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Disclaimer: Please note that due to an update in UK government policy, this blog is no longer accurate. Find out more here.
On January 4th school gates were reopened across England, to mark the beginning of the Spring Term. However, while everything seems to be going ahead as planned, there is still large amounts of uncertainty surrounding the 2021 school year. While the government has tried their best of clarify what will happen with national examinations in the summer, GCSE and A-level mock exams still seem to be an area of confusion.
If you are unsure of how exactly COVID-19 will affect schools across the country in the coming weeks, read on! We have summarised some of the key questions you might have.
Will GCSE and A-level mock exams go ahead in 2021?
Yes mock exams will be going ahead in 2021. To ensure that pupils taking mock GCSE and A-level exams are safe, those taking National exams (predominantly Year 11s and Year 13s) are not returning to school with all other students. Instead these pupils will be taught online until January 11th.
From January 11th those in Year 11 and 13 will return to in school teaching. Schools will also be asked to test all students twice during this period to ensure that anyone with COVID-19 is removed from schools.
When are GCSE and A-level mock exams being held in 2021?
Mock exams are scheduled to go ahead from January 11th when Year 11 and Year 13 students will return to school.
What about national exams which take place during the first week of school?
Anyone with BTec and similar examinations which are scheduled to take place during the first two weeks of the term will be allowed to attend school during this time. However, most eternal mock exams are postponed until the 11th of January or later.
When will all children be returning to schools?
Schools are expected to open for in-person tuition by January 18th in most areas of England. Until then, generally speaking, primary school children will be returning to school, with some exceptions. However, secondary schools and further education colleges will begin teaching children remotely.
Nevertheless, there are exceptions to this rule. Children who are classed as vulnerable, and those whose parents are key workers, are returning to in-person schooling.
Will schools be back to normal January 18th?
This question is a little tricky to answer. The government plans to go ahead with a full reopening of schools from January 18th. Nevertheless schools in affected areas will likely stay closed until the end of January.
Above all else, as a parent it's important to keep up with the latest government announcements regarding schools.
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