this in mind, promising a return to normalcy in 2023.
Question
Thanks teachers and students for their efforts during the pandemic and seeks assurance that plans will not penalize them but move towards a rigorous and fair exam system.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the hard work of teachers in Aylesbury and reaffirms commitment to returning to normal exams as swiftly as possible. Emphasises proposed adaptations are necessary due to recent disruptions, aiming for full restoration by 2023.
Shadow Comment
Kate Green
Shadow Comment
The Shadow Minister criticised the delay in planning for this year's exam cancellation and questioned whether all necessary steps were taken to ensure fairness. She also raised concerns about access to tutoring, appeal processes, support for staff during summer work, financial rebates, contingency measures for next year, and real-terms pay cuts for teachers.
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