THE “CHAOS and incompetence” that has epitomised the Tories’ handling of the Covid-19 crisis in education should not be allowed to undermine young people’s life chances, Sir Keir Starmer said today.

As students prepare to receive A-level and GCSE grades this week, the Labour leader set out three tests that, he said, ministers must meet by August 31, the cut-off date set by many universities for students to fulfil entry terms.

A second year of results chaos is “not an option,” Sir Keir insisted, recalling last summer’s fiasco, in which the use of computer-generated grades led thousands of students from poorer areas being penalised, and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s misplaced confidence that he would deliver “a full exam series” this year.