Sen inclusion + new GCSES=???

[Notonaschoolnight]

Is it just me that worries that their SEN (those with mild to moderate learning disabilities) child is spending 5 years in mainstream leading to having to sit a load of exams that they’ll most likely fail.

My child’s school had them sit one GCSE a year early to lessen the load for next year obviously I’m worried for Thursday, fingers crossed my child will get a 1 and I’ll be ecstatic as it’s a huge achievement for someone with their disability but if they don’t they’ll be so disappointed after revising for 6 months and trying their absolute hardest it’ll be heartbreaking to deal with their understandable upset.

It’ll also be very telling as it’s my child’s strongest subject so failing that there’s a good chance they’ll fail them all next year too and just the thought of that for my child or anyone else’s makes me mad

And yes I agree that there’s more to our children being at mainstream comp than the curriculum, but our children don’t give a shit about that as gcse success is all that’s drummed into them for 3 solid years :(

[Urbanbeetler]

Absolutely agree with you 100%

[clary]

I agree, I was a teacher with a year 11form this year, one of my students has significant SEN and medical needs. She is lovely, and has grown over five years into a confident and capable young woman, but this year I have seen her in tears over her maths and English GCSEs.

I spoke to her English teacher who said she won't even get a 1:( and yet in her option subjects she is doing well (more practical and hands on).

The school has to enter her fir these GCSEs she will fail. It suck doesn't it? Sorry Op and best of luck to yr dd,.

[clary]

Sorry for typos, I can write English, honestly!

[Urbanbeetler]

It’s the way the government has disallowed schools to count so many vocational qualifications in their published attainment figures. So mainstream schools are effectively forced to drop those qualifications. One hole all pegs must fit or else.

[Notonaschoolnight]

Funnily enough Clary it’s the hands on BTECs that have ended up the biggest problem (apart from Maths failing that is a given) as there’s too much focus on independent work with them and to think in my naive ignorance when choosing subjects in y8 I thought the BTEC subjects would be the easier options

[TeenTimesTwo]

I agree. My DD2 find academics hard (some SpLD). She is about to enter y9 and will be picking GCSEs. There are no obvious passes for her, and I would rather she did fewer better than spread herself too thin, but I don't think it will be permitted.

[noblegiraffe]

Yep, it’s shite. Our weakest mathematicians will have to sit through 4.5 hours of maths papers were they can’t access the vast majority of questions. What a waste of their time.

We enter our bottom set for an entry level maths qualification as well so that they at least come away with something to show for their work.

And then they’ll enter the cycle of compulsory resits...

[Stickerrocks]

My DN with SEN is resitting maths for the 5th or 6th time. He very politely told the invigilator half way through the final paper that he was wasting his time and her time sitting there any longer, so he was going to give up & go home. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he found at least some of the questions accessible.

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

One of the things my colleagues and I were complaining about is that the new GCSE (History) makes no real provision for weaker students. There is a ridiculous amount of content to cover in too short a time, 3 compulsory exams on 4 separate topics and no choice of question for the majority of them.

For those students who are unlikely to get a 4 (old C pass) they are really inaccessible.

[TeenTimesTwo]

At your schools do the less able still have to choose a full set of options?
(I am thinking the ability to choose 'supervised study' for one subject would lessen the stress and the academic load.)

[Notonaschoolnight]

To be honest there would be the scope to drop subjects and there’s also the princes trust qualifications but being in mainstream for entire education has meant that my child wants to be the same as everyone else and won’t entertain anything that will make them appear different from their peers

[Notonaschoolnight]

I hadn’t really thought about resits so it’s English lit we’ll find out tomorrow eng language and maths will be next year, so which ones will my child be forced to resist and for how long, it this non negotiable? I’m concerned as there’s no way they’re ever going to pass Maths not in a million years

[CrAzYmUmOf2]

Hi,
My DD is due to get her GCSE results also.
She is also SEN, really struggles with maths, writing as she has hypo mobility in her hands.
I'm so nervous as she did revise but she finds it so hard to take things in.

She is doing a spring board next year where she will re sit maths and English but also access ict and do work experience.
She is so quiet and had a few ticks where she makes random sounds.

It is just so worrying as all I want is the best for her.

Life is so hard sometimes

[noblegiraffe]

If your DC gets a 3 in maths then they have to work towards a GCSE maths resit as a condition of sixth form/college funding. If they get a 2 or below they still have to work towards a maths qualification but it can be functional maths instead.

If they don’t get a 4 in English Lang OR Lit then they have to resit English Lang. Again a 3 has to resit GCSE, 2 or below can take functional qualifications.

Some colleges have decided that students need to resit if they didn’t get a 5, or that they have to resit English Lang if they failed lang but passed Lit. This isn’t due to government resit requirements, but internal college decisions.

[Notonaschoolnight]

Thank you noblegiraffe best we’re expecting is a 2 in English and u in maths so at least it’ll be practical learning not gcse

[Urbanbeetler]

Hey- how did your dc do in the exams? Been thinking of you today.

[letstalk2000]

My DS 17 with diagnosed SEN Autism slow processing speeds etc has just achieved 6s in Double Science, English Lit and Language GCSEs and a 5 in Maths ! The reason why is because he was allowed an extra year. This due to a switch to a specialist independent school and repeating year 10. Totally ecstatic for DS especially has his Comprehensive suggested he be unlikely to attain above level 1 or 2 in any subject.

[lightattheendofatunnel]

My DS has SpLD has been in small groups all through his school life. He started revising last November. He is currently upset in his room as he failed everything. My heart went out to him this morning as he looked at his results of 1, 2’s & 3’s. He was never goimg to pass GCSE maths. I think to have students sit those exams which they know they are never going to get is just cruel. I wish I could just make it all ok :(

[Notonaschoolnight]

Bless you for asking urbanbeetler only went and got a 3! Absolutely thrilled, for someone with Downs it’s a massive achievement so proud!!

[Leeds2]

I hadn't read this thread earlier, but a massive Well Done to your DS Notona!

[Neolara]

Fantastic! Massive well done to your dc OP.

[Urbanbeetler]

Happy dance!!! That is awesome 😎

[Notonaschoolnight]

Bloody hell letstalk2000 he showed them didn’t he!!

[rogueelement]

That is amazing Notona, well done!

Light, if it's any consolation I have a DD with dyslexia who had very poor mental health this year. She got one pass, plus Ds' Es and F's, but I think she's got enough to get to the next level (which is not going to involve formal exams if we can possibly help it). It's very tough, especially if your child is well aware of how difficult they find things.

Her teacher said something very lovely, which is that to outsiders, results often don't reflect the journey that students have come on. She got a 3 in Maths which is absolutely amazing for someone who was astoundingly dyscalculic when she left primary school. I hope he soon feels better and can move onto something better.

[letstalk2000]

He has down amazingly well and defied what his 'Outstanding Comprehensive ' adamant beliefs.

DSs results being so good has created a conundrum for me. This being his school (Private) have told me he is capable of doing A levels illustrated by his great progress over the last 18 months. However, they say he would probably need 3 years to ace hive the results he is capable of.

DS wants to do A levels . The trouble with this being in 3 years time and having an October birthday , he will be 5 months shy of his 21st birthday when he takes his A level exams !

He might be okay going to school as young '18' but what will he think when he is 20 and a half