Rejected petition Cancel university exams 2020 due to global pandemic (COVID-19) and strike action

Students have lost out on teaching time and support due to the coronavirus outbreak. As well as the inability to travel to university and attend lectures, many students are filled with anxiety about these uncertain times. Hence, these exams would not be an accurate measure of their capabilities.

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It is unfair that the quality of students' education, for which they are paying, is being compromised through no fault of their own. The COVID-19 outbreak also continues on after the UCU strike action which only furthers the impact it is having on their studies. This is disadvantageous to all students but as usual it is the most vulnerable students that will suffer the most. It is therefore an appropriate and imperative request to ask Parliament to put pressure on universities to cancel exams.

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 18 March 2020
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