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| Exams cost too much, say colleges | Exams cost too much, say colleges |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Colleges are spending more money on entering students for exams than they are on heating, cleaning or computers, they say. | Colleges are spending more money on entering students for exams than they are on heating, cleaning or computers, they say. |
| The Association of Colleges says the cost of entering students for exams has gone up by 36% in the past three years. | The Association of Colleges says the cost of entering students for exams has gone up by 36% in the past three years. |
| Some larger colleges have seen their exam bill rise by more than 25% in one year and face annual bills of over £1m. | Some larger colleges have seen their exam bill rise by more than 25% in one year and face annual bills of over £1m. |
| The government has ordered a review of exam fees and has said the results will be published later this year. | |
| The concern comes as the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is considering a cap on what exam boards can charge. | The concern comes as the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is considering a cap on what exam boards can charge. |
| The association welcomed the QCA's review, saying many colleges faced too-high bills. | The association welcomed the QCA's review, saying many colleges faced too-high bills. |
| For example, the annual bill for exams at the City of Bristol College is £1.5m. | For example, the annual bill for exams at the City of Bristol College is £1.5m. |
| Vice principal Judith Stradling said this was a rise of about 30% in four years. | Vice principal Judith Stradling said this was a rise of about 30% in four years. |
| "It's a cost that needs to be recognised - particularly for 16 to 18-year-olds," she said. | "It's a cost that needs to be recognised - particularly for 16 to 18-year-olds," she said. |
| "It's a reflection of your success in a way, because it shows you've got a lot of students achieving qualifications." | "It's a reflection of your success in a way, because it shows you've got a lot of students achieving qualifications." |
| Mrs Stradling said the increasing number of modular exams would put costs up further. | Mrs Stradling said the increasing number of modular exams would put costs up further. |
| 'Unacceptable' | 'Unacceptable' |
| Truro College in Cornwall spent just under £1m on exam fees last year. | Truro College in Cornwall spent just under £1m on exam fees last year. |
| Principal Jonathan Burnett said students lost out as a result. | Principal Jonathan Burnett said students lost out as a result. |
| "The proportion of funding that we have to spend on exam fees at the college reduces what is available for students," he said. | "The proportion of funding that we have to spend on exam fees at the college reduces what is available for students," he said. |
| "We think that that is unacceptable." | "We think that that is unacceptable." |
| Transparency | Transparency |
| Last week the board of England's exam watchdog, QCA, heard that exam fees had been rising "well above the rate of inflation". | Last week the board of England's exam watchdog, QCA, heard that exam fees had been rising "well above the rate of inflation". |
| The QCA is now considering whether a price cap is necessary for the revised A-levels and new specialised Diplomas. | The QCA is now considering whether a price cap is necessary for the revised A-levels and new specialised Diplomas. |
| It also wants greater "transparency" in the pricing, and aims to publish all the boards' fees on its website. | It also wants greater "transparency" in the pricing, and aims to publish all the boards' fees on its website. |
| AoC chief executive, John Brennan, said: "The AoC welcomes the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's new review on exam fees and their commitment to taking college concerns seriously. | AoC chief executive, John Brennan, said: "The AoC welcomes the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's new review on exam fees and their commitment to taking college concerns seriously. |
| "Examination costs are higher because government policy requires colleges to use external qualifications as a pre-condition for receiving funding. | "Examination costs are higher because government policy requires colleges to use external qualifications as a pre-condition for receiving funding. |
| "The continuing rise in exam-fee expenditure above 10% a year is unsupportable and will deny other resources to students." | "The continuing rise in exam-fee expenditure above 10% a year is unsupportable and will deny other resources to students." |
| The Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said there would be a review of exam fees, although the government believed expenditure on exam fees had increased in line with the greater number of learners taking qualifications. | |
| "More and more young people and adults, are achieving the qualifications they need for sustained employment and to meet the skills needs of the economy," he said. | |
| "We have asked QCA to look at the exam fees charged by awarding bodies for GCSEs and A-levels and to make recommendations for a clear pricing structure. The findings and recommendations from the review will be published later this year.? |