School and college leaders want a 75 per cent rebate on this year’s exam fees, a survey has revealed, the BBC reports.
Nearly two out of three head teachers surveyed by the Association of School and College Leaders said exam boards should offer a refund of three quarters of the fees this year.
Exam boards have said they still need to cover costs but will pass on any savings.
The survey comes as the deadline for schools to submit their pupils’ GCSE and A-level grades to exam boards nears on June 18, after exams were cancelled for the second year in a row.
ASCL boss Geoff Barton said it was “reasonable” schools should receive a rebate “commensurate” with the task of conducting “an entire assessment process from scratch”.
Of those who responded, the average total bill for all exam fees this summer was £116,967 for schools with a sixth-form and £75,238 for schools without a sixth-form.
Mr Barton said: “Last year, rebates of around 25 per cent were given to schools and colleges – but our survey shows there is a real strength of feeling for something more significant this year.”