Exams guard blows whistle on ‘special needs’ candidates

THE number of children getting extra time in their exams has risen by 36 per cent in the past four years, as teachers are accused of bending the rules by claiming increasing numbers of students are “special needs”.

Now one in six of all GCSE and Alevel candidates are awarded 25 per cent extra time for their exams, according to Ofqual.

The exam watchdog acknowledged disabled students are “entitled to a reasonable adjustment” but said there was widespread variation in the proportion of students at particular schools.

It said it intends to contact centres that make abnormally high or low applications for extra time, and encourage them to review their approach. Last year, 223,405 students were granted extra time to complete their exams, compared to 164,390 in 2013-14.

Grounds for extra time include learning difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or a mental health condition .

Prof Alan Smithers, of the University of Buckingham, said: “Extra time does confer an advantage. As parents and schools have become more aware that extra time can be claimed and that more and more candidates are getting it, more are trying for it.”

Chris Mcgovern, director of the Campaign for Real Education, said the figures “make a mockery” of the system “and undermines credibility and belief ” in public examinations.