The dates are two weeks later than the early-July date tabled in the consultation by the Department for Education and Ofqual, and have been announced alongside the news that externally-set questions to be ‘optional’ for schools. Schoos won’t be forced to use externally-set questions when determining their pupils’ GCSE and A-level grades in 2021. Exam boards will instead provide “optional” questions for each subject, which teachers can use alongside other evidence – such as coursework and mock exam results.