I disagree, it has proven covid had an impact, however:1) was it...

I disagree, it has proven covid had an impact, however:
1) was it in the year they will be applying for a suspension/extension for?
2) the covid fact sheet said it needed to be read in conjunction with the rest of the guidelines (just because you can demonstrate covid’s effect [in the wrong year] doesn’t mean you are immune to the rest of the guidelines.
3) also to make matters worse, I believe the AAT decision will be handed down which may complicate things or at the very least it will attract a negative commentary just like MMR did in this last application process.