Exam desks - what are the rules on what’s permitted?

[Unformidable]

Ds uses a laptop for extended writing and will be allowed a laptop for GCSE exams coming up. He has asked for a wider desk so he can fit on paper and pencils as well to make notes. He’s been told by school there are strict rules on what desks are permitted. Are they right? Could they push two desks together?

There are no space limitations so this isn’t the reason.

Are they correct?

You can have wide desks. The rule is that chairs have to be 1.25m apart (Centre to Centre)

Hi OP I work in exams and the rules do allow for some flexibility when there are access arrangements, go back to the senco and ask them to raise it with the Exams Officer.

If you google JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifcations) you can access all of their official guidance online.

There is no maximum size of exam desk!

There is a minimum gap between candidates...

It will be to do with the size of the school hall and not wanting/being able to pay for more invigilators in more spaces.

I work in an independent and all laptop users are in a separate room away from hand writers. They have plenty of space around them.

Desks can be any size but the distance between them is 1.25m in all directions and must be placed in a way invigilators can see easily. Pushing 2 together can take out an entire row in the hall and if it's anything like ours they can't spare the space. Ask about a separate room where classroom tables can be used which we do for laptops

The minimum distance in all directions from centre to centre of candidates' chairs must be 1.25m. All candidates should face in the same direction. JQC doesn't mention size of desks. They will have several candidates using laptops, so it could be that if all of them have a double desk then they can't fit everyone into the exam room?

To reassure you, DS2 used a laptop for about half of his GCSE subjects last summer (the ones with a lot of writing). It is possible to manage a layout so everything fits.

*JCQ.
I don't know what JQC is.

Thank you! I've googled JQC and found this

11.10 The seating arrangements must prevent candidates from overlooking (intentionally or otherwise) the work of others. The minimum distance in all directions from centre to centre of candidates'
chairs must be 1.25 metres.

11.11 Wherever possible, for timetabled examinations:
a) all candidates should face in the same direction;
b) each candidate should have a separate desk or table big enough to hold question papers, maps (as appropriate) and answer booklets.

Candidates who are not working at individual desks must be far enough apart so that their work cannot be seen by, and contact cannot be made with other candidates;
c) candidates who are working on a drawing board set on an easel or other non-horizontal surface must be arranged in an inward-facing circle or in some similar pattern.

www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/ice---instructions-for-conducting-examinations/instructions-for-conducting-examinations-2018-2019

So it doesn't look like there are any rules about the desk size. Hmm. I will go back to the SENCO.

Thank you everyone who's commented.

If he is an ICT room with other candidates also using laptops/pcs it is possible that they can comply with the JCQ minimum distance rules but cannot allow candidates "extra" space without the need for going into a further room and the cost of hiring extra invigilators. If this is the case would you be prepared to offer to cover those costs?

OKBobble

OP doesn’t need to pay any extra costs! It’s an agreed access arrangement and as such must be provided by the school in a way that will not disadvantage the candidate. Please don’t offer advice that is incorrect!

OP has been directed to the guidelines, found the relevant part and can request that the senco (and exams officer) put the correct arrangements in place. Sorted.

Glad you found what you needed OP.

General advice to anyone who needs to know anything about exam board rules - check out JCQ website, all the guidelines are available, and keep referring back to them when dealing with schools and exam departments, and bare in mind that a) we aren’t infallible, and b) we definitely want your child to do the best they can!

I was actually saying that some wp provision is provided in a compliant way in accordance with the access arrangements with other candidates who also use wp ie. With the appropriate gap between candidates. However due to the size of the room and number of candidates the school might not be able to provide a wider than normal desk which is what the OP is after. In those circumstances if she wants to ask for a separate room ro accommodate this which is over and above the provision actually requires because of her child's SpLD and IF the school were to accommodate this would she be prepared to fund it. I am an invigilator actually and am fully aware of JCQ access rules.

The OP is seeking more than her child requires under his access requirements which is an entirely different matter.

DD has been told she can use the word processor or pen and paper or both in the same exam, so I presume the desks they use at her school must be big enough for both.

OKBobble

I am an Exams Officer and your interpretation of the rules are incorrect, go back and check with your Exams Officer they will tell you the same thing!