Child tests for Covid 4 days before GCSEs begin

[ColourMagic]

I am asking for a friend, I hope that is OK on this forum.

"What do you do if your child has just tested positive for omicron, 4 days before her first of (10) GCSE exams are due to start? I need advice from other parents in this same live situation."

(My friend is not a MN member but can read the responses and asked me to ask here. I hope that's ok)

My ds was the same last Tuesday and was quite poorly. Advice from school and LEA is to stay off for three days for kids, five for adults (with a negative test).

How does the child feel? I would say if they feel well enough then ok and maybe they could wear a mask? However there will be so many kids not testing who have it..

I'm not sure what happens in the event of a child being too poorly to take the exams.

if Ill with covid she misses school - exams this year are spaced out with a minimum of 10 days between papers - eg maths 2 is at least 10 days after maths 1 so children with covid who don’t sit one paper can be assessed just on papers they do sit. School has to fill in forms and evidence for all of this.

School will have to arrange for them to sit exam in isolation. If they are ill with it, would need a PCR test as confirmation and dr letter and school can put in for special consideration with the exam board. Or, 3 days isolation as per current guidelines and take exam as planned….

Our school advice (for school in general rather than GCSEs) is that they have to be off for at least 3 days or until they feel better, but if they have a temperature they are not permitted back to school until it has gone.

I would say if they feel well enough then ok and maybe they could wear a mask?

The school would not agree. The last thing they will want is outbreak for more Y11s plus invigilators. It’s also against NHS advice.

Dfe advice is not to test unless advised by a medic.

Even then, if they are well and don't have a temp then they can be in the exam.

I don't know what I would do. Mask up for sure. Yet if they're well they may miss exams they could have done well in.

Call school.

She can resit when she’s recovered, presumably?
she won’t be unique, there’ll be a protocol.

Dfe advice is not to test unless advised by a medic.

Have you got a link for this please?

So glad our LEA risk assessment is sensible.

@MrsSkylerWhite No they won't be able to resit. They will get a grade based on the exams they sit as long as they are at least 25% of the total exams taken for that subject.

Can only find this as latest from DfE -
says the total opposite.

Thank you all very much for responding. Mumsnet is certainly the place if you need a quick response to a question. Again, thanks. xx

www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration/other-documents/managing-absences-in-2022/

Thanks.

Dfe advice is not to test unless advised by a medic.

Doesn’t appear anywhere in that link?

educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/02/21/what-the-latest-advice-on-testing-and-self-isolation-means-for-education-settings/

Should parents send their child to school if they think they have COVID-19?

If a child has any of the main symptoms or a positive test result, the public health advice remains unchanged and is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

Anyone with any of the main COVID-19 symptoms should order a test and is advised to stay at home while waiting for the result.

If they test positive, they are advised to follow public health advice.

No advice not to test - the opposite, in fact.

Due to being a selfish cow, I would tell child to sit exam and not mention to anyone they have COVID. I wouldn't be testing either.

If a child is too ill to sit an exam, they require a medical note from a dr to say why they couldn't do the exam. School will send this to JCQ who will then Either will allow them to sit the exam at a later date/have teacher grades based on past assessments. There's a contingency plan on place as this is bound to happen to many children around the country. Worth emailing/phoning the school to ask for details from the exams officer (every school will have one).

Brilliant. So if everyone does the same, outbreak caused, teachers are off, invigilators get covid - schools are struggling to get enough as it is - how do you suggest they proceed?

I have taken a COVID-19 test under the direction of my GP and have a positive test result, what should I do?
The UKHSA guidance is that you stay at home and avoid contact with others for 3 days (if 18 and under) or 5 days (if 19 or older) after the day you took the test.

Your centre will ask you to self-certify the reason for absence using Form 14. You are not required to provide proof of a test but could keep a record of the test, such as a photograph, as evidence if it is available.

Your centre will then submit an online application for special consideration to the relevant awarding bodies using the category ‘absent candidate’.

Again, struggling to see where it states do not test unless advised by a medic?

I have taken a COVID-19 test under the direction of my GP

This bit.

The only mention of testing is at rh request of GP or other HCP.

It's definitely in the guidance somewhere but can't find it right now. Might have been an email direct to HTs.

Stop bloody testing! Behave like you would with a cold.

No, doesn’t say that, Nor does current DFE or NHS advice.

Stop bloody testing! Behave like you would with a cold

Great idea, cause an outbreak and fuck up the entire exam season.

Oh great! Risk passing it on to the hall full of children, invigilators & school staff. Well done.

... and people wonder why there's a shortage of invigilators this year🙄
FFS

@ColourMagic I'd phone the school first thing Monday & see what their arrangements are.