The number of pupils awarded 25 per cent extra time in their exams increased by more than 11,000 this year, according to new figures published by Ofqual.

In 2016-17, 223,405 candidates in GCSEs and AS and A-levels with particular needs or disabilities had 25 per cent extra time. But this rose to 235,060 in 2017-18, making up nearly one in five (18.4 per cent) of all candidates.

There were also slight rises in the proportion of pupils who benefited from a computer reader or reader - up to 7.5 per cent of candidates, and those who used a scribe or speech recognition technology - up to 3.2 per cent. 

But the proportion of candidates using coloured or enlarged paper more than halved to 0.6 per cent. 

The overall number of access arrangements granted to pupils in exam students dropped for the first time in recent years, down 0.5 per cent on 2016-17 to 391,130. But this drop is likely to be largely the result of a drop in the total exam cohort.

Ofqual also published information this morning on the number of late exam entries. The figures show late GCSE entries increased by 22 per cent from 471,685 in 2016-17 to 573,475 in 2017-18. 

This represents a proportional increase from 3.3 per cent of total entries in 2016-17 to 4.2 per cent of total entries in 2017-18.  

If an entry is made after the deadline set by the Joint Council for Qualifications it is classed as late and the school may be fined.

The number of late AS/A level entries meanwhile decreased by 12 per cent from 86,100 in 2016-17 to 75,830 in 2017-18. 

This represents a slight proportional increase from 2.3 per cent of total entries in 2016-17 to 2.7 per cent of total entries in 2017-18.