GCSE and A-level exams in England will be replaced by school-based assessments but a Southampton MP said the decision “will be causing a huge amount of anxiety” to pupils in the city.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed that teachers’ estimated grades will be used to replace cancelled GCSEs and A-levels this summer.

The news comes as earlier this week the Prime Minister announced the closure of schools and colleges as part of a new national lockdown.

Mr Williamson said the government will “put trust in teachers rather than algorithms”.

But Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead raised concerns over the move.

It comes as last year - following a government U-turn - students were given grades estimated by their teachers rather than by an algorithm.

Following the latest announcement, Dr Whitehead said: “I know that the announcement to cancel exams will be causing a huge amount of anxiety to pupils in Southampton who will be worried that we will see a return to the chaos of last summer’s assessment fiasco. Although teacher led assessments will be fairer than an algorithm this doesn’t come without its flaws. It also doesn’t seem fair that A-Levels and GCSEs for later in the year have been cancelled whilst BTEC students are being made to sit their exams in very difficult circumstances this week.”

But Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said the Government will provide support to schools “to ensure that grades are awarded fairly and consistently to all students”.

He added: “With continued disruption to education this year, it is only fair that teacher assessments will be used to determine grades instead of exams. More than one million laptops and tablets have been purchased by the Government to help students from low-income families learn from home.”

Cllr Roz Chadd, executive member for education and skills at Hampshire County Council, said: “The Secretary of State for Education has announced that a consultation will be launched next week on revised plans to award grades via teacher assessment. We will study the proposals, respond to the recommendations and put in place all necessary support for schools.”

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