There are calls for free Covid testing to be reintroduced during the exam season
(Picture: PA Wire)Schools are struggling with a shortage of invigilators as students begin sitting their first exams since the start of the pandemic, headteachers have warned.
A combination of Covid-related problems threatens to cause disruption in schools as pupils begin taking A-levels and GCSEs on Monday, according to the Association of School and College Leaders.
Some invigilators have not returned this year because they are worried about catching Covid, the union said. At the same time demand for invigilators has increased because more students with anxiety want to take their exams in separate smaller rooms.
Geoff Barton, of the ASCL, said some schools have had to train their own staff as invigilators, which is likely to have an impact on their normal duties.
The school leaders’ union has called for free Covid testing to be reintroduced during the exam season to reassure staff and pupils worried about Covid.
A survey of 527 headteachers by ASCL found that nearly 80 per cent of schools and colleges have received more requests than pre-pandemic from students wanting to take exams away from the main exam hall. This is mainly due to high levels of anxiety and stress. More than a third of heads said they have not been able to recruit enough invigilators for this summer’s exams.
GCSEs and A-levels have been cancelled for the past two years and replaced by teacher assessed grades due to Covid. Some headteachers said stress and anxiety is worse among A-level students who have not had the experience of taking GCSE exam.
To mitigate some of the effects of schools being closed during the pandemic students have been given advance notice of some topics to be covered in exams. Exams in the same subject have also been spaced at least 10 days apart so pupils who miss one paper due to Covid can receive grades based on the other components.
The department for education said it does not anticipate general disruption.
Mr Barton said: “It is clear that there are sufficient difficulties in recruiting enough invigilators. It would obviously reassure these staff if free Covid testing was available for exam students and we once again appeal to the Government to make this simple provision.”
It comes as the charity Magic Breakfast, which provides free breakfasts to poorer students, said donations made during exam season will be doubled.
Diners at restaurants including Hawksmoor and Coq d’Argent will have £1 added to their bill until the end of June, to support the Fuel for Success campaign run by Magic Breakfast. It aims to raise £280,000, enough for one million breakfasts during exam season.
