Postpone GCSE/AS/A-Level examinations during COVID-19

Rejected 16 signatures

What the petition asks

To postpone examinations until 2021 or take predicted grades as a basis for university/college/sixth form entry. The government to take into account the fact that many people will be at a disadvantage if the exams were to continue during the summer period.

The safety of people is important and shouldn’t be put at risk for the sake of sitting an exam. These examinations are considered some of the most important you will ever sit and cause psychological and emotional strain as it is, which will be made worse by COVID-19 through illness, missed school/college time and panic. They greatly affect your future and we believe that taking these examinations during this time could massively impact our career paths and the options in which we are left with.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

Decisions about exams are a matter for exam boards and individual schools, not the UK Government or Parliament. You can read the decision made by exam boards on what will happen to exams here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-details-on-exams-and-grades-announced

If you want the Government to review the decision to use previous data to calculate exam grades, you may wish to sign this petition:
Review the decision to use previous data to calculate exam grades

As a result of the large numbers of petitions people have tried to start on this issue, and following a large number of questions it received from petitioners about exams, the Petitions Committee asked the Government about the impact of coronavirus on schools and exams.

Watch all the questions and responses:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmHWDlzlxfA&feature=youtu.be&t=3771

Watch the responses to the following questions:

What was the reasoning behind the timing of school closures?
https://youtu.be/MmHWDlzlxfA#t=1h3m16s

What is happening with exams including GCSEs, A-levels, and SATs?
https://youtu.be/MmHWDlzlxfA#t=1h4m35s

What measures are in place to protect vulnerable children, those on free school meals, and the teachers and other staff who are still working in schools?
https://youtu.be/MmHWDlzlxfA#t=1h7m09s

When might schools re-open?
https://youtu.be/MmHWDlzlxfA#t=1hm12s

Exam cancellations and the current coronavirus pandemic can cause worry and stress. You can find information on how to deal with stress here:

Young Minds:
https://youngminds.org.uk/

Children’s Society:
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/mental-health-advice-for-children-and-young-people/issues-affecting-young-people

Childline:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/anxiety-stress-panic/coping-with-stress/

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

UK Government website:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Timeline

17 Mar 2020	Petition opened for signatures
30 Mar 2020	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 16

Status Rejected

Rejected 30 Mar 2020

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