Primary assessments, including SATs, and exams including GCSEs, AS levels and A levels will not go ahead this summer.

From Friday 20 March, all educational settings are closed to everyone except the children of critical workers and vulnerable children, which means exams have been cancelled.

The coronavirus outbreak is expected to continue having a significant impact on the education system, and the country, for months to come. Therefore exams have been cancelled now to give pupils, parents, and teachers certainty, and enable schools and colleges to focus on supporting vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

The exam regulator, Ofqual, and exam boards will work with teachers to provide grades to students whose exams have been cancelled this summer and will develop a fair and robust process that takes into account a broad range of evidence, including teacher assessment and prior attainment. Ofqual will make every effort to ensure that the process agreed does not disadvantage any particular group of students. Further information on the cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020 is available.

The calculated grade process will take into account a range of evidence including, for example, non-exam assessment and mock results, and the approach will be standardised between schools and colleges. Ofqual is working urgently with the exam boards to set out proposals for how this process will work and will be talking to teachers’ representatives before finalising an approach, to ensure that the approach taken is as fair as possible.

Additional information:

• The calculated grades will be formal grades, with the same status as grades awarded in any other year
• An appeals process will be on offer for those students that believe their grades reflect their performance
• Students may have the opportunity to sit an exam later in the year if they remain unhappy with their grade
• Ofqual is working with the independent regulator of qualifications private candidates, including home educated students
• Teaching institutions are working to ensure that students can prepare and progress to the next stage of their education
• All exams have been cancelled the summer and will NOT be reinstated