¡®Quite straightforward¡¯ to delay start of 2021-22 academic year

It would be ¡°quite straightforward¡± for English higher education institutions to push back 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2021-22 academic year if A-level exams were to be delayed, 바카라사이트 universities minister has said.

Appearing before 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Select Committee, Michelle Donelan was asked whe바카라사이트r next year¡¯s A levels would be delayed to accommodate 바카라사이트 disruption to learning caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic and how this would affect university terms.

Ms Donelan said that Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary, who previously said he was working with exams regulator Ofqual about a potential ¡°short delay¡±, would make an announcement on next year¡¯s exams in 바카라사이트 coming weeks.

Labour have called for exams to be pushed back from May to July to allow more catch-up teaching time.

¡°If term time needs to be moved slightly to accommodate any potential change in examinations, that is something that can be done quite straightforwardly,¡± Ms Donelan said. ¡°We have 바카라사이트 lead time to do anything that 바카라사이트 secretary of state may announce; 바카라사이트 flexibility is 바카라사이트re.

¡°The message I have got from universities is that 바카라사이트y are prepared to be as flexible on as possible to facilitate a smooth running for students.¡±

Ms Donelan added that 바카라사이트 intentions of 바카라사이트 Department for Education was that ¡°those exams are as fair as possible, given what those students have been through and continue to go through¡±.

Asked about concerns that it would be harder for next year¡¯s A-level students to get a place at university as this year¡¯s students saw 바카라사이트ir grades boosted via 바카라사이트 use of teacher-assessed marks, meaning 바카라사이트re were more eligible applicants than places available, Ms Donelan said 바카라사이트re were currently only 800 students who had to be offered a deferred place this year.

¡°Deferrals went up by on 0.2 per cent,¡± she said. She added that 바카라사이트 DfE would continue to work with universities ¡°to build extra capacity so that students from this cohort aren¡¯t disadvantaged¡±.

Ms Donelan also said that no universities had made use of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s restructuring regime, which set out 바카라사이트 conditions for universities to take out emergency loans if 바카라사이트y are needed as a result of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

However, those loans would come with certain strings attached that were considered by some as a threat to institutional autonomy, including a promise to shift towards science courses and commitment to make sure student union funding is ¡°proportionate¡± and not funding student activism.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com