Webcam invigilation for GCSE exams

[FindingOutAgain]

Hi,

I wondered if anybody might know how to get access to webcam invigilation from home for Pearson GCSE exams? It is for an ASD child who would struggle to travel to St Neots to the private exam centre, and who also struggle with busy exam halls in a school.

My DS has an EOTAS package (Education Other Than At School) so and doesn't have access to a school locally.

I've written to all the private schools to ask if they would offer private exam access and they said they don't. Parkside claims to offer exam access, but in practice doesn't answer the phone or email.

Hill's Road has some exams that we need but not all.

It seems as though exam access for a SEN child out of school is like an episode of mission impossible, even though the actual academic material would be so easy for him.

I wondered if anybody might know what to do?

Thanks!

I know nothing about webcam invigilation, but have you approached Red Balloon, which is now in Milton?

They have taken external candidates for exams in the past, although I don’t know if any of them were Pearson. They would be very sensitive to the needs of an ASD student.

When my dc did GCSE’s at home we had in person invigilation through EOTAS he also had the same person for ‘mock’ exams so he could get used to the invigilator.

Oh and our LA made the local PRU the exam centre.

If DS has EOTAS, the LA is responsible for the provision in the package.

For remote invigilation you will need to prove exceptional circumstances mean DS wouldn’t otherwise be able to sit the examinations because of his disability. That includes proving home invigilation and separate rooming arrangements within a centre aren’t possible. You can see these rules in JCQ’s guidance.