Year 11 GCSE support thread 4 - more exams

Not scousers here but definitely red.

We go to Anfield a few times each season and make a weekend of it.

Someone mentioned being glad, for the first time ever, to see the end of half term ... another one here!

I was so sure it was a blessing to have a solid week of revision time mid-exams, but god its been a drag ... he's grumpy, demotivated, pale, likely-to-fly-off-the-handle, a total bore to live with!

He needs: earlier mornings so he's more tired at night; to be out of his room/this house, be with his friends who all are in the same boat!

HSM - your DD is such a cutie! Admired by DS1 who has decided he needs to rethink his effort level for end of exam celebrations (thank you HSM!)

West London here - border of Zones3&4 !

Switchitoff I'm a Red too (though I've only see them play once - back in the 80's v Sheff Wed - never again, it was carnage). As is DD and the rest of my side of the family Born a Scouser, but brought up across the Mersey. DD's a big Gerrard fan (and was a Crouchie fan till he defected - she was horrified!} and would be soooo jealous of your brother.

She has been working hard since yesterday afternoon - just on a break right now, but going to do some more before I treat her to dinner out, leaving DH in to watch the footy!

HSM, I think I owe a few gifts to some of the staff who have supported DD - what counts as a small gift do you think? A bottle of wine?

Red or Blue? Hmm. Well growing up I lived very close to Ray Clemence and Emlyn Hughes and my brother currently lives round the corner from Stevie Gerrard, so I'll let you work that one out.

Sorry to derail the thread. I'm getting really bored of this week now. Trying (unsuccessfully) to encourage DS to do some work, but feel I should be in the house at least to provide food and calm words. Not sure it's really making any difference.

Born and bred Scouser here Am going back for a weekend with my sis next month as a treat for me after the exams! Can't wait

Just psyching myself up for a big week; DS2 has exams every day and two on Wed or Thurs

Well having looked at the document which TeenAndTween kindly linked, it looks as if extra marks would only be added if the hayfever sufferer were really struggling with their symptoms, during the exam itself. Seems likely to me that they would check this by asking the invigilator or checking the pollen count that day.

Fortunately, DS1's hayfever has been pretty well controlled this year, due to a combination of prescribed drugs. So unless things change, I won't ask the school about it.

I don't want to get a reputation for being "that parent" Last year, not only did the school apply for special consideration for DS1 due to bereavement, but they also had a scribe on standby as DS1's hand was in a cast until the day before the exam! I think if I start asking them about his hayfever this year, they may look at me like this: !!

switch, I have a Northern accent (due to 4 years in Sheffield at uni) with a Scouse twang (gets stronger when I go back) despite living in London for 28 years

I am also intrigued by the hayfever one - DD suddenly seems to be suffering so I am giving her Benadryl, but I didn't think it would qualify for any consideration.
And there doesn't seem to be any extra consideration for medically diagnosed Panic Disorder, or would that be covered by extra time, etc if necessary at the time?

Good Lord, I'm another exiled Scouser! There's a lot of us about, isn't there? Mind you, you'd never know from my accent as I lived in Central London for a long time and am now in the South West.

DS1 had special consideration applied last year, due to the sudden death of a family member. I never saw anything from the exam board, but the school asked me to complete a form with the relevant dates on. I don't think he got as much as the 5% indicated above; I thought it was 2% which didn't make any difference to his final grade but at least I felt I'd done everything I could as a parent.

I'm intrigued by the 2% for hayfever. Is that true? Surely there are lots of DCs on medication for hayfever at this time of year (DS1 included). Wouldn't the schools tell us if that was something we should mention??

DD told me her school have applied for special consideration for a girl whose parents split up in difficult circumstances at Easter and her Mum is drinking like a fish .

I was quite surprised by how small the percentages allowed for 'considerations' were. I'd have thought that there would be some means of moderating the mark by referencing with mocks or coursework if the exam mark seemed well below expectations.

Special considerations document (if it works)

I found this, but I don't know if it is true.

Type of trauma and % added to exam result
Recent death of parent or close relative - 5%
Recent death of distant family member - 4%
Witness to distressing event on day of exam - 3%
Hay fever - 2%
Death of family pet on day of exam - 2%
Pet dies day before exam - 1%
Headache - 1%

Thanks both. I will check with the school that they are handling it. They have been really good but I don't want to leave anything to chance.

She is feeling better Truffle thank you. Your DS sounds amazing and very clever he also deserves his special consideration - the school made an error and he should be compensated for the stress it caused him and you

Special consideratoin - leave to the school. One of my daughters lost her horse - it had to be put down - mid way during AS levels. She had to drive out herself to the stables when the vet put it down etc. For her it was much much worse than losing a parent or sibling (I know how utterly weird that sounds but it genuinely was). I think the school told the exam board but I don't think a huge amount of credit was given which is probably not surprising as it was a horse not a parent. I cannot even remember now if it affected her marks. She was very very upset.

Well, it's not just dyspraxic teens that don't check their work - DS is just so pleased to have finished...

That's good that they got back to you so quickly Truffle.

Tilly - thank you for your help. He is super bright but the dyspraxia can sometimes be a true handicap!

DD has just gone for a run. On her own. DH says she will be fine (loads of people running the route at this time) and she has her phone, but I would rather he had jumped up and gone with her (as DS isn't here to volunteer)

Woolly, your DD is far more deserving of special consideration than my DS is. I hope she is feeling better.

In our case the school dealt with all formalities and I have received an email tonight showing me the board's response so it has been a pretty quick turnaround. I did email the school at the beginning to ask if I needed to do anything but they said they would deal with it, which they have. In your case it might be different as there may well be additional details which you can supply - ours was simply an in school incident.

Truffle, DH says he must be super-bright Try not to worry - you have done what you can to sort it.

Woolly re NN! DH says leave it to the school as they don't communicate with parents but if I was you, I would be checking with the school that they have done it

Tilly how could you be anything other than a Scouser with that NN

Truffle my DD has been ill and the school are applying for special consideration for her. I agree it's not likely to make a huge difference to the final mark.

With that in mind should I be contacting the exam boards or is it right to leave it all to the school? I don't want to get to the end of the exam session and find out that I should have sent in letters/emails.