AQW 48659/22-27


Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 15/06/2026
Answered On Date: 18/06/2026
Priority Written: Yes


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of pupils who were unable to attend GCSE and A-Level examinations due to the recent disorder and unrest; and (ii) any support now being put in place to facilitate these pupils sitting exams.


Answer:
CCEA does not yet hold reliable information on the number of pupils who were unable to attend GCSE and GCE examinations because of the recent disorder, as schools have until 3 July 2026 to submit applications for special consideration for affected candidates.
Timetabled public examinations proceeded as planned, while principals were allowed to exercise their judgement where local safety, travel disruption or fear and distress meant that examinations could not reasonably operate as normal.
Under the established Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) special consideration arrangements, schools may apply on behalf of:
candidates who did not attend an examination for acceptable reasons; this is dependent on individual circumstances but may include travel disruption or fear of travelling due to the unrest; and
candidates who attended but whose performance was adversely affected by circumstances beyond their control; this is dependent on individual circumstances but might include disadvantage linked to the public disorder.
CCEA will consider such applications in line with these arrangements where the eligibility criteria are met and will work to ensure that no student is unfairly disadvantaged as a result of these events.
CCEA Regulation wrote to the other Awarding Organisations (AOs) who offer their examinations in Northern Ireland to make them aware of the unrest and the potential impact this may have had for students taking exams or those unable to attend school for their exams.
 
Families who are concerned about an individual student’s position should contact the relevant school. This allows the school to record the circumstances, advise on local arrangements and, where appropriate, liaise directly with CCEA, or any of the other Awarding Organisations (AOs) that operate in Northern Ireland, on the student’s behalf.