Longer school days and shorter half-term and summer holidays are among the measures being considered by the government to help pupils catch up on lost learning.
The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed that the government were looking at several options to help students catch up due to school closures forced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Williamson told Sky News, “We’re looking at holidays, we’re looking at lengthening the school day, we’re looking at a whole range of measures.”
He added that Ministers are also looking at “enhancing the support we give to teachers, supporting them in their professional development, making sure they can be the very best of themselves”.
“We’ve got to look at what is going to have the biggest positive impact on children’s lives.
“That’s the approach that we’re taking and that’s what we’re looking at – how we can improve the outcomes for children.”
Schools were closed as part of the UK’s third national lockdown and will reopen on Monday 8th March.
MPs have confirmed that they plan for schools to never again have to close due to the pandemic.
Pupils and their parents will be offered frequent covid tests and there are calls for teachers to be offered the vaccine as priority too.
In January, the government confirmed that GCSE and A-Level summer 2021 exams would be replaced by teacher assessments.
Last year, pupils were offered grades that were decided by an algorithm and this led to disappointing results for many – especially those of disadvantaged backgrounds who completed their schooling in deprived areas.
Ofqual used an algorithm based on the school’s previous results which downgraded around 40% of A-Level results – leaving thousands of students unable to go to their chosen universities.
Students protested this system and the government has promised that it will not be used again.