Any Alternative to GCSE English?

[Ilovefluffysheep]

DS16 has just started a Level 2 CACHE Childcare course. He is severely dyslexic, and did not get a C in English (no surprise there!) so has to re-take it. I have also been told that if he cannot attain a C grade, he cannot move onto the level 3 course next year.

Problem is, he has a reader and a scribe for exams due to his difficulties, and has basically been told that English is the one subject he will be penalised for having these, and it is virtually impossible for him to get a C. He got a D in the results that came out in Jan 2014, and an E in August 2014, so getting worse!

He is feeling completely unmotivated, and that he is unlikely to ever achieve a C, so whats the point of trying. However, he also desperately wants to be able to do the Level 3 course next year, so is a bit stuck.

Is there any other alternatives? Are they allowed to do this (just wondering if it might come under disability discrimination or something?)? Assuming he passes his Level 2 course, then what on earth does he do next year if he doesn't get his C? He wants to work in childcare in the future, ultimately working in kids clubs on Disney Cruise Line, so it is really important to him.

[addictedtosugar]

Just thinking out loud here.
Is there an alternative board which is less penalising to people with readers/scribes?
In place of a scribe, would voice recognition technology help get his thoughts onto paper?
I very much doubt it, but might english literature be easier than language, and still count?
Have whatever the Dyslexia Institute are called these days got any advice?
Is it possible to get a certificate like students with English as a second language obtain as a proof of english capability in place of a GCSE?

I thank my lucky stars I got a C in English - you didn't see this before it was spell checked!

[in2theblues]

The fact that your DC got a D means he'll have to 'work towards' a C grade whilst he is in college as this is the next step from Level 2 functional skills and, obviously, the D grade.

This is a government directive.

The subsequent E grade is, perhaps, due to not being so motivated because a D is seen as a fail. This is not true (nor fair considering the point of introducing across the board GCSE). It's an achievement considering his difficulties.

The difference between a C and a D means picking up about four points for each module. His subsequent E suggests that he wasn't as motivated as he was the first time. That doesn't change the regulations though.

The awarding of A* to G grades clouds the issue somewhat. It's all about numbers really. A C is 120 points a D is 119. He'll have to edify his strengths and work on his weaknesses to get the numbers up.

Many young people are happy with a low point score as long as it's in the 'Grade Boundary' for a C. As mentioned, it's the numbers that count.

There are two key issues with the Reading and Writing questions. Reading = attention to detail. Writing = planning, accuracy, elegance - in that order.

The reading questions are about picking out the messages 'between the lines'. Any single detail could mean an extra point.

It must be very difficult to plan one's response to a question when a 'scribe' is there as a human but is just a conduit. Get him to use his extra time to plan.

Have a look online at the 'Examiner's Report' for the years he took the exams. Tell him from me that we're on his side.

Everyone is different. Being arsed is most of the battle.

[Ilovefluffysheep]

Thank you for the detailed reply in2theblues. I'm told a lot of people did worse in the summer compared to November, something to do with the speaking and listening not being allowed to count any more?

After his D (which both me and his English teacher were over the moon with to be honest!) his English teacher said that to improve any more, he would need to be able to do things like dictate grammar, capital letters punctuation etc to the scribe. Unfortunately that's never going to happen, he has a reading age of around 8 years, and a spelling age of 6 years, and obviously finds English difficult.

He managed to do quite well in his other subjects - double merit in childcare (equivalent of 2 b's), c in maths, c in resistant materials, then d's in double science, electronics, film studies and the previous English exam.

I agree that some of it is lack of motivation - not surprising when he finds it so difficult, but knowing a c is highly likely to be unachieveable isn't a great motivator unfortunately!

I understand it's a government directive. It's just very frustrating, and all the more so because I honestly doubt he will get a c no matter how hard he tries or retakes it. That's why I wondered if there was any alternative, as he is a bright, lovely lad, and I don't want his future plans to be ruined over this 1 thing. He has battled all through his school life with dyslexia, and really put loads of effort into his gcse revision, I'm just a bit gutted for him.

[in2theblues]

Like everything in life if you want it you have to work at it.

English GCSE is a bit of a bugger because it's interpretive. But it's fair as far as I can see.

Fifteen years of teaching and every year I put a post script 'course work could have tried harder.'

[in2theblues]

The speaking and listening didn't matter a jot. It was not a part of the final grade.

[sashh]

He could try the adult literacy certificate. He will still have to do GCSE but it would get him a level 2 qualification. It is done online so lots of picking which is the right one and no actual hand writing.

Students used to just progress from L2 to L3 but now have to do GCSEs if they don't have them. Nursing and teaching used to accept L2 adult literacy and numeracy but now need GCSE and this is where the majority of L3 HSC/CACHE students go.

Also with such a low reading age he is going to struggle with L3 work.

The one thing he can do, even if he doesn't like it, is to read every day. Set a time of 30mins and get him reading. It doesn't matter what he reads, he needs to keep at it.

I'm dyslexic myself, I know he will find it hard but it really does help. The other thing to look at is an e-reader. One of my friends who is also dyslexic finds books intimidating - just too many words but was given some books to read on a ..er...... not sure what it was called, a hand held gaming device, anyway he found this was easier to read.

[redfiatyellowfiat]

He can use a reading pen or a computer reader in English GCSE - would that help?

[Ilovefluffysheep]

in2theblues - there was definitely some kind of change in what counted between the November exam and the summer one, sure it was to do with speaking and listening but obviously could be something else completely.

sashh, thanks for the advice about adult literacy certificate, will look into that.

He has got additional support at college, someone to take notes and read things if necessary, and obviously I can help him at home. He has a reading pen, and we're also looking to get him a laptop and put dragon dictation software on it. All of those things will help him with his coursework for his childcare course (which is coursework based) but not his English GCSE unfortunately.

redfiatyellowfiat - I think those things you suggested would penalise him the same as having a reader unfortunately.

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice everyone, I do really appreciate it.

[LeBearPolar]

Is there any way you can manage to get permission for him to do an IGCSE? Our school has opted for IGCSE English and it currently has a speaking and listening element still.

[redfiatyellowfiat]

OP I'm not sure what you mean by being penalised for having a computer reader/reading pen? They are allowed in English exams he would not be penalised. Computer readers can be used in sections of the English language paper, but a reading pen can be used throughout the exam.

[Ilovefluffysheep]

I don't know LeBearPolar, but will look into it!

redfiatyellowfiat - I'm not sure I know myself to be honest, I'm perhaps getting mixed up with the scribe element, as he obviously doesn't get any marks for spelling punctuation etc because the writing is the scribes, and he isn't able to dictate those things to the scribe. He wouldn't manage without a scribe, so am not too sure if a reading pen would be as good as having an actual reader? Not being a teacher or knowing much about exam boards, I have no real idea how these things work.