Swine flu exam fears rejected

Ofqual has insisted it has "tried and tested" processes in place to cope with potential disruption from swine flu to this summer's exams.

Under the exam regulator's contingency plans, children sitting exams could be moved to a new venue or, if they are suffering from the disease, be awarded a grade based on other schoolwork.

Isabel Nisbet, chief executive of Ofqual, confirmed that as of Thursday morning five schools in England are closed as a result of swine flu.

But she rejected fears that the outbreaks would seriously affect summer examinations for the majority of pupils.

"The most reassuring thing to know is that we have tried and tested processes for what we call 'special considerations' when something stops a student from sitting their exam," she told the BBC.

"These have been in place for many years. We make sure that they are accurate and fair and that nobody is disadvantaged."

Special consideration would mean that other elements of pupils' work would be considered to decide upon a suitable grade, Nisbet explained.

"Remember, quite a lot of candidates have already done quite a lot of the bits for their exams," she said. "It is just to get good evidence for the remaining bits.

"What happens is that a school is in touch with an exam board that they are working with. They have good relationships with those and they have processes that they know about and are used to using. They use them when individual students are ill or can't take their exams."

The exam board chief said that Ofqual is in daily contact with the government on the issue of swine flu.

"We are not complacent about this," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"We are securing the systems we have in place. At the moment, we are talking about small numbers and tried and tested procedures."

The Department for Children, Schools and Families confirmed it was working with Ofqual to ensure that contingency plans were suitable.

"Arrangements will be made on a case by case basis, so that all students are fairly treated," said a spokeswoman.

"Basing final results on other evidence, like coursework or modules already completed (also known as special consideration), is just one contingency arrangement, and would only happen in specific circumstances where a student was unable to take a particular exam.

"This is a tried and tested system that exam boards use to award students grades if they are unable to take an exam for a given reason."

Health secretary Alan Johnson is due to give updated advice on the disease outbreak today, alongside chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson.