STUDENTS at Middlewich High School are being reassured that they can still succeed despite GCSE exams being cancelled this summer.

Education secretary Gavin Williams has asked teachers to assess pupils instead but full details have not yet been released.

Heidi Thurland, headteacher of Middlewich High, said: "My simple message to my year 11 students is keep learning. Knowledge is power.

"Learning is what will take you through future qualifications and through life.

"My teaching staff are focused on ensuring that home learning is the best quality it can possible be.

"We evaluate this on a daily basis, we listen to our families, our staff and our students to keep improving."

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Every effort is being made to support children as they work remotely at home.

"Our desire for excellence is not diminished because we are working differently," she said. "Our ethos, work ethic and values remain the same.

"Covid-19 will never be used as an excuse in our school for complacency or poor quality education.

"Now more than ever we want to ensure that education is not simply sustained, but that learning thrives.

"We will continue to develop and train our staff, support students with a high level of pastoral care, carefully plan our curriculum and take our GCSE students through their qualification journey no matter what it looks like.

"I must state how incredibly proud I am of all my students and families. I am privileged to lead in such a supportive community."

The school will work closely with the DfE and Ofqual to underst4and how GCSE grades will be awarded and is waiting for more information to come through.