Because of the coronavirus, GCSE and A-level results days this year will be unlike any other.

Schools planning to open their doors to students this year will need to follow a clear set of safety procedures, in line with guidance that will be familiar to schools that were open during the summer term.

GCSE and A-level results day 2020

Updated Department for Education guidance sets out five main directions for schools to follow if they intend to have students on the premises on results day.

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These directions include:

• Ensuring that those who have symptoms of the coronavirus, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school.
• Ensuring staff and students clean their hands more often than usual.
• Ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach.
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces, often using standard products, such as detergents and bleach.
• Minimising contact and mixing as far as possible, by keeping pupils in small, consistent groups - schools should aim to practise social distancing in line with current government guidance on social distancing.

Schools should also make clear to parents accompanying their child that they must not gather at entrance gates or doors (and neither should their child), or enter the site unless they have a pre-arranged appointment.

What time will results be released?

A-level results will not be released to students until 8am, rather than 6am as in previous years, and Ucas and higher education institutions will also not communicate any confirmation decisions while the results are under the 8am embargo, the guidance explains.

Usually, GCSE students will be able to collect their results from their school or college in the morning from 8am. 

When are GCSE and A-level results being released in 2020?

A-level results day this year is Thursday 13 August.

GCSE results day this year is Thursday 20 August.