Number of kids getting extra time in exams MASSIVELY overstated

Well then, if time is not relevant, why not allow all candidates extra time?

Then you completely miss the entire point of extra time 🤦🏻‍♀️

exams are a very crude measure of ability. One that is very singular in how it measures.

it is ILLEGAL to discriminate against a disability. It’s the same as thinking someone who uses a computer to complete their exam should be ‘outed’ against those who use pen. That they used a computer in no way is relevant to their capability. Same with extra time. Or that they did the exam in a quiet room or that they had any of the other accommodations

If they meet the criteria laid out by JCQ then the government think they need it.

No, I know - I’m a teacher myself. It doesn’t mean that everybody who is granted extra time needs it though.

It's not. My DD gets extra time in exams. It was done through tests and observations and the school had to be very thorough.

I’m actually going to go ahead and say that getting your child a diagnosis has become the mainstream middle class pointy elbow ways of giving your child an advantage. Many pay for one privately and get one after the school says they don’t have it through their assessments. Or their work doesn’t indicate they have it so don’t assess. Then they effectively buy one. It’s advised on here, seen it numerous times. I think allowing extra time in these circumstances actively disadvantages children from poor backgrounds with similar levels who can’t afford it.
The system at present is not fair and it needs an overhaul.

Trust me. RAs are not box ticking and schools have to submit medical evidence to AOs. They can't just tick a box saying "needs more time" and it magically gets granted

Yes and Phillipson got Ofqual to investigate the rate of RAs at independent schools based on nothing but this flawed data because she assumed they were buying an advantage.
We said she was wrong, she was wrong.
The rate of RAs at independent schools is exactly in line with state schools, precisely because they AREN'T buying an advantage. Wasted taxpayer money on a pointless but lengthy investigation.

Thanks for clarifying that. I was worried this would turn into another disability bashing thread……

Both my kids diagnosed dyslexic from mid primary school and neither has ever been in separate room for extra time, they just start earlier or finish later.

Both would happily give up extra time to not have the reading and SPAG challenges they have.

Nope. Sophie and Connor could apply to be allowed a scribe which probably actually saves them time.
Anyone else can take extra time, but their grade would indicate that fact.
It is absolutely not discriminatory to want to employ the person who can do the job well and quickly! Time is money!

Don't be so ridiculous.

I think (and I’m not wanting to sound as if I’m being critical of anyone on this thread) the problem is that the evidence is often a bit vague and woolly: ‘needs time to process things’ for example could apply to many of us at many moments. Some adjustments are really straightforward - visual impairment needing enlarged text; easy. Others are far more vague and can become a tick boxing exercise.

Exams are such artificial environments.

What jobs are you expected to apply knowledge and recall facts within a limited timeframe without access to external resources or secondary opinions/checks/colleagues etc?

Harry needing 25% extra time for his History GCSE or any other essay based subject, doesn't mean he won't make an excellent architect. And Peter who his dyslexic and has English as a second language isn't going to be applying to be a reporter with hard deadlines and a need for good English.

Also yes they are in a separate smaller room if extra time, as it would be disruptive to have some children leaving an exam , told to put their pencils down etc whilst others are still working.

A lot of reasonable adjustments can be done for anyone with good reason. Things like wearing ear plugs or sitting in a smaller room. I do think that anyone who wants to use a laptop should be allowed to. It isn’t as if anyone has to hand write long documents at work. I imagine it is a funding issue though.

My dd had the extra time in both gcse and A level exams. She had been involved in a serious accident six months before leaving school. She needed a scribe for GCSEs and then in college was still finding typing took longer than normal so had extra time for that. Nerve damage is a bitch.

thankfully fully back to normal now and didn’t need any extra help and is about to start her masters.

some of the comments on here are atrocious and those posters should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. These children still have the knowledge to pass these exams, just need an extra amount of time to get it on paper. It is not giving them an advantage.

How can it "boost grades" when the while point of a reasonable adjustment is to ensure that child can access that exam and without the RA they would be penalised because of their SEND need which lead to the RA in the first place!

Well, he doesn't know everything about every pupil
, and it was the SENCO and evidence provided and the exam boards.

What are they supposed to do if there's evidence?

It’s a controversial one.
But yes, some kids who have it don’t need it, and it games the system. Almost everyone would get better grades with more time. Why wouldn’t parents want that for their child? Parents will defend that in person and online. But in reality, I think that since that number is rising rapidly it would be fairest to either extend exam time for everyone or massively tighten up who is eligible. I’m sure there’s lots of kids who don’t have extra time as no diagnosis but would benefit just as much as those who do.
It’d be interesting to see studies to see how much the extra time boosts the grades of both children with a diagnosis and those without….

Autistic DS, several years ago, had not just a smaller room but his own room, as he automatically thought out loud (sometimes very loud) for every question and answer.

A RA may do though and extra time is 1 of the RAs.

Sometimes it does.

Some children will have panic attacks in big rooms. Some will be wildly distracted.