Can college still arrange exam access support with AS exams imminent?

[FrustratedByExamArrangements]

I'm looking for some advice wrt exam arrangements, and would be grateful for any help please.

DD17 was diagnosed with Irlens, a processing disorder, at the beginning of Yr 11. We took the evidence to school, and they said they would sort out exam arrangements for her. These are that exams should be printed on blue paper, she can take a blue tinted overlay into exams, and she should get 25% extra time to complete the exams. Despite me chasing this up regularly, the arrangements weren't in place in time for the GCSE exams.

DD is now at a Sixth Form College, where they take AS exams at the end of Yr 12, and they begin on the 13th May. DD has talked to college about sorting her exam arrangements many times, including on her enrollment interview, when she first met with her Tutor, and at each of her monthly 1-2-1 tutor sessions. She has been told it had been sorted. We had a virtual parents' evening in March, and I personally asked her tutor whether the exam arrangements (blue paper, overlay and extra time) were in place, does anyone need to do anything else, and was told it was definitely sorted, nothing else to be done, will all happen on the day.

Exam timetables came out over Easter, and no exam arrangements are showing for DD. She spoke to her tutor, who again confirmed it was all in place and would show up on the timetable within the next week or two. 10 days ago, still no sign, so DD emails tutor to chase things up. Her tutor has finally replied on Friday afternoon, to say she is terribly sorry, but there appears to have been an oversight, and whatever needed to happen to secure the extra time hasn't been done, so DD won't be able to have it for her AS exams. She says that as the exams are moderated by an external body, there is nothing the college can do.

It's just over a week to go, and DD is stressed beyond belief. She has been revising like mad anyway, but doing practice papers with the 25% extra time. Her processing disorder means it takes her around 4 times as long as someone NT to read, process and understand what a question is asking her for.

To add to all of this, DD is absolutely adamant that we (her parents) are NOT to approach college about this, as she wants to deal with it herself. I am reluctant to override her wishes, as I did it once before and she was really upset. However, if anyone can tell me that there is a way of securing the extra time for these upcoming AS exams, that she should be allowed, then obviously I will happily upset her to secure this.

Sorry it's long, but it's good to get my frustration out!

DD is particularly worried about her AS grades affecting her uni offers.

Should she do badly in these exams, we're fairly sure that her teachers will be confident enough to predict her higher grades than her AS grades, as she's been performing at a consistently high level all year.

But I think if they do AS exams, then these grades go to the uni to make offers as well as the predicted grades, does anyone know if that's correct?

EAA assessor here. I get that this is beyond frustrating. There are two points here regarding what can be done- what's her normal way of working, and what access arrangements does she need that can be centre-delegated and don't need a Form 8/9. You can find JCQ regulations online - while it's lengthy, it's clear and worth a read. We absolutely avoid introducing anything new at the last minute.

The centre have definitely slipped up here.

The trouble is, the new thing that's being introduced right before DD's exams is 25% less time!

Thanks @thornbury, that was really helpful. At least I now have a list of deadlines so I can make sure the college are on top of it in time for the A Level exams next year.

I've also found that DD's exams might be eligible for special consideration, as one of the criteria is "Approved access arrangements not in place". I'll bring this up with DD and see if we can discuss with college.

Thanks again @thornbury, I feel better now I have a better understanding.

Being able to use a coloured overlay can still happen.

For a coloured paper, late requests for modified papers can be made, but they can’t be guaranteed to be fulfilled. This late in the day, it may not be possible. The centre uses a PDF version of the papers that they then print/copy onto coloured paper on the day.

Special consideration of 3% would only be available if an approved EAA isn’t given on the day, e.g. 25% had been approved but not provided on the day. It doesn’t cover the centre not processing the application in the first place.