Require local exam centres to accept home-educated students for public exams

Home-educated students need guaranteed access to suitable local examination centres at affordable prices, enabling them to have the same rights and access to qualifications as every other child in the UK.

Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, examination centres are closing their doors to external candidates making it increasingly difficult for home-educated students to gain qualifications. With many unable to obtain grades this summer, and the possibility of not being able to sit *any* exams this year coming, thousands of home-educated students will miss out on college places and be unable to move on to the next step of their education or professional life without government intervention.

Students have worked hard in preparation for their exams this year, but given the ongoing disruption to education caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the department announced in January that GCSE, AS and A level exams will not go ahead as planned this summer.

On 15 January, the Department for Education and Ofqual launched a rapid consultation on how to award grades to all pupils fairly, including private candidates and home educated students. We have been working at pace to consider responses from students and other key stakeholders and announced additional details on how grades will be awarded on 25 February.

We have ensured that there is a clear and accessible route for private candidates to receive a grade this year, at the same time as other candidates.

Private candidates will be expected to work with a centre to be assessed on a range of evidence, as other candidates will be. Ofqual and the exam boards will issue guidance to support centres assessing private candidates.

This evidence is likely to include the use of board-provided assessment materials and could include evidence created with another established education provider. Exceptionally, if insufficient other evidence is available, centres could conduct a recorded oral assessment. Private candidates should have the same opportunity as other students to be assessed on what they were taught, and exam boards should allow centres to conduct assessments remotely if needed.

We are working closely with the sector, particularly multi-academy trusts and FE colleges to ensure that there will be enough centres available to allow private candidates to access a grade. Although centres will not be required to accept private candidates, we strongly encourage them to do so. JCQ will publish a list of available centres shortly and private candidates will be able to work with a centre even if they are not local, allowing a wide variety of options for all private candidates.

All four exam boards that offer GCSE and A level qualifications have waived late entry fees and cancellation fees for private candidates until at least 21st March. We are also providing support to ensure that the cost to private candidates themselves will be similar to the cost in other years.

Department for Education

This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333864)