Contingencies for examinations

During the current period of bad weather Ofqual has been working with the awarding bodies to ensure that the response across England , Wales and Northern Ireland is fair and that the awarding bodies all take the same approach. We will be receiving daily reports from the awarding bodies in the week starting Monday, January 11, in order to monitor the situation across the three countries.

We understand that most schools are going to great lengths to try and enable candidates to sit their exams. We have considered a range of options for situations where the conditions are so severe that centres are unable to proceed with scheduled exams. In cases where candidates will have another opportunity to sit their modules in the summer, they will be able to do so. Where that is not possible and the candidate was planning on completing their qualification this winter, their school or college can apply for special consideration – where arrangements are made for an estimated grade to be given.

Centres have also been advised to allow candidates who arrive late to sit their exams wherever possible. If candidates arrive more than an hour late centres will have to fill in a form to report this to the awarding body. These arrangements are part of the normal contingency measures in place.

These arrangements are the fairest possible for all candidates – both those affected by the snow and those who are not.

We did discuss rescheduling any cancelled exams, but decided that this was not the best course of action. As not all areas of the country are affected, alternative papers would have to be prepared for the centres that had to cancel. This could impact on the comparability of standards.

Rescheduling the whole series of exams would have a significant impact on the teaching and learning programmes in the lead up to the summer exams, as well as the awarding process and publication of results. It may also be difficult to ensure enough examiners are available.

If a centre is closed during the examination series, or otherwise severely affected by bad weather and as a result students are absent from an examination, centres should contact the relevant awarding bodies or check their websites for guidance.

Further details about arrangements during the adverse weather conditions can be found on the JCQ website

There is a published contingency plan for the examinations system which can be downloaded from: http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/files/2009-10-23-joint-exam-contingency-plan-02.pdf

Update - Monday, 11th January 2010

This morning we had talks with the awarding bodies to assess the impact of the adverse weather conditions on the exams due to take place.

The early indications are that most centres have been able to proceed with the exams or make alternative arrangements for their candidates.

Ofqual would like to thank the teachers and staff at the centres, and the candidates and their families, for their efforts to ensure that the exams could go ahead wherever possible. 

We will be in regular contact with the awarding bodies throughout the period of adverse weather to monitor the impact of the conditions on the exam series.

In order to assist this, any centres that are unable to go ahead with the exams or make alternative arrangements are asked to contact the awarding body involved to keep them informed. Centres considering making alternative arrangements, such as their candidates sitting their exams at another centre, are also advised to contact their awarding body for guidance.