Exam extra time deadline and criteria

[C3line]

Can anybody tell me what the deadline and criteria for this was. I’m aware it has passed.

Deadline (for GCSE exams this summer was 21st February.

information is information

If it was for mental health what would the criteria and process have been?

It's about demonstrating a child's usual way of working, so demonstrating that the child regularly needs and uses extra time as far as I know

I'm not sure mental health issues would qualify unless they are long-term (12 months duration or longer and ongoing), cause a substantial adverse effect and you can demonstrate that the extra time or other help is the normal way of working.

Even for things like dyslexia that have scores attached and can be nicely pigeon-holed, it's not altogether simple to get the extra time - you need to have at least one score below 84 AND demonstrate a normal way of working.

There are 'emergency' criteria, but they tend to apply to children who have done something like injure their writing hand and need to have their exams scribed. I'm not sure mental health would apply here, but would be more likely to fall into a category where ill-health can be taken into account when assigning grades.

Thanks that’s really helpful, what do you mean by 1 score below 84?

A standardised score of 84 or less in one (or more) of the standardised tests (spelling, reading ,writing etc).

There are more details in the link I provided earlier in the thread.

Would being in a smaller room help at all? Ds is taking his gcses this year. He has a recent autism diagnosis and some mental health difficulties (although they are not diagnosed as camhs have rejected his referral). He is going to be in a smaller room to help with his anxiety. He also has handwriting issues and uses a laptop but is not entitled to extra time.

There are access arrangements which do not need early approval. Rest breaks may still be possible , for example, or sitting in a smaller group. You need to discuss with exams officer asap.

Speak to the exams officer at your childs school if you haven't already.

Even if a student doesn't have exam arrangements in place, if they are unwell on the day (including mental health issues), most centres will be able to accommodate them starting late and/or taking a break if needed mid-exam (obviously they would need to be under supervision - but if a students shows up feeling really sick, for example, we can put them into the sick room for a while in isolation until it passes, as long as they're on the school premises and being supervised once the exam starts). It really really helps if you have gone and spoken to the exams officer first about your concerns.

Also we often try to move students to seats where they feel more comfortable - a smaller room isn't always as calm as it sounds (there are often students typing, printing, coming and going with rest breaks) but a seat at the edge of the main exam room near a door can really help with anxiety. Again, the earlier you can speak to the exams officer the better as they will already be organising seating and invigilation rosters so it's much easier to help someone if it's flagged up early.

DS will have supervised rest breaks due a physical condition. We got it really late and with minimal evidence (have now got it but didn't have it early enough). It hadn't occurred to me he'd be eligible as I'd rather minimised his condition (and it's fairly mild).

The school Senco seems very relaxed and confident about the whole thing. Have you spoken to them?

AFAIK is easier to get ready breaks than extra time. DS has severe allergies and hay fever and is always on high doses of steroids alongside many other meds and so really struggles. They have agreed extra breaks so they can stop the clock in the exam for him to regroup and take any extra meds but felt that was more achievable and realistic than asking for extra time. Also seating him where he can get out without disturbing others.

I would read up on guidelines as it helps if you know what you are asking for

My son has had mental health issues over a long period of time over bullying. H had a melt down during mocks and under performed massively. Why didn’t they put him in for extra time?

He

Extra time is only usually helpful if a child has specific issues such as slow processing, dyslexia, dygraphia etc.

My son is autistic and does qualify for extra time due ot processing issues but he doesn;t use it. Instead he takes rest breaks which helps with his anxiety. (still didn't stop him walking out of two of his mocks though)

JCQ state that rest breaks must be considered before extra time.

Would extra time have actually made a difference? If he had a meltdown then surely having an extra 10 minutes would not have affected his grade that much?

It doesn’t sound like he qualifies for extra time to me.

He found it hard to focus and said extra time would help.

I'm sure he said extra time would help, it would help every candidate. However, for anxiety, rest breaks are much more appropriate. In effect, it does provide the candidate extra time but it isn't quantified. If your DS had an anxiety attack during the exam but was only given extra time, dependent on the time that it takes for him to be able to calm down he could still be anxious whennthat the me runs out. Iyswim.

Without being intentionally nasty; extra time would help everyone. It’s still only offered to those who qualify.

Ok but why do they give it for mental health reasons then?

Encouraging to hear he wouldn’t have got it anyway and the other might be better.

C3 did you request anything or speak to the school about it? Or did you just think they would?

I think schools expect parents to drive these requests even with an EHCP in place.

You still haven't replied as to whether you have spoken to school about it?

They mentioned it as an option but then said the deadline had gone. Surely it shouldn’t be up to parents otherwise only those informed would benefit. Not the kid’s fault if parent not informed. Had no idea mental health would qualify until mentioned and I researched but not sure what criteria would be. It’s a moot point now but annoyed if that is the case.

I have a child who gets it for a condition diagnosis and I’ve never requested it.

Ok but why do they give it for mental health reasons then?

They don’t and school should not have said they do.

For a candidate with social, mental or emotional needs to get extra time they must first of all consider whether rest breaks are more suitable instead and if not those needs must have a substantial, long term adverse effect on his speed of working. Evidence must be available.

Dd has had anxiety diagnosis since year 7. She is doing her GCSEs in a smaller room with rest breaks - we were asked if that's what she wanted back at start of year 10 so 2 years before the exams