TPT calls for action

The Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has called for universities to urgently review exam practices following complaints it has received from blind and partially sighted students.

Technology brought in to allow exams to be taken remotely due to the Coronavirus pandemic has blocked access to vital assistive technology and screen adjustments that blind and partially sighted students rely on, said the charity.

One student who experienced this issue explained that the online system used to run her exams had blocked the screen reading software she relied on to work independently.

TPT’s student support manager Tara Chattaway added: ‘New circumstances demand changes to how we work… We want to help universities understand what they can do to support their blind and partially sighted students.’