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Original poster

Will DD likely be penalised for this

432 replies

curiousitygotthebetterofme · 04/06/2022 22:44

DD(15) sat a GCSE exam yesterday, which she prepared so well and worked hard for.

She is aware of all the exam hall rules including that you can’t bring mobile phones in with you.

Yesterday, she had her phone with her but forgot to leave it at the school reception until after the exam was finished.

She was not using her mobile phone during the exam nor did she attempt to. The phone was also switched off.

It was in her pocket and it fell out onto the floor and invigilator seen it happen.

Her head of year rang me yesterday to inform
that they are obliged to report it to the exam board and that they could very well take marks off her or disqualify her.

I feel sorry for DD as she worked so hard for these exams and she has been quite distressed over it all and the possibility of being penalised. It just slipped her mind but she knows to be more aware for future exams.

I get that exam boards have to follow procedures, but surely the fact she wasn't actually using the phone will work in her favour?

OP posts:
Original poster
curiousitygotthebetterofme · 04/06/2022 22:44

Sorry meant she sat it on Wednesday

OP posts:
SarahAndQuack · 04/06/2022 22:49

I can't see how she would be able to prove she wasn't using it.

Kool4katz · 04/06/2022 23:03

Surely it's up to the exam board to prove on the balance of probabilities that she had used her phone to gain an advantage in the exam?

If they do attempt to penalise her, appeal the decision and get them to justify it.

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JudgeRindersMinder · 04/06/2022 23:05

Kool4katz · 04/06/2022 23:03

Surely it's up to the exam board to prove on the balance of probabilities that she had used her phone to gain an advantage in the exam?

If they do attempt to penalise her, appeal the decision and get them to justify it.

I would agree, you can’t prove a negative

Carrotten · 04/06/2022 23:09

Is it not well publicised that you will be penalised if you have your phone on you in the exam even if its switched off? She could have gone to the toilets for example to use it, it is asumed if on you you intend to use it. In my day there was always a final mobile phone call, a reminder at the start of every exam

toomuchlaundry · 04/06/2022 23:11

I thought the rule was that you are not allowed your phone with you, so I don’t think they have to prove she gained an advantage

There were ‘no mobiles’ signs all round the exam hall at DS’s school,

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/06/2022 23:12

I just don't believe she could have kept hold of it by accident. Schools have to announce about handing phones in at the beginning of every exam.

Also, it's half term. I'm pretty sure there aren't any actual GCSE exams this week???

Carrotten · 04/06/2022 23:14

@Kool4katz the rule is that you aren't allowed phones on your person during the exam for the exact reason. It is hard to prove that you've actually used it but if found on you then it's assumed you intended to use it

coffeecupsandfairylights · 04/06/2022 23:14

I don't think the exam board need to prove anything. The rule is no mobile phones - so just by having her phone on her, she broke the rules and can be penalised as a result. The fact that it was switched off is irrelevant.

mum11970 · 04/06/2022 23:16

Isn’t it half term? It is where I am.

Palavah · 04/06/2022 23:17

Yesterday? Really? In the UK?

Simonjt · 04/06/2022 23:17

Just taking the phone in is malpractice, every centre will have signs stating this outside of the exam room, it is also in the invigilators speech. I didn’t realise some schools weren’t on half term.

Is your daughter okay? I would be worried how this might have an impact on her performance
in the rest of her exams.

SarahAndQuack · 04/06/2022 23:17

Kool4katz · 04/06/2022 23:03

Surely it's up to the exam board to prove on the balance of probabilities that she had used her phone to gain an advantage in the exam?

If they do attempt to penalise her, appeal the decision and get them to justify it.

I agree, I don't see how that would make sense.

If you're caught in an exam with your revision notebook in your pocket, no one would think the exam board needed to prove you planned to use it. Unfortunately, although a phone is much more multi-purpose and I can see how you could forget it was in your pocket, it's actually much more effective as a cheat device than any set of notes could be.

HarrietSchulenberg · 04/06/2022 23:17

Not sure which exam she sat during half term, but exam board regs are very clear about malpractice including bringing a phone into the exam room. All students are reminded not to bring phones in and posters are displayed on the entrance door, and inside the exam hall. The school must report the incident to the exam board as malpractice, as you know, and they will probably find it hard to believe that your DD could have forgotten to check she'd not got it with her when students are reminded to do just that.
The decision now lies with the exam board so she'll just have to wait to find out their decision.

Original poster
curiousitygotthebetterofme · 04/06/2022 23:19

I’m not in England. Different part of the UK.

OP posts:
Jellybean23 · 04/06/2022 23:19

I have no words of comfort, I'm afraid.

I used to be an invigilator. There is zero tolerance of mobile phones. There are signs everywhere - NO MOBILE PHONES IN THE EXAM ROOM. The teachers din it into students constantly. They are reminded before going into exam rooms. Often, it will be announced in the exam room too, before the exam begins, as a last ditch chance to hand over the phones, although technically, the rule has already been broken.

From my own experience, every student who was caught with a phone had their paper cancelled by the examining board and it wasn't negotiable. Sometimes, a candidate will have all their exams for that examining board cancelled.

toomuchlaundry · 04/06/2022 23:20

Can’t it impact prior exams too as they may assume you had phone on you then too?

MadameMinimes · 04/06/2022 23:21

There weren’t any GCSE exams this week. If this is some sort of hypothetical or a situation where details have been changed then yes, she could be penalised. She breached the exam rules.

Original poster
curiousitygotthebetterofme · 04/06/2022 23:21

Simonjt · 04/06/2022 23:17

Just taking the phone in is malpractice, every centre will have signs stating this outside of the exam room, it is also in the invigilators speech. I didn’t realise some schools weren’t on half term.

Is your daughter okay? I would be worried how this might have an impact on her performance
in the rest of her exams.

She’s absolutely terrified of not being allowed to do any of her other exams.

i feel for her. She really did work hard

OP posts:
clary · 04/06/2022 23:21

She sat a GCSE exam this week? Seems unlikely. But if she did, most likely she will be DQd from that exam. Potentially all others for that subject or even that board, tho that’s much less likely IME. Sorry op but the rules are clear and it’s not about whether she used or even intended to use her phone.

WishILivedInThrushGreen · 04/06/2022 23:22

I feel sure that the head invigilator will have warned about mobile devices prior to the start.
No mobiles in any exams.
Your daughter will have known this.

titchy · 04/06/2022 23:22

curiousitygotthebetterofme · 04/06/2022 23:19

I’m not in England. Different part of the UK.

None of the uk sat exams this week.

Original poster
curiousitygotthebetterofme · 04/06/2022 23:23

titchy · 04/06/2022 23:22

None of the uk sat exams this week.

Show quote history

I Am in Northern Ireland - schools here do not take a half term break in the summer term

OP posts:
QuillBill · 04/06/2022 23:24

How did it fall out of her pocket? Was it a gymnastics exam?

Simonjt · 04/06/2022 23:24

curiousitygotthebetterofme · 04/06/2022 23:19

I’m not in England. Different part of the UK.

Ah, NI?

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