Extra Time in Mocks

[pilates]

My DD has been told they cannot guarantee she will get her extra time in her forthcoming mocks because they cannot guarantee the room space if the room is needed for another exam. This is really stressing her out and I wondered if this is a common problem with all schools or whether it is just ours?

[LIZS]

Ds used the stage area of the exam hall. Is that a possibility?

[hmcAsWas]

That's appalling

[pilates]

The SENCO said "if it isn't possible to allow extra time during mocks due to timetabling constraints, then the extra time is usually given in a lesson afterwards" So if she doesn't receive it on the day she may get it on another day which doesn't seem satisfactory to me.

I don't think she would be able to use the stage area of the exam hall because she needs a scribe and a reader.

I just find it so frustrating that she is entitled to these extra provisions but they are not always put in place.

[Blueemeraldagain]

Absolutely unacceptable. All the JCQ and exam board guidelines say that students should have the same provision in lessons let alone mocks.

I teach English in an SEN school and organising extra time, laptops, extra rooms, staff and readers/scribes etc is an absolute bollock (we often close the school on the day of the actual English, maths and science GCSEs as the emotional needs of our students means they couldn't cope with newly brought in staff)but it is part of our job so we make sure it all gets done every time.

Kick up a fuss.

[pilates]

Thanks Blueemeraldagain. I just wanted to check I wasn't being over-sensitive. Would you suggest I e-mail the Head and how would I word it? Because I do not seem to be getting anywhere with the SENCO and Exams Office. I want to be able to quote something "legal" so they know I know what my DD is entitled to be receiving.

[Wolfiefan]

They need to find her a different room. If she can't use the classroom with everyone else she should be in learning support or another room.
She would be disadvantaged by not having the extra time. She needs to learn how to best use the time and her results will most likely be worse if she doesn't get the help. Are these results shared with exam board?

[SarcasmMode]

That's rubbish.
It can be hard to get the space if there are multiple children in need of support / extra time but you have to work with what's best for the DCa.

I'm VI and went into a side room off the hall to do mine.

[pilates]

She is in a separate room and I don't think the results are shared with exam board. Not sure really. All I know is that it increases her stress levels which is very frustrating.

[justkeepongoing]

Hi pilates can I ask a few questions?

1. Has your DD been assessed for Exam Access Arrangements?
   

Then;

1. If EAA are in place she has every right under the Equality Act to have reasonable adjustment put into place in order that she can take the exam.
   
2. Extra time in an exam will have been applied for through the JCQ and the school have to make provisions.
   
3. Contact the Head and if need be the chair of governors for her school.
   

Finally extra time has to be her usual way of working and can not be granted just for exams.
Contact me if you have any further questions and best if luck.

[Trifleorbust]

Not sure of the legalities here but in my school extra time arrangements apply only to the real exams, not to internal assessments. The school will endeavour to put the arrangements in place but seems unable to guarantee it.

[noblegiraffe]

If she doesn't get extra time in her mocks then this will presumably affect her application for extra time in the real thing as evidence, including mock exams are needed to show that this is her 'normal way of working'.

I'm not sure how they can get around that.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Access arrangements should apply to internal exams as well as external. I have never worked somewhere that didn't facilitate that. Students need to be practised in using the arrangements to get the benefit of them.

[justkeepongoing]

Extra time should be given for internal exams too. This supports a students case for their usual way of working.

[pilates]

Sorry for the delay in getting back.

Justkeep, yes she has been assessed.

Surely you lose your flow when you have to come back to a piece of work on another day.

What is JCQ?

[LIZS]

Jcq are the body who oversee the quality and arrangements for public exams.

[TheFallenMadonna]

The body that oversees qualifications.
She should have the extra time as she would have it in the exam. Either she is disadvantaged by losing her stride, or she is advantaged by being able to have a break between seeing the questions and finishing the paper. Mocks should be like the real exam. They should sort it out!

[LIZS]

www.jcq.org.uk/ There is a very long pdf document about Access Arrangements for 2017.

[justkeepongoing]

Ah good JCQ has been explained. The Exam Access Arrangement specialist assessor will have completed something called a form eight for your daughter. This will state all the recommendations for external exams. Although not ideal I wouldn't worry too much about her having to complete the exam on another day, unless of course she wants to see how the real thing will feel. For her external exams she will obviously have to take it on the day, including her extra time etc. The school in which I work would only allow exams to flip over to the next day if there was a clash and this would be extreme. Good luck to your daughter and tell her to make sure that she uses her extra time as you wouldn't believe how students many don't!

[pilates]

Thanks everyone for explaining to me and for the link.

Well they started yesterday and so far she has received the extra time. Fingers crossed it will continue.