Yesterday’s announcement will be a relief for students, families and teachers who have been looking for certainty on GCSE and A-level assessments. 

Teachers know their students best and, while normal exams cannot take place, teacher assessments are the most effective way to avoid the stress and inequality caused by the Government’s shambolic handling of assessments last year. 

I welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement that the Department for Education is working on a long-term plan to help students catch-up, but this needs to recognise the real disadvantage faced by students from poorer backgrounds during the last year. 

We await the detail of the plan, which will need to ensure that schools are given the autonomy - and funding - to decide how best to meet the needs of their students.