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image captionMost pupils will be studying from home for the rest of this half term
Schools in England will reopen as soon as possible , Schools Minister Nick Gibb has told the Commons.
Mr Gibb said the government would prioritise the reopening of schools as we begin the process of lifting lockdown restrictions .
He was responding to an urgent question brought by Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green on schools reopening.
Ms Green said the government had failed to give parents, children and staff the credible plan they deserve . We simply don t know what the government s plan is for school reopening - other than what we read in the newspapers, she said.
Parents and teachers must be told the plan for reopening schools, MPs say
Gateshead MP Ian Mearns says teachers and parents need answers about schools reopening
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In a nod to this, Mr Williamson told the Commons that this year the government would put trust in teachers rather than algorithms
He continued: While the details will need to be fine-tuned by Ofqual [the exams regulator].I can confirm that I wish to use teacher-assessed grades that are awarded fairly and consistently.
Mr Williamson also told MPs that SATs exams will also not be going ahead this year across England.
It is not clear yet whether the same teacher assessed grades process also applies to those who did not take their BTEC exams.
ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand reports: Some students decided to sit BTECs this morning and are now wondering whether they shouldn’t have.