A call from the leader of one of the country鈥檚 biggest trusts that lockdown-style teacher grades be awarded to pupils in schools affected by RAAC crumbly concrete appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Nick Hurn, the chief executive of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, said he did not want any of the pupils at his four schools impacted by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) to be 鈥渄isadvantaged through this unprecedented situation鈥. St Leonard鈥檚 secondary school in Durham has been most heavily affected with some year groups having to learn remotely four days a week. Hurn has called for special consideration for pupils in primary and secondary exam years and 鈥渃entre-assessed grades for the duration of this upheaval鈥 鈥 similar to when exams were cancelled in 2019-20 and 2020-21. 鈥淒uring Covid there was a clear plan in place to support pupils during that incredibly disruptive period,鈥 he said. ‘Not possible’ to address differential impact, says DfE But the Department for Education said 鈥渓ike with many unforeseen circumstances, it is not possible to address the differential impact that RAAC has or will have on students鈥 learning by making changes to exams and assessments for some students/groups of students鈥. Hurn It added that exams must demonstrate what a pupil knows rather than what a he or she might have known 鈥渟hould circumstances have been different鈥. Exams regulator Ofqual said GCSE and A-level pupils were only eligible for special consideration if there was a problem at the time of the exam, not if their learning was disrupted. Marks could only be adjusted under special consideration rules if there were events outside their control 鈥渁t the time of the assessment鈥, says from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). They were not eligible if their performance was affected by the 鈥渜uality of teaching, staff shortages, building work or lack of facilities鈥. Schools are collecting evidence for teacher grades if exams have to be cancelled in future. But this is not for 鈥渓ocalised disruption to teaching and learning鈥. JCQ previously said schools unable to host autumn series exams 鈥渨ill need to review the contingency plans鈥 for their sites. Parents protest over rebuild concerns Parents at St Leonard鈥檚 protested outside the school (pictured above), which is on the school rebuilding programme, on Wednesday during a visit from Baroness Barran, the academies minister. Mary Kelly Foy, the City of Durham MP, said Barran gave assurances at the meeting that 鈥渢he planned rebuild of the school is now being prioritised鈥. 鈥淭he minister has stressed that money will not be the barrier to getting pupils back in the classroom. I will hold the minister to that.鈥 The government has pledged to refurbish or rebuild schools that need it. Bishop Wilkinson trust said it 鈥渟hared鈥 the 鈥渇rustrations and disappointment of many parents of children鈥, adding: 鈥淲e need to get back to having all our school community benefit from our excellent team of staff, teaching face-to-face lessons as soon as practicably possible.鈥