Some crucial GCSE and A-level exams will be rescheduled over the next three years to avoid clashing with the height of the Ramadan holy month, when observant Muslim pupils would be expected to fast.

While many exams will still take place during Ramadan, which this year is expected to start in early June, examination boards say they have held talks with Muslim groups and aim to avoid holding exams in the most popular subjects during the period.

“Where possible, large-entry GCSE and GCE [A-level] subjects are timetabled prior to the commencement of Ramadan and consideration is given to whether they are timetabled in the morning or afternoon,” said the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents examination boards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ramadan – when the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, is believed to have been revealed to the prophet Muhammad – is commemorated by Muslims with fasting during the hours of daylight. Headteachers fear that Muslim pupils could suffer as a result during the stress of sitting exams.



As Ramadan is set by a lunar calendar, its date changes by 11 days every year. In 2016 the holy month is scheduled to run from 7 June to 5 July, overlapping with the traditional summer exam season in May and June.

Ramadan will continue to fall during peak periods in the exam season for the next two years as well, being forecast to begin on 27 May in 2017 and 16 May in 2018.



The exam boards say they can schedule big examinations – such as GCSE English and maths – before Ramadan begins or after it ends. But exams in many subjects will still take place during the holy month.



“The small window in which examinations can be taken, the large number of candidates taking examinations and the diverse range of subjects available to candidates places significant limitations on the changes that can be accommodated for any one group. However, JCQ meets the needs of various groups as far as possible,” it said.

“JCQ and the qualifications regulator Ofqual have previously met with Muslim groups to discuss the timetabling of examinations in light of Ramadan moving into the examination period.”

The Department for Education said timetabling was a matter for the JCQ and its member exam boards to decide.

Anne Longfield, the government’s children’s commissioner for England, said she applauded the move.

“It’s really important this takes place and important we understand the individual children in this,” Longfield told parliament’s education committee at a hearing on Wednesday.

“Clearly, there needs to be rigour around the examinations themselves, but I welcome the discussion,” she said.

The Association of School and College Leaders, which represents most state secondary school heads in England and Wales, said it had also been meeting with Muslim groups to gauge the impact of Ramadan falling within the exam season.

“School and college leaders are very keen to work with communities to ensure young people are able to observe Ramadan without any detrimental impact on their examinations,” Malcolm Trobe, ASCL’s deputy general secretary, said.

ASCL said it also plans to issue guidance to its members ahead of this year’s exams.

“The guidance will be non-prescriptive and will not advise families or students on how they should address the question of fasting during Ramadan, which we agree is a matter for the individuals concerned, along with parents, carers and faith leaders,” Trobe said.