Labour to table Commons motion to force publication of all official documents relating to exams fiasco

@UKLabour is calling on Gavin Williamson and Boris Johnson to “come clean” about their role in the exams fiasco, as the Party prepares for a Commons vote on a motion that would require all internal documents, minutes of meetings, and ministerial submissions relating to the exams fiasco to be provided to the education select committee. 

Kate Green, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, called on MPs from all parties to back the motion, to ensure “the lessons of this summer will be learnt, and confidence in the system can be restored before next year’s exams.”

In the weeks since the exams fiasco began in August, there have been repeated reports that both the Education Secretary and Prime Minister were warned about the problems weeks or even months in advance, but did not act to address them. 

Last week the chair of Ofqual, the exams regulator, gave evidence to the education select committee that the Secretary of State unilaterally decided on the system of awarding grades, and cancelled exams without consulting the regulator.

In his evidence, Roger Taylor also said that Number 10 were briefed a week before A-Level results day, and were warned of the risks in the current system.  

Commenting, Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said:

“Time and again the Secretary of State and Prime Minister have tried to avoid taking responsibility for the exams fiasco. It has become clear that their serial incompetence was responsible for the scandal. 

“MPs from all parties should back this motion to ensure young people, their families and the wider public can be assured that the lessons of this summer will be learnt, and confidence in the system can be restored before next year’s exams.

“It is essential Gavin Williamson and Boris Johnson come clean about what they knew, when they knew it, and why nothing was done to address the concerns they were warned about.”