School teachers could deliberately disrupt both GCSEs and A-levels as part of proposed strike action, but despite this pupils are not expected to be given special treatment by exam boards.
The NEU (National Education Union) is considering industrial action if their pay demands are not met. Teachers have been offered a £1,000 bonus this year and an average 4.5 per cent pay rise, next year. Unfortunately union leaders have advised teachers to reject this “insulting” offer and plan for strike action between the 27th April 27 and May 2.
The NEU executive has agreed to seek “local agreements” with head teachers to protect exam preparation for Years 11 and 13. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, told the BBC “We will plan more strike dates. We have [the [NEU] conference next week, and conference will decide the plan of action, but no teacher wants to disrupt exam dates at all, so it’s up to the Government.”
At this point, official guidance from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents the UK’s biggest exam boards, does not make provisions for industrial action. Consequently, it states that candidates will not be eligible for extra marks if their exam preparation or performance is hampered by “staff shortages.”
Current rules say that special consideration can be given to students who suffer a bereavement in the lead-up to an exam, or where an exam itself is disrupted by a fire alarm. Arabella Skinner, of the parents’ group UsForThem commented, “It is wrong that once again children are suffering due to adults’ actions and the least the JCQ can do is to recognise how this could impact their exam preparation.”