Petition · past parliament
End marks for spelling in exams and stop discrimination against dyslexia.
Rejected
10 signatures
What the petition asks
Stop penalising pupils and students in exams for making spelling mistakes.
Being able to spell a word isn't a measure of understanding its meaning or knowing how to use it in context.
Being able to spell does not reflect either ability or knowledge, it is simply a matter of luck.
Being able to spell a word isn't a measure of understanding its meaning or knowing how to use it in context.
Being able to spell does not reflect either ability or knowledge, it is simply a matter of luck.
Marking individuals down for spelling, disadvantages and punishes them for having dyslexia.
Dyslexia can be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and penalising spelling mistakes could be discriminatory.
Focussing on spelling as a measure of success isn't a fair assessment; it perpetuates misconceptions about dyslexia, undermines the confidence of those who have it and potentially limits their life chances.
This is not about 'dumbing down' - it is about reasonable adjustments.
Dyslexia can be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and penalising spelling mistakes could be discriminatory.
Focussing on spelling as a measure of success isn't a fair assessment; it perpetuates misconceptions about dyslexia, undermines the confidence of those who have it and potentially limits their life chances.
This is not about 'dumbing down' - it is about reasonable adjustments.
Why it was rejected
It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.
Petitions must call for a specific action that the UK Government or House of Commons is responsible for. Decisions about marking exams are a matter for individual schools and exam boards, not the Government or House of Commons.
Under the Equality Act 2010 schools and education authorities already have had a duty to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils. You can read more about this duty here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/reasonable_adjustments_for_disabled_pupils_1.pdf
If you think you might have been treated unfairly and want further advice, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service: https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
Under the Equality Act 2010 schools and education authorities already have had a duty to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils. You can read more about this duty here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/reasonable_adjustments_for_disabled_pupils_1.pdf
If you think you might have been treated unfairly and want further advice, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service: https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
Timeline
| 10 May 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 17 May 2021 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
10
Status
Rejected
Rejected
17 May 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.