DS has been an idiot - plagiarism. What is the likely outcome?

Fumps don't beat yourself up about it, I am sure you were doing everything you could and hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Good luck with it all. This thread is a fine example of how easily mistakes can be made. bangs head against wall

I have diabetes. And whether you are low or high, is irrelevant to the conscious decision to plagiarise.

Lioness and OP, I probably wouldn't tell the school I was speaking to a solicitor, and I probably wouldn't want the solicitor to write (creates wrong impression). But I'd use one for knowledge, advice, tone, and especially getting an expert, if the evidence is there and it sounds like it could be, to write the right sort of report to help do my damnedest to dig my child out of the hole he'd got himself in. A mental health report saying that was probably caused by inadequate support of a clinically depressed student responding to elevated stress could do wonders to stop it going further and could seriously minimise the penalty. But it takes time, effort, knowledge to get the right person. That's what a good solicitor should do.

I think somebody said that the student has diabetes, and that effected his judgement so that he cheated?

Lion yes, reading back I misunderstood what you said. My point was that mentioning it on a reply slip for a trip is not the same as ensuring the school are informed about a condition or need that they need to take account for. I was making the point that the OP had in fact ensured the school were informed, had SEN meetings and/or a Statement etc. I thought you were saying that the onus was not on her to do this, but that the school had a legal duty to find out for themselves. What was your point?

Fumps - Alanna has given some good advice, but personally I would avoid a solicitor at this stage.
I would make a chronological list of every appointment, day off school etc due to medical reasons. Then ask the school what reasonable adjustments they put in place, ie extra time to complete coursework, given the work he had missed etc. If you have had any discussions with the school in the past re his illness and how it affects him, add that to your list.
Then make your appeal against whatever decision based on that - if you have the facts listed, it is difficult to dispute. I would be doing exactly the same as you letting him know it is wrong, maybe even get him to write an apology letter explaining how he felt at the time.
And I know parenting a child with a disability is never easy. When it is an "invisible" one it is doubly hard. No-one would ask a child in a wheelchair to get out and walk, yet effectively children with disabilities that affect their mental capacity are expected to do the same as their peers. They simply can't. It is very sad that despite the laws in place, schools are unable to recognise that.

Vivacia - Nobody has said schools have a duty to test for unknown physical disabilities; they do not. The OP has stated that the school were aware of his disability and therefore once a disability is declared, they have a legal obligation to make and anticipate reasonable adjustments to help support the young people. If the YP had been given extra time, for example, to complete his coursework, he may not have had to resort to cheating.

Can I suggest you go to a solicitor and get an expert report through the solicitor (which means you will have some help in the instructions to the expert and the report is privileged, plus the solicitor will help you find an appropriate expert, and make sure the tone is important?). I think you want evidence from a medical mental health expert as to how his depression impacted his judgment and how he was not being adequately supported, and how the other factors you identify interplayed. If your son is being treated by a supportive consultant at the hospital this could also work, but I'd probably also try the solicitor route. I'd look for a solicitor who does education and mental health law. The mental health charities may be able to help point you in the direction of a competent firm. The solicitor can help you talk through what else your son might be able to do to help himself e.g. apologise in writing, and also whether e.g. It might be open to your son to sit the subject paper with another exam board or to withdraw from the paper or whatever else are his wider options.

How often do they test, and how?

Apologies Lion I did not know that the school have a duty to test all pupils for unknown physical disabilities. I thought they tested for learning difficulties and in response to parents' or teachers' concerns.

Sweeping statements casting blame simply show a lack of understanding of disability, what it can do to a person and the reason why we have the Equality Act 2010 in this country and in particular the Public sector equality duty for schools. How does anyone know for example "his disability doesn't prevent him from knowing right from wrong."? My son has diabetes, and if his blood sugar is too high or low it affects the cognitive part of the brain. Depression is a mental health issue, so could quite easily prevent him from knowing right from wrong. People have been let off in court for much worse crimes due to depression. An act of plagiarism, whilst against the rules, is hardly life threatening and it is preferable that something like this happens to ensure that HE does get the support he needs in the future.
Vivacia - Public Sector Equality Duty is 100% a school's responsibility and 100% the law. We should be addressing the fact that many, many schools in this country are NOT abiding by the law and by not doing so are failing otherwise capable young people. It is that that needs addressing rather than casting blame on a young person who quite frankly has enough to deal with.
Disabled children deserve to have the law applied properly in schools. If it is not, then the school is 100% to blame for the consequences.

He basically stole something, that's what plagiarism is, theft.

And signed his name to say he hadn't. Nobody wants this to effect his education in the future, but I think it's serious and 100% the boy's responsibility.

I can't help but also feel sorry for the other student who handed over his memory stick to help your child out. A very stupid thing to do but did he know your DS would copy his work, word for word? He may also be disqualified for this qualification and it was his own work and a thought must be spared for him too. What 'mitigating circumstances' can this boy plead? Plagiarism affects so many people and this is a sad situation all round.

He was still daft to do what he did though, but there is considerable mitigation.

Sorry but I don't think there is any mitigation.

He basically stole something, that's what plagiarism is, theft.

Also this is not just about your child, although obviously and rightly for you it is.

The school could be stopped from entering any students for exams with this exam board.

Yes that is unlikely for a single piece of plagiarism to which a student has admitted but that is how serious this is

every consent form for school trips as well as their central record

But have you had contact with the SEN provision? Does he have a statement or whatever the equivalent is now?

I hate to say this but it does not appear that his disability prevents him from knowing right from wrong. I am not saying his situation shouldn't have entitled him to much more support but sometimes young people just need to take it on the chin. 'You did the wrong thing, take the consequences, move on and don't do it again!' I think by calling it 'daft' you are trivializing it too much.You need to send the message that it was wrong but sometimes good people do wrong things because they are upset so next time you feel like that talk to someone first.

I hope he continue s to do well in his other exams.

Then I would urge you to contact the Equality Advisory Service as they should be able to assist.
Did the school give him extra time, provide him with the work he had missed due to appointments etc. as that is going to be key to whole thing?
There must be a process that allows you to appeal the decision, and I would definitely be doing that on the grounds of disability and no reasonable adjustments (if there weren't) made. Good luck with it all.

Fumps - were the school aware of your son's disability? If they were, did they make any reasonable adjustments for him to do the coursework, ie. extra time?
If the school were aware of his disability then under the Equality Act 2010 they have a duty to make reasonable adjustments and they have to anticipate the reasonable adjustments required. So if they were aware of his disability but did not make any reasonable adjustment, then they have failed under the Public Sector Equality Duty. You should speak to EASS - Equality Advisory Service.com - they offer really good advice.
If someone has a disability it absolutely is a school's fault if they don't assist. Young people should not be failing due to a school's inability to comprehend and implement the law.
Hope your son is doing better.

I feel very strongly that it's not the school's fault. They should take steps to not facilitate plagiarism, but it's the student's responsibility and moral obligation not to cheat.