UK teenagers sit exams as schools reopen

Teenagers across England were sitting crucial A-level and GCSE exams yesterday as schools reopened despite icy conditions.

The exams regulator Ofqual said indications were that most schools had been able to proceed with examinations or had made alternative arrangements for students.

There were fears that hundreds of thousands of students could be disadvantaged if the bad weather forced the continued closure of schools and colleges or prevented candidates from making it in.

But union leaders said there had been a "very high degree of determination" on the part of schools to make sure exams were taken.

In many cases schools only opened for exam candidates.

Ofqual said: "Ofqual this morning had talks with the awarding bodies to assess the impact of the adverse weather conditions on the exams due to take place."

Most of the exams due to take place over the next two weeks are modular papers for A and AS-levels, although some are GCSEs.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "I think there has been a very high degree of determination in schools to make sure that pupils taking exams aren't disadvantaged. I think that even schools which are shut to other pupils have made arrangements to be open for exams."

He added: "There are major safety issues to opening a school in very, very bad weather. But to have one big room that's warm, and to have it properly supervised is much easier."

But even as schools were reopening, some pupils were still unable to make it to their exams, meaning they effectively missed a chance to sit a paper.

Jane Machell, principal of Alton College in east Hampshire, which opened today, said many students had faced problems.

"We have had quite big difficulties getting students in from rural areas.

"Of the 320 sitting the maths A-level paper yesterday, 280 were in the exam hall by the time the exam started, we had another 30 turn up later, and were able to start the exam, but the rest haven't been about to get in."

The college will be asking for special consideration for those students who had failed to make it in, and those who arrived late, she said.

"Students are more stressed than normal," she added.

"We have had lots of parents trying to bring them in; others have been staying overnight with friends who live nearer. It hasn't been satisfactory, but we're doing what we can."