Teachers will be asked to submit judgements about grades they think their students would have received if exams had gone ahead.

The government has published more information on the cancellation of GCSEs and A-Levels after announcing schools will be closed for four months to curb coronavirus.

Results for GCSEs, A-Levels, and AS levels will be awarded in July based on mock data, individual assessment and prior attainment, according to a statement on the Department for Education’s (DfE) website. Students can also sit exams early in next academic year or summer 2021.

DfE said that this year’s A-Level and GCSE grades will be ‘indistinguishable from those provided in other years’.

It said it would also aim to ensure that the distribution of grades ‘follows a similar pattern to that in other years, so that this year’s students do not face a systematic disadvantage as a consequence of these extraordinary circumstances’.

The education department said it recognises that some students ‘may feel disappointed’ that they have not been able to sit their exams. If they do not believe the correct process has been followed in their case they will be able to appeal on that basis, it said.

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University representatives have confirmed that they expect universities to be flexible and do all they can to support students and ensure they can progress to higher education.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said cancelling exams is something no minister in his position would ever want to do, however ‘these are extraordinary times and this measure is a vital but unprecedented step in the country’s efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus’.

He added: ‘My priority now is to ensure no young person faces a barrier when it comes to moving onto the next stage of their lives – whether that’s further or higher education, an apprenticeship or a job.

‘I have asked exam boards to work closely with the teachers who know their pupils best to ensure their hard work and dedication is rewarded and fairly recognised.’

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