Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will allocate additional funding to schools to meet the cost of entering candidates in the autumn exam series.

Students who are considering taking autumn exams should speak with their school or college and discuss their next best step.

The majority of students will now have the grades they need to move on to their next step. Those who did not receive a grade or who are unhappy with their grade will have the opportunity to take exams in the autumn. The Department have published guidance which makes it clear that they expect the school or college that entered students for the summer series to enter them for autumn if they want to sit exams. The Government is clear that given the unique circumstances in which the autumn exams are being run, students and their families should not have to meet the cost of fees if they want to enter.

So that schools and colleges have the support they need to run the additional autumn series, the Department is launching an Exam Support Service. Through this service, schools and colleges can book fully funded additional space to run exams if needed to avoid disruption to teaching. They will also be able to claim back for costs relating to autumn exam fees or invigilation where these exceed any savings they have made in those areas following the cancellation of summer exams. £30 million has been earmarked to deliver this support, although funding will be demand led and driven by the number of students who choose to sit the exams.

Further details can be found in our published guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/responsibility-for-autumn-gcse-as-and-a-level-exam-series.