Responding to the announcement from the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, that there will be no GCSE, AS and A-Level exams in Wales in 2021, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Sally Holland, said,
“I think the Minister has made the right decision today and I’m delighted that the voice and rights of pupils have played such a central role in the Government decision-making.
“My focus will be on ensuring the process – the details – will be fair and will be one that protects young people’s wellbeing. This should be a year of learning, not worry. Young people should now rest assured that the decision will enable them to work towards their qualifications. I want them to focus on enjoying their learning and all that schools and colleges can offer and that we provide teachers with the freedom of what they do best: not managing an exam factory but teaching and developing critical skills that will enable our young people to reach their full potential. Keep learning, keep teaching, and we’ll carry on working to ensure children’s rights and voices are the centre of the next steps.”