Coronavirus news live: UK death toll reaches 41,397 and Gavin Williamson ‘warned weeks ago’ about unfair results but went ahead anyway

Students from Codsall Community High School march to the constituency office of their local MP Gavin Williamson, who is also the Education Secretary, as a protest over the continuing issues of last week's A level results which saw some candidates receive lower-than-expected grades after their exams were cancelled as a result of coronavirus. — Pearson pulled its BTec results last night, which were due to be released today (Picture: Jacob King/PA)

A further 16 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, bringing the nation’s death toll – as of Wednesday – to 41,397.

The total includes deaths across all settings.

Meanwhile, education secretary Gavin Williamson was reportedly warned weeks ago that the algorithm for determining A-level and GCSE grades could lead to hundreds of thousands of incorrect results – but decided to go ahead with it anyway.

A former director-general for the Department for Education, Sir Jon Coles, is understood to have written to Gavin Williamson six weeks ago, warning that Ofqual’s grading system would lead to unfairness in the system, a senior source in the department revealed.

GCSE results were released this morning, while BTec results were put on hold with just a few hours notice after examination board Pearson pulled its own U-turn, choosing to re-assess grades based on a fairer system.