§ Baroness Coxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide the figures for each year from 1993 to 2001 for the total number of candidates in England and Wales allowed special arrangements of all kinds of the GCSE examinations. [HL4763]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandFigures are not available on the basis requested. The Joint Council for General Qualifications collates data on the applications for special arrangements agreed by each of the awarding bodies. Candidates frequently sit examinations with more than one awarding body. Data for applications processed therefore exceed the actual number of students receiving special considerations. The applications processed in 2001 represented 2.4 per cent of total entries at GCSE and GCE A/AS-level; the awarding bodies do not have a separate breakdown for GCSEs.