Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, is urging the government to scrap this week's BTec exams.
Speaking in the Commons on technical and vocational exams, Ms Green said: “Frankly, he’s failing to show leadership on the exams taking place in January and he’s leaving it simply to schools and colleges to decide what they should do.
“Will he now do the right thing and cancel this week’s Btec exams as parents, colleges and the Association of Colleges are calling for?”
On technical and vocational qualifications, Mr Williamson said: “It’s very important that we give colleges, schools and all providers the flexibility because there’s a lot of young people who will actually need to complete some of their professional competency qualifications in order to take up work and job opportunities – whether that is those who are doing electrician courses or gas courses, where they have to do practical assessments in order to get the qualifications to take the work, jobs and opportunities (and) we want to ensure that the door is kept open for them.”
Gavin Williamson said the Government had wanted exams to take place, despite being aware this may not be possible, telling MPs: “I will not apologise for being enthusiastic to ensure that we had been able to be in a position to roll out exams – but we do recognise where we are as a result of this pandemic, we have to take a different course and that is why we’re taking the route we are.”
Ms Green said: “It was disappointing (Gavin Williamson) did not make a new year’s resolution to avoid U-turns or chronic incompetence.
“Once again where the Secretary of State goes, chaos and confusion follows and it’s children, families and education staff across the country who pay the price for his incompetence.”
Ms Green said Mr Williamson had pledged months ago to ensure exams would go ahead, noting in the Commons: “At that moment we should have known they were doomed to be cancelled.”
Ms Green added she had wanted exams to go ahead “fairly” but was always clear a “plan B” would be required, and urged Mr Williamson to detail the support to teachers to award grades this year.
