Exam boards braced for appeals from students unable to travel
EXAM boards are anticipating a wave of appeals from students who have faced disruption as a result of this week’s rail strikes.
Exam chiefs expect that pupils who could not reach centres in time or faced additional stress as a result of the biggest rail dispute in 30 years will submit appeals over poor results.
It comes as Boris Johnson called for boards to show understanding when marking the papers of students whose journeys were disrupted by the stoppages.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Mr Johnson said: “Schools should allow them to take the paper, and exam boards will determine if that paper can be marked based on how late the student is.”
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), the umbrella body that represents the UK’S largest exam boards, told schools in the run up to the dispute that they could start exams up to half an hour late without having to carry out any additional paperwork.
The guidance also notes that students “whose progression will be severely delayed” by missing an exam should be prioritised. This is likely to mean A-level exams are prioritised over GCSES.
About 500 music students had their exams cancelled at short notice this week by just one exam board, while others were forced to travel long distances by bus to sit papers.
The ABRSM, the UK’S largest music education and exam body, announced it is cancelling examinations due to be held at Imperial College’s Blyth Music Centre and other venues across the country tomorrow.
The move, announced as the country was struggling through the first day of the rail strikes, came after examiners said they would not be able to attend because of the combined impact of the rail and Tube disputes.
That left about 500 students and their teachers, who had spent weeks preparing for the music grade exams, frustrated and disappointed.
Anna Bacon, a violin and piano tutor, said the cancellation came despite the strikes being announced weeks ago.
She wrote on Twitter: “Just had my pupils’ exams cancelled. This is absolutely outrageous. ABRSM knew that [there] was a rail/tube strike and had plenty of time to prepare.”
Ms Bacon, who has two pupils affected by the cancellation, added: “Parents [are] taking time off work and pupils are prepared. I have rescheduled my week to accompany on piano. We are in limbo at present.”
Imperial College said it had only been informed of the cancellation on Tuesday evening, describing it as “extremely frustrating” for the external music students of all ages who had spent weeks preparing.
The ABRSM said: “A combination of issues have impacted on the availability of some examiners to attend venues across the UK during the busiest two weeks of our exam session. The strikes have understandably led to examiners not being able to travel to some venues as planned and a number have also become unavailable in recent days because of illness.
“We are really sorry for any impact this might have had on any of our candidates, teachers or venues and we will refund those affected.”