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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSE results special consideration

29 replies

Lolly331 · 22/08/2024 11:42

DS got his results today and it was not what he was expecting. He had been ill during the exam period and special consideration was applied to some of the exams, he was sick then was put on medication which reacted and it effected his balance. On his English language paper he only answered one question. The school applied for special consideration for two exams ( the two that he sat on the day he was sickest)
we have received the results and school said they can see special consideration has been applied but on the results I am unable to see this. He has got a 2 in English language and obviously needs a pass. His first paper he got 46 out of 80 and his second when he was sick he got 7.
the school have said to apply to get the scripts back. Does anyone know what that means.
He isn’t doing levels and needs 4 gcse at 3 and above which he has and he has a five in maths and a 4 in English lit, is English literature enough to get in or do you need language, he was predicted a 7 and had done so well up until he got sick,

OP posts:
Quitelikeacatslife · 22/08/2024 11:44

I'd say for lots of opportunities in future he will need 4 or above in English language so if remark doesn't go your way it would be easier for him to resit as soon as possible whilst it's fresh in his mind.

SwallowsAmazons · 22/08/2024 11:53

Depends on the course. Some will accept English lit and you will have English timetabled to re-sit.

DoublePeonies · 22/08/2024 12:02

Special consideration is usually a tiny percentage - I've a feeling it maxes out around 5%. So does he think that second English paper could be about right for what he actually wrote?

If he's got the grades to go forward, I'd focus on that. And agree that resiting English in November could work very well for him - presumably he has done the majority of the work, and just needs a fair go at the paper when his health is back on track.

Applying for the papers back literally means that. You would get to see (a copy of) his actual script. You could check things like had they marked every question, and added up the scores correctly. An English teacher could look at the marking and see that the marks applied were about right for what had been written.

LIZS · 22/08/2024 12:17

Unless the offer specified language, literature should be sufficient to progress although ideally he should resit language to gain a pass to satisfy any future employer requirements, recalling scripts means looking at the answers and how the mark scheme was applied but a remark request would be needed if they feel it was under marked, unfortunately special consideration only adds a few marks to that paper so he may have been better not sitting it and relying on paper 1 and a calculation for paper 2.

Original poster
Lolly331 · 22/08/2024 12:21

@LIZS thst was my fear. School were insistent it was better to go in but he basically could barely stand and filled one question in then slept the whole exam as his temp was so high.

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Original poster
Lolly331 · 22/08/2024 12:24

So we got it back and as he said he answered one question and was given five points for this and then they awarded him 2 points as special consideration so taking him to seven. I’m so disappointed for him. He’s basically taken to his bed and isn’t even speaking.

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pinkfleece · 22/08/2024 12:26

Why did he do so little of the paper? Did he tell you that had happened and that he had no chance of a pass?

40andlovelife · 22/08/2024 12:27

Spec cons is a tiny %. They wouldnt be able to provide any more or the system is so open to abuse.

LottieMary · 22/08/2024 12:31

That school advice was terrible I’m afraid, but done now - maybe they didn’t realise the extent of his illness

he can resit in November. They should facilitate this with you.
Funding wise the government says ‘English’ so Lang or lit will be fine to get to the next level. Some organisations do specify English Language for work so it’s worth thinking about resitting .sadly they usually don’t actually understand what English language is and that Lit would be just as good if not better but hey ho.

with 46 in both papers he’d have a grade 6

SheilaFentiman · 22/08/2024 12:35

That is deeply frustrating that school advised him to sit rather than ask for just one paper to be used. :(

SonicTheHodgeheg · 22/08/2024 12:40

Unfortunately special consideration is a very small percentage. The kids who had to take GCSEs the day after the Ariana Grande concert bombing and Grenfell got 5% iirc It sounds like the school should have warned you so that ds would be prepared for a low grade and retake in November.

Literature is usually considered ok for next stages but I’d hope that ds would score 5+ in November. 💐

SusieSussex · 22/08/2024 12:40

SheilaFentiman · 22/08/2024 12:35

That is deeply frustrating that school advised him to sit rather than ask for just one paper to be used. :(

Yes, and also he could have passed the illness on to other exam sitters

Original poster
Lolly331 · 22/08/2024 12:48

Thanks all! I have just found out from school that they will take English literature. It’s a shame as it’s his favourite subject and he was predicted to do so well.

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Original poster
Lolly331 · 22/08/2024 12:51

@pinkfleece yes he knew he wrote barely anything. He had an ear infection and his ear drum perforated two days before and they put him on the wrong antibiotics and it affected his balance and made him sick. School said just try and come in so he did and poor kid just said he had to hold on to table as he thought he would fall off the chair. We thought they assessed it off the other paper. I’m kicking myself now.

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Original poster
Lolly331 · 22/08/2024 12:51

@SusieSussex absolutely!

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Original poster
Lolly331 · 22/08/2024 12:52

@SonicTheHodgeheg wow!!! That’s unbelievable. Those poor children.

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Takeachance18 · 22/08/2024 12:52

I don't think they cover a resit if English Lit is a 4, it is a 4 in either or. Which is good in some ways, but disappointing in others.

CornedBeef451 · 22/08/2024 12:53

Gosh I'm sorry, that was really rubbish advice from the school.

DD missed 5 exams in total due to a migraine but as it was a pre existing condition, and she had done at least 1 exam in each subject already, it hasn't affected her marks.

Your poor son!

StellaCruella · 22/08/2024 12:55

You need a 4 in Eng Lit OR Eng Lang, you don't need both. They take your highest.

I suggest he re-take in November, aside from that if he has enough to get onto his next course that's great.

lovemetomybones · 22/08/2024 13:10

Special consideration is rarely given, I know of a student who lost her mum the week before and wasn't given special consideration. So if it was awarded it would literally only be given to the days indicated.

Also the school calling back the script will not do anything to change the grade. Instead they should ask for a remark. A remark can go up or down but rarely by more than a couple of marks, in your case I don't think it's worth it for bless he was on a grade boundary, which the school will know.

I think his only option is resits at college.

lovemetomybones · 22/08/2024 13:11

*unless

MrsHamlet · 22/08/2024 13:44

school said they can see special consideration has been applied but on the results I am unable to see this. He has got a 2 in English language and obviously needs a pass. His first paper he got 46 out of 80 and his second when he was sick he got 7.
the school have said to apply to get the scripts back. Does anyone know what that means

It means that he gives the centre permission to look at the marked scripts. It costs nothing - although they may charge an admin fee - and should be fairly quick.

Spec con is a % of the total marks gained, so it will be very small.

Jodie6261 · 22/08/2024 15:52

Lolly331 · 22/08/2024 12:24

So we got it back and as he said he answered one question and was given five points for this and then they awarded him 2 points as special consideration so taking him to seven. I’m so disappointed for him. He’s basically taken to his bed and isn’t even speaking.

Can I just ask how you know from the GCSE results of special circumstances have been applied? My daughter missed 6 of her GCSE due to being hospitalised and it looks like special considerations hasn't been used for her marks.also how do I get the transcript?

Thanks

MrsHamlet · 22/08/2024 15:59

Jodie6261 · 22/08/2024 15:52

Can I just ask how you know from the GCSE results of special circumstances have been applied? My daughter missed 6 of her GCSE due to being hospitalised and it looks like special considerations hasn't been used for her marks.also how do I get the transcript?

Thanks

Show quote history

The candidate needs ask the school to get the scripts for you. It's free to the centre but they may charge an admin fee.
Schools can see from the download whether SC was applied but - as far as I know - that doesn't appear on the data we give out to candidates in our centre. You'll have to ask the exams office at school.

MumofSpud · 22/08/2024 20:23

My DD got 4% as her dad was diagnosed with cancer the day before her first exam.
The very first thing we did when they told us was to ask for a letter from the consultant to give in to the school! It made me feel as if I was in control of something that day!
But as other OPs have said it's a % of your mark so quite tiny really.
Although it did tip one of her grades into a higher one!