Coronavirus Update – 13th October 2020

Prime Minister announces new local COVID Alert Levels

Yesterday, the Prime Minister set out how the government will further simplify and standardise local rules by introducing a three-tiered system of local COVID Alert Levels in England – medium, high and very high.

Further information on what you can and cannot do if you live, work or travel in each of the local COVID Alert Levels can be found using the links below:

• Medium
• High
• Very High

These rules will apply from 00:01 on Wednesday 14 October. Current local guidance must be followed until this time.

The government has prioritised ensuring all children can attend school safely, to support their wellbeing and education and help working parents and guardians. The tiers of restriction for education and childcare, summarised in annex 3 of the Contain Framework and in guidance on higher education, are not in scope of the Local COVID Alert Level framework. Decisions on any restrictions necessary in education or childcare settings are taken separately on a case-by-case basis in the light of local circumstances, including information about the incidence and transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

DfE guidance to support education providers, local authorities and parents during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be accessed using the links below:

• Guidance for early years and childcare providers
• Guidance for schools
• Guidance for further and higher education providers
• Guidance for local authority children’s services
• Guidance for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings

Announcement on Summer Exam Series 2021

Yesterday, the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, announced that the summer exam series will be delayed by 3 weeks giving students more time to prepare for their exams. Exams will begin on 7 June and end on 2 July for almost all A and AS levels and GCSE’s.

Results days will now be held in the same week on 24 August for A and AS levels and 27 August for GCSE students.

The Government will engage widely with the sector over the next six weeks to identify any risks to exams at a national, local and individual student level and consider measures needed to address any potential disruption.

More detail will be published later in the autumn, to ensure students have confidence that they will be fairly treated in terms of assessment in 2021.