Horrible phone call with school😭

Is the nasal spray sumatriptan? You say it was too late into the migraine to take it, but has she actually tried it and found it ineffective? Wasn't really clear from your post, but it read to me as if she hasn't tried it as it was too late.

Sumatriptan is said to work better at the onset of a migraine, but I find it generally works for me at any stage.

OMG - I was the same! Never spoke about the stress and was back in 80s with little to nothing known about anxiety/PMS etc. I had talking therapy where I talked at someone...

I had horrendous migraines too and chemist offered to sell me or I got prescribed some medication but took it once and stopped.

Fair enough for the school to check that it's not "just a headache", but once told that it's a worst-ever migraine and she is no way fit to sit an exam, they should be backing straight off and saying just that they'll need the doctors' note.

As far as the exam board goes, if she is too ill to sit then her grade will be based on the other papers. If she goes in and can't really do more than the odd question, then she'll get a small percentage uplift for being unwell and that's it, and her score will probably pull her overall grade down. So it's not actually in the school's interest for her to go in.

They possibly don't even need a fresh doctors' note - see top lilnk on www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=jcq+illness and the examples on p.14.

It's completely understandable that you are upset but the school have not done anything wrong, OP. As a former teacher you know that there are parents who lie about medical needs. The conversation this morning will form part of the evidence for special consideration alongside your medical evidence.

Did she do Paper 1? When you are calmer you need to speak to the examinations officer about starting the special considerations process.

What are DDs aspirations and goals? Will she be able to progress towards these if she cannot attend exams? Will she want to re take History?

I am wondering if your anger at the school is misplaced anxiety about what the future holds for your DD? I hope she feels better soon and she finds a way to deal with this.

OP - sorry not read the thread but I had severe PMS years ago (undiagnosed) and possible underactive thyroid too, but also anxiety and stress migraines too. What do the doctors say? When I was put on contraceptive pill it helped my PMS no end but still got migraines.

I'm not sure she should be allowed to sit the exam but could she retake or have special measures put in place?

Also, for your daughter, yoga might help with anxiety and migraines!

Rizotriptan saved my life with migraines.

Also, what about a good therapist to help her deal with the stress? I was like that at her age. Tried to pull out of an A-Level at the last minute due to sheer terror. My teacher talked me round and I got a B.

Best of luck.

Its all exam related. She’s fine when there are no exams

I sympathise as that sounds very difficult for her
However the exams won't be the last stressful thing she'll have to face, so maybe further input is needed whether that's therapy or something else? Not easy to get, I know, but surely easier than missing whatever she finds stressful

The school have done nothing wrong. In my experience exam boards simply do not give concessions to hardly anyone. I've experienced situations where the child's parent died, glandular fever and other illnesses where the exam board have not taken these into account. Despite doctors evidence I doubt your daughter will be exempt by the exam board.

I'd discuss ASAP with the school the evidence you have to send to the exam board- though sadly I doubt it will have little impact.

Its all exam related. She’s fine when there are no exams

this suggests she’s not going to be capable of taking exams any time soon. Can you meet with the school to discuss a way forward that isn’t just excusing her from one exam to the next. If she isn’t able to take exams generally, there needs to be a different solution. Even if she manages to pass a few subjects, what’s going to be next for her if she faces this obstacle again at A-levels or uni? Would it not be better for her to take some time out of school to focus on her health then re-take exams another time. Pushing on trying to get some grades doesn’t sound like it’s going to help your DD.

So many people think migraines are just headaches, including people in positions of authority in schools and workplaces. The idea that someone with a severe migraine can go in because “it’s just an hour” or that you can “encourage her” is ridiculous. If I’d somehow been dragged in to take an exam when I had a migraine, it would have been a waste of time. I wouldn’t have been able to see the paper for a start, let alone think and write.

You've done the right thing OP. Colleges often allow students to do GCSEs alongside other courses. It really isn't a huge deal to miss a gcse exam in Yr 11 (though it feels like it at the time). The school aren't being helpful. Focus on getting the migraines under control, then she get can get the qualifications.

The sad thing for this years cohort is that they’ve usually had 2 years run up of exam prep and experience which would help them understand format, techniques and how to manage the stress in the run up. This years cohort have had none of that and I really hope that’s taken into account for all students.

Has she not been prescribed triptans for relieving acute attacks?

Forgot to mention...the headaches started with the mock exams and the prescription stated "as needed"

From school's pov, they probably think she has medication now and so should be fine. Although anyone with migraines knows that isn't the case. She can't sit an exam with a migraine. The school also might have been pointing you to arrange a GP appointment today if possible so you have a medical note from today to say she wasn't well enough to sit the exam. A general medical note from when she was first diagnosed might not be enough for the exam board.

If it's also anxiety and exam stress related, then I'd look into meditation or visualisation classes. Our school system is very exam based. Relying on migraine medication alone won't be enough. She needs to have techniques and support in place to manage the anxiety.

Please don't tell her any of the 'issues' you think you're having with the school. Leave her in a darkened room to sleep - unless you need to wake her to see the GP.

Has she received therapy (not just drugs) for her anxiety? The school isn’t in the wrong here (so many parents exaggerate which makes it harder for dc with genuine bad anxiety to be taken seriously). It’s in the best interest of all dc to sit their exams. The only other option your Dd has is to “resit” her GCSE exams whilst she’s at sixth form.

I had a similar experience when I was taking exams at 16 , blinding headaches and nausea but no history of migraines. The GP prescribed me a mild sedative. I sat all the papers and got decent results. I know you're distressed at seeing her so debilitated but I do feel you're babying her to a certain extent, Building resilience isn't easy. Maybe a move to a different school/college which offers a more coursework-based curriculum would be an idea? I'm not saying she's malingering but for her benefit, learning to manage or at least minimise her stress levels might be of greater use than avoiding exams altogether (planned study with scheduled breaks , healthy eating and keeping hydrated, breathing techniques, self hypnosis, support of the belief that her best is good enough no matter the exam results)

The school is probably concerned with the impact missing exam(s) will have on her future and whether, if she wants to do resits, the problem will recur. On a more pragmatic level the school pays a fairly substantial fee for each subject taken and some ask families to reimburse the cost of missed papers and as we all know budgets are tight. There's no point to being angry with the school's approach . At least they care enough to contact you

That doesn't change the truth of what @Jalisco said though. She's correct. I've worked in this area. A diagnosis of a condition and evidence still doesn't solve the problem of what will happen regarding the qualification. It all depends whether she has sufficient evidence for them to extrapolate a grade based on her other papers. It's a judgement call, but often the best bet is to struggle through and apply for special consideration. One of mine is doing that. Migraine is horrible - I remember struggling through an exam where the words were jiggling on the page in front of me. The second I got out, I took the heavy duty medication. Hope your DD finds an approach which works for her soon.

There was an assumption that she was malingering.

I wouldn't take that from what they're saying. They're just very anxious for her to not miss the exam, as you are too no doubt. Everyone cares about your DD and is doing their best in difficult circumstances. There is no enemy here, it's just hard to deal with all round, most of all for your DD. Hope she's feeling better soon.

I know you said you have doctors letter, but make sure you have a doctors note for her for this specific date. Talk to school about retaking the exam.

I agree about migraines being horrific. I’ve given birth to twins without pain relief and I’d do that every day of the week over a bad migraine.

You’re being overly sensitive. The school are doing what they need to do. You are doing what you need to do. The exam board will decide what they will do.

Don’t take it so personally, or get so stressed. Pretty sure that will have a knock-on effect on your DD, in addition to being a totally unproductive use of energy.

Separately, I hope she can find a way to get through stressful periods in her life. Good luck.

l was a secondary teacher for 26 years. I’ve never known special consideration not be applied.

It probably will be - but I'd check that every box had been ticked and write to school to make sure exam officer and everyone else knows they have the evidence needed.

One of mine is sitting a history exam with WJEC board - there's another two exams next year and a piece of class work still to be done - so if she sat previous exams or has ones still to sit - there there should be enough to grade.

Who were you speaking to as exam office I'd expect to know about special consideration and how to apply, the subject teacher to have an idea and head of year to have previous experience that sometimes exams are misses - school receptionist much less of a clue about any of it and possible same for school attendance person.

I remember lying on the bathroom floor after a bout of migraine vomiting thinking I was going to die and wishing it would hurry up and happen as I couldn't bear the pain.