EDUCATION secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed that teachers will determine the grades of students instead of sitting exams.

He made a statement to the House of Commons this morning where he told MPs that there will be no algorithm involved to decide their grades after a year of disruption to their education.

A-level results will be released on August 10 and GCSE results will be released on August 12 to allow time for students to appeal.

He said: “This year’s students will receive grades determined by their teachers, with assessments covering what they were taught and not what they have missed. Teachers have a good understanding of their students’ performance and how they compare to other students this year and from those of previous years.

“Teachers can choose a range of evidence to underpin their assessments, including coursework, in-class tests set by the school and the use of optional questions provided by exam boards and mock exams, and we will of course give guidance on how best to do this fairly and also consistently.

“Exam boards will be issuing grade descriptions to help teachers make sure their assessments are fair and consistent. These will be broadly pegged to performance standards from previous years so teachers and students are clear on what is expected at each grade.

“By doing this, combined with a rigorous quality assurance process, are just two of the ways this system will ensure greater fairness and consistency. Quality assurance by the exam boards will provide a meaningful check in the system and make sure we can root out malpractice.”

The prime minister Boris Johnson tweeted earlier today: “No child should be left behind as a result of learning lost during the pandemic. That’s why students will receive grades awarded and determined by teachers."