§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have received from individuals and from organisations representing teachers and parents about the case for the holding of GCSE, A and AS-level examinations before the half-term holiday; and whether they will refer this matter to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, under Section 23(2)(b) of the Education Act 1977. [HL3232]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)The Government have not received any representations requesting a rescheduling of GCSE, A and AS-level examinations before the half-term holiday. Some of these examinations are already timetabled for the week before the holiday; the majority are however scheduled for the four weeks after it. The timetabling of all GCSE and A/AS-level examinations before the holiday would not be appropriate. The timetables which we have approved for these examinations strike a balance between competing pressures to maximise study time and minimise timetable clashes and excessive intensity during the examination session.