New guidance has confirmed pupils with a high temperature should not sit exams, Schools Week reports.
The guidance published by the Joint Council for Qualifications has prompted unions to call for a return to free Covid testing.
The guidance says pupils should continue to follow the wider UKHSA guidance on Covid which says children with a temperature should stay at home and return to school once it is gone and they feel well enough to attend.
Those who have mild symptoms, such as a runny nose or sore throat, but are otherwise well, should be advised to attend school to sit exams.
The guidance says: “Where a candidate still wishes to attend an examination, despite having symptoms (e.g. a high temperature) or a positive COVID-19 test the centre should encourage the candidate to follow the UKHSA’s guidance.”
Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the guidance, but she added: “The fact that there are no plans to make Covid tests available means that it will be impossible to tell whether or not those symptoms are actually Covid.
“As a result, we may end up with students who have Covid and are infectious in exam halls potentially transmitting the illness to other students and invigilators, and students at home who do not actually have Covid missing exams.”
Pupils who miss exams will become eligible for special consideration. Grades will still be awarded if pupils have completed the assessment for “at least one whole component within the specification”, with some exceptions around practical and spoken language assessments.
When applying for special consideration, schools no not require proof of a positive test, but “could keep a record … such as a photograph, as evidence if it is available”.