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| Heads warn of exam 'congestion' | Heads warn of exam 'congestion' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pupils about to start sitting GCSEs and AS-levels are being put under extra pressure by timetabling problems, head teachers have warned. | Pupils about to start sitting GCSEs and AS-levels are being put under extra pressure by timetabling problems, head teachers have warned. |
| The National Association of Head Teachers says as more pupils sit a wider range of subjects, candidates can face three or four exams in one day. | The National Association of Head Teachers says as more pupils sit a wider range of subjects, candidates can face three or four exams in one day. |
| It is calling on exam boards to co-ordinate schedules more effectively. | It is calling on exam boards to co-ordinate schedules more effectively. |
| The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) said it aimed to minimise clashes but some were inevitable. | The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) said it aimed to minimise clashes but some were inevitable. |
| The exam season begins across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Monday, but teaching unions fear what is already a difficult time for pupils is being made even harder. | The exam season begins across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Monday, but teaching unions fear what is already a difficult time for pupils is being made even harder. |
| It can't encourage the best performance by them Chris Howard, NAHT vice-president Pupils feel exam logjam pressure | It can't encourage the best performance by them Chris Howard, NAHT vice-president Pupils feel exam logjam pressure |
| Students in Scotland are already well into their exam season. | |
| Emma Horstrup, assistant head at Rainham Mark Grammar School in Kent, said: "We are getting a bunching of exams in one day. | Emma Horstrup, assistant head at Rainham Mark Grammar School in Kent, said: "We are getting a bunching of exams in one day. |
| "Some students are sitting three exams in one day - this is causing great stress and may be affecting their results." | "Some students are sitting three exams in one day - this is causing great stress and may be affecting their results." |
| Chris Howard, vice-president of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The exam boards need to do more to best co-ordinate their efforts so that youngsters don't have this problem of three or four examinations in one day which is clearly asking too much of anybody. | Chris Howard, vice-president of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The exam boards need to do more to best co-ordinate their efforts so that youngsters don't have this problem of three or four examinations in one day which is clearly asking too much of anybody. |
| "It can't encourage the best performance by them," he added. | "It can't encourage the best performance by them," he added. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY What is needed is improved staggering of the exams Adrian, Cardiff Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY What is needed is improved staggering of the exams Adrian, Cardiff Send us your comments |
| Former chief inspector of schools Chris Woodhead said the exam boards could better co-ordinate the exam timetables. | Former chief inspector of schools Chris Woodhead said the exam boards could better co-ordinate the exam timetables. |
| He added: "But I also think that ministers are responsible because they've encouraged more and more subjects to be offered at both GCSE and A-level and, of course, the more subjects that are offered, the more likely it is that there are going to be clashes between different subjects and different exam boards." | He added: "But I also think that ministers are responsible because they've encouraged more and more subjects to be offered at both GCSE and A-level and, of course, the more subjects that are offered, the more likely it is that there are going to be clashes between different subjects and different exam boards." |
| Teachers' feedback | Teachers' feedback |
| There are fears too that the so-called exam congestion will become worse next year as old and new A-level systems overlap. | There are fears too that the so-called exam congestion will become worse next year as old and new A-level systems overlap. |
| The JCQ, which represents the exam bodies, acknowledges it has a difficult job trying to cram some 3,000 exam papers into 30 days of examinations. | The JCQ, which represents the exam bodies, acknowledges it has a difficult job trying to cram some 3,000 exam papers into 30 days of examinations. |
| Students discuss their examination fears | Students discuss their examination fears |
| It said the increasing number of subjects being offered to pupils and restrictions on the scheduling of examinations, including bank holidays, school holidays and religious festivals, meant some clashes were inevitable. | It said the increasing number of subjects being offered to pupils and restrictions on the scheduling of examinations, including bank holidays, school holidays and religious festivals, meant some clashes were inevitable. |
| However, it said it sought feedback on draft timetables from teachers' groups before publishing them | However, it said it sought feedback on draft timetables from teachers' groups before publishing them |
| A meeting is being held next week for the JCQ to discuss a draft timetable for 2009 with teaching unions. | A meeting is being held next week for the JCQ to discuss a draft timetable for 2009 with teaching unions. |