Welsh Government has confirmed that learners in Wales taking GCSEs, AS levels or A-levels in 2021 will have end of year exams replaced by teacher-managed assessments.

The Welsh Government will work with schools and colleges to take forward teacher-managed assessments. These will include assessments that will be externally set and marked but delivered within a classroom environment under teacher supervision. This will provide the basis for centre-based outcomes which will be linked to an agreed national approach to provide consistency across Wales. There will also be flexibility for teachers to decide when it is best to undertake them, in the context of results timelines.

This will help ensure fairness and improved wellbeing, given the huge variations in the time learners will spend in schools and colleges due to the pandemic. It will also maximise the teaching and learning time pupils will get in this school year.

The Welsh Government has considered detailed advice published by Qualifications Wales on the options available, and the interim findings of an independent review into this year’s exams process. Alongside this, it has consulted a range of people including learners and their families, headteachers, college leaders, the Children’s Commissioner and universities across the UK.

It has confirmed that £50 million of support has been put in place to support learners in exam years to develop the skills and knowledge they need to progress confidently.

The Welsh Government will continue to support Qualifications Wales as they work closely with other regulators to ensure a pragmatic approach that works in learners’ interests and gives them clarity about the way forward.