Reader for A level exams

[IDontKnowWhereMyMedalsAre]

Does anyone have a DC with a reader for A levels? DS did for his GCSES, along with 25% extra time, laptop and a scribe for multiple choice and similar things he is unable to visualise clearly, and did very well (IMHO).

However today he is taking his first AS exam and although we had a new Ed Psych report indicating he still has the same requirements, the support for learning dept at school tell me the rules have changed for readers for A levels and its harder than ever to get one, even though his working practice and past results indicate it made a significant difference. Given his subjects are so essay, source related (history, gov & politics, philosophy, economics) getting through all the source material fast enough in an exam is causing him difficulties.

The school has to show that a reader is a normal way of working and document this in some manner.

It could be as simple as having a few timed essays annotated by the teacher to say that she read for the student.

IME, there isn't often that much reading in these types of A-level paper. The question will often be one or two sentences.

The reason that it is hard to use readers comes from the school. A student with a reader will have to be in a separate room with both an reader and an invigilator, costing the school two more adults compared to him being in the same room as 50 other students.

Taking the example of the history paper, there may be 12 questions, where they have to do two, one from section A and one from section B, etc. The questions will be something like, "Discuss the role of Henry VIII in the English Reformation" (history teachers, forgive me for just making this up). After that, it is up to the student to write for an hour. Although there will be a choice of questions to answer, in reality, he will only have been prepared for one or two topics.

The rules for being permitted a reader in exams are very specific scores in certain tests of reading. The tests have to be dated within 26 months of the exam. A student could meet the requirement in Year 10 or 11, but fail the requirement in Year 12 or 13.

Ask the school to explain why a reader cannot be given - is it because the school doesn't have the resources? Is a reader normally provided for your son in lessons? Or is it because the school cannot apply on the basis of the (outside) ed psych's report you have supplied?