School Exams During Lockdown - AIBU

[brentwoodbaby]

DD's school have contacted us today with the end of year exam timetable for the lower school. I've attached as a picture.

Parents are expected to confirm the integrity of the exams, which are being issued on Google classroom 10 minutes before the start time, by ensuring they are sat in controlled conditions with supervision.

I'm normally supportive of the school but on this occasion I am thinking of contacting the Head of Year to say that I will not guarantee the controlled conditions. I am working from home most days and in the office once a week but when at home also have a much younger child to look after - I can't guarantee the house will be quiet or that I will be able to supervise the exam in its entirety. I think it's ridiculous that they are even taking place to be honest.

AIBU!?

Yanbu.

Yanbu-it’s bat shit.

That is just ridiculous.

Nope, fine to contact the school and say that in the current circumstances you will not be able to invigilate exams as you have paid work to do.

The school just means make best endeavours to make sure he doesn't cheat.

They don't expect you to sit and supervise throughout.

Print off the paper, make sure he has no access to devices or books and pop in and check he is ok every so often.

I would at least try to make sure he had a quiet space to work in though.

Thank you! I wondered if I'd get a reputation for being 'that parent' if I contacted school but with any luck I won't be the only one!

YANBU. My school (am teacher) would not dream of expecting kids to sit formal exams in these circumstances, for so many reasons...

I see no reason to contact the school, they won’t know whether you’ve monitored your child or not. Let them think you have.

DDs school are doing exams as they normally would at this time of year, but all are open book style. Still a set time, so DCs have to be reasonably knowledgeable to be able to complete the exam, but school acknowledge that true exam conditions aren't going to be possible.

Open book would be better but instructions that this is not the case have been explicit- see picture.

That's crazy, some parents probably could but then their dc will be at a disadvantage because most parents probably can't impose exam conditions, at least not for two weeks. Though other parents will probably sit there helping their dc. Totally unrealistic.

But they can give whatever instructions they like, you don’t have to follow them. I’d just tell my child to do it in exam conditions and let them know when there time was up.

Ugh, another teacher who thinks this is absurd. How are they going to do a testicles exam?!

Haha TEXTILES!

🤣 best typo ever!

Diff opinion from me. Schools trying what they can, dammed I’d they do or don’t it seems.

Just trust that your child will do the right thing, you know them op - will they cheat or comply with the school?

I’m sure if the results come back vastly different from what the school expects they will retest once the schools are back.

I

Can we ask what type of school, ie state/private, academy, "academic" in reputation, catchment area social mix?

I think it's appalling, btw.

YANBU. That's absolutely ridiculous and I wouldn't allow my child to take part - what a farce!

@StrawberryJam200 it's a all girls grammar. Not 'super selective' but competitive 11plus to get in and highly academic.

Like I say I'm normally supportive of the school and some friends would call me a pushy parent I am but even I think this is a step too far.

@AravisTarkheena that definitely IS the best typo ever, I agree!

How are they supposed to sit an exam in google classroom without access to the internet?! Daft.

Not a chance I’d allow my y7 to take exams this year. That’s all she needs to knock her mental health right off a cliff!