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This policy explains what measures Nationwide Music Examinations will take to provide special assistance for candidates with special educational, mobility or other sensory needs, and for candidate’s unable to attend an exam session or if an exam session is interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances.

All possible assistance will be given in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 to support candidates who require reasonable adjustment. Once any necessary reasonable adjustments and/or special considerations have been granted all candidates shall be assessed fairly and on an equal footing.

Please note in cases of extreme exam nerves, any candidate may request and be permitted by the examiner to play one of their chosen pieces again without penalty.

Reasonable adjustments

It is important to bear in mind that NME music exams DO NOT require any candidate to undertake sight-reading/unseen extracts tests.

Candidates with special educational, mobility or sensory needs

Blind and partially sighted candidates

During the Practical/Performance components of music exams, candidates may use their own specially prepared copies of the music/text, including Braille versions, provided the original published edition(s) are also available in the examination room.

During music exams, the examiner will use clear verbal descriptions when asking any musical knowledge questions relating to scores. Candidates playing by ear will still be expected to demonstrate a working knowledge of the symbols used in stave notation, appropriate to the grade.

Where possible arrangements may be made for special lighting in the examination room.

Examiners may be given previous notice and are expected to be clear in their verbal directions.

A suitable person, such as a parent, teacher, reader or carer, is allowed to be present in the examination room to escort the candidate and give additional assistance/support for page-turning and/or for the operation of backing tracks. Such a person may take no active part in the examination process. This concession may at no stage be used as the basis of any complaint or appeal in respect of the examination.

Extra time of not more than 25% may be allotted where necessary.

Deaf and hard of hearing candidates

A sign-language interpreter is allowed to be present in the examination room. Such a person may take no active part in the examination process other than relaying instructions or musical knowledge questions. This concession may at no stage be used as the basis of any complaint or appeal in respect of the examination.

Candidates are permitted to ask the examiner to repeat instructions or musical knowledge questions. The examiner may be given previous notice about the need to speak clearly and distinctly at an appropriate volume, to look directly at the candidate when speaking in order to facilitate lip-reading.

A candidate can request if preferred, instructions and/or musical knowledge question to be written rather than spoken.

Tuning – Candidate are permitted to use a digital tuner for this purpose.

Candidates can also request additional assistance, such as having a parent, carer, or teacher present throughout an examination. They may also be permitted to have support with set-up, page-turning or operation of backing tracks. Such a person may take no active part in the examination process. This concession may at no stage be used as the basis of any complaint or appeal in respect of the examination.

Extra time of not more than 25% may be allotted where necessary.

Dyslexic and dyspraxic candidates

Learners who request a reasonable adjustment due to a learning difficulty such as dyslexia will need to supply NME with the appropriate evidence from the appropriate sources.

During the Practical/Performance components of music exams candidates may use their own specially prepared copies of the music, provided the original edition(s) of the music are also available in the examination room. Where candidates use individually-prepared scores (modified stave notation, photo-enlarged, or any other individual system), musical knowledge questions relating to scores will be asked with reference to these scores. Candidates playing by ear will still be expected to demonstrate a working knowledge of any term, sign, symbol or number occurring in the music/notation, appropriate to the grade.

Where possible arrangements may be made for special lighting in the examination room.

The examiner may be given previous notice about the need to speak clearly and distinctly at an appropriate volume, and to repeat instructions if requested to do so by the candidate, or if the candidate does not respond initially to the instruction.

Candidates can request additional assistance, such as having a parent, carer, reader or teacher present throughout an examination. They may also be permitted to have support with set-up, page-turning or operation of backing tracks. Such a person may take no active part in the examination process. This concession may at no stage be used as the basis of any complaint or appeal in respect of the examination.

Extra time of not more than 25% may be allotted where necessary.

Candidates requiring wheelchair access

Every effort will be made to accommodate a wheelchair user and may include re-arranging an examination room to provide enough space for the candidate to be properly assessed.

Candidates can request additional assistance, such as having a parent, carer, or teacher present throughout an examination. They may also be permitted to have support with set-up, page-turning or operation of backing tracks. Such a person may take no active part in the examination process. This concession may at no stage be used as the basis of any complaint or appeal in respect of the examination.

Candidates will need to liaise with NME prior to an exam date.

Extra time of not more than 25% may be allotted where necessary.

Candidates with behavioural difficulties, learning difficulties or Attention Deficit Disorder

The examiner may be given previous notice about the need to speak clearly and distinctly at an appropriate volume, and to repeat instructions if requested to do so by the candidate, or if the candidate does not respond initially to the instruction.

Candidates can request additional assistance, such as having a parent, carer, reader or teacher present throughout an examination. They may also be permitted to have support with set-up, page-turning or operation of backing tracks. Such a person may take no active part in the examination process. This concession may at no stage be used as the basis of any complaint or appeal in respect of the examination.

Extra time of not more than 25% may be allotted where necessary.

Candidates whose first language is not English

The examiner may be given previous notice about the need to speak clearly and distinctly at an appropriate volume, and to repeat instructions if requested to do so by the candidate, or if the candidate does not respond initially to the instruction.

An interpreter may be allowed to be present in the examination room. The interpreter may translate the examiner’s requests and instructions, and the candidate’s spoken responses. Other than this, they may take no further active part in the examination procedure. This concession may at no stage be used as the basis of any complaint or appeal in respect of the examination.

Extra time of not more than 25% may be allotted where necessary.

MAKING REQUESTS AND INFORMING NME OF REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS

Candidates and centres should send requests which detail what adjustments are required/requested and in certain circumstances, we may require medical evidence to support specific requests such as additional time requirements, this should be provided to NME no less than one month before an assessment. For more on this please contact: Diane Brown, Operations Director, A: 76 Church Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5PB. T: 01606 40400 E: [email protected]

NME will reply within 7 days of the request setting out what reasonable adjustments, if any, will be made.

Special Considerations

CANDIDATES UNABLE TO ATTEND AN EXAM SESSION

Candidates who are unable to attend an exam for reasons such as illness or family bereavement can re-schedule their exam up to a year from their initial exam date without penalty or fee.

It is the responsibility of the person who entered the candidate for the examination to complete Form V1 and return to; Diane Brown, Operations Director, 76 Church Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5PB.

EXAM INTERUPTION

Examinations may be interrupted or disrupted due to, for example, the following reasons:

o      A fire alarm sounding

o      Instrumental failure

o      A candidate becoming unwell

In these instances an exam may be re-started.

If an exam cannot be restarted and is therefore cancelled the examination entry is valid for a year from the examination date.

It is the responsibility of the person who entered the candidate for the examination to complete Form V2 and return to; Diane Brown, Operations Director, 76 Church Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5PB.