Please explain the difference?

[lindaandrews]

I am retaking my A-levels this year.

Please explain if there is a difference between these two scenarios:

1. If I study at home for the year then retake my exams at my old school

2. If I study at home for the year then retake my exams at private exam centre

In both cases would I be considered a private candidate or would I not in the first scenario as I am a former student and they know me?

I think you will be a private candidate at both because they won't want to be 'responsible' for your grade if they haven't done the teaching.

If you failed it's got nothing to do with them so they won't want that mark affecting their statistics.

You are now an external candidate at the school so would need to pay exam fees.

You will be an external candidate at both places. You are no longer a student at that school, it is irrelevant if you once went there.

In both scenarios you will have to pay to enter the exam as a private candidate. All you are looking for is basically a hall with invigilators to allow you to sit your exam in exam conditions as required by the exam board.

If you're not actually attending classes, and solely studying alone at home, then you'd be classed as private either way. You'd just pay/the government pay for the actual exam. I think?
Ultimately it won't make much difference other than the location and who issued the results.
If you have to pay then I guess go for the cheaper one? If there's a difference.

Do you think they would charge me less money at my old school than a private exam centre ward?

No. Schools’ budgets are so tight they’ll expect you to pay the full cost.

There is no difference.
In both cases you are an external candidate, just sitting the exam at a different exam centre.

So why did my teacher say I have to email my headteacher to ask for permission whether I can retake my A-levels there? Why would I need permission from her instead of maybe the examinations officer and why this early?

This is confusing as my school was willing to let me retake the year and several other people were and if I did retake and study there then presumably they’d have paid for my exams so how would it be unaffordable?

At least I’m saving them tuition money by not sitting in the class.

There may be space considerations.

Are you aware of them ever letting other non-registered students ever sit the exams there? Did you see any when you last sat exams there?

I doubt you are “saving tuition money”. This would only be the case if your presence meant that one class has to become two (ie the max class size that can possibly fit in the classroom is 32, you make it 33 so now they need two classes each with a teacher). Otherwise, the school would get money for you being on role and not need another teacher, so would have more money overall.
I would not want you sitting on my results if you were a student that is not attending. It would mean I was responsible for any grade you get without being able to change it.

This is interesting.

When I was doing my A-levels this year, there was a Year 12 girl who was retaking her GCSE Biology exam. Now, Biology isn’t a core subject like English or Maths so she must have been a private candidate and probably paid or something along the lines to do so. But I’m not entirely sure if this is the same.

Are you the person who thought that they would get extra time due to a late ASD diagnosis, and that would have taken you from a B up to an A*?

If you are, then firstly if you are a private candidate, you can't just tell them you have extra time. It has to be assessed by the centre and shown that you need it. An ASD diagnosis does not automatically qualify you, as you were told on the other thread.

If you're not, then I apologise. However what I'd ask you to consider is what has changed between last year and next? Because teaching on your own is tricky. It's hard to get motivated, and hard to step back and assess your own work. It's too easy to think "that's what I meant" or not notice that you missed out the important part of the sentence.

I'd really feel that you would be better going back into the classroom and redoing the year.

As for the cost; I imagine both would charge you the cost of the entry plus admin fee. But I'd also expect the school to be very nervous of you retaking without tuition, so they may not be happy to support that, both from their results point of view, but also because they don't want you to waste your time and money.

What is your intention for the higher grades?

I recruit for top graduate schemes - we would only accept results of first sittings - even if the degree is first class etc.

*if I did retake and study there then presumably they’d have paid for my exams so how would it be unaffordable?

At least I’m saving them tuition money by not sitting in the class.*

If you aren't registered with them as a student then they aren't getting any money for you so they aren't saved money by you not registering with them.

You will need to contact the headteacher because it is their decision whether the school accepts private candidates. They don’t have to accept private candidates. Only the school can answer if they will accept you and how much they will charge. It isn’t early for booking exams as a private candidate, especially if access arrangements are needed.

Resitting the whole year/attending lessons on the school’s roll isn’t the same as only sitting the exams as a private candidate.

Is a private candidate like I would be the same as a Year 12 retaking their GCSEs especially when those GCSEs aren’t Maths/English? Would they also need headteacher approval?

Someone resitting qualifications but on the school’s roll is not a private candidate.

I don't think we are qualified here to answer specific questions about your former school and their arrangements for people retaking exams. You should get in contact with the headteacher directly who will be able to help you with your queries. Good luck with your studies.

No because the year 12 is a student and they are receiving funding for them.

Your school is under no obligation to accept anyone, former student or not, as a private entry.

You have been strongly advised on the many threads you have on this that your plan is an extremely foolhardy one. You won't get the extra time you think you are entitled to. Oxford won't accept you with resit grades. You are highly highly highly unlikely to improve your grades without tuition and lessons on exam technique.

Either accept the 3 x Bs that you have, or enrol at your school and receive tuition.

Thus ruling out those who had unfortunate life events in the relevant period and show determination and resilience by getting back on the horse.

From your previous thread it seems as if you are hoping to get extra time/access arrangements. You do need to check if the school/centre will be willing to support this for an external candidate and apply on your behalf. If you are reapplying to uni will they provide the reference etc or are you having to navigate UCAs on your own.

OP. What are your parents advising you?

I am concerned you are now at the end of September and are still posting multiple threads on details without addressing whether a) you actually can get extra time and b) whether resits will actually help on your journey.

I've been back to read your other threads and I really feel like you are getting yourself into a mess here.

You have got three good A levels. BBB.

I understand that you did not get your predicted grades but BBB are good A levels.

You could have (and still could) applied to a university in the North where is cheaper to live, such as Newcastle and you can afford to live there on just your full loan.

You now seem concerned about resitting. And focusing on a small aspect of this - the cost of an exam centre versus resitting as a private candidate at your old school. This shouldn't matter as you have a year to work in a job.

If I was your parent or your friend or your teacher I would be advising you against this resit plan. To me, it seems like a waste of your time and it's also risky.