Students and parents at one of the schools worst affected by the dangerous concrete crisis have been dealt another blow after learning major disruption will not be taken into account when exams are marked.
Most pupils at St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham have been studying at home since the start of term after reinforced concrete was found in many of the buildings.
Classrooms have been closed and pupils are only allowed in school on certain days with most doing lessons online which many parents say is ‘ineffective’.
They hoped that special consideration would be given to GSCE and A-level students, but the Department for Education and exam regulator Ofqual have both said they are unable to help.
Read next: Parents stage Raac demonstration at St Leonard's school, Durham
“Even on days where I do have face-to-face teaching, it’s a block of one subject for four hours, and I spend nearly as much time travelling back and forth as I do being taught.
“We’re all worried about the impact that it could have on our grades at the end of the year.”
Jill Robinson, whose son Josh is in the upper sixth, said she was ‘really disappointed’ at the lack of support.
She said: “There’s been so much disruption due to no fault of their own.
“Homeschooling is not the same, and the sixth form have been getting bused out to Washington which is a 40-minute round trip.
“All the upheaval and lack of actual schooling is bound to have an effect on their learning. There should be some sort of recognition, as exam years are stressful enough.”
She said she has not had a normal year at school because of Covid, strikes and RAAC.
Ms Oliver said: “I am utterly appalled and sickened that right now Ofqual are saying we don’t meet any special consideration criteria.
“Our children will have the pressure of knowing everyone else sitting their exams and miles ahead of them and now through no fault of their own they will have the pressure to hurriedly catch up.”
School leaders and education chiefs are trying to arrange face-to-face classes at Ushaw College five miles away and there are plans for temporary classrooms in the car park at County Hall in Durham.
There are also plans to fast-track the rebuilding of the school following a visit by Education Minister Baroness Barran but it will not be ready until 2026 at the earliest.
Read more: RAAC disruption at St Leonard's School in Durham
Ms Foy said: “I know school staff, pupils and their families will be appalled that the Department for Education has failed to recognise the significant impact RAAC closures will have on the educational performance of affected pupils if no exam mitigation is forthcoming.
“The enforced closure of classrooms for fear of roofs collapsing for weeks and weeks on end is surely an exceptional circumstance, and indeed one that will be shared by students across the country at affected schools.
“The public would surely agree that it is reasonable and fair, that pupils who have lost weeks of vital teaching be afforded some level of recognition and mitigation in their examinations.
“It is therefore staggering that the Government is content to sit back and wash their hands of the very children, whose education has been derailed by their mismanagement of the RAAC crisis.
“Ofqual and the DfE cannot pretend the children have experienced ‘learning as usual’ this year.”
Ms Foy has now written to the vice-chancellor of Durham University, and will be writing to Universities UK, to ask that they exercise sense and empathy when allocating university places to young people from St Leonard's for the 24/25 academic year.
Durham University has said adverse circumstances are always taken into consideration when making admissions decisions.
In a letter to Ms Foy, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said special consideration only covers events that happen immediately before or during an examination or assessment that have a material effect on a student's ability to take that examination or assessment, or on how they performed.
He said: “Students are not eligible for special consideration if preparation for, performance in the examination or assessment, is affected by building work or lack of facilities
“Therefore, special consideration cannot be awarded to students in schools and colleges affected by RAAC as a standard arrangement.”
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An Ofqual spokesperson said: “We understand that students in schools and colleges affected by RAAC may be concerned about the arrangements for their exams.
“Schools and colleges have contingency plans in place for any disruption to exams and assessments.
“They should contact the relevant exam board to discuss any further arrangements they may need to help minimise disruption and any impact on students.”
The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Educational Trust, which runs St Leonard’s, said it has taken the advice and written to exam boards about the situation and pledged to keep parents and carers informed.
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Chief executive Nick Hurn said: “We know how difficult this situation is right now and how concerned our parents and carers are regarding examinations and grading, and indeed we share the same concerns.
“We know there is significant time and resources needed to catch up for our students both academically and socially.”
Mr Hurn a comprehensive programme of activities outside of the normal curriculum is being put in place including:
- Specialist Facilities - Working with another four secondary schools to use resources and facilities.
- Specialist Provision – Identifying suitable teaching environments and specialist provision across the trust, as well as specialist mobile units.
- Catch-up All Year Tutoring Programme - Access to over 100 recognised tutors across different subjects.
- Bespoke Catch-Up Programme from identified needs by student, class and year group.
Mr Hurn said: "We remain committed to doing everything we can to ensure our students get the best education possible.”
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