Schools will not be judged based on their exam grades for 2020, Ofsted has said.

The watchdog has confirmed that, if performance data for this year is not published, then it will not be taken into account for future inspections.

The Department for Education (DfE) announced on Friday that teachers’ assessments of student performance will be used to assign grades to this year’s GCSE and A-level candidates, after the summer’s exams were cancelled in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.

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It added that the 2020 exam series will not be used for school performance data.

Following the announcement, Tes asked Ofsted if it could confirm that the grades assigned in place of this summer’s exams will not be taken into consideration when it comes to future inspections.

The watchdog said: “Yes: if the data is not published then inspectors will not take it into account.”

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said on Friday: “Cancelling exams is something no education secretary would ever want to do. However, these are extraordinary times and this measure is a vital but unprecedented step in the country’s efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus.

“My priority now is to ensure that no young person faces a barrier when it comes to moving on to the next stage of their lives - whether that’s further or higher education, an apprenticeship or a job.

“I have asked exam boards to work closely with the teachers who know their pupils best to ensure their hard work and dedication is rewarded and fairly recognised.”