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Secondary education

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Original poster

Access Arrangements

16 replies

hoodathortit · 25/05/2022 18:41

If a student has exam access arrangements, is the information passed to other schools, when transferring to sixth form, or to universities?

I don't believe my daughter needs the extra time her school has offered her. She agrees, but is happy to take it. I don't think its fair of her to take it and I'm concerned it will backfire on her.

OP posts:
FifiForgot · 25/05/2022 18:47

Access Arrangements have a life span. Those used in secondary school are normally only valid up until the end of Y11. My school will pass info onto the relevant FE provider, but students should be re-assessed by them.

If school have said than she needs extra time, she must have been assessed by an appropriate assessor, it’s not something that a school can just give. If it turns out that she doesn’t need extra time, it won’t “go against” her, she just won’t get it in a exam.

Simonjt · 25/05/2022 19:00

When I had mine they had a three year life span.

How can an AA backfire on someone?

noblegiraffe · 25/05/2022 19:10

If she doesn't need it then she won't use it in her mocks and if she doesn't use it then she doesn't get it in the real exams as they need that evidence.

PinkPomegranite · 25/05/2022 20:35

At my school that sort of information is only passed on with the students permission.

If you're in England then extra time approved by JCQ for official exams has strict criteria and I've never met a qualifying student who wouldn't benefit from using their extra time.
It's intended to offset processing/medical issues so using it wouldn't go against a student.

It might be a good idea to chat to the SENCo about it so you understand why she's been given extra time.

Singleandproud · 25/05/2022 20:44

It won't backfire on her. If she doesn't need it she doesn't need to use it. She must have been assessed for a reason and it should be her normal way of working. Don't forget the impact of exam nerves on individuals and disrupted normal routines.

TAmum123 · 25/05/2022 21:16

DS was assessed and got extra time in Y6. Reassessed and same outcome in Y9. Reassessed on my insistence in Y11 and got extra time, use of laptop and scribe when he couldn’t type. Went through same process in Y13 and got same outcome - he asked for the assessments and passed them to uni who accepted them.

Original poster
hoodathortit · 25/05/2022 23:12

Are Access Arrangement stats for schools published? Our school seems to have them in place for half the year group! DD said 2 of her friends got assessed just by saying their arm ached after an exam and are now allowed breaks. When they see their friends getting extra time, they want it too. DD was assessed for 'slow processing' after she didn't finish an exam a few months ago, but I'm pretty sure it was a one off. Seems to be a bit of a free for all. Or am I being too cynical?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 25/05/2022 23:18

You are being too cynical. The school will have to collate and provide evidence to JCQ for students who have extra time.

A note will need to for kept on file for those students with supervised rest breaks confirming their impairment and that it is their normal way of working.

These things are regulated externally.

Threetulips · 25/05/2022 23:24

They can’t just get extra time. There has to be proof that it’s required as part of her normal school work .

Some of us have to fight to get it, if she’s been given it and doesn’t need it, then I don’t see the issue.

user1471504747 · 25/05/2022 23:29

Extra time is a pretty tough access arrangement to get compared to others, I believe it has tougher requirements than rest breaks or a laptop, for example.

For that reason I would say she probably does need it - if she gets it for slow processing then she’s probably used to being slower and it just feels normal to her, she won’t necessarily know she’s slower than others.

She wouldn’t qualify for extra time purely because she didn’t finish a paper, clearly something came out from the assessment.

Theres no way it can backfire on her as she wouldn’t be the one to make the decision to get extra time. She also doesn’t have to use it if she doesn’t want to or need to they can’t force her to continue writing although she may have to stay sat down to avoid disturbing other students.

TeenPlusCat · 26/05/2022 07:10

Access arrangements don't get passed on automatically, nor do they appear on GCSE certificates. However when registering for college you can declare you have them and send proof, so that college can do the necessary tests etc.

(We have a problem that DD (resitting) is entitled to access arrangements but isn't using them due to exhaustion. If she had more energy she would write more and need the time... )

LIZS · 26/05/2022 10:48

No they don't get passed on. There are criteria to meet for some adjustments such as laptop use where it has to be ab established firm of working. If transferring school for year 12/13 they need to liaise with SENDCO and Exams Officer and for uni, the Student Support office and probably apply for DSA. Depending on the reason behind the access arrangement there may need to be additional Post 16 assessments.

Innocenta · 26/05/2022 14:14

@TeenPlusCat I had this problem and it took a lot more additional access arrangements to make exams reasonably accessible to me. Maybe your DD needs more? Nothing can make it other than difficult with fatigue in the picture, but eventually they sorted out arrangements that made it possible for me to sit exams over time.

BotCrossHuns · 27/05/2022 07:21

What happens if the extra time is not used - but needed? Do the school have to continually monitor it to see that it is making a difference?

I work with a child going into Year 10, who struggles a lot academically; he's been assessed, and awarded extra time and use of a laptop. However, most of the time he chooses not to use the laptop because he feels more comfortable writing, and doesn't use the extra time because at the moment he is weak enough (particularly in English) that he doesn't come up with enough ideas and arguments to fill the time. Obviously we hope that with lots of work over the next while, he will get better at that, and then he will absolutely need the extra time. I hope also that he will feel more confident/faster at typing, and realise what a benefit it is for organising and for correcting mistakes - but again, at the moment when he writes so little, he doesn't really see the benefit in that and so chooses to handwrite.

I really hope that these choices won't mean the school has to take away his access arrangements before Year 11, though I realise he will have to be using them by Year 11 mocks or hopefully Year 10 exams.

MrsHamlet · 27/05/2022 08:09

What happens if the extra time is not used - but needed? Do the school have to continually monitor it to see that it is making a difference?
Yes. My school asks me to review it every year for every student with AA, so that we can prove the need.

BotCrossHuns · 27/05/2022 08:29

thanks @MrsHamlet - I will do my best to encourage him to use at least some of the extra time for next year then - trying to get him to write enough so that the benefits show. He is making progress lately and coming up with more, so hopefully going upwards

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