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Secondary education

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Original poster

Concussion and GCSEs

48 replies

wordywitch · 03/05/2025 22:32

My son’s exams start next week and today he has sustained a concussion while playing football in the park with his mates. He didn’t require a trip to A&E and we are following the concussion protocol at home - no screens, dim light, rest, etc.. He is suffering short term memory loss, asking repeatedly what time it is, what happened, etc.. which isn’t unusual with this type of head injury, but I know from experience (my DD had one a few years ago and I’m a former healthcare professional) that it can take a couple weeks to recover cognitively. Clearly he’s not going to be in a position to read and study for at least the rest of the weekend and I have no idea how he’ll be for the start of his exams in a few days.

Has anyone had experience of this with their child or does anyone work in a secondary school who knows what the school can/will do if he’s not fully recovered by then? I know he doesn’t need A&E but will I need to seek medical attention for him anyway if he’s going to need a sick note on Tuesday potentially? I could wait until Tuesday and ring his GP but I’m not sure if or how soon they could see him anyway. Any advice welcome!

OP posts:
Hercisback1 · 04/05/2025 07:27

You'll need medical evidence to get any special consideration.

However I hope you have gone to A&E anyway.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 04/05/2025 07:32

Just to be on the safe side, I’d take him to hospital. You really can’t be too careful with a head injury.

BlackBean2023 · 04/05/2025 07:32

My DD has played rugby for years so I can’t count the number of head injuries/possible concussions. She’s never had memory loss lasting more than a few minutes. He needs to be seen by a doctor and I find it hard to believe you wouldn’t know that if a former HCP!

DD would still have been able to read/listen to podcasts so your DS is either badly injured or milking it! In terms of exams, realistically the best you’d get - with firm medical evidence that his performance was affected - is a small percentage uplift so I’d be looking at other ways to revise.

Littletreefrog · 04/05/2025 07:51

I would stop worrying about GCSEs and start worrying about getting him checked over. That level of confusion is not suitable for you to self diagnose concussion at home.

YourFairCyanReader · 04/05/2025 08:02
  • go to A and E
When my DC was ill during exams this is what applied to us
  • the special circumstances, which is anything from a relative died the night before the exam, to being ill on the day with a migraine or a sickness bug, gets you 1-2% adjustment in grades.
  • there is no way of getting more adjustment than this, no matter what's happened
  • what we should have done is not taken her to the exam if she was too ill to get the grade she deserved. Then she would have got the grade her teachers expected based on coursework and mock

So if your son is really affected you could speak to school and say he's unable to sit exams and verify they would then get estimated grade. They never want to tell you this, as loads of people would then want to do it

reesespieces123 · 04/05/2025 09:14

You'll need A&E for GCSE evidence though

NorthernGirlie · 04/05/2025 09:20

School can apply for extenuating circumstances. He may get 5% of additional marks (which is nothing really) but they'll be hesitant to write "his Mam says he has concussion" on the form.

Octavia64 · 04/05/2025 09:23

The exam board will want medical evidence - from GP or A and E. So you should probably take him to a doctor for that reason alone.

Littletreefrog · 04/05/2025 09:28

Octavia64 · 04/05/2025 09:23

The exam board will want medical evidence - from GP or A and E. So you should probably take him to a doctor for that reason alone.

This isn't necessarily true. They may do for an exam that is missed completely but just for the 1% special consideration which is probably the maximum he will get given it's 3% for a recently deceased parent they don't normally request it. The schools word is normally enough.

Calliopespa · 04/05/2025 09:43

If he has bad concussion he shouldn’t even sit. You are supposed to rest from heavily focussed work.

His concussion needs investigation and verification both for his health and exams.

TeenToTwenties · 04/05/2025 10:21

Note that it may be preferable for him to miss some early exams rather than do them when suffering memory loss if he can show medical reasons.

eg If too unwell to sit his maths non calc paper they can work out a grade based on extrapolation from his 2 later calculator papers.

Whereas if he does very poorly due to short term memory loss on paper 1 they would use that and it could bring whole grade down.

Take better advice on this than from me though!

Calliopespa · 04/05/2025 10:44

TeenToTwenties · 04/05/2025 10:21

Note that it may be preferable for him to miss some early exams rather than do them when suffering memory loss if he can show medical reasons.

eg If too unwell to sit his maths non calc paper they can work out a grade based on extrapolation from his 2 later calculator papers.

Whereas if he does very poorly due to short term memory loss on paper 1 they would use that and it could bring whole grade down.

Take better advice on this than from me though!

There’s also the aspect of what is best for his brain as well as for his gcse results.

The brain will be ultimately more important in the long run!

minnienono · 04/05/2025 10:49

You need medical evidence but I strongly suspect it won’t be taken into account for exams a week away unless he needs hospital care

minnienono · 04/05/2025 10:51

Ps we are experts at potential concussion as rugby player here. Dd doesn’t even tell me now (adult) until after the all clear.

Longma · 04/05/2025 12:12

I would take him to A&E or at least get him a medical appointment to see someone today.

Even more so if you believe it could have any negative consequence on his ability to sit his exams or effect his performance.

LIZS · 04/05/2025 12:27

He needs a medical opinion and evidence if he needs the exams officer to implement for adjustments such as rest breaks or apply for Special Consideration. Try 111 but they will probably recommend A and E,

Original poster
wordywitch · 04/05/2025 14:34

Thanks for the responses. I checked on him every 3-4 hours overnight and this morning he was much better, but I rang 111 for advice and they said they didn’t think he needed a scan or any treatment but to bring him in for a cognitive assessment just to be sure which we did. All fine and they have no concerns.

Their advice was to rest today, no contact sports for a week, can return to the gym in a few days, and unless he is exhibiting signs of mental fatigue, headaches, etc.. (post concussion syndrome) that he should be fine to take his exams. If he finds it difficult to revise or focus in the coming days/weeks then we can ring the GP to obtain a doctor’s note since they’ll have record of his A&E attendance, though the way he is now I don’t think it will be necessary. He really doesn’t want to have to take them later anyway so fingers crossed it will all be okay and go smoothly.

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 04/05/2025 14:38

If you want an exemption or some kind of extra provisions you'll need medical proof.
So saying you know the protocol and treated him at home isn't sufficient. If it really is concussion then it's very important that he's seen asap by a doctor. You can't claim it's a serious illness and then say you didn't get him any medical support whatsoever.
It seems you're more concerned about his exams than the fact he could be seriously unwell?

reesespieces123 · 04/05/2025 14:54

wordywitch · 04/05/2025 14:34

Thanks for the responses. I checked on him every 3-4 hours overnight and this morning he was much better, but I rang 111 for advice and they said they didn’t think he needed a scan or any treatment but to bring him in for a cognitive assessment just to be sure which we did. All fine and they have no concerns.

Their advice was to rest today, no contact sports for a week, can return to the gym in a few days, and unless he is exhibiting signs of mental fatigue, headaches, etc.. (post concussion syndrome) that he should be fine to take his exams. If he finds it difficult to revise or focus in the coming days/weeks then we can ring the GP to obtain a doctor’s note since they’ll have record of his A&E attendance, though the way he is now I don’t think it will be necessary. He really doesn’t want to have to take them later anyway so fingers crossed it will all be okay and go smoothly.

Just FYI, as I'm a GP, all the GP would be able to do is to give you a printout of the attendance - they won't be able to say that it is or isn't affecting his performance.

Soontobe60 · 04/05/2025 15:04

I’m amazed at the casualness of a parent who believes their child has suffered a head injury significant enough to have symptoms of concussion and doesn’t think he needs to go to A+E!!!

Littletreefrog · 04/05/2025 15:07

wordywitch · 04/05/2025 14:34

Thanks for the responses. I checked on him every 3-4 hours overnight and this morning he was much better, but I rang 111 for advice and they said they didn’t think he needed a scan or any treatment but to bring him in for a cognitive assessment just to be sure which we did. All fine and they have no concerns.

Their advice was to rest today, no contact sports for a week, can return to the gym in a few days, and unless he is exhibiting signs of mental fatigue, headaches, etc.. (post concussion syndrome) that he should be fine to take his exams. If he finds it difficult to revise or focus in the coming days/weeks then we can ring the GP to obtain a doctor’s note since they’ll have record of his A&E attendance, though the way he is now I don’t think it will be necessary. He really doesn’t want to have to take them later anyway so fingers crossed it will all be okay and go smoothly.

It wouldn't be a case of taking exams later. The options would be don't take them at all (I don't think this seems to warrant that) or ask for special consideration, which will give him a 1 to 3% uplift in marks. BUT to be honest I think you would also struggle with that seen as this has happened a week away from exams not the night before.

LIZS · 04/05/2025 15:11

Would still be worth asking advice of exams officer. Concussion symptoms can take a few weeks to clear.

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