Number of kids getting extra time in exams MASSIVELY overstated

I don’t disagree. What I’m saying is that when a lot of children meet that criteria, then that has a sort of moves the goalposts for everybody.

You’re saying ‘well they meet the criteria = extra time, done, dealt with, let’s move on.’ I’m looking a bit beyond that. So I’m not actually disagreeing with you, just wondering where we’ll be if every year more and more meet the criteria which is the current trajectory.

You are extraordinarily privileged if you are really this unaware of the issue and think some vague moments will have schools rushing to get you extra time.

the process is long and multi factored and no one just gets it because someone thinks a student is a bit slow. There are many checks and tests and evidence requirements

As an exam invigilator I see this too. Some warrant it but I'm amazed at the percentage that get it. Not sure it's really necessary in a lot of cases as they don't always use it.

Ofqual are absolute dicks. They should be disbanded for this, they are not fit for purpose.

JCQ don't monitor schools. They monitor AOs.
You are getting mixed up with a lot of what you are saying.

Which he won’t even need as AI will proof everything. So it’s not even a disability in the real world. So he is fully capable abd excellent at what he does and technology will make his dyslexia a non issue and yet people thinking he is somehow a lesser employee and think people like your DH should be treated negatively because they need accommodations in an exam that will never impact in the real world. It’s mad isn’t it?

"Some" maybe, if their SEND requires it and they provide medical proof. Most don't have those adjustments and the most common is 10-15% extra time

Well the issue is that if they meet the criteria, they get the allowances.

You might not agree with the decision, or be privy to the reasons why.

Like one kid might have a learning difficulty where the need the extra time in essay based subjects, but you might not think they need it because it doesn't present as an issue in your class,because you teach pure maths. (Or whatever)

She’s twenty one, I presume - she has to take ownership and responsibility for that decision, as harsh as that sounds.

But its not at the discretion of the school to allow/not. As I already explained, they have to apply for RAs. The school don't decide who gets RAs.

If he is arrogant enough and stupid enough to think he is the arbiter of what people need or don’t need he shouldn’t be working with children.

Christ. Imagine the level of arrogance in thinking he knew better than actual professionals measuring need. It takes a lot of hoop jumping to get extra time. Meanwhile Gary the lab tech thinks he knows better

If an employer needs to know about the ability of job candidates to do a specific thing in a specific way they should test all the candidates appropriately under conditions that accurately reflect the workplace environment. A gcse certificate is not supposed to and is not designed to do this function. It certifies how much of the GCSE syllabus each candidate successfully learned and should not be used as a proxy for measuring something else.

Please could you tell us what your business is so I can make sure I avoid it.

@BusWankers i’m not SENCO and have no plans to be. One of the reasons it’s really difficult to have an open conversation about these sorts of issues is because of these sorts of responses: people get defensive and prickly, which I do understand believe it or not, I’m not a witch and I do realise it must be frustrating when your child has a genuine need that others are disparaging about.

But I am not the only one who has expressed concerns about the number of diagnosed conditions in children at the moment. I do think it’s something that needs bringing out into the open, even if it’s a difficult conversation. Anyway, while I’m not SENCO I’m also not answering from a point of complete ignorance either.

Because the majority don't need the extra time.
The exam is set with enough time to answer the questions for a "normal" candidate.
They know that the 30 questions can be answered by most candidates in 1hr 30m, with time for a small/quick review.

Most candidates would be twiddling their thumbs during the extra times or doubting their answers and going back over them.

You also clearly don't know that some candidates are given 50% or even 100% extra time, rest breaks, allowed drinks, listen to music, scribes, readers, prompters etc

Unfortunately DD absorbed that sort of reasoning and didn't apply for extra time at university, or take us up on our offer of paying for speedier assessment, preferring to wait for the NHS "real" diagnosis.

..which has duly arrived, just a few weeks too late to be of any help in her Finals. So at least one student out there was entitled to extra time that she didn't get, if that makes grumpy potential employers feel any better.

completely different in a running race the skill is speed. In a physics exam it isn’t. Your analogy is useless.

your analogy would be more like if a candidate was given the formula for each answer. Or given the start of each answer. Because that would be advantaging them in what is being tested. Speed is not being tested in a physics exam.

I think it's hard to argue that the system hasn't got out of control.

My dd is currently awaiting an adhd diagnosis. She went to talk to the disability team at her uni about some specific challenges that she was experiencing... nothing to do with exams as the time pressure in exams actually helps her to function better than usual, and this is not an area of difficulty for her.

We were both surprised that she was offered extra time in the exams... without a diagnosis and without having raised any concerns about her ability to actually manage the exams within the standard time frame. While I can't fault the university for bending over backwards to help, it would have been much too easy for dd to get extra time that she didn't need if she had wanted to give herself an unfair advantage. She declined the offer, but others in a similar situation might well have accepted it.

If we're going to make it so easy for people to get extra time, perhaps we need to loosen up on the time pressured nature of exams for everyone in order to make things fair while still being inclusive.

I think that’s the point really!

Oh are you the SENCO there then? And privy to all EHCPSs, EPs and all that?

Yes, this is correct - however, it's not dependent on school, it's dependant on the JCQ decision, based on the application made to them, by the school (who apply for access arrangements based on an individual's 'normal way of working').