GCSE and A-levels to be marked more generously next year in light of Covid disruption

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. David Laws, the executive chairman of the Education Policy Institute said: “Taken together, the government's measures announced today provide a reasonable strategy to ensure students are better-equipped to complete their exams next summer following the disruption to their education.” “Plans to adjust grading to allow a higher pass rate are in line with our recommendations and will also help to cushion any learning loss,” he added. Bill Watkin, the chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said the “welcome flexibilities” to next year’s exams would “benefit all students”. “The government’s new expert group must urgently set out how they will make exams fair for these pupils, and what measures will be put in place now for pupils taking exams next academic year who are losing learning now.”She also accused the government of having been “far too slow to act”. I know students are facing unprecedented disruption to their learning.” He added: “That's why exams will be different next year, taking exceptional steps to ensure they are as fair as possible.”