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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

GCSE Private Candidate

29 replies

swingofthings · 26/02/2015 18:54

My worse nightmare (for dramatic effect)! is just unfolding at this moment. DS is in Y10. Until now, the school has made of point of not offering GCSEs in year 10 as they didn't believe that this was to their benefit. Last Summer, my parents offered by some money to take my son on holiday, something we have never done. DS has talked about going on a cruise for some years (has a bit of an obsession for large ships) and I found our holiday of a lifetime during the May holiday, unfortunately, that meant him missing two days of school, the last day of term and first back. I debated for ages, but his attendance is excellent (100% so far) and thought it was the best time to do it as not an option the next year.

I got the news on Monday that this year, they were doing one of their GCSEs on the day we are due to go and at a time that means we won't make it on time. He is absolutely devastated and I now feel like the worse mum for booking it in the first place. In the end, his education is more important than anything else. He is a straight A student and I wouldn't want this to be compromised, but at the same time, if there is something that can be done that we can still go on this cruise then I would like to consider it. Which leads to me question, is taking the exam as a private candidate an option at all? He has done the control assessment already, would that be an issue? Does it mean he would have to take it the following year?

My gut feeling is telling me that this is probably not option, but I want to be able to say to him that I've looked into it before cancelling the trip if there is no choice (and lose the hefty deposit, but that's my fault).

OP posts:

Messygirl · 26/02/2015 18:56

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Coconutty · 26/02/2015 18:57

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morethanpotatoprints · 26/02/2015 19:01

I don't think you can take a GCSE with controlled assessment outside school, but could be wrong.
You will probably have to pay, I'm not sure how much.
The fact that he has already done the control assessment may not be allowed to carry forward for him to take the rest of the exam outside school.
What subject is it and can he find another board that offers a different exam, without controlled assessment and he starts again?

Waitingandhoping2015 · 26/02/2015 19:12

Could he not take it next year instead? Shouldn't be too difficult to do given his capability though I have no idea if you'd have to do the controlled assessments again.

Original poster

swingofthings · 26/02/2015 19:45

Did consider flying out, but first stop is three days away and an expensive destination, so couldn't afford it.

I did look at changing the holiday, but very few cruises are available during school holidays and those which are again outside of my budget. Not totally impossible, but last option.

Yes, I did wonder about taking it in year 11 but not sure whether his school would allow it, especially considering the reason for it :( Would it be worth asking?

I did indeed wonder whether the control assessment would make it even more problematic. The subject is English Literature. I don't know if it is available without a control assessment.

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AtiaoftheJulii · 26/02/2015 21:49

Ask school. It might well be that he can do it next year - I can't imagine that there are going to be any major changes between this year and next year because the year after that is when Maths and English change to the new 1-9 exams.

You booked it up ages ago going on your understanding of the school's policies - if they are unpleasant about it that would be very unfair :( I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't the only one with this issue - this is very late (the closing date for entries was last week I think) to be telling you!

titchy · 26/02/2015 22:09

Oh he can just do it next year. The school should offer this anyway to those who don't get their expected grade in year 10.

noblegiraffe · 26/02/2015 23:21

If he does it next year he will need to bear in mind that all the preparation and revision classes will have been the previous year and he'll have to prepare for it on his own at a time when he will be preparing for a billion other exams because they are all linear now.

Putting it off for a year is not an option to take lightly. It would also really piss off the school.

Original poster

swingofthings · 27/02/2015 08:32

Thank you very much for your kind rather than judgind words. I suddenly remembered that the school offered a session to discuss GCSEs last year focussing mainly on the changes due to take place and how they didn't know much about the impact, and it is then that they said that they didn't agree with pupils taking early GCSEs (another parent asked that question). This is why I didn't consider asking the school about it before I booked the trip.

I take your point noblegiraffe over the implication of taking it next year. To be fair, trip or not, I do feel they are rushing through the curriculum to prepare the pupils adequately by May. DS is expected an A but he is only one out of two in the class despite it being the top set which is bit worrying. I was planning on him getting some tutoring lessons before anyway and would certainly do so if he could take the exam next year. DS is well prepared for tough months next year but he does enjoy studying, so not too stressed about it.

I had another thought. The exam is due to start at 11am. This is to accomodate year 11 pupils doing their exams at 9am. I am wondering if it is the same one. If she could take the exam at this time, it would actually leave us enough time to make it. DS think they won't allow it, but there is nothing to lose asking. Do you think I should go straight to the Headteacher or is this over zealous and I should ask to meet with the exam officer instead? However desperate I really am, I don't want to come across as a mum who puts holidays before education (even though that is really what I am doing on this occasion :()

OP posts:

AtiaoftheJulii · 27/02/2015 09:28

Ask to meet the exam officer, they're the one who will know what's what. It might be possible to sit the exam early - your ds could perhaps stay isolated at school until the rest of his peers start the paper, to prevent any chance of cheating. (Not that your ds would, but the board will require proof that it couldn't have happened.) But definitely go and talk it all through.

If he ends up doing it next year, then you can buy textbooks and study notes and get a tutor, and it might be hard-going, but I feel that in the future he will look back and appreciate his cruise more than his A grade in English Literature GCSE! Good luck x

TeenAndTween · 27/02/2015 09:33

I doubt he would be allowed to rock up at 11am to take the exam.
They would need to have him (and all the other y10 pupils?) in 'isolation' beforehand from 9am to stop them from finding out questions in advance (e.g. from pupils in other schools).
Also rushing from the airport/cruise terminal would be a pretty rubbish way of focussing before an exam, wouldn't do him any favours.

titchy · 27/02/2015 09:43

If the scheduled start time is 9.00 (which morning exams normally are) then he should be able to start at 9.00. Other students who are starting at 11 in order to accommodate an exam clash should be in isolation anyway. Talk to the Exams Officer - nicely - it'll be a pain for them as he'll have to sit in a different room with another invigilator.

AtiaoftheJulii · 27/02/2015 09:45

Other way round I thought, Teen.

Why would he have to sit in a different room? My kids have sat GCSE and AS exams in rooms with mixtures of subjects and papers in them.

Coconutty · 27/02/2015 09:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

titchy · 27/02/2015 10:06

I assumed he'd be in a different room because he'll need to be kept separate from the other year 10s who are taking the exam at 11. But the Exams officer will be able to confirm.

Original poster

swingofthings · 27/02/2015 10:26

Thank you very much everyone for your advice. Yes, it would be sitting at 9am with the year 11 so hopefully in the same room whilst all year 10 will be in last minute revision rooms, so shouldn't be an issue from a cheating point of view. Exam officer has been very responsive to DS and I about our questions so far, so hoping he is of a flexible disposition (and not too strongly minded against parents who take their kids off school during term time!)

See you point T&T about not being the most relaxed atmosphere to do an exam, but I do think he will actually do better if he knows he then gets to go on his dream trip rather than battling the disappointment that he won't be. He is not of an anxious nature so I think he would channel this ok.

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Original poster

swingofthings · 27/02/2015 10:29

I've just re-read the email I received from the exam officer and I think he is implying that year 11 will be doing the same exam.

I quote 'Because we have Year 11 doing the exam as well, they are doing it first and we are keeping the Year 10s in secure conditions (a revision lesson) and starting them later in the morning'.

Do you read this the same as I do?

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titchy · 27/02/2015 10:40

Yes I read it the same as you - sounds very hopeful! In terms of timings the 9.00am start may be delayed - they are allowed to delay by up to half an hour without the exam board being notified or them being kept in isolation, so bear in mind a 1.5 hour exam may finish at 11.00 rather than your expected 10.30 - would an 11.00 finish still give him time to get to the port?

kwerty · 27/02/2015 10:46

They would certainly be allowed to put him in with year 11. Hope they are not bloody-minded enough to refuse! let us know how it goes.

Original poster

swingofthings · 27/02/2015 11:50

Thank you for let me know about the 1/2 hour rule. Yes, 11am would be enough time to allow for a delay/traffic. Hopefully the fact that there will be an exam afterwards will go towards them doing their best to stick to the allocated time.

I think the main issue now, and one that I do respect, is setting precedence and the message it diffuses, ie. it is ok to take your kids out of school for a holiday whatever the circumstances and we'll make sure to accomodate. The school is -quietly- not overly supportive of the fining system, but even so, I can appreciate their reluctance on this basis, and the 'I promise I will keep quiet' is not really the message I want to give.

I will let you know the outcome.

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Fugacity · 27/02/2015 11:54

He should be able to take the exam in Year 11.

TeenAndTween · 27/02/2015 12:51

Sorry, my mistake, I thought the exam was straight after the holiday, not before. If it is just before then if the 9am start works I would be hopeful too that the school would be flexible.

(DD1 has AQA English lit on 22nd May It is only 1hr15 long so if it is the same board with luck he'd be out by 10:30).

Original poster

swingofthings · 27/02/2015 16:29

Well I am happy to report that following up on your advice, I went to the school this afternoon and asked to speak to the exam officer. I am fortunate that he turned out to be a really nice person and he indeed said that DS would be able to take the exam at 9am and even asked if that would leave us enough time. When I said that it will, he wished us a nice trip.

I have read so many stories of people being fined by the school that I expected a lecture rather than sympathy, both on this board and at the school, so feel very grateful. I've learnt my lesson though!

Thank you all very much.

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TeenAndTween · 27/02/2015 16:59

Warning for next year:

Many schools put on revision sessions in both the Easter holidays and the may half term, so don't organise holidays for then if he might wish to attend them.

Also, if doing Drama, he may need some of the Easter holidays for rehearsing with his group, so extra need to not go away. (Despite being warned by the drama teacher, 3 of DD's group are away over Easter break so they are unable to rehearse all together then. Exam is the week term restarts.)

titchy · 27/02/2015 17:01

Brilliant news!

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