threatened disqualification for late arrival for public exams

[sam1963]

With snow forecast and icy roads threatening disruption to public transport I was checking school site for advice - advice was set out early and reminder that pupils arriving late would have to pay the entrance fee or be disqualified.
The school were quick to reassure me that each case would be considered on its merits but wouldn't consider removing the threat .
Their reasoning was that without sanctions children could get into the habit of arriving late and that they were anxious to send out the right message about punctuality.
I think that such language ( published with no suggestion that there will be any exceptions )causes anxiety .Surely if children haven't learnt the need to be punctual by the time they are taking GCSE ,AS and A2 modules a few threatening words on the website isn't going to have much effect .

I just wondered what others thought .
Should also add ,for context ,that school based in London with pupil body coming from many boroughs.

I don't think school should have that authority - it should be at the discretion of the examination board.

I thought the exam board rules were that if a child arrives late but the exam was still going on, they would be allowed to take it.

Brigit ,I did mention that but was told that this wasn't necessarily the case .
I imagine the school would make a decision ( based on what I don't know ) about whether the lateness was the candidates own fault and then impose their own penalty of disqualification /fine.
I suupose if they thought the lateness wasn't down to the candidates negligence that they would use the guidelines to allow them to sit the exam if they were late.
I don't really know,just guessing.

Fair enough to me.
Easy to avoid.
Be organised and turn up on time.

agree with moondog

I would agree if it hadn't been for the weather.
A journey that normally takes over an hour becomes really difficult when two local main roads are blocked , one both ways by a bendy bus and one by buses unable to get up a hill .
I don't call that easy to avoid and it seems unhelpful for the school to add to the general anxiety .

Yes RR I can see what you mean.
Suppose I just get a little tired of always being treated as though we all belong to that hapless band of miscreants !

But ...like teachers most parents strive to do their best for their children - I think it's a little insulting to imply that they need their minds focussing by threats of fines.

Understand what you're saying.
Re hiding exams ,and parents not knowing - these endless resits and sitting a module here and there is confusing for parents.
Personally I wish schools would send info direct to parents /put more on websites rather than relying on kids to tell us what's going on !
Hot choc and bacon butties ! What a lovely thought !