Kids with cancer need our help!

[WENEEDTOHELP]

Thanks for taking the time to read!

I am posting on behalf of a group teachers and headteachers to bring to your attention the shockingly unfair current JCQ guidance for special considerations for public examinations. As it currently stands, if a student is physically too unwell to complete an examination, they are not entitled to a Teacher or Centre Assessed Grade based on mock examinations and teacher judgement.

My friend’s daughter* has sadly been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She now faces a long battle and gruelling treatment process which means she will likely miss all of her GCSE public examinations this summer. If she misses all her exams, the best she can hope for is a ‘statement of recognition’ from the exam boards, however as we saw in 2020 and 2021 there is a process in place which can support the implementation of TAGs.*

In extreme circumstances such as a cancer diagnosis, supported with a medical exemption certificate we strongly believe that these young people should be awarded the grades they are entitled to, from the people who know them best, their teachers.

This would only affect a small amount of students each year but would have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of students undergoing lifesaving treatment to know that they will not lose out on their grades that they have been working toward for their entire educational journey. A student has created a petition and it is growing in numbers, we have BBC interviews lined up for later this week. We really believe we can make a positive change to the young people who find themselves in this awful circumstance, please sign & share!


https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/63377777*_

[nocoolnamesleft]

It would be better with "serious" or "significant" in front of illness...otherwise people will argue it means every sniffle, and dilute your worthy aim.

[WENEEDTOHELP]

Yes I agree, it was written by a student so not the strongest argument on the petition hence why we as teachers are trying to help!

Obviously we believe TAGs should only be used in a small handful of extreme illnesses like my friend's daughter.

Thanks for your comment!

[Nimbostratus100]

I agree children with cancer need this consideration, but I cant sign that petition, because you know what will happen, endless fabricated illnesses, probably related to mental health, from students who decide they are happy with their mock results

[Nimbostratus100]

I would also like to see something done about the practice sixth forms of rejecting kids with cancer, because in the schools eyes there is a good chance they will impact on attendance and retention statistics

[WENEEDTOHELP]

@Nimbostratus100 I would hope the JCQ would carefully structure their policy so that this can't happen.

[Nimbostratus100]

@WENEEDTOHELP

@Nimbostratus100 I would hope the JCQ would carefully structure their policy so that this can't happen.

they might, but then who is the inevitable paper work and aggressive fallout going to land on? school staff.

[WENEEDTOHELP]

@Nimbostratus100 teachers already keep all mocks and data etc. since covid.
I imagine we would have to send off evidence & medical certificates etc. and someone would review it and decide if they were eligible for TAGs. There is a lot to consider from a logistical POV you're right but we think it's worth all the admin of it means a seriously sick child gets the GCSEs/A-Levels they have worked so hard for.
Thanks for your interest and points!

[Nimbostratus100]

@WENEEDTOHELP

@Nimbostratus100 teachers already keep all mocks and data etc. since covid.
I imagine we would have to send off evidence & medical certificates etc. and someone would review it and decide if they were eligible for TAGs. There is a lot to consider from a logistical POV you're right but we think it's worth all the admin of it means a seriously sick child gets the GCSEs/A-Levels they have worked so hard for.
Thanks for your interest and points!

I have no concerns at all about doing the extra admin for a child with cancer, none at all..nobody would have

But the other 30 in the year group, who will all demand that we go through the same process for them too, then have their parents come storming down demanding an argument when they don't get it and we get blamed

That is why your petition needs to specify cancer, and maybe other named serious conditions. Or we will just be overwhelmed with students claiming "anxiety"....

[WENEEDTOHELP]

@Nimbostratus100 yes it is a concern that would need addressing. Sadly I don't think the student that set it u can't edit it now to be more specific.

[WENEEDTOHELP]

We have made huge strides with this petition! We have been featured on local BBC news, we were discussed by Rishi in the Houses of Parliament yesterday and this morning we were on national radio - BBC Radio 1 newsbeat! Please keep signing and making a change for seriously sick children!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-64947156?fbclid=IwAR2pgyvuj7DT3c2DJZLapE26gyqv_ZmeOdIlPRHI90jUQ-tva-8fbVVIBGs