Government denies equality for deaf students in exams

NDCS has expressed anger and disappointment after the Government refused to take action that would help ensure a fair and equitable exam system for disabled students.

Yesterday, Lords debated new laws on access to exams, as part of the Equality Bill. NDCS is deeply concerned that the current drafting of the Bill will allow exam bodies to discriminate against disabled students.

NDCS statement

In a statement, Jo Campion, Head of Campaigns, said:

"Deaf students and their parents will be expressing anger and disappointment today that the Government has sided with exam bodies rather than disabled students."

“The Equality Bill was meant to remove all traces of discrimination in exams, but instead maintains a system which is unfairly loaded against disabled students. It now enables a range of unnecessary get-out clauses for exam bodies to avoid having to make exams genuinely accessible.”

“Government figures show that deaf children are already under achieving at school. These new laws will make it even harder for deaf children to get the qualifications they need to be independent and successful in life."

In 2005, the exams regulator withdrew support available to disabled candidates. NDCS successfully fought to get this support reinstated for deaf students, as part of a coalition of organisations. However, NDCS continues to receive complaints from deaf students and parents highlighting that this support is not being provided.

NDCS is calling on the Government to urgently reconsider its position and ensure the Equality Bill provides genuine access to examinations for disabled students.

The Bill states that the exams regulator, Ofqual, must have regard for the following when making decisions about reasonable adjustments for disabled students:

1. the need to minimise disadvantage faced by disabled students
2. the need to maintain the integrity of the qualification
3. the need to maintain public confidence in the qualification

NDCS believes that the proposed new law is unfair because:

• By only seeking to minimise disadvantage, the Bill accepts that some disadvantage and discrimination can remain. 
• The Bill gives unfair weighting to public confidence, when balanced against the needs of disabled students. NDCS believes it is unnecessary to set out a requirement for public confidence as there is already a requirement to maintain the integrity of the exam system. NDCS is concerned that the effect will be to give exam bodies a 'get-out' clause for not having to meet the needs of disabled students.
  

Examples of discrimination that deaf students currently face in exams include:

• Failure to provide written transcripts for video or radio recordings
• Failure to provide extra time to lip-read instructions
• Being asked questions which are inappropriate for a deaf young person to answer. For example, a deaf student was asked in an English exam to describe how it felt to be a fan of a music band. The examining body refused to accept that the question would disadvantage a student who has no experience of listening to music.

Take action!

Please sign a 10 Downing Street petition calling on the Government to ensure access to exams for deaf and other disabled students. Please also let your friends and family know about the petition.

Sign the petition now > (external website)

Have your say

What do you think of the Government's decision on access to exams? Have you come across any examples of exams not being accessible for deaf students. If so, please get in touch. Email us or leave a message at the bottom of this page.

More information

Equality Bill debate in the House of Lords on exams (external website)

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