Exam information providing clarity regarding the approach to student illness on the day of an exam.
National exams are about to start for GCSE and A level subjects and for many BTEC and CTEC courses. The information below is to provide clarity regarding the approach to student illness on the day of an exam.
Some important elements to keep in mind:
- Students should attend their exams wherever possible.
- Exams have been spaced to achieve a 10-day gap, by JCQ and the awarding bodies, to minimise the chance of a student missing all exams through illness.
- Students have the right to attend their exams if they feel well enough to do so.
- No grade can be awarded if a student misses all the assessment components for their course.
In line with the details set out above, the college will support the approach through the following measures:
- If a student misses an exam through significant temporary illness, they must complete a form created by JCQ for special consideration. This is the ‘Form 14 -JCQ/ME - Self-certification for candidates’. The Exams Team can help with the location and completion of this form. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at London Road Campus.
- Should a student suspect they have contracted COVID-19, there is no requirement for them to provide a test result as proof; they will need to complete the self-certification form.
- Should a student suspect they have contracted COVID-19, but feel they are well enough to sit their exam(s) then contingency arrangements are in place for them to do so. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible so that the exams team can schedule the student into a contingency room to complete their exam.
- Other forms of special consideration are still available for students if they feel that their exam performance has been affected by a particular issue; please contact the exams team as soon as possible after the exam to complete the relevant form.
The current Government COVID-19 advice is:
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you no longer feel unwell.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding our approach to student illness during exams, please contact the Exams Team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..