The Scottish Qualifications Authority is being urged to take Edinburgh's school closures into account as affected pupils prepare for upcoming exams.

Edinburgh City Council closed 17 schools earlier this month after structural defects were found.

All 7600 primary, secondary and special pupils were back in classes from Wednesday, although hundreds are in alternative accommodation while repair arrangements are made.

Teachers have tried to minimise disruption for the S4, S5 and S6 pupils preparing for exams in May amid concerns the upheaval could impact on their performance.

Councillor Paul Godzik, city education convener, told STV: "We will be discussing with the SQA the level of disruption and ensure that they recognise that there has been disruption to their education.

"We will be laying out what has happened in Edinburgh and we hope that the SQA will take that into account."

SQA bosses have pledged to work closely with the local authority to support pupils in the five secondaries affected by the crisis.

A spokesman said: "SQA is working closely with Edinburgh City Council and the individual schools to ensure that priority is given to the securing of candidates' coursework evidence for assessment, including for example, course assessment and exceptional circumstances, if required.

"Plans and steps are being taken by the local authority to secure the candidates' materials and equipment needed to support assessment, which will allow SQA to ensure that they are able to give candidates the recognition of their best efforts."

He said pupils were advised to continue their preparation for their exams, which will go ahead in line with the national timetable.

The spokesman added: "The Exceptional Circumstances Service supports candidates who know in advance that due to exceptional circumstances they will be unable to attend an externally assessed timetabled examination or whose performance may have been fundamentally affected as a result of an incident beyond their control, for example, a bereavement."

Applications via the service must made by the school and will only be considered where there is alternative evidence, such as coursework, class assessments or mock exams.

If a school or college is concerned by a candidate's exam result, they can request a clerical check or a marking review.

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