Paying for Re take

[cathaka15]

A mum just told me her daughter has to pay £300 to re take her English exam.
Is that right ?
My son will be re taking his math next year. So have no idea if we have to pay too or is it differ for maths ??

[TeenAndTween]

Private school?

DD at 6th form college has to pay the exam board fee for retake (~£30?) but nothing else (retaking an AS paper, not redoing maths/English GCSE).

If only one retaking at private could imagine a fee per exam plus paying for invigilator, but £300 seems excessive whatever way you look.

[cathaka15]

Sorry should have mentioned it's a GCSE re take. The girl is in college at the moment but is going back to her secondary to re take apparently.
The re take is this November.

[cathaka15]

Not a private school.

[OutDamnedWind]

Is she sitting it as an external candidate? Sounds likely if she's not actually attending lessons, just doing the exam.

[cathaka15]

I think so. She's doing lessons in the college but taking exam in secondary.

[acornsandnuts]

We have to pay as dd is not on school role anymore. To be fair if your not attending the establishment anyone could demand to sit the exam.

[noblegiraffe]

It only costs about £30 to enter an exam, what on earth is the other £270 for? I get that there will be some admin involved, but that seems pretty steep.

If your DS retakes maths, it will usually be paid for by the school if he is resitting it because he failed in Y11 and has to retake. Sometimes students resit to boost their grade (e.g. To get a B to join the RAF) and in that case we charge them the entry fee.

[TheTyrannyOfMAGENTA]

I thought there was a new ruling that from this year only the first exam score would be considered for higher quals?

[noblegiraffe]

No, I've not heard of that. First result only counts for school league tables so you don't get kids entering maths GCSE every year from Y9 chasing a C. Some top universities like A-level results not to include module resits. I don't think anyone else cares. It doesn't say 'resit' anywhere on the certificate either.

[cathaka15]

I think £300 is ridiculous money to pay for an exam. Even if you're not attending the establishment.

[catslife]

Many schools (including state schools) require pupils to pay the exam entrance fees for a re-take.
Is this £300 just for entering the exam (if so agree that this is paying too much) or is the parent including other costs e..g paying for private tuition?

[cathaka15]

It's only for entering the exam. No tuition.