Taking exam as private candidate

[LostMyMarblesToday]

DS in y7, enjoying everything except languages.
All y7 start with 3 languages, and eventually choose one or two for GCSEs.

DS studied a language privately before starting secondary school, was at lower ks3 level when he stopped. He continues to revise in his spare time.

The issue is, he isn't too keen on the languages offered at school, but really would like to continue with said language (to gcse level).

I'm wondering whether anyone's dc have managed to study and take an exam in something not offered by school.

I don't know if it's worth the hassle, as, as far as I'm aware, all the pupils have to continue at least one of the languages the school offers.

After some wise words, as he's mentioned it again today that he'd like to study (with a tutor) and only really enjoyed that language (probably saying that as he's further ahead and feeling more confident with it).

Anyone? 😁

Plenty do, sitting early too. Encourage his love of the language but also he needs to learn the school language choices too

My son decided he wanted to do a GCSE in a subject that was not offered by his school. He signed up for a course on line. The exam centre provided by the online course is a long way away, and would clash with his other GCSEs (imagine doing an exam in one location at 9am, and having to be back at school to do another at 1, with a 2hour journey in between.)

I spoke to the school, and they offered to host his exam, and are providing an invigilator for him.

I also have a daughter who decided that she wanted to do a language not offered by the school, and is now doing Duolingo every day. She is still doing the school language choices.

Just be aware, if it's a language not normally taught in schools, it can be expensive to take the exam as you will probably need to go to a private exam centre for it (because of the speaking test). Also the grade curve can be skewed by native speakers getting the top grades so it could be more difficult for a non-native speaker to do as well.
The only other thing is it might be easier to do the tests set by that country, eg Japan has JLPT, China has HSK, etc. These can be cheaper and don't involve a speaking test but you would still need to travel.
You can pm me if you'd like more info (my dd did Japanese).

Schools are often happy to facilitate students taking extra languages outside school.

It does involve them having to find people who can do the Speaking assessment - this is often the trickiest part to sort out. But this is a conversation for when he is in Y10 not now.

It is unlikely they will let him drop languages from the school curriculum as the way timetables are written makes it extremely hard - what would he do in the time his classmates are doing it? Going to the library or independent study etc involves having a member of staff to supervise. That ultimately costs money as it takes staff away from teaching lessons in those slots.

My DD1 did a language AS level by distance learning /self study because her school couldn't offer it (she was already doing another language plus 3 other subjects). We used (I think, it's going back about 6 years) Oxford Home Schooling and found the materials very good. She had occasional contact with an online tutor as part of the course.

She took her written and oral exams at a local independent school that used the same exam board for their A Levels. The course provider helped us to find the exam centre but the costs and actually arranging it were down to us.

She had a very positive experience as an external candidate for both elements of the assessment.

(I on the other hand was treated appallingly rudely to my face by one staff member at the school where she sat them.)

Thank you for the replies, it's good to see that it has been done and something we can look into.

He will need to continue one of the languages offered by school, and has decided he will continue with Latin (allegedly that's the easiest one!)

Good luck and hope you can get the support for your DS to sit said GCSE.

Not that I agree with his decision to choose Latin- I think French, Spanish or German would be a better choice if any are languages on offer and that he has studied.

Yes and although you will pay approx £20 ish for the exam your school should be able to let him sit it at his current normal school

Just go through the specifications so they know which part of the exam to order / which exam board etc

So let's say for English Lit each school can choose what books to teach from a list from their chosen exam board ie AQA and the exam for that school is tailored to their choice

You need to check for Latin what the spec and choices might be if any

Talk to his school Exams Officer ASAP to find out if his school would allow him to sit the exam there. If you're using a tutor, they might also know where he might be able to sit the exam. Alternatively companies such as Tutors and Exams run private exam centres in several cities around the country, where your son could sit the exam papers.

You might also want to consider having him sit it in Year 10 so it doesn't clash with his main GCSEs and therefore gives you more flexibility to travel to an exam centre further away if necessary. Remember that he might sit more than one paper on different days.

I'm sitting an exam myself, hence the research!

What will be tricky is if the language he wants to do privately has a spoken component. His school might not be able to assist with a speaker for that and you will need to find someone suitably experienced and able to precisely follow the JCQ guidelines for spoken exams. Not impossible, again a tutor might be able to assist.