CORONAVIRUS

Give A-level and GCSE grades early to avoid repeat of chaos, heads urge

A-level and GCSE exams were cancelled last week for the second year running
A-level and GCSE exams were cancelled last week for the second year running
PAUL ELLIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Head teachers have demanded to be told of their pupils’ exam results weeks earlier than usual to avoid a repeat of last year’s fiasco over grades and university entries.

The Association of School and College Leaders and the head of the Independent Schools Council said that schools should be given the final grades before results day in August so that they can alert officials to any glaring discrepancies.

A-level and GCSE exams were cancelled last week for the second year running. They will be replaced by some form of teacher assessment.

Ofqual, the exams regulator, will publish a consultation this week that will set out how it believes that pupils should be graded.

One idea reportedly being considered is for pupils to take short