One in six children are now given extra time in public exams, official figures show
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Loading... - Alice Winston
- 30 Nov 2020
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The number of children getting extra time in their exams has risen by 36 per cent in the past four years, official figures show, 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 A-level candidates are awarded 25 per cent extra time for their exams, according to Ofqual.
Critics say the figures “make a mockery” of the system and undermine credibility in public examinations.
Ofqual acknowledged that the use of extra time has increased in recent years, adding that disabled students are “entitled to a reasonable adjustment”.
However, the exam watchdog said there was widespread variation in the proportion of students at particular schools and colleges who are granted extra time.
They said they intend to contact centre which 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. Schools can apply to the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) to request extra time for a student on a variety on grounds. These include learning difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or a mental health condition .
Professor Alan Smithers, director of the education and employment centre at 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.”
He added that requesting extra time is “an open goal for both pushy parents and pushy schools”.
Chris McGovern, director of the Campaign for Real Education and a former Government advisor, said the figures "make a mockery" of the system and "and undermines credibility and belief” in public examinations.
"It is out of all proportion – the fact is that a sixth of the children in the country do not have special needs,” he said. “We have redefined it as if you have pushy parents you are special needs".
An Ofqual spokesperson said: “The use of extra time in GCSE and A level exams has increased in recent years. Disabled students are entitled to a reasonable adjustment when taking their exams and it is important that appropriate adjustments are made for them.
“We have looked at the proportion of students at individual schools and colleges in England who are given extra time. Some have relatively high numbers of approvals compared with the average, and some have very few.
“We intend that centres which, without obvious good reason, make particularly high or low use of extra time are contacted and asked to review their approach. We are working with the exam boards to achieve this.”
