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Secondary education

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Original poster

Missed exam

40 replies

x2boys · 19/05/2023 16:04

My year 11_son was critically ill in February,and missed a whole half term of school.between February half term and Easter as he was in hospital for four weeks and then needed time to.recover ,at one point I assent sure he would be able to take his GCSE,s a all but he is sitting them
one of his health issues is that he is diabetic and insulin dependent,
today he was supposed to.sit his first maths paper and first computer science paper
During his maths exam his Dexcom alerted him. His blood duvets were quite low ,so he had to leave the exam to have something to bring them back uo.,according to his head of year it took ages so she.got him an orange to eat
when his blood sugars stabilised he was able to go back into the exam and finish it with extra time
His blood.sugar,s continued to be a bit erratic so his head of year phoned me to pick him up.so he's missed his computer science ,she spoke to.the exam board who.said they needed something from the diabetes team to explain how his condition affects him so.I have organised that
but it's not clear what happens now ,will they be able to grade,him,on just sitting one paper?(School.have already applied for consideration.

OP posts:
MistressE · 19/05/2023 16:06

Likely based on prediction and mock results

MistressE · 19/05/2023 16:07

according to his head of year it took ages so she.got him an orange to eat .

what did he say

MrsHamlet · 19/05/2023 16:12

MistressE · 19/05/2023 16:06

Likely based on prediction and mock results

That's not how it works.
If he's done - or will do - one paper, the board will use that information to help make a judgement about the mark to award.

SheilaFentiman · 19/05/2023 16:13

MrsHamlet · 19/05/2023 16:12

That's not how it works.
If he's done - or will do - one paper, the board will use that information to help make a judgement about the mark to award.

Show quote history

This

Original poster
x2boys · 19/05/2023 16:27

MistressE · 19/05/2023 16:07

according to his head of year it took ages so she.got him an orange to eat .

what did he say

Well be did eat one and his sugars came back up
but that wasent really the point i m just hoping they can award.hIm something
So fingers crossed ,he can be marked on the second paper

OP posts:
IsItHalfTermYetHelp · 19/05/2023 16:30

He should have access arrangement in place- separate room and “stop the clock” so hypos and hypers can be treated properly before the clock is restarted. If it delays the next paper it doesn’t matter as he’s isolated from the other students anyway.

Socktupus · 19/05/2023 16:33

I can't believe that the school (and you) didn't have a plan for this. Being diabetic isn't exactly a rarity. It's completely mind blowing to me.

Petrarkanian · 19/05/2023 16:35

Can you get him some dextosol ( no idea if it's still made) this was my brothers quick fix if he got hypo.

Original poster
x2boys · 19/05/2023 16:44

Socktupus · 19/05/2023 16:33

I can't believe that the school (and you) didn't have a plan for this. Being diabetic isn't exactly a rarity. It's completely mind blowing to me.

We have but he was only diagnosed in February due to having acute pancreatitis,his pancreas was necrotic,he nearly died so to be frank his Exams haven't been my main concern. ,he only had a Dexcom,fitted last week ,to complicate matters he has type3c diabetes which is a rare form caused by damage to.His pancreas,which itself can play havoc with his blood sugers as 'the,pancreas can randomly decide to produce insulin as and when
It's been a huge learning curve plus life changing experience for my son

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 19/05/2023 16:47

As long as he sits the second paper abd you get the paperwork together it will be fine

Quartz2208 · 19/05/2023 16:47

As long as he sits the second paper abd you get the paperwork together it will be fine

LIZS · 19/05/2023 16:49

If he has completed, or can complete, at least 25% of a subject the exam board can base results on that. Was there an NEA for computer science or is there another paper to sit? If he was ill during an exam the school can apply for special consideration to adjust the mark by up to 5% but will need medical evidence. Agree he needs ready access to sweets or juice in case it recurs.

SheilaFentiman · 19/05/2023 16:54

There is a practical paper next week

2bazookas · 19/05/2023 17:04

so he had to leave the exam to have something to bring them back uo.,according to his head of year it took ages so she.got him an orange to eat

I cannot undertstand why you didn't send a diabetic child with suitable emergency rations in case needed. It should never have been left to the head of year to take that responsibility.

2bazookas · 19/05/2023 17:06

x2boys · 19/05/2023 16:44

We have but he was only diagnosed in February due to having acute pancreatitis,his pancreas was necrotic,he nearly died so to be frank his Exams haven't been my main concern. ,he only had a Dexcom,fitted last week ,to complicate matters he has type3c diabetes which is a rare form caused by damage to.His pancreas,which itself can play havoc with his blood sugers as 'the,pancreas can randomly decide to produce insulin as and when
It's been a huge learning curve plus life changing experience for my son

Show quote history

all of which is exactly why school staff should never have been expected to work out what his new/rare condition needed and supply it (unprepared).

caringcarer · 19/05/2023 17:11

There are 3 exam papers so the other 2 papers will be used. I don't know about the subject but very few subjects only have 1 exam. If there is another exam that grade will be used. I'd be making sure he eats well before his exams. My son has 3 eggs scrambled and a tin of tomatoes for breakfast with toast and jelly babies in his bag.

Original poster
x2boys · 19/05/2023 17:11

2bazookas · 19/05/2023 17:04

so he had to leave the exam to have something to bring them back uo.,according to his head of year it took ages so she.got him an orange to eat

I cannot undertstand why you didn't send a diabetic child with suitable emergency rations in case needed. It should never have been left to the head of year to take that responsibility.

I DID! But his sugars took a while to stabilise are people just not reading what I wrote??
He goes Every day with jelly babies( as advised by diabetic team) and orange juice ,IN SPITE of taking them he was still low!

OP posts:
Sweetnhappy1 · 19/05/2023 17:14

Sorry you are getting a hard time here OP, don't worry. They will give him a grade based on the average of the other papers. I had a situation during one of my A-level exams and this is what happened. Best of luck to him for the rest of his exams x

Original poster
x2boys · 19/05/2023 17:15

2bazookas · 19/05/2023 17:04

so he had to leave the exam to have something to bring them back uo.,according to his head of year it took ages so she.got him an orange to eat

I cannot undertstand why you didn't send a diabetic child with suitable emergency rations in case needed. It should never have been left to the head of year to take that responsibility.

And it was his head of year that wrote his care p!an with me so she knows exact!y where all his spare blood sugars strips eff are stored because they are in her office!

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 19/05/2023 17:17

I am so sorry, op, that you are getting a hard time on here after a frightening anc worrying day.

Beekdet · 19/05/2023 17:35

With medical evidence, he can receive an overall grade which reflects his performance in the sections he completes.

However, with so many qualifications to complete and the chances of this happening again, you need a plan so he can complete exams with all the breaks during or delays to the start he needs.

I actually think the head of year was wrong to ask you to collect him unless he was severely unwell and completely incapable of sitting the exam. Since he wouldn't have seen any other candidates, there would have been nothing stopping him taking the exam when he was ready.

Original poster
x2boys · 19/05/2023 17:38

Beekdet · 19/05/2023 17:35

With medical evidence, he can receive an overall grade which reflects his performance in the sections he completes.

However, with so many qualifications to complete and the chances of this happening again, you need a plan so he can complete exams with all the breaks during or delays to the start he needs.

I actually think the head of year was wrong to ask you to collect him unless he was severely unwell and completely incapable of sitting the exam. Since he wouldn't have seen any other candidates, there would have been nothing stopping him taking the exam when he was ready.

His diabetic nurse has just adjusted his insulin today hopefully that will stabilise his sugars .

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 19/05/2023 17:45

Beekdet · 19/05/2023 17:35

With medical evidence, he can receive an overall grade which reflects his performance in the sections he completes.

However, with so many qualifications to complete and the chances of this happening again, you need a plan so he can complete exams with all the breaks during or delays to the start he needs.

I actually think the head of year was wrong to ask you to collect him unless he was severely unwell and completely incapable of sitting the exam. Since he wouldn't have seen any other candidates, there would have been nothing stopping him taking the exam when he was ready.

Agreed your ds shouldn’t have been asked to be collected. I’m glad he stabilised and is ok. And thank you for the post op. My dd is doing exams next year and I need to work something out with them for her as she also has a medical condition.

HollyGolightly4 · 19/05/2023 17:49

Sorry you're getting grief op. Nightmare!

I'd say special consideration for Maths, plus I think with the evidence, they'll double his second computer science paper to make up for missing the first one.

Well done to you and your son that he's sitting the exams.

dcadmamagain · 19/05/2023 17:52

I work in exams. Our diabetics take their phones in exam room and give to invigilators who monitor them ( students have to be sat near invigilators desk) rest breaks are allocated so that toilet trips etc are added on. Out school nurse is also linked to the diabetics phones and can see levels. We have their diabetic boxes in room with us and goes out with student. If student is going to take a while to stabilise levels they are taken to medical room and management come supervise them as are still under exam conditions. They’re brought back to exam room when medically fit. If it impacts on next exam we work around that. I would encourage your school to revisit his diabetic plan

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