EDUCATION bosses have pulled plans to force secondary school pupils on BTEC courses to attend school during lockdown after a backlash.

Children studying BTEC qualifications were told they must go in to school to sit their exams next week.

It came after MP Michael Gove announced that GCSE and A-levels would be cancelled.

However, with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirming the decision to pull GCSE and A-levels, the Department for Education was forced to do a U-turn on its BTEC decision.

The department had come under intense scrutiny from residents, school and college leaders and Labour.

The surge in coronavirus cases in the Braintree area and the announcement of a third national lockdown on Monday meant the decision sparked fury from Halstead parents.

One mum, who asked not to be named, was worried about her daughter being forced to return to Hedingham School on Wednesday for revision.

She said: “16-year-old BTEC children have been told they must go into school to sit an exam next week. My daughter’s school has asked the children to go into school twice this week starting from tomorrow for revision. She will be sitting with ten other children plus a teacher for approximately six hours at a time in a classroom, using the same toilets etc.

“The school has said the teacher has a shield, but not the children – just face masks.

“Being parents that had Covid one month ago and are still suffering from Covid, it is deeply worrying. Dad is still not breathing properly and I have fatigue.

“I called the school, and revision for her exam cannot be done virtually.

“So, does my daughter have a choice not to go in and get a rubbish grade, or go in and chance getting Covid?

“My daughter and her class are all very frightened.

“Apparently the school do have the option to delay the exam to June, but it is Gavin Williamson MP that is insisting the BTECs take place. This will effect 125,000 children. Essex County Council education department could not help as it is down to each school’s policies.

“When the Department of Education were called they replied they could not help me and there is nothing they can do.

“Therefore it seems like one bullhead MP will have blood on his hands if this current situation goes ahead.

“It seems ludicrous behaviour when this area is high risk. The Government said by law we must stay at home, so why is the exam board doing this?”

Following the U-turn, the Department for Education now says schools, such as Hedingham, will have the flexibility to decide for themselves.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “In light of the evolving public health measures, schools and colleges can continue with the vocational and technical exams that are due to take place in January, where they judge it right to do so.

“We understand this is a difficult time, but we want to support schools and colleges whose students have worked hard to prepare for assessments and exams where necessary.”

Hedingham School have since said that they will be cancelling "vocational examinations" in January.