What time is Gavin Williamson's announcement today? Update after schools closed and exams scrapped

Gavin Williamson is to set out his plans for pupils across the country after this summer’s GCSE and A-level exams were cancelled following the decision to shut education facilities in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

The Education Secretary will reveal the level of support available to students at around 1pm today, in a speech to Parliament, following an address by the Prime Minister about the spiralling rate of Covid-19 infections across the country, ahead of tonight’s vote on lockdown measures.

Mr Williamson’s proposed support package comes after a number of pupils find themselves surrounded by uncertainty as schools remain closed and GCSE and A-level exams are scrapped – despite the Government not yet confirming how grades will be determined.

Colleges and schools are set to be closed until at least mid February according to Mr Johnson’s announcement on Monday.

While students will be learning remotely – the postponement of face-to-face teaching would make them unprepared to take formal exams later this year.

But some BTEC exams will continue to go ahead this month, after the Government left it up to schools to decide if pupils will sit vocational exams in the light of new lockdown measures.

There has been growing pressure from unions and teachers for the Prime Minister to officially cancel BTEC exams after concerns over student safety.

The Education Secretary will set out the plans to support students in more detail to MPs this afternoon.

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