Thank you to all the Faculties and Departments who have responded to a request, circulated in the Key Issues Bulletin this summer, to identify additional much-needed examination space.
The survey identified 21 additional spaces that could potentially be used for examinations without constraints – potentially supplying over 600 additional seats for exams.
While extremely helpful, these additional seats are not enough to meet current and projected demand, and so the exams team would like to investigate a further 140 spaces in more detail, to explore whether identified constraints could be overcome, and whether certain spaces that are currently unsuitable might be made suitable in the future with some investment or modification.
The evaluation process will take place over Michaelmas Term and probably into Lent Term and will involve:
- Physical inspection of each space to assess suitability.
- Consultation with relevant Faculties and Departments, particularly where constraints have been flagged or initial assessments were negative.
- Assessment of potential expenditure, including any necessary modifications or upgrades.
- Consideration of operational efficacy, determining whether these spaces can be viably integrated into active use.
The substantial increase in demand for examination space arises from several converging factors:
- A rise in candidate numbers overall (partly due to the growth in PGT courses)
- A significant increase in candidates with reasonable adjustments
- The desire to expand in-person digital examinations.
The Exam Demand Report explores these factors in more detail. You can find a number of other documents on this page that provide further background to this issue.
In line with the principles of Reshaping the Estate, we are taking steps to meet this increased demand using space across the University estate and need the help in order to do this.
Following a review of spaces classified as ‘education’ in the University’s space register (Micad) a number of potential exam spaces that are not currently being were identified. These were being directly with Faculties and Departments for comment on the suitability (or not) of these spaces for hosting exams.