Is this a loophole in private schools?

[namechangetoinvestigate]

Posting here for discussion.

I know a boy at a top private school in Edinburgh who currently has 25% extra time in written exams for slow handwriting. He's a normal academic achieving boy with no learning difficulties. The school has advised the parents that they are going to apply for extra time next year for all his exams, not just written exams.

It made me wonder, is it one of the reasons private schools are getting better results because normal academic achieving kids are getting awarded 25% extra time? That's a big advantage.

I know there's a lot of pressure for private schools to get the grades and wondering if this might be a loop hole they take advantage of, are private schools given privilege when applying for extra time in exams?

The child is in my extended family, so I know there's no other learning difficulties. This doesn't sit right with my conscience.

"Research suggests nearly 20% of pupils in independent sector got extra time last year, compared with less than 12% in state sector"

Probably because:

*Smaller classes make it easier to spot
*Private school parents "mostly" seem to be very obsessed with their DC's education and so they would be onto of any issue like a hawk.
*The P schools don't diagnose any issue, they just tell you that they think you should get them assessed. This is what has happened to my friends DC.
*Parents can afford to get them privately assessed.
Parents with money will move their DC out of a state primary to a private school if they think their DC is not getting the support they need.

I don't think private schools are having meetings to see how they can beat the system. I really don't.

I know a teacher at a private school where all pupils are screened for specific learning deficits to maximise the number who get extra time.

I can see the arguments on both sides as to the fairness of this.

What is NOT fair, is that the opportunity for assessment is not available for all students irrespective of the type of school you’re at.

But Goldmandra - “There are all sorts of factors which may not have been investigated, including pupils with undiagnosed SEN being moved to independent schools because it's the quickest and easiest way for some parents to solve their issues”
Don’t most private schools have entrance exams? How would these children get in?

Writing is a physical activity. So is running. Some people can run really fast. Others (like me) can't. We all have the same anatomy, so should be able to do the same speed, in theory, but just cannot manage it no matter how hard we try. The exam boards are just recognising this for fair and equal treatment. Exams should be testing knowledge and understanding, not ability to write fast.
Private schools do not apply for extra time for all students.

My very bright DS2 gets extra time in exams, due to handwriting issues. He's had them right from the start of school. Probably related to his autism. Unluckily for him he also sustained nerve damage to his dominant hand and arm in an accident, so the official reason given for his extra time is now a physical disability, which has saved him from judgement by uniformed people like you, who have no idea about hidden disabilities.

The parents didn't request it, it was recommended by the school but it doesn't sit right with me

So the fuck what? It’s NONE of your business so it doesn’t need ‘to sit right’ with you. Take your beak out

My son is top set in maths and English he has severe dyslexia and gets extra exam time. He has a difficulty reading and writing it is not a reflection of his intelligence.

So you are implying that this boy in your family is cheating somehow? Not very nice.

My nephew was allowed to use a laptop in his exams for handwriting issues - I a state comprehensive.

Research suggests nearly 20% of pupils in independent sector got extra time last year, compared with less than 12% in state sector"

I wonder if this is England or UK wide? All I ever read about is English parents having to fight with schools for help, for acknowledgement, for assessments etc. It's not the same in Scotland:

However, even if it is UK wide it indicates that very thing, it's not a 'cheat' by private schools, it's an absolute failing of the state schools.

I invigilate at a state secondary. Quite a few children have additional time but some don't want/need to use it. I believe it actually costs the school something for children to apply for the extra time, so the school made them sit for the extra time, even if they didn't want it.

You realise, OP, that all schools, regardless of status, have to abide by the same rules and guidelines if they want to gain extra time etc for students in exams? They have to keep paperwork on each student and provide evidence of their ‘usual way of working’. All schools are aware that they can be visited at any time to have their exam access arrangements checked and could, ultimately, lose their status as an exam centre if they are found to be non- compliant. I have worked in a number of schools and am aware that inspections have taken place - it isn’t just hearsay. If the school thinks your family member needs extra time then they are probably right.

‘This doesn’t sit right with my conscience’

Crikey seeing as it’s absolutely none of your business OP I really wouldn’t let it trouble your conscience

I'm dyspraxic.

I certainly didn't want to advertise it when I was at school. It affected (and still does) my ability to write legibly among other things. When I did my GCSEs my mum pushed to try to get me extra time but the school refused to consider it as I was doing ok anyway

I went to a sixth form college, and they suggested it, arranged for me to see and educational psychologist and I got 25% extra time in my A Levels. It meant I went on to get good grades because, I could take the time to slow everything down rather than struggling to get everything down in such bad writing it would have lost me a lot of marks.

Neither were private.

The "loophole" is for children who for one reason or another are assessed as genuinely needing extra time.

My ds is seeing an Ed psych. Family don’t know because it’s none of their damn business, and if they would be all pokey nosed and judgey I definitely wouldn’t tell them.

Don’t most private schools have entrance exams? How would these children get in?

The private school dd went to was non academically selective. The one ds used to go to entrance was based on computer based cognitive testing (a bit like CATS)

I think the private sector is more likely to assess high achieving pupils who might get ignored in the state system. I was assessed when I went to university and was found to be dyslexic. Lots of people were quite distainful as I was high achieving. I suspect in the private sector, I would have been picked up earlier.

I’m in two minds whether I really am dyslexic or not. Technically I came out as dyslexic because my overall iq was extremely high but my processing ability less so giving a gap. My raw scores for processing were probably still better than most people’s.

Does anyone know if anyone can get extra time for the 11+?
My dd is going through that soon, and all the practise is speed, speed, speed. They can all get the answers correct given lots of time.
So, my assumption from that is what grammar schools are looking for is quick processing.

Private schools are extremely good at using everything possible to support students so they know all about the adjustments that can be made for students at exam times. These are available to all students if the exam board has evidence of them. Many state schools appear not to have the capacity to argue such cases for students

They have been doing this for decades. They do it in universities too. I don't see why it's a problem

OP The regulations on extra time have tightened up considerably so that bright pupils with any sort of challenge to being able to show their ability in exams are being disadvantaged. In the past extra time was given if there was a long record of difficulty and a gap between ability and attainment. Now you have to score in the bottom 14 percent of the population for processing, working memory and speed of writing. Obviously if you are in the top 5% for ability that is a much greater disability than if you are in the bottom 14% and would be expected to have such low scores. The system is currently rigged against those who are able but unable to to show that in a time limited exam......

You are showing your ignorance........

I have no learning difficulties and got extra time in my exams and went to a private school. To be awarded this though the school had to prove my speed of handwriting was below a certain speed and had to do a vast range of other tests too. It’s not a case of the school just giving extra time out to whoever - you have to prove it the need for it too for it to be awarded. I remember when I moved schools there was a chance I would have to be reassessed too to get approved again. Plus the extra time only last for so long without being retested.

OP must be bothered because she feels her relative is getting something her DC isn't.

What would you do with the information OP? Call someone up to put a stop to it?

He's a normal academic achieving boy with no learning difficulties

Well clearly he has got one difficulty - he has slow hand writing. Just because it hasn't been labelled as dyspraxia, dyslexia or whatever, it doesn’t mean that it isn't holding him back.

It made me wonder, is it one of the reasons private schools are getting better results because normal academic achieving kids are getting awarded 25% extra time? That's a big advantage

But by that token are you suggesting that, because private schools generally get better results across the board, that every pupil in private schools are being aided and abetted in cheating the system? That simply isn't true! There are occasional people who get extra time but it is by no means everyone. It’s also quite an unpleasant thing to suggest.

It doesn't sit right with me

Well boo hoo. I am sure you don’t mean it to OP but this thread is making you sound quite mean spirited.

YABU but private schools aren’t the only ones who manipulate the system to try and keep their places in the league tables.

And as for the question I suppose it’s arguably no more or less wrong than buying privilege through schooling in the first place.