How to review your examination contingency plan

Awarding bodies require exam centres to have an exam contingency plan. Use our recommended questions to help you check your school or trust's plan is fit for purpose.

Last reviewed on 4 March 2024See updates
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Contents
  1. All exam centres must have an examination contingency plan
  2. Key things to look out for
  3. 3 key questions to challenge the plan
  4. Model examination contingency plan
  5. Examples of examination contingency plans

All exam centres must have an examination contingency plan

This is explained on the website of the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), a membership organisation comprising the 8 largest providers of qualifications in the UK.

The plan doesn't have to be trust-wide, but you should make sure all of your 'exam centres' (i.e. schools that offer exams with 1 of the providers listed in the JCQ regulations) have one in place. 

Ofqual guidance

Ofqual explains that your school/trust leaders should: 

... establish, maintain and comply with an up-to-date detailed written contingency plan, to mitigate any incident they have identified may occur.

Additionally:

It also sets out instructions for schools to follow before exams take place, in the event of disruption on the day, and what to do after an exam