Snow show for some exam candidates (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Snow show for some exam candidates

2:49pm Monday 11th January 2010

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SIXTH formers across Gloucestershire and Wiltshire pulled out all the stops to get to today’s crucial exams on time.

Continuing snowy conditions caused trouble for some sixth formers trying to make it into Cirencester College for crucial exams today.

Around 230 students were expected to sit an AS level maths exam and an A level English resit.

And over 700 students will need to make it to the college for more exams tomorrow.

Only 10 students failed to get to their exams. Mrs Libby Reed, Reed, director of customer services at the College, said: "It was pretty impressive but some students will need to take the exams in the summer. We had some problems on the Stroud routes because of the roads."

Students were taken into the exam halls if they arrived half an hour late. "For students this has not been a particularly easy morning," Mrs Reed said. "We advised some students to stay overnight with friends in Cirencester."

Some unhappy parents have contacted the College and denounced the Government’s decision to push ahead with exams without concessions.

Students at other sixth forms around the Cotswolds also showed a determination to make the exams.

A burst pipe failed to put a dampener at Farmor’s sixth form with headteacher Mrs Ann Stokes reporting a 100 percent exam attendance.

"We encouraged students to make contingency plans if they lived away from Fairford," explained Mrs Stokes.

Heating has now been restored at the school but the bust pipe has meant that only sixth formers and Year 11 are in attendance today. "The mains pipe is being repaired at the moment and we hope that by tomorrow the whole school will be open," said Mrs Stokes.

Bourton-on-the-Water’s Cotswold School has also reported a 100 percent attendance rate for this morning’s exam.

Deputy head Mr Richard Thompson said that grounds staff had worked hard to clear the school over the weekend.

At Westonbirt School sixth form, day girls were given the chance to board at the school over the weekend to ensure they did not miss crucial exams this morning.

Exams officer Mrs Briony Holland said: "Everyone who needed to be here for exams was here."

Malmesbury School sixth form reported that it was business as usual, with no unusual circumstances.

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