Petition · past parliament
Postpone Exams. Don’t Put Students’ Futures In The Hands of Teachers.
Rejected
10 signatures
What the petition asks
It would be in the best interest of many students to be given to the opportunity to revise for longer and take their exams at a later date, or provide online alternatives as opposed to allowing teachers to make the decision as to what outcomes students will achieve.
Human beings are subject to bias and no one is above it. In light of this, it would be unfair to victimise a whole generation of students because of a pandemic they had no control over.
Because many students do much better in their actual exams than their predicted grades, it would be the fairest thing to do to allow students more time to sit their papers, and let their work speak for itself.
If the government is adamant about preserving the timeline, an alternative should be provided.
Because many students do much better in their actual exams than their predicted grades, it would be the fairest thing to do to allow students more time to sit their papers, and let their work speak for itself.
If the government is adamant about preserving the timeline, an alternative should be provided.
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
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
| 21 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 30 Mar 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
10
Status
Rejected
Rejected
30 Mar 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.