The pandemic has inflicted immense damage on public health and the economy, but its most enduring effect may prove to be on the life chances of children. For two successive years, formal exams for A-levels and GCSEs have been cancelled owing to the risks of infection. They have been replaced by grades decided by teachers through a variety of means: coursework, mock exams and teacher assessments. This year’s results will be released next week, with A-level results due on Tuesday. Educationists