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Schools Want 75% Rebate on This Summer’s Exam Fees

Source: BBC News

 

School and college leaders in England want a rebate of at least 75% on this year’s exam fees, a survey has found.

This year’s GCSE and A-level results will be decided by teachers after summer exams were cancelled in January because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nearly two in three (65%) headteachers surveyed by the Association of School and College Leaders said exam boards should offer a 75% rebate this year. Boards say they still need to cover costs but will pass on any savings.

Schools and colleges across England have until 18 June to submit candidates’ grades to the exam boards. ASCL boss Geoff Barton said it was “reasonable” schools should receive a rebate “commensurate” with the task of conducting “an entire assessment process from scratch”.

Of the more than 457 secondary school and college leaders in England surveyed at the end of May:

  • 45% believe exam boards should apply a rebate of 75% to exam fees for this summer’s qualifications
  • a further 20% want a rebate of more than 75%

Mr Barton said: “Last year, rebates of around 25% were given to schools and colleges – but our survey shows there is a real strength of feeling for something more significant this year.

A spokesman for the AQA board, which is a not-for-profit company, said it was another “unique and challenging summer”, with the education sector “having to work harder than normal to make sure students receive the same qualifications as usual, in a very different way”. The board says it will pass on any savings to schools, but added that “even without exams, exam boards are having to work much harder than normal too – and this is why we still need to charge fees.”

 

 

 

For the full story, click here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-57470281

 

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