Some specific questions for my friend who wants to HE her teen

[bronya]

Friend's DC is not having their SEN adequately provided for and thus is on course for no C grades at GCSE as it stands. The SEN is a specific problem that can easily be overcome at home, thus giving friend's DC a good chance of getting the grades needed. So they will HE for a short time specifically to get GCSE Maths, English, Science +2 of her choice.

So the questions are:

1. How do you find exam centres that will take independent candidates and when would they need to register to take the exams in summer 2016?
2. Does she have to do the iGCSE exams so there is no coursework?
3. What do they do about child tax credits/child benefit once DC turns 16?
4. How does she get extra time as a private candidate? They have Ed Psych reports to demonstrate the SEN.
5. Can she just write to the LEA once DC is deregistered and say DC will be studying for X exams on X date following y syllabus and using z resources? The sample stuff seems very slanted towards unschooling families.

Her DC is very keen and motivated, just needs a chance to succeed without school getting in the way!

I can only answer no3 and 5 I'm afraid.

Your friend will continue to receive all child related benefits until the child leaves full time education at level 3.
If the child leaves before this I believe payment will stop unless they are doing an approved course or approved apprenticeship. Hope this helps. H.ed is still full time education.

All your friend needs to do is to deregister and then it is up to her what her child learns. If child has a statement friend will need to show these needs are being met.
She can do what exams she likes with her dc.

1. How do you find exam centres that will take independent candidates and when would they need to register to take the exams [GCSE Maths, English, Science +2 of her choice] in summer 2016?
   Ask all schools and colleges in the area and/or ask other home educators. There will be an additional problem of requiring special arrangements in the exam which aren't available to many external candidates, so she won't just be asking "do you take external candidates" but can you accommodate xyz for external candidates.

2. Does she have to do the iGCSE exams so there is no coursework?
   Maths GCSE has no controlled assessment, you can't take the other GCSEs you mentioned as an external candidate. Again, ask other home educators on the yahoo group and look at the home education exams wiki.

3. What do they do about child tax credits/child benefit once DC turns 16?
   End date is August 31st in school year they turn 16, not 16th birthday. If continuing in home ed beyond that, AND If home ed before 16, just tell HMRC continuing in home education, will have to fill in extra form but benefits can continue.

4. How does she get extra time as a private candidate? They have Ed Psych reports to demonstrate the SEN.
   This will be difficult as an external candidate and will depend on the centre, as it's now up to date reports from approved experts PLUS normal way of working at the centre. See the wiki and ask on the yahoo group.

5. Can she just write to the LEA once DC is deregistered and say DC will be studying for X exams on X date following y syllabus and using z resources? The sample stuff seems very slanted towards unschooling families.

It will depend hugely where she lives as to what involvement there is from the LA. The school will notify the local authority so she isn't legally obliged to do so unless she specifically wants to. I would caution against promising loads of exams at this stage because it's a hostage to fortune if things don't turn out the way she envisages. Better keep it general "stick to academic route, looking to get qualifications, can the LA signpost to any local exam centres taking external candidates, does the LA help with assessments for access arrangements for external candidates" that sort of thing.

Links
groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/HE-Exams-GCSE-A_AS_Levels-OU-Others/info
www.home-education-exams.org.uk/ (wiki)
www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration