A TOP teacher has shared his concerns about students being ready for assessments.

Tony Grogan, from Oswaldtwistle, has appeared on Department for Education advertisements and was recognised at the National Teaching Awards as a ‘leading teacher’.

He wrote a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson last month with his fears the ‘playing field is no longer level and students in areas which have been hit harder by Covid will suffer should exams continue’.

However, in light of the Government's announcement yesterday about that exams will not be cancelled and a package of measures for students sitting their A-level and GCSE exams in the summer to compensate for disruption to their schooling during the pandemic.

They include pupils in England will be given advance notice of some topics ahead of their tests and they will be allowed to take in exam aids, like formula sheets, to ensure this cohort of students is not disadvantaged.

Despite welcoming the news, the 47-year-old still has concerns.about the divide between pupils during the pandemic and it will affect their grades.

Mr Grogan, who teaches in Bolton said: "My initial letter to the Secretary of State might well have had some effect but I know many teachers and teaching organisations have raised concerns.

"A one size fits all solution will not serve students well if it fails to account for regional challenges. I remain firmly of the view that we need to ensure students get a fair deal in these exams or any assessment process. If we do not do that we will be failing a generation of local students and allowing the attainment gap to grow.

"I attended a meeting with exam boards following the announcement but there is an acceptance that students in regions which seem more restrictions and cases of Covid19 risk being disadvantaged unless very clear steps are put in place to account for this situation.