School refusing to submit child for A-level exam

[Nutshaw1]

Hi. I hope someone can help. My 18 year old daughter is taking three A-levels - two are going really well and she is on track but her third (biology) she is really struggling with. She got an E in her latest mock exam and now school are refusing to put her forward to sit her Biology exams at the end of the year (so only to take them for her two other subjects). It's an independent school (she also has a private tutor) and I believe it's because of their results. Has anyone been in this position, if so what did you do.
Thanks in advance.

She can apply to another college to sit the exam privately - same exam etc

Contact their exam officer to see what the cost etc is

This will be because they don't want their exam result statstics potentially reduced by a low result from your DD. I think this is an appalling approach but many schools do it, including state schools. My top grammar school in the 1980s did and I expect they still do.
I would go in and complain. For a state school I would also threaten informing Ofsted who do not like schools doing this. It is results manipulation. I'm not sure if that would be of any help with an independent school though.

Find somewhere for her to do it privately.
I am surprised that schools get away with doing this

Thanks for the advice. I will be complaining to the principle and board of governors if needed and I will look around for another exam centre. I just feel totally let down by the whole experience after placing my trust that the school would do the best for her.
Thanks again.

I am so sorry. This is appalling. Do you know why your daughter struggles with biology?

Have the school given you a reason why they are not entering her?

I've just paid £100 for sitting an exam privately if that is any help?

My independent school threatened this with my gcses as I'd been ill and they were worried I wouldn't pass and fuck up their league table results My mother went in all guns blazing and pointed out the amount of money she'd paid for my education. She explained exactly how much fuss she'd make if I was prevented from sitting exams and how it wouldn't reflect well on future recruitment to the school. I got to sit my exams and fucking aced them

Thanks again for your comments. I think that I will start with the internal complaints procedure and then contact the ISA. There are two other families also in t he same position.

"I think this is an appalling approach but many schools do it, including state schools."

Yes they do. DD's school "managed out" a few students last year. Although it isn't just to do with results tables. Parents of state educated children don't pay for the exams, and I can understand a school not entering a student if they are pretty sure they are going to fail a subject.

Been going on for years, happened to people I know in a couple of schools, both A Level and GCSE. Comps, not even independents when I was a kid in the 80's.

She won't be able to sit elsewhere as school will need to submit the practical assessments - if they won't budge you'll have to pay them to enter her as an external candidate.

I would have thought entries have been done so act quickly

Is it actually in your daughter’s best interest to do the exam if she likely to get an E?

Would she be better to concentrate on getting the best possible grades in her other two A levels, rather than spending time on Biology which will undoubtedly impact on these grades?