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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Positive for covid night before A level exam

30 replies

Gherkingreen · 25/05/2022 20:48

DC 18 felt a bit rubbish with a headache and tired, did a lateral flow test and it's positive. Triple vacc'd, not had it before.
Due to sit an A level exam tomorrow at large FE college. We've emailed college but they won't respond until the morning. Anyone know what advice we might be given? Will they be able to attend the exam?
Gov advice says advice is to isolate for three days but now there's no legal req isolate, wondering what college will say.
Any thoughts from those in the know?

OP posts:
Onlyhereforchaletschool · 25/05/2022 20:52

Here are the rules educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/04/12/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-measures-during-exams-this-summer/ they should not attend the exam and will be granted special consideration.

Onlyhereforchaletschool · 25/05/2022 20:52

Btw I’m the head of sixth form in an FE College

Original poster
Gherkingreen · 25/05/2022 20:54

Thanks @Onlyhereforchaletschool, v useful info

OP posts:
Shaambaalaa · 25/05/2022 20:55

Yep @Onlyhereforchaletschool is right.

FE lecturer here.

Workyticket · 25/05/2022 20:58

We had this last week - large FE college.

My student was allowed to opt to come in. She was sat in a separate room. All windows open and in a mask.

CornishGem1975 · 25/05/2022 20:59

Bit different to the above comments, as we're GCSEs but we've been told as long as well enough and no temperature, they can come in and take the exams. Given there's not legal requirement to even test...

Original poster
Gherkingreen · 25/05/2022 21:00

@Workyticket we wondered about that as an option, if he feels well enough to attend. He really wants to sit the exam but obv not at the expense of his or anyone else's health.

OP posts:
FAQs · 25/05/2022 21:03

Oh no, dreadful timing especially after the GCSES, we have been told not to come in if students test positive.

Original poster
Gherkingreen · 25/05/2022 21:08

@FAQs yes, he's pretty upset about it. He sat an exam today and felt it went really well. At least it's half term next week so no exams even if he misses this one. It's one of three papers so I guess he'd get an average grade of the papers he sits. Other DS is doing GCSEs - fun times!

OP posts:
catfunk · 25/05/2022 21:15

Poor lad. They may be able to safely isolate him for it

Chakraleaf · 25/05/2022 21:17

Ours are allowed in, if they feel OK.

Original poster
Gherkingreen · 26/05/2022 09:01

Quick update, just spoken to college, they won't allow him to attend the exam due to + covid test.
They'll apply to the exam board for special circumstances, and they'll work out a grade based on the other two papers (it's Physics) he sits after half term.
It's not ideal but it's not the end of the world. He's a bit gutted, he's worked really hard getting ready. He'll just work on putting all his energy into the other papers.

OP posts:
CornishGem1975 · 26/05/2022 09:56

It's crackers really, seeing as there's no legal requirement to test. If he hadn't tested, he could have just gone in as normal - as I'm sure many many will be.

Original poster
Gherkingreen · 26/05/2022 11:56

@CornishGem1975 it does seem a little mad. I didn't know he'd taken a test until he brandished it; I guess these kids have had it drummed into them to test and be responsible if they have any symptoms and he's still in that mindset.
We've decided to not test his brother, who has two GCSEs today/tomorrow. Maybe that's not the right call but he doesn't have symptoms.

OP posts:
NCTDN · 26/05/2022 15:38

Rightly or wrongly, I'm not asking dd to test regularly unless she's full of symptoms for exactly this reason. The rules are so vague when people are expected to still go to work, but isolate if in an exam which could be in a separate room?

Original poster
Gherkingreen · 26/05/2022 17:50

@NCTDN he decided to do a test of his own volition as he felt unwell, we didn't know until he showed us the + tests.
He's 18, can make his own decisions, and I'm proud of him for doing the right thing, but I'm with you, we won't be testing other DS (doing GCSEs) unless he was feeling unwell/showing symptoms.

OP posts:
NCTDN · 26/05/2022 17:52

Oh yes it’s a very honourable (? Not sure that’s the right word but you know what I mean) thing to do x

ZandathePanda · 26/05/2022 18:37

Could you tell the school your GCSE son goes to? My Dd is medically vulnerable and I think the her support worker would try to ensure she’s not too close just in case. It’s a complete lottery nowadays I know but she has tried as much as possible not to get it.

Original poster
Gherkingreen · 26/05/2022 18:47

@NCTDN I totally understand 😀

OP posts:
Original poster
Gherkingreen · 26/05/2022 18:52

@ZandathePanda It must be a worry for you, I'm sorry your DD has to deal with all of that, must be stressful. I could tell his school, tho not sure they'd be able/willing to keep all close contacts of covid positive cases away from other students. Our older DS is staying in his room and younger DS is using a separate bathroom etc

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ZandathePanda · 26/05/2022 19:30

@Gherkingreen thank you. It is really difficult. Hope your Ds is feeling better very soon. He only has to do 25% of any subject and they’ll round up. I know as in Dds class some were plotting about how they could game this!! I would take a photo (that tags the date) of the positive lft just for evidence in case this does cause a problem with others doing this (you wouldn’t have thought pupils would but idk).

Jules912 · 26/05/2022 19:39

Gherkingreen · 26/05/2022 11:56

@CornishGem1975 it does seem a little mad. I didn't know he'd taken a test until he brandished it; I guess these kids have had it drummed into them to test and be responsible if they have any symptoms and he's still in that mindset.
We've decided to not test his brother, who has two GCSEs today/tomorrow. Maybe that's not the right call but he doesn't have symptoms.

My 6 year old pretty much insisted I gave her a test when she had a cough ( which didn't sound like the Covid cough) but was otherwise perfectly well last week. Made me a bit sad.

Original poster
Gherkingreen · 26/05/2022 20:35

@ZandathePanda I sent photos to his college this morning; they said there wasn't any need to but I don't want the exam board questioning the validity of his reason for missing the exam.
After missing GCSEs and his first year at college, having his academic and social life curtailed for so long, all he wants to do is prove himself and experience exams and normal stuff.

OP posts:
FAQs · 27/05/2022 08:40

@Gherkingreen thats spot on, just experiencing normal things, I hope he is ok, they work so hard for the chance to prove themselves after their year 11 chance was taken from them, onwards and upwards, grab the rest of them by the balls, so close to the end now.

CornishGem1975 · 27/05/2022 10:00

I have to say I was really concerned about my DD catching it during her GCSEs right now as she'd never had it but we were all blessed with a dose at Easter so I was actually quite grateful that we got it then. I wouldn't be testing her now, ignorance is bliss but yeah, you can't stop them if they test themselves and it has been beaten into them by school for the past 2 years!