Pupils at a city grammar say they feel like “they are stuck in limbo” as they ready themselves to leave school with little idea of when they will sit their final exams.

The announcement earlier this week that schools will close today in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has thrown the futures of Year 13 teenagers into doubt as confusion remains about what it will mean for their A-levels.

And Simon Langton Girls' pupil Danya Taha says this has left many pupils dejected as even their teachers are unsure what will happen.

“I think a lot of people were quite heartbroken and angry finding out about the uncertainty about exams,” the 17-year-old from Canterbury said.

“On the one hand we’re excited to be leaving and trying to have a fun last day, but at the same time everyone is quite sombre as we realise we are stuck in limbo.

“Normally, you look up to the teachers for answers, but we had an assembly and they said, ‘look, we can’t give you the answers to the questions you probably all have’.”

Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that exams will not take place in May and June, but gave little indication of contingency options.

Speculation has swirled that exams could be postponed to September, when many will have planned to move onto university or employment.

Despite being given access to lessons online, Danya fears this could hamper her chances of gaining the three As she needs to study medicine at Edinburgh University.

“Teaching yourself subjects like maths can be really difficult – I think that’s what people are stressing about,” she explained.

“I’m a bit worried going forward - if we are going to have to sit exams - about learning this content without having someone to guide me through it.”

Danya also says the truncation of the school year has stripped her and fellow pupils of traditional final-day celebrations and their summer prom.

"I think a lot of people were quite heartbroken and angry finding out about the uncertainty about exams..."

“It seems trivial but these are the last times that some of us may see each other again because you can’t meet up with 160 different people, even though you still value every single one of them.

“It would be really lovely to have an event where you can celebrate with each other.”

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