{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/780138.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":780138,"attributes":{"action":"Mandate offer of literal-language GCSE papers for students with autism","background":"Mandate the offer of literal language GCSE papers for autistic pupils. We want the Government to direct Ofqual to ensure exam boards provide an optional, literal-language GCSE exam pathway for autistic students across all subjects to remove unfair communication barriers.","additional_details":"GCSE exams rely on figurative language, idioms, and double negatives. Many students with autism interpret language literally, meaning they are penalised for wording rather than their actual academic knowledge. Adjustments like extra time do not solve this. We want an optional \"Direct Paper\" path. These papers must keep identical academic standards, but require questions to be written straight to the point with abstract language removed. Let’s give all children a fair chance to show what they know.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":14,"closing_date":"2027-03-18","created_at":"2026-08-21T06:57:07.434Z","updated_at":"2026-09-19T08:58:40.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-09-18T16:17:57.565Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-08-22T16:21:40.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Rachael Barratt","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":14}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Bridgwater","ons_code":"E14001126","mp":"Sir Ashley Fox MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Burnley","ons_code":"E14001142","mp":"Oliver Ryan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Chesterfield","ons_code":"E14001165","mp":"Mr Toby Perkins MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"City of Durham","ons_code":"E14001173","mp":"Mary Kelly Foy MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Gillingham and Rainham","ons_code":"E14001246","mp":"Naushabah Khan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Ipswich","ons_code":"E14001302","mp":"Jack Abbott MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rother Valley","ons_code":"E14001451","mp":"Jake Richards MP","signature_count":4},{"name":"Sheffield Hallam","ons_code":"E14001468","mp":"Olivia Blake MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North East","ons_code":"A","signature_count":1},{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":1},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":5},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":2},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":1},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":2}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}