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Nick Gibb says it "was foreseen" some pupils could benefit from the grading algorithm as "small cohorts had to rely more on the teacher-assessed grade than on the standardisation process" but that applied to private and state pupils alike #R4Today podcasthttps://bbc.in/3iQje8a 

Nick Gibb says he did previously speak to an ex DoE official about the grading algorithm because of concerns "it would disadvantage particularly children from poorer backgrounds...so I called a meeting...with the independent regulator, Ofqual" #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/2Ygnk1B 

New saliva tests "are fine, they work as well as the swab tests" says Sir John Bell, Regius Prof of Medicine at Oxford Uni, adding that it will "take probably about a couple of months" to identify tests accurate enough for mass testing #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/34nBcdY 

"Right now at low prevalence, there's a problem with false positives," says Carl Heneghan of Centre for Evidence-Based Research, Oxford Uni. It's "important there is a second test...or a threshold for determining you actually have the infection." #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/3aI9BFS 

"Our historic data is that between 60-65 percent of students who have applied...will actually take up their place," says Anton McGrath, principal, Ashton 6th Form College. "What we will do is work really hard to be flexible...to accommodate them." #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/319SEAS 

Coming up: Pupils are awaiting GCSE results but BTec grades have been delayed (0810); Matt Hancock said it was a "moon shot" - how practical are his plans for mass Covid testing? (0730); & 50 years on, new details on Jimi Hendrix's death (0820) #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/3hf2Z48 

Good morning, the presenters are @BBCSimonJack & @Marthakearney #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/327SXvh 

Health Secretary Matt Hancock says employees of Public Health England should not be concerned about jobs: “In fact we're putting more support in and we're hiring and the budget is going up enormously" #R4Today podcasthttps://bbc.in/2YgOoxB 

"I can't imagine that when this is all over that blame will rest with one organisation," says Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy of the Association of Directors of Public Health. "Now's the time to really consolidate efforts....winter is coming." #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/31aeILO 

We need a "safety net" for people who've been shielding, so that if work isn't safe, they can rely on "a furlough style scheme" to avoid "being forced to choose between their health and their job" says Stephen Macintosh of Macmillan Cancer Support #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/2Q2Vq4w 

Coming up: Matt Hancock on plans to revamp England's public health organisations (0810) Nicola Dandridge, CEO of the Office for Students, on the exam grading fiasco (0730) & how cars could be driving themselves on Britain's roads next year (0840) #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/322vr2R 

Good morning, the presenters are @Marthakearney & @BBCsarahsmith #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/3249hNJ 

"There was absolute reassurance that this was the best and fairest route forward" @GavinWilliamson apologises to students but says the Department for Education "worked incredibly closely with Ofqual" to get exam grading right #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/3awAj44 

"Only 38 students out of 220 have kept their grades. 18 were downgraded by 3 grades, 74 by 2 grades...they are scrabbling about for university places that aren't there." Kay Mountfield, head of Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, Bucks #R4Today podcasthttps://bbc.in/317Ykvn 

Ex-Ofsted head Michael Wilshaw says the exams problems are farcical and England should follow Northern Ireland and Scotland in using teacher assessed grades. "If you err on the side of generosity, no one will blame the government for that." #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/3iT3dhT 

Sir Michael Wilshaw the former head of Ofsted, says "there has to be political responsibility..someone has to carry the can" and warned that Education Secretary Gavin Williams "is losing the confidence of head teachers around the country" #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/3251BuG 

Lukashenko is "not that popular in Moscow....my take is that Russia would prefer a weakened Lukashenko or maybe even a very gradual and staged transition", says Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/2CwVVk7 

Bill Watkin, CEO, 6th Form College Association, says the govt should "recalibrate the algorithm and re-run it immediately...as a national, institution level automated single appeal" & no pupil should "receive a grade lower than they already have" #R4Todayhttps://bbc.in/2Y7a4ME