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Original poster

Adjustments/concessions or whatever it's called for GCSEs

37 replies

insan1tyscartching · 19/10/2016 22:57

I think I understand that adjustments have to be requested no more than two years prior to exams. Can somebody explain the process to me please and also what would be the maximum adjustment made in terms of time and marking? What evidence is required and from where does this need to come? Is a statement that states the need for extra time because of processing difficulties and slow recording skills sufficient or do school have to provide more evidence?
Dd is y9 at present receives extra time as a matter of routine and a scribe when needed but she has a unique/ unusual difficulty that impacts heavily on several areas of the curriculum which will mean she will not have completed the full curriculum in several subjects and exam papers might well need censoring if she is going to be able to actually sit the exam (again these difficulties and adjustments are documented in her statement and happen in school as a matter of routine) I'm keen to understand what school need to be doing as SENCo isn't terribly pro active without a prod,

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 20/10/2016 21:55

Crikey, that's an unusual one. I agree that the school will need to have a specific conversation with JCQ about that. Not sure how doctoring an exam before a child sees it will be handled as there are so many rules about keeping the papers secure. Exam arrangements are normally sorted at the end of Y9 in my school so your SENCO is ok there, there should be enough time before the end of Y11.

Clonakilty · 20/10/2016 21:54

Exam papers cannot be amended/ doctored in advance or at all in fact. They have to be kept under lock and key by the exams officer and no one can have access to them in advance, regardless of the advice or instruction given by an ed psych. National exams have very tight rules. You should speak to your exam officer and maybe reassure yourself by speaking to the exam board. From what you say, there is some sort of trauma? Exam papers are quite detached, to be honest although of course I don't know what might be triggering. The exam boards are quite careful, but nothing can be done to take out or rewrite questions. Not for GCSE. I'm sorry it isn't what you want to hear and as someone who has experienced trauma. I really sympathise.

Original poster
insan1tyscartching · 20/10/2016 21:52

Lizs I want SENCo to be having conversations now particularly now we have an ed psych report that firmly and clearly states what needs to happen. It's not at all ambiguous (and that's not always the case IME) so it would be good to put that report to the exam boards now so that they can be considering what exactly can be done when the time comes.

OP posts:
Original poster
insan1tyscartching · 20/10/2016 21:48

Yes processing difficulties have been documented throughout (since she was three) school and ed psych don't think securing extra time will be a problem at all for that but extra time isn't going to be any good if she can't stay in the room/ or faints/ vomits.

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LIZS · 20/10/2016 21:43

I think your senco/exams officer will need to have a specific conversation with JCQ and exam boards as screening papers is not the norm. Are the processing issues well documented and within the limit for extra time? This needs to be within 2 years of the exam sitting and the need substantiated by her teachers.

Original poster
insan1tyscartching · 20/10/2016 21:39

mummytime if dd's difficulty could be measured by testing then I'd relax but it can't.She has processing problems and occasional recording difficulties that extra time/use of scribe will ameliorate but she has a phobia, a really severe phobia that means her exam papers will need "doctoring" so that she isn't subject to triggering material. Ed psych has documented the extent of the phobia and the need for materials to be screened for suitability and this all happens in school now but I need to know that dd won't walk into an English/History/Science/RE/ exam, open the paper and be unable to stay in the room much less be in a position to sit an exam because of some extract/photo/diagram that is triggering forming part of the questions.
Because it's a unusual /unique situation I want to be certain that we all know what needs to and what can be done.

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mummytime · 20/10/2016 21:22

Speak to the school they will either have a teacher qualified to do assessments or have access to and external person (such as an educational psychologist) who can do the assessment. There are standard tests, and then if it is indicated that the student needs help there maybe further testing. At school my older DC both had a teacher do a battery of tests and then write the report, the younger one then had to get her teachers to sign that she "usually worked with the extra time" etc.
AT college DD was assessed by an Ed Psych who came in. DS actually got sent to a specialist centre to be assessed.

Both the exam's officer and the SENCO should be very well aware of the procedure (most SENCOs spend a lot of time doing this paperwork). You don't need a Statement or EHCP to get accommodations, none of my children have them and its never been a problem.

Original poster
insan1tyscartching · 20/10/2016 21:21

Heir her teachers are aware, and any slip ups are covered by her TA being present anyway. I want to be certain that what needs to be done is being done because whilst the SENCo acts with a prod if I don't know when to prod then it's 50 50 as to whether what needs to be done is done.
I've emailed SENCo today asking for an update after last update (where she reassured me we needn't do anything until the end of y9) didn't fill me with confidence so hoping that she at least takes advice on exactly what needs to be done before reassuring me that not needing to do anything is correct.
If it was a situation that SENCo had experienced previously then I would be reassured but SENCo has said repeatedly she has never experienced anything similar before and so I think she needs to find out in plenty of time what can and what needs to be done so that dd has the best possible chance in her GCSEs.

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Heirhelp · 20/10/2016 20:22

It might be worth speaking to the exam's officer or the senco to ask about the process. I would also ask that her teachers are made aware of her additional time/scribe so she has this in mock exams etc.

Original poster
insan1tyscartching · 19/10/2016 23:21

Playmobile I know there are EHCPs but dd has a statement and with the way our LA are going she will be y11 before it is converted. They are years behind, her statement was to be converted at her transition review, it's not going to happen for this one so has been pushed back to the next one so in y11 so the statement will need to be the supporting document.It might not be what is expected or legislated for but it is what is happening in our LA.
24 thank you I will find the document you suggest.

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24balloons · 19/10/2016 23:07

Everything relating to reasonable adjustments is documented in the JCQ Guidelines which the school should be familiar with. Main thing is your dd already has adjustments & they are considered a normal way of working. The school needs to perform their own tests after year 9 by a qualified person & can then apply to JCQ for approval.
You can google & get the full document, there are lots of examples of what is allowed.

PlaymobilPirate · 19/10/2016 23:00

It's all educational health care plans (EHCP) now - support needs and SEC (special exam considerations) such as scribe, extra time, stop / start conditions are detailed in them.