HEAD teachers of schools across the North-East are asking the Government for urgent action on this year's exams.

Schools North East, which represents over 1,150 schools in the region, is calling on the Government to suspend this year's SATs.

But today Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced most A-level and GCSE exams in England will be delayed by three weeks.

The 2021 exams will go ahead, but the majority of tests will be pushed back to give pupils more time to catch up on their learning following school closures.

The exams, which usually begin in May, will be delayed to June and July – apart from the English and maths GCSEs which will take place before the half-term.

GCSE and A-level results will be given out to students in the same week in August following the change.

Based on feedback from schools in a survey last week, the schools-led regional network Schools North East wrote to Mr Williamson asking for urgent action on this year's testing and exams system.

In the letter, sent on October 9, Schools North East told the Secretary of State that it is crucial a fair and consistent system for tests and exams is in place 2020/21.

But Mr Williamson tweeted: "Exams are the fairest way of judging performance. We’re giving students and teachers the certainty that exams will go ahead in 2021 with more time to prepare plus support from the Covid Catch Up Fund."

The letter said: "Not only have students sitting exams this year experienced the disruption of lockdown but they are continuing to have learning disrupted by periods of isolation and school closures.

"It is becoming apparent that it is no longer practical or feasible for exams to go ahead with no major adjustments, and ongoing interruptions to learning will have a considerable detrimental impact for children and young people."

On primary school assessments, it is asking the Government to:

  • Suspend SATs at both KS1 and KS2 in 2021 to mitigate learning loss and further risk rather than reinforcing high-stakes exams. 
  • Suspend league tables for the next two years as disruption also impacts next year's exams and use assessments for internal use only.

On secondary school assessments, it is asking the Government to:

  • Modify assessments for GCSE and A Level students using a combination of exams and continuous assessment to prevent relying on high-stakes exams. The organisation says a hybrid approach to assessments will also bridge the difference between the devolved nations. The Government must "urgently" make a decision on this.
  • Suspend league tables and not use exam results in Ofsted inspections. 

Schools North East stressed decisions should be made based on evidence, and the Government must also turn its attention to disadvantaged pupils and digital exclusion.

It said: "While disruption to in-school teaching affects all students, it will disproportionately affect those from disadvantaged backgrounds who lack the technological access and parental support needed for home learning.

"As such, it will be impossible to test fairly and accurately this year and the differing levels of access to online learning may mean that a normal exam season could widen the disadvantage gap.

"The assessment system this year must avoid further widening the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, taking into account the diverse experiences of vulnerable learners during lockdown. The focus must now be on identifying gaps in learning, and relying on an evidence-based approach that considers best how we can address these gaps."