Year 11 - 2024/2025: It’s all downhill from here!

[QueenMabby]

New thread to help us get through the next week or so!

My DD has extreme anxiety/slow processing/is disorganised

But I suppose we should have "played the system" as she's now at a real disadvantage.

I could weep

You think those of us whose children are SEN have "played the system"??? I have cried rivers of tears over my DD's anxiety which has been ongoing since Y3. How dare you. Please escort yourself off the thread, you and your bigoted views are not welcome here.

DS said Edexcel higher was fine, better than he was expecting. Sitting scrolling through phone atm instead of revising for history. Grr

Edexcel Higher paper - verdict is ok for the first part then got tough. Unable to answer 1 question which has annoyed DS greatly.

Extra time is not decided by the school, it is the JCQ who award arrangements. Staff in school may have been trained to be assessors otherwise assessors will visit school.

I think with the increase of students getting extra support it will be looked into. Maybe criteria will change? I go into schools alot and think some schools are 'better' at getting extra exam support in place than others.

My DS is one with extra-time and also in a room - just him and his invigilator. He fights a million invisible battles a day. He appreciates this adjustment means he stands a chance to show his academic ability and not a test on if he has meltdown/shutdown being in an environment he cannot manage (he struggles to be in a classroom).

My DD, resiting maths again gets extra time and a reader as she has slow processing & poor working memory & dyslexia.
People should note that extra time in the exam in the exam only helps a bit for the exam. It doesn't help with the fact that revision takes longer too, and that school days are more exhausting due to teaching generally going 'too fast'.

(I'm surprised if 30% get extra time as opposed to general access arrangements.)

So why hasn't she got access arrangements?

What is this 'playing the system'? There are a set of rules and guidelines laid out by JCQ. If you tick the boxes then you get access arrangements. If you don't, then you don't.

As I said earlier - DD's working memory is 7th centile... 93% of the population score higher. A score that low only JUST qualifies her for 1 qualifying score. You need 2.

“Nodded like I knew why it mattered”!! 😻.. ( yup, that’d be me, too !! (You can get a square based pyramid??).
I would have zero hope of passing GCSE maths again. I can’t believe I went on to take Maths in A Levels Round One Hell! (shout out to anyone who ever got a U in anything?!?)…

Good that your DS was pleased with how it went…….he must be breathing slightly easier…( and you!) …..so, sending huge positive vibes in……Cold War and Elizabeth!!! 🤞🤞🤞! I hope it goes fabulously!😸

Played the system? If she was entitled to the extra time based on her difficulties, she would have been awarded it. I know of children who get it for severe anxiety. Why would that be playing the system? I would advise re thinking your attitude to help your daughter going forward. She may need you to help advocate for her going forward.

It’s not playing the system. They get assessed to see whether they qualify for extra time (it’s very rigorous testing) those that do absolutely need it.

So if you felt like your DD needed extra time (or the school did) they could have had her assessed. I don’t think you get it for being disorganised though. I’m not sure about anxiety. Working memory can be tested and if it falls below a certain percentage then they get extra time. Apparently my DS’s working memory went from bad to ok so he didn’t qualify.

You have absolutely no idea of what my DD has gone through

How dare you

@SuperTrooper14 - mine is sleeping 1-2 hours max a night before some exams, seems to be panicking at random times and overfocussing on some subjects.
Why are we not allowed to ask for help? I thought this thread was meant to be supportive?
Yet as soon as I ask for some support you pile on me and others. I am out.

Because I didn't want to "label" her

I have let her down

Come on guys play nice.

Maybe leave discussion on the rights and wrongs of extra time to a separate thread. GCSEs are a trial for all kids, whether they are aiming for a bunch of 9s, or are just hoping to stay in the exam for the whole time.

Exams aren't a perfect way of assessing, but it is what we have.

Oh give over taking a swipe and causing a bun fight on what has been a supportive thread. I don’t care who is getting extra time, presumably it is for good reason.

You have mentioned your daughter is on track for all 9s and at a super selective - and now you’re worried she is disadvantaged by people getting extra time, I’m not sure if this is serious tbh

Diagnosis not label.

Maybe things have been missed or not done for whatever reason. She is still young and you can help her. You will have to lose the attitude of ‘it’s playing the system’ and calling things ‘labels’ though.

You didn’t get an upgrade to “ we had to bisect a line”?!! 😹😹😹! Fine is good!! Hopefully he’s scrolling through amusing stuff! I’m somehow getting some Yr11 Reddit post notifications ( DS showed me memes post Eng Lit), DS not on there, but they are by Yr11 students! Some of the posts! The drama!!! Someone apparently got “doxed” for getting disqualified for having his phone in an exam…. AQA paper…... makes me ever more do grateful I didn’t have all this additional 💩 as a teenager…….🥳

What exams has everyone else got left this week?

DD only has the final maths paper, but is trying to get her college assignments in too (for animal care) which is stressing her as she reckons she hasn't been taught the info for the final one.

No issues with asking for help.

But most of us with children with extra time and who are ND, dyslexic etc have not only spent years and a small fortune advocating for them and getting the diagnosis and then testing and everything else.

But we also then have years of knowing 'looks' and 'oh yes, dyslexic - half the kids at X's school have that to just get extra time'. It gets very wearing when you remember the early years of primary and 'what book band are they on' and your 7/8 year-old can't actually read at all let alone be on a sodding book band.

DS has provided limited info - edexcel higher maths was ‘alright’ and when pushed ‘bit harder than paper 1’ . Just started history for tomorrow

I’ve been looking at the timetable and have just realised next week is going to be tough - 2 science , 2 maths , a Geography and Spanish his absolute nemesis .

I agree, but if people are going to be ableist, I will answer them. That shit should never go unchecked. It’s really ruined the thread.

There's been no pile on. If your DD has SEN then of course you should advocate for her to get help.

Agree

Eng Lang 2 and geography and a day to revise for them.
Problem will be Monday, biology and PE and DS has definitely shown that he focuses more when at school.
Good luck to your DD with college assessments - it's a tough time of year!

History and French tomorrow, then English language on Friday for us.

Animal care sounds a nice course. Does she like it?

Oh god, don't worry about labels. Half the time it's so obvious they may as well wear a T shirt with it printed on, and basically nobody cares these days as people are so open about neurodiversity and disabilities.

If you think she may be ADHD then get cracking on assessments now as it takes forever and you'll want things in place before A levels.