§ Lord Campbell of Allowayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of the practice by which dyslexic candidates in GCSE examinations (who being registered with the London Board are given extra time) are subjected to a 5 per cent. penalty on spelling, punctuation and grammar unless consent 57WA is given to an endorsement of the certificate that the pupil is dyslexic; and that the decision as to the exercise of this option has to be made by return of post.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Education (Baroness Blatch)Her Majesty's Government are concerned that pupils' ability in spelling should be appropriately assessed. To this end new rules have been introduced to ensure that from 1992 a small proportion of the total available marks will be allocated to spelling, punctuation and grammar in all written GCSE examination papers. These rules will apply to all pupils, since we believe that if a pupil has difficulty with spelling this should not be obscured.
Under provisions made by the Joint Council for the GCSE, it will, however, be possible for dyslexic and other handicapped candidates to be given an 58WA additional time allowance to plan and correct their papers. It will also be possible for such candidates to be, exceptionally, totally exempted from assessment for accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. Where this latter course is adopted, the candidate's GCSE certificate will be endorsed to show that he or she has been assessed on a different basis from the others.
The University of London Examinations and Assessment Council offered dyslexic candidates the option of being exempted from having their spelling, grammar and punctuation assessed but pointed out that their certificates would be endorsed if they so decided. It asked candidates to complete a form indicating their wishes and to send it back by return of post. This is entirely in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Council.