Essex teacher says grades must reflect "lack of opportunities" caused by coronavirus
The Secretary of State for Education is due to announce how students will be assessed today
Ministers accepted yesterday, 5th January, that GCSE and A-Level exams won't be able to go ahead as originally planned due to coronavirus.
All schools throughout England are now closed under the new national lockdown which was announced on Monday in a bid to combat the new variant of the virus.
Today, 6th January, the Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson is due to announce how students will be assessed instead.
Jerry Glazier, executive member of the National Education Union (NEU) and teacher in Basildon, told us the arrangements need to reflect pupils' situations throughout the pandemic.
He said:
"What is crucially important now is that the Government is very clear about what arrangements will be in place, and that those arrangements are subject to consultation with the teaching profession.
"And they put in place arrangements that do not disadvantage kids because of the different circumstances they've experienced over the last year."
The NEU is hoping the way students will be assessed will not negatively impact their futures, and will "properly reflect the efforts and work" pupils have put in during the pandemic.
It thinks the arrangements should take into consideration the judgements made my teachers in the schools, to then be externally moderated to ensure fairness and consistency.
Mr Glazier continued: "Any outcome that does not recognise all the different lacks of opportunity or ability to access opportunities in the outcomes will be very unfortunate to all students."