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Original poster

DS has broken his finger - GCSEs start in 10 days!!

19 replies

AbbyGal · 05/05/2023 18:59

Writing hand, of course!
Any tips please?

School closed so can't ask them. We're getting some paperwork from the hospital confirming it's broken.
Any chance he'll be able to write by then?
He is distraught and in a lot of pain - poor boy, he's been working so, so hard.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 05/05/2023 19:00

Which finger?
Can he get a scribe maybe or could he type?

HereSheComesInTheFall · 05/05/2023 19:06

Would he be able to type? He could use a word processor for any long answer questions like English/history. Not such a good idea for maths though so he may need a scribe.

Tygertiger · 05/05/2023 19:07

If he can type he can get dispensation to use a laptop.

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Hellocatshome · 05/05/2023 19:12

Depending which finger he will probably be fine to write. I've broken several fingers and could write fine, the only one that stopped me was my thumb.

Original poster
AbbyGal · 05/05/2023 20:43

Thank you - it's his index finger (which is now strapped to his second finger). He's not a great typist (surprisingly as he's always on his bloody phone!).

We'll see what the school say and it's reassuring @Hellocatshome you being able to write anyway.

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 05/05/2023 20:53

He should be able to get a scribe but there isn't much time to organise things. This kind of thing must have happened before though so there must be a way of getting permission quickly.

froomeonthebroom · 05/05/2023 20:55

He will be able to get a scribe but he will do much better if he can type. Using a scribe is a real skill and I would not recommend it unless there is absolutely no other option. (I'm a TA/invigilator)

fUNNYfACE36 · 05/05/2023 21:26

I was pretty much back to normal a few days after breaking a finger and vack to gymnastics and tumbling after 3 weeks

CatOnTheChair · 05/05/2023 21:36

Echoing the above that doing exams with a scribe is a skill, and would be my last choice.
Typing or writing himself would be better.
Ideally maths (and bits of science) by hand.

2bazookas · 05/05/2023 21:37

The school should provide a scribe for him.

edwinbear · 05/05/2023 21:39

DS broke his finger playing rugby in October. It was sore for about 5 days then it felt so much better he got a detention for getting involved in an organised boxing match in the boys changing rooms one lunchtime. I say this not because I’m proud (you can imagine how cross and disappointed I was), but I was amazed he felt able to do this. DS said he’d forgotten he had a broken finger.

HarrietSchulenberg · 05/05/2023 21:45

Using a scribe effectively is a skill in itself (try dictating a few paragraphs and think of sustaining that for a full paper - it's not as easy as it seems). Hopefully he'll be able to write or use a laptop and school should accommodate this. Don't forget to ask for Special Consideration (marks of up to 5%) due to the circumstances of having to make a last minute adaptation to his normal way of working.

BettyBananaMan · 05/05/2023 21:47

SENDCo and Access Arrangements lead here- you need medical certification (not from a GP). We could then put in a scribe/Word Processor (I'd go with WP if at all possible) and then we could apply for special consideration if he runs out of time. It's normally a max of 3% though so a bit pointless really. Get on to your SENDCo or exams manager. Don't panic though, this happens all the time and we know what to do

LabLabrador · 05/05/2023 21:57

BettyBananaMan · 05/05/2023 21:47

SENDCo and Access Arrangements lead here- you need medical certification (not from a GP). We could then put in a scribe/Word Processor (I'd go with WP if at all possible) and then we could apply for special consideration if he runs out of time. It's normally a max of 3% though so a bit pointless really. Get on to your SENDCo or exams manager. Don't panic though, this happens all the time and we know what to do

Would he not be eligible for extra time and rest breaks to allow him to write with a broken finger (presumably more slowly), @BettyBananaMan ?

MzHz · 05/05/2023 22:02

Ds broke his hand the week before his GCSEs last year

he’d already got a word processor but the school were fab, offered him a scribe (which he used for first maths paper) and he got 25% extra time which made such a difference

it’ll be ok, just tell him to keep revising and he’ll be fine

BettyBananaMan · 05/05/2023 22:19

@LabLabrador yes, we could put in 25%ET as long as we had medical evidence so we could emergency apply to the JCQ

PocketfullOfMiracles · 05/05/2023 23:53

They can usually sort this pretty quick.
DS broke his left thumb the night before a Maths GCSE playing football, he was of course left handed…..
We spent half the night at A&E whilst he was plastered. He was tired, grumpy and quite sore. Called the school around 7.30am and told them, they arranged a scribe and extra time. I could have cheerfully throttled him. He passed with a B by some miracle.

He did it again a couple of years later the night before a long haul flight to San Francisco as well.

caringcarer · 06/05/2023 00:33

As soon as back to school take paperwork confirming his finger is broken to school. Ask to speak with the exam officer. They can get agreements from exam boards for your son to have a scribe. Sounds like a laptop would not work with a broken finger as most likely it will be strapped to another finger.

Quartz2208 · 06/05/2023 08:48

As @BettyBananaMan says this happens all the time and often on the day of exams. There are procedures in place that will enable him to not be disadvantage

dont panic and call the school on Monday

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