By Hayley Robinson

Students due to sit crucial GCSE and A level exams next week are being told they must make it in regardless of the weather conditions.

Fulston Manor, Sittingbourne Community College, The Westlands, Borden Grammar, Highsted Grammar and the Isle of Sheppey Academy are all advising students to turn up on Monday morning even if the school is closed after it was announced the exam timetable will go ahead regardless of the icy conditions.

The decision to change exam dates is not down to the schools but the examination boards - Edexcel, AQA and OCR in conjunction with Ofqual - the independent regulator of exams, qualifications and tests.

A statement on the Ofqual website said: "We are aware that a number of examination centres are closed at present because of the snow that has swept the country.

"If your centre is closed during the examination series, or otherwise severely affected by bad weather and as a result students are absent from an examination, centres should contact the relevant awarding bodies or check their websites for guidance."

A message on Fulston Manor’s website says: "The examinations cannot be changed by time or date and the school will run the examinations according to the timetables handed out to students even if the school is closed. If any students are not able to attend the exam due to the poor weather then they must provide a written explanation from parents and they should contact the school if they are unable to attend or if there is a delay due to transport difficulties. There will not be an alternative date when these exams may be done."

Sittingbourne Community College’s website says: "We will review for Monday 11th on Sunday evening, but advance notice for students taking external examinations on Monday is that they will take place as timetabled, even if the college is closed for other students."

The Westlands site says: "The school will still expect students due to sit exams to attend. Special arrangements will be made at the school for students to sit their public examinations as normal. Public examinations cannot be rearranged due to school closure and students due to take public examinations must take all practical steps to ensure that they attend on time."

The Isle of Sheppey Academy site says: "All students taking exams on Monday 11th January should report to the Academy as normal on this day as the exam cannot be rescheduled for a later date."

For further information visit the school websites:

http://www.highsted.kent.sch.uk/

http://www.theisleofsheppeyacademy.org.uk/

http://www.westlands.org.uk/

http://www.bordengrammar.kent.sch.uk/

http://www.sittingbourne.kent.sch.uk/

http://www.fulstonmanor.kent.sch.uk/