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Original poster

To question private/indep schools 'extra time' in exams

35 replies

Mama2many73 · 13/02/2025 23:41

30% of pupils were given extra time to complete their gcse/alevels. This should be down to have additional needs (of varying types)

"More than two in five (41.8%) of all candidates in independent centres – of which the majority are private schools – were granted 25% extra time in their exams in 2023/24, compared with 26.5% in non-selective state schools"

Call me a cynic but I m calling that out as BS. that just under ½ of their kids need extra time but only a ¼ state school kids do!?

Both my DH and myself were teachers, he is now a HT and we know how hard it is to get a judgement. As foster carers we have fought for several kids to try and get them better chances in their exams. Kids with suspected adhd/asd, poor working memory, OT fine motor skills issues, major trauma..... I could go on and they have never passed the threshold despite us and the school trying their best.

Chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham sid he was 'surprised' by the data and it is now being investigated?!

I await their findings. I think some schools may be in trouble!

Edited for spellings

OP posts:
VerbenaGirl · 13/02/2025 23:58

JCQ updates this year looked like they were moving to tighten up on this, favouring rest breaks over extra time.

rivalsbinge · 13/02/2025 23:57

We had to put our son in private school due to issues in state. He's diagnosed and had extra time.

I don't find those stats even remotely surprising as lots of his peers also struggled with main stream schools and were moved to private get smaller class sizes and a more bespoke education.

It's yet another aspect of private schools that isn't understood that they are full of kids struggling whose parents are doing everything financially to support them.

I'm not sure why it's a relevant comparison though? If it reaches across the board beyond 35-40% then a review of time given in all exams in all schools in would be warranted.

RatedDoingMagic · 13/02/2025 23:56

I don't think it's very surprising given that for a large proportion of families who are in the income bracket of "comfortable enough" without being seriously wealthy, having a child with additional needs such as dyslexia or neurodiversity issues is highly likely to trigger seeking private education rather than relying on the massively over-stretched and under-resourced SEN facilities in a typical state school. Whereas for a family with no such additional needs in the same income brackets the impetus towards private education would be far lower and they would be happy enough with state education and spending their money on holidays, cars and other luxuries instead. Therefore it would be entirely to be expected that the SEN proportion within the private sector would be higher than in the state sector from that factor alone. Add to that, the fact that numerous SEN schools, some of which do offer GCSEs, are counted as private sector although their fees are often paid for from LEA budgets.

MintTwirl · 13/02/2025 23:56

Home educated children sit their exams privately either at an exam centre or local private school and a large % of home ed children have SEN.

neverthelastone · 13/02/2025 23:54

A lot of children in state schools also get extra time to - if there was better diagnosis in the state sector there would probably be comparable numbers.

madamweb · 13/02/2025 23:52

whyamiawakestillitssolate · 13/02/2025 23:48

I’m assuming it will partly because private school parents are more likely to pay to get their child tested for issues rather than wait in the horribly long queue for NHS testing.

Add to that the fact teachers have more time with pupils so more likely to flag issues, plus less likely to have parents who aren’t engaged with schooling. And the fact lots seek out private school when state couldn’t provide for their SEN children.

All adds up to higher numbers with help.

Yes, absolutely this. Dd was really struggling till I paid for a private assessment and now gets all the support she needs. But it shouldn't work like that .

sanityisamyth · 13/02/2025 23:51

whyamiawakestillitssolate · 13/02/2025 23:48

I’m assuming it will partly because private school parents are more likely to pay to get their child tested for issues rather than wait in the horribly long queue for NHS testing.

Add to that the fact teachers have more time with pupils so more likely to flag issues, plus less likely to have parents who aren’t engaged with schooling. And the fact lots seek out private school when state couldn’t provide for their SEN children.

All adds up to higher numbers with help.

A lot of SEN pupils end up in private schools as state education cannot cater for their needs, so the numbers are further disproportionate.

sageGreen81 · 13/02/2025 23:49

whyamiawakestillitssolate · 13/02/2025 23:48

I’m assuming it will partly because private school parents are more likely to pay to get their child tested for issues rather than wait in the horribly long queue for NHS testing.

Add to that the fact teachers have more time with pupils so more likely to flag issues, plus less likely to have parents who aren’t engaged with schooling. And the fact lots seek out private school when state couldn’t provide for their SEN children.

All adds up to higher numbers with help.

This

whyamiawakestillitssolate · 13/02/2025 23:48

I’m assuming it will partly because private school parents are more likely to pay to get their child tested for issues rather than wait in the horribly long queue for NHS testing.

Add to that the fact teachers have more time with pupils so more likely to flag issues, plus less likely to have parents who aren’t engaged with schooling. And the fact lots seek out private school when state couldn’t provide for their SEN children.

All adds up to higher numbers with help.

Ablondiebutagoody · 13/02/2025 23:43

I think that 26.5% in state schools is also BS