Labour has called on the UK government to push back the date of next year’s GCSE and A-level exams in England to help students catch up after losing months of education because of the pandemic.

Ahead of children returning to school this week, Kate Green, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, has warned that pupils entering Year 11 and 13 who have lost up to six months of teaching time will face “a mountain to climb” unless the Government steps in. 

Labour is calling for exams due to take place in May to be pushed back until June or July to allow for extra teaching time. 

Teaching unions have previously said that the government has its “head in the sand” on assessments in 2021, and many have suggested that there should be delays to exams.

Labour is also calling on the government to review the existing support arrangements for post-16 students urgently, so that pupils preparing to sit their A-Levels are not left without the support they need.

 Kate Green, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said:

 “Pupils across the country who have missed out on vital teaching time will have a mountain to climb to prepare for May exams unless the government steps in.

 ”Ministers had warning after warning about problems with this year’s exam results, but allowed it to descend into a fiasco. 

 “This is too important for Boris Johnson to leave until to the last minute. Pupils heading back to school need clarity and certainty about the year ahead.”