Coronavirus: Wales' 2021 exams could be delayed

Exams in Wales could be delayed in 2021, following the cancellation of this year's tests.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said discussions would be held with regulator Qualifications Wales.

There have been calls for the exams to be cancelled again, but Ms Williams said she intended for them to go ahead.

There could be changes to how the qualifications are taught, with exam board WJEC looking at making changes like reducing set texts.

It follows controversy in August at the way A-level results were provided, before the system to judge pupils' grades was scrapped in favour of teacher assessments.

Exams in England are likely to be delayed where a UK government minister has promised a decision "very soon".

Children will head back to the classroom across Wales this week.

Amid concerns about coronavirus, truancy fines will not be issued if pupils do not attend at the start of the school year, but this plan will be reviewed as the term develops.

Speaking at a Welsh Government press conference, Ms Williams said: "It is our intention at this time, to hold examinations next year.

"There are discussions about when those examinations may take place."

The minister said Qualifications Wales was speaking to other UK regulators "as to whether it would be wise to move those examinations to a different point in the year, primarily to maximise teaching".

But she said any delay would have a "knock-on effect" on matters such as progression and results day.

WJEC had been "working on amendments to specs that will be taught this term, to make them as manageable as possible for schools", Ms Williams said.

That could include reducing case studies or set texts for literature students, changes she said "go further" than those made in England.

Details of a review of 2020's exams were announced last week - it will provide recommendations for how next year's qualifications are handled.

The UK Labour Party has called for next summer's GCSE and A-level exams to be pushed back in England.

Delyth Jewell of Plaid Cymru said the final report of the independent review is not due until mid-December, "which is too close for those sitting exams in January 2021".

"The Welsh Government has an opportunity now to cancel exams, rather than waste valuable time delaying what many feel will be an inevitable decision," she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Williams said new funding was being provided to give reopening schools extra teachers and support.

The £29m fund is targeted at Years 11, 12 and 13 as well as disadvantaged and vulnerable learners.

It will also be used to provide extra coaching support, personalised learning programmes and resources for exam year pupils.

Children will be expected to wear their uniform when they go back to school, Ms Williams told the press conference.

She said she wanted to see "as much normality should be resumed" where possible and it would be "helpful" if uniforms could be washed regularly, rather than being dry-cleaned.

The minister said it was important school children are tested if they have suspected coronavirus.

"All children who are exhibiting a new continuous cough, temperature, loss of taste and smell, will be required to take a test.

"I appreciate that as we enter into the winter months, other potential illnesses could well be confused but at this stage any child, or member of staff in school, are exhibiting any of these signs they will need to be tested".

Speaking earlier on BBC Wales Breakfast, Ms Williams said that in the first few days of the catch-up sessions before the summer break, some parents had been "reluctant" to send their children back.

"When parents saw other children were returning to school, that it was being done as safely and securely as possible, and that the children were getting so much out of going to school, we saw confidence growing," she said.

"We want to have reassuring conversations with parents, rather than threatening them with fines."

She added: "At this stage it is absolutely appropriate that we have those conversations to understand why parents may have concerns, why they don't want to send their children back, and to work with parents, school by school, on an individual basis, to reassure them."

But Ms Williams stated the situation in schools would be reviewed as the term progressed.

The UK's chief medical adviser has said children are more likely to be harmed by not returning to school than if they catch coronavirus.

But Ms Williams said while everything was being done to make sure schools were as safe as possible, there were "no risk-free options".