DS is vomiting, can he still sit exam tomorrow?

[Wickywickyyow]

He's not been able to keep anything down today, but feels OK (not 100% but good enough) in-between if he's nil by mouth. Assuming he feels a bit better in the morning, what would you do?

Will he be allowed in to sit his final gcse exam tomorrow? Or should I call him in sick? If he goes in would you email the school as a heads up?

Any other time and I would of course keep him off but this is his gcses. He gets extra time so is in a smaller room anyway.

I hadn't realised there were exams on Monday too.

The ones on Friday are relatively small entries so not done by whole year groups.

I am an invigilator, we isolate pupils who have had upset stomach with a bucket by their side.

They'll do what they can to get him in, so different room with a bucket and bathroom trips whenever he needs them. Send him with water and tissues in his pocket if he feels up to it. Call ASAP in the morning

Eh? Do kids who are ill while doing the exam get extra marks then as theyve had to sit it while not 100%? Otherwise why the heck send in a kid that;s ill. They can sit it another day surely as they are ill? Why would you send in an ill person to do any work? This all sounds weird to me with everyone saying send him in and an invigilator thinking its ok to have a kid vomiting while doing work. What kind of world are we living in where this nonsense is OK?

They can sit it another day surely as they are ill?

No chance.

It’s an external exam. They can’t be done on another day. The exam board could use other papers to work out a grade if he can’t sit it, or award ‘special consideration’ if he does sit it, but there’s no way he’s doing that exam at another time.

I wouldn’t send him, unless he feels miraculously better in the morning. It’s not fair on him, the invigilator, or other people he might encounter on the way in. I understand that GCSEs are really important, but as pps have said if he’s feeling nauseous and vomiting he’s not going to do particularly well on the exam anyway. To be honest I think it’s pretty cruel to make children who are really ill sit an exam. Fair enough if it’s a cold and they can dose up on lemsip / paracetamol but it’s not so easy with a stomach bug.

Such a shame for him though - what bad luck! Hopefully if he can’t make it they’ll be able to extrapolate a grade from his other exam. I think with Covid things have moved on a bit when it comes to making allowance for illnesses, providing there’s hard evidence like a doctor’s note.

There's no way they'd be allowed to take it another day. The rules around external exams are ridiculously strict.

If he misses the exam they can maybe give him a grade based on past work and any previous papers - otherwise he needs to wait until the resits.

"Definitely not the last day of exams" Honestly. For the OP's son it is!!! Not everyone is doing the same subjects.

I would call the school and take their advice. Hope he feels better soon

You do know exams can be re sat?

Only English and maths. Resits aren't offered for other subjects as far as I know.

Just an update, he's gone in.

I phoned school first thing and they were brilliant, very helpful, gave him lots of options and explained. One of the choices was to go in late and have an extra hour at home but he just wants it over and done with. They said if he is sick they will apply for special circumstances for him.

He feels OK, slight waves now and again but eaten no breakfast and just packed a snack for after as he's hungry but feels worse for eating.

I also have an A level student taking his last exam this morning, it's a barrel of laughs in this house 😆

Fingers crossed!

Oh, good luck

What does he want to do? If he feels well enough and wants to go, I’d ask school for advice. Presumably he can be isolated?

Good news OP - hope he gets through it OK and gets a great result. A stressful week for your family!

All done, no more sickness.

They sat him at the front near the door with only his brother in the same row, coincidence I think? He felt rough half way through and the invigilator offered to take him out for fresh air but he pushed though and was OK.

He's also eaten now so hopefully that stays done and it was just a 24 hour thing.

That's good news OP, glad it was sorted.

I think every kid doing exams this year have done brilliantly and I'm so proud of our lot.

Glad it went ok.

How accommodating. 😳
I can’t imagine anyone doing well on an exam they’re puking throughout.

Not my decision, as teacher/head teacher decide that. We invigilators just try to make it as pleasant as possible for them and obviously we would rather not be looking after vomitting students.

What was the point of bumping a thread from June 2022?