Secretary of State’s announcement on exams summer 2021

Responding to the Secretary of State’s announcement on extra measures for 2021 summer exams and assessments, Gail Tolley Chair of the ADCS Educational Achievement Policy Committee, said:

“Today’s announcement from the Secretary of State will provide students with some much needed certainty over exams and assessments next summer. We welcome the contingencies put in place to support the many children and young people who have already lost out on a significant amount of learning this academic year. The educational attainment gap between disadvantaged learners and their peers was widening even before the pandemic began; we must therefore ensure that those who have had to spend time away from the classroom are not further disadvantaged.

The establishment of a new expert group to look at differential lost learning and monitor its impact is a positive step and ADCS looks forward to being involved in these conversations. Ongoing disruption in areas that have experienced extended lockdown, with classes, whole year groups and even whole schools being continuously impacted by closures means pupils spending more time out of school. Online learning can only go so far if pupils do not have access to the internet or a quiet place to learn at home. Our collective aim must now be to support these children and young people so that they do not face any more unnecessary uncertainty about their futures.”

ENDS

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) Ltd is the professional leadership association for Directors of Children’s Services and their senior management teams in England.

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