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Original poster

What happens if your child is ill on entrance exam day?

33 replies

moctodtensmum · 05/01/2020 15:33

My 11 year old is due to sit 11+ entrance exam for a London day school on Tuesday. Today they seem to have come down with flu: temp of 40 and everything.

This is their first choice school, and the school their sibling attends. It is hugely competitive and I know they won’t change exam dates even if a child is sitting two exams on the same day.

Any ideas what the school will do if I tell them my child is ill.

OP posts:
LochJessMonster · 06/01/2020 16:50

Give them a hearty breakfast in the morning, lots of fluids and tissues for the exam, tell them to just read through slowly and do their best.
heart breaking Flowers

Original poster
moctodtensmum · 06/01/2020 16:48

In case this helps anyone to know - there is no alternative exam, your child can sit the exam and the school will note they were sick and take this into account but that’s it. Even though my child has a sibling at the school and we had always hoped all our kids would go to the same school. That’s a year of tutoring down the drain and the loss of our most hoped for schooling option.

OP posts:
newtothis15 · 05/01/2020 19:37

I thought SPJ has only 1 exam - and it would disregard even illness? When I phoned them about clash of exams, they said they only do 1 exam, no alternative dates...?

Original poster
moctodtensmum · 05/01/2020 16:04

@Straysocks that’s a good idea to get a letter first thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
moctodtensmum · 05/01/2020 16:03

@LeekMunchingSheepShagger obviously. But it’s Sunday night so I can’t contact the school and thought I’d check if anyone has had a similar experience and could advise.

@ripple11 it’s one of those schools. This is all so stressful.

OP posts:
ripple11 · 05/01/2020 15:48

That's awful , I feel for them and you.
Some schools have a reserve "sick" day if you call them on the day.
Next Tuesday is particularly hectic....KGS ,Latymers, St.Pauls, Kew House etc
We have 45 mins to get from one to another with lunch in the car!
All you can do is call them tomorrow and see want can be done.
Hope he/she feels better by Tuesday.

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 05/01/2020 15:42

Surely the best thing to do would be to ask the school? Confused

Straysocks · 05/01/2020 15:40

My eldest was ill on the day of his entrance exam but sat it at the school a week later - with a small group of children. I took him to GP and got a letter explaining he was too ill to attend and this was sufficient. It was a virus and I would not have taken him to GP otherwise but felt it was important that a hcp confirmed my opinion that he was unfit to do exam that day. Can you email admissions officer today to explain?

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