LABOUR is calling for “regional adjustments” to ensure pupils in the West Midlands are not unfairly disadvantaged in GCSE and A-level exams.
This week national data shows there were almost one million children out of school due to coronavirus disruption and from Wednesday (December 3), 499,800 children attending school in the West Midlands will be under Tier 3 restrictions under government proposals, with disruption to their schooling likely to continue.
Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Kate Green, has written to Gavin Williamson asking him to recognise the regional variation in lost learning caused by coronavirus and publish a plan for exams that ensures no pupil is unfairly disadvantaged in 2021.
Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, said: “The Government’s failure to get a grip on this pandemic has meant thousands of pupils off school, missing out on essential learning.
“Instead of bringing forward a clear plan for next summer’s exams the government has dithered and delayed creating huge stress for pupils, teachers and parents.
“To ensure 2021 exams are truly fair to all pupils the government should adopt Labour’s call for regional consideration, greater optionality in questions and reserve papers in all subjects so no child misses out.”
