How GCSE and A Level grades will be awarded after coronavirus cancels exams

The Government said it is aiming for the calculated grades - which will also take into account their previous achievements - to be awarded to pupils in England by the end of July.

Making the announcement on Friday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said these are "extraordinary times" and that exam boards would be working closely with teachers to implement the new approach.

Students will also have options including appealing against their calculated grade, and sitting exams at a later date.

Teaching bodies were largely welcoming of the new guidance, but said more detail will be required in the coming days.

The approach will see exam boards asking teachers to submit judgments about the grades they think their students would have received if exams had gone ahead.

Teachers will have to take into account "a range of evidence and data", such as mock exam results and other school work, the department said.

This will be combined with information from "other relevant data", such as pupils' previous attainment, to calculate their grades.

The calculated grades will be "a best assessment" of the work students have put in, the Government said.

A Level and GCSE grades are usually published in mid-August.

Mr Williamson said: "Cancelling exams is something no Education Secretary would ever want to do, however these are extraordinary times and this measure is a vital but unprecedented step in the country's efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus.

"My priority now is to ensure no young person faces a barrier when it comes to moving onto the next stage of their lives - whether that's further or higher education, an apprenticeship or a job.

"I have asked exam boards to work closely with the teachers who know their pupils best to ensure their hard work and dedication is rewarded and fairly recognised."

The department said this year's grades will be "indistinguishable from those provided in other years" and would aim to ensure that the distribution of grades follows a similar pattern to previous years, so affected students do not face a "systematic disadvantage".

It also outlined various options for students and parents who may not be happy with the approach or their calculated grades.