East Sussex schools come together to support student-led petition against current exam rules for sick children

St Catherine’s College in Priory Road, Eastbourne, and Seaford Head School in Arundel Road, Seaford, are backing a petition titled ‘give students who miss exams due to illness a right to centre assessed grades’ – which currently has more than 2,500 signatures.

The petition says: “Where a student is unable to sit their exams because of illness, they should have the right to a centre assessed grade, so that they do not miss out on getting a qualification.”

Seaford Head School pupil James Jewell, 18, started the petition after an Eastbourne student was diagnosed with cancer.

Nigel Jewell, who is James’ father and a deputy headteacher at St Catherine’s, said if a child misses an exam because of an illness they are marked as absent and if they do attend they only receive an extra five per cent as a special consideration.

Mr Jewell said: “Who could object? It just seems to be the right thing to do [to change the rule].”

Mr Jewell added that if the rule does change it will be one less burden for children who are dealing with a serious illness.

James, who started the petition, said: “There are hundreds and hundreds across the country that will miss their exams [due to a serious illness]. It is something that is incredibly unfair.”

He added: “It doesn’t take a lot of empathy to know that it is unfair and it is wrong.”

Seaford Head School headteacher Bob Ellis said: “How great is it that young people are involved in something significant trying to make a difference in an important way? I could not be prouder of our students.”

Mr Ellis explained that he also wants those suffering from a serious illness to be reassured that their grades will not be ‘ripped away’.

He added: “We are talking about a really serious disease and the system is not looking after them”

At 10,000 signatures the government will respond to the petition and at 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We fully recognise that exams mark the culmination of a number of years of hard work, and to be diagnosed with any serious illness close to exams will always be an incredibly challenging and upsetting experience.

“As in any year, exam boards have processes in place to assist students whose ability to sit exams is affected by illness or other unforeseen circumstances, including allowing pupils to take exams at home or in hospital or awarding a grade to students who have taken at least one exam or formal assessment in a subject.

“We would encourage students who may find themselves in this position to talk to their school or college who can raise this with exam boards directly to discuss possible arrangements for them to be assessed and receive a grade.”