Rejected petition Cancel this year's GCSEs and A-Levels, and reschedule exams for 2021

I would like the Government or Parliament to understand the stress adolescents are experiencing during COVID-19, hence exams should be pushed off to 2021 for the students to perform to their best abilities.

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I myself as a student have been finding it difficult to fall asleep and concentrate in class due to deep concerns about how COVID-19 will affect vulnerable members of my family. I am behind in my work, and am very worried about my future if the GCSEs do take place this year.

The Guardian adds: "The government should cancel this year’s GCSE and A-level exams and hold them in 2021...pupils repeating the current year if the Covid-19 outbreak leads to widespread disruption...the head of England’s most successful multi-academy trust has told the Guardian."

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.

Decisions about exams are a matter for exam boards and individual schools, not the UK Government or Parliament. You can read the decision made by exam boards on what will happen to exams here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-details-on-exams-and-grades-announced

If you want the Government to review the decision to use previous data to calculate exam grades, you may wish to sign this petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/306773

As a result of the large numbers of petitions people have tried to start on this issue, and following a large number of questions it received from petitioners about exams, the Petitions Committee asked the Government about the impact of coronavirus on schools and exams.

Watch all the questions and responses:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmHWDlzlxfA&feature=youtu.be&t=3771

Watch the responses to the following questions:

What was the reasoning behind the timing of school closures?
https://youtu.be/MmHWDlzlxfA#t=1h3m16s

What is happening with exams including GCSEs, A-levels, and SATs?
https://youtu.be/MmHWDlzlxfA#t=1h4m35s

What measures are in place to protect vulnerable children, those on free school meals, and the teachers and other staff who are still working in schools?
https://youtu.be/MmHWDlzlxfA#t=1h7m09s

When might schools re-open?
https://youtu.be/MmHWDlzlxfA#t=1hm12s

Exam cancellations and the current coronavirus pandemic can cause worry and stress. You can find information on how to deal with stress here:

Young Minds:
https://youngminds.org.uk/

Children’s Society:
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/mental-health-advice-for-children-and-young-people/issues-affecting-young-people

Childline:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/anxiety-stress-panic/coping-with-stress/

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

UK Government website:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 17 March 2020
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