The education secretary has apologised to pupils for the disruption to their schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an interview with the BBC, Gavin Williamson said: “I apologise to every single child right across the country for the disruption that they’ve had to suffer.”

Mr Williamson also described the exams system as “robust” and “fair” after concerns were raised that some pupils could have their results downgraded.

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He said: “The system, for the overwhelming majority of young people, is going to deliver, you know, credible, strong results for every single one of them.

“It’s a robust system, it’s a fair system, it’s making sure that young people get the grades that they’ve worked so hard towards.”

The education secretary insisted that the best thing is to get every child back into school in September.

He said: “The best thing that we can do is make sure that every child is back into school in September.

“Is there anything more that I can do in order to make that happen? Well, if there is, tell me about this, and I will go out there and I will do it.

“We need to see every child back into school - as someone who has a wife and a brother who works in schools, and someone who has children who have, you know, like every child, suffered as a result of not being, I know that the best thing to do is to get everyone back there.”