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Video report by ITV News Correspondent Rachel Younger
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the UK’s coronavirus death toll passing 20,000 deaths was “deeply tragic and moving moment” at the Government s daily Covid-19 briefing.
The death toll is at least 20,319, up by 813 from 19,506 the day before.
The Home Secretary refused to elaborate on any possible easing of the UK’s lockdown, as she urged Britons to adhere to social distancing and warned that the country was “not out the woods yet”.
The grim death toll comes less than a month after senior health officials said a total below 20,000 would be a “good result”.
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Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand
GCSE and A Level students in England will not be sitting exams this summer after the country s third Covid lockdown has further disrupted education.
Ahead of a statement in Parliament on Wednesday, the Education Secretary released a briefing that said: The government position is that we will not be asking students to sit GCSE and A Levels.
It added that ministers are working with the exams regulator Ofqual to find a system for awarding grades that reflects the hard work of pupils across the country.
A-level students protested after grades were initially based on an algorithm. Credit: PA Images
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.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, urged ministers to close all schools as the UK topped 50,000 Covid-19 cases again.
Friday January 1, 2021, 10:50 PM
Gavin Williamson had said he was confident there would be no more delays to reopening schools. Credit: PA
In a major government U-turn, all London primary schools are set to remain closed as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.
It comes after the Education Secretary said only on Thursday that he is “absolutely confident” there will be no further delays to school reopenings, after soaring coronavirus case rates in December forced the Government into a U-turn in pushing back the start of terms for millions of pupils.
Gavin Williamson moved to reassure teaching staff, pupils and parents the newly rescheduled staggered return dates for England would remain in place, despite concerns about safety and transmission rates among younger people.