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Original poster

Asking my Sons school to host a GCSE exam in a subject they dont teach (sons native language)

39 replies

Towcester · 25/01/2023 10:58

My son has grown up bi-lingual. The language is not taught at his school. he is Year 9.

I am trying to formulate a letter that will ask if the school would host a GCSE exam so that he will have an extra GCSE which will help him at some stage.

What do you think is the best way to persuade the school to agree to this? I could do some of the groundwork potentially to find an examiner for the speaking exam for example. I am trying to be a bit more persuasive though because I suspect they will go with the easy anser of 'no'. We can pay the costs too.

Any ideas? or anyone been through this?

OP posts:
enyemaka · 25/01/2023 12:03

CaptainMyCaptain · 25/01/2023 11:54

I used to invigilate and there was ALWAYS an outside examiner brought in to do oral exams so this shouldn't be an issue. Teachers aren't allowed in the exam room and invigilators weren't required to speak the language. This won't be a problem although there might be other reasons why not.

Show quote history

I think you’ve misunderstood. Language exams have a recorded oral exam - this is usually done by the teacher. Invigilators don’t have anything to do with that section of the exam. Teachers are not allowed into the written exams.

Original poster
Towcester · 25/01/2023 12:03

Thanks, all, email sent.

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 25/01/2023 11:54

enyemaka · 25/01/2023 11:10

The first issue is if any staff at the school
speak the language as language qualifications have an oral test. I’m not sure about a school accepting an outside person conducting this section due to possible misconduct.

I used to invigilate and there was ALWAYS an outside examiner brought in to do oral exams so this shouldn't be an issue. Teachers aren't allowed in the exam room and invigilators weren't required to speak the language. This won't be a problem although there might be other reasons why not.

Original poster
Towcester · 25/01/2023 11:52

Yes, it would be a language which they may struggle to locate an examiner for the spoken part but we may be able to find one ourself.

OP posts:
lanthanum · 25/01/2023 11:35

Plenty of schools offer this. DD's school put out an appeal for parents who might be able to help mark mock GCSEs in a whole list of languages - they would be provided with a markscheme and support from a languages teacher. I don't know how they manage the speaking part - but they've probably built up contacts over the years.

Reindear · 25/01/2023 11:33

School should help with this- phone the exams officer. If the school have EAL support, they may be able to help too

Singleandproud · 25/01/2023 11:32

The school I used to work for did this regularly for our students who spoke an additional language at home. I'd ping off an email to the head of MFL and the exams officer but I don't think it is as unusual as you first thought.

tribpot · 25/01/2023 11:29

Definitely worth a conversation with the school as PP say. My son is sitting exams for a language they didn't offer in his year but do offer now, so that makes it a bit simpler than your scenario. I'm pretty sure the school do also offer exams in languages they don't teach at all, like Polish and Arabic.

Brendabigbaps · 25/01/2023 11:25

i work in exams and we do this all the time too, like pp said, the school get all the credit so it works in their favour.

BlueChampagne · 25/01/2023 11:21

A back-up plan would be to check and see if the language is offered as an evening class anywhere - they might offer the GCSE?

WandaWonder · 25/01/2023 11:12

Does he want to do it?

FlakyCroissant · 25/01/2023 11:11

Schools love to help with this as it's an extra GCSE for them which they get credited for.

Just ring the school & ask to speak with the exams officer.

If it's an unusual language they may need assistance with finding someone for the speaking part but unless you want him to take it early they probably won't need to start organising anything until Christmas of Y11.

But do speak with the exams officer and I'm sure they will be helpful and reassuring. We do it all the time in our school, have had Italian, Arabic, Polish, all sorts of languages.

Yoyooo · 25/01/2023 11:11

Is there another school or examination centre he can do it instead?

enyemaka · 25/01/2023 11:10

The first issue is if any staff at the school
speak the language as language qualifications have an oral test. I’m not sure about a school accepting an outside person conducting this section due to possible misconduct.