Pupils will not have to sit the exams for a second year in a row (Picture: Getty Images)

Students in England will not have to sit A-Level and GCSE exams this year, the Department for Education confirmed this evening.

It comes after months of suggestions that the examinations should be postponed because of the pandemic’s impact of children’s education.

In a statement, the Department for Education explained: ‘There is recognition that this is an anxious time for students who have been working hard towards their exams.

‘The Government position is that we will not be asking students to sit GCSE and A-levels. Working alongside Ofqual, the department will consult on how to award all pupils a grade that reflects the hard work they’ve done and will continue to do.’

Asked if its position meant all GCSE and A Levels in England were being cancelled, the DfE said it had no further comment. But earlier today Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove suggested the step would be taken and exams replaced by teacher-led assessments, as happened last summer.

Meanwhile, English schools and colleges will be given the flexibility to decide whether they want to run vocational exams due to take place this month.

Ministers had faced calls to cancel Btec exams scheduled for this week amid concerns over students’ safety and fairness in the wake of new restrictions.