GCSEs as an independent candidate?

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Long story short, DS will sit GCSEs this summer and he may not pass any.

He has ADD and dyspraxia, his inattention is severe. He can't tolerate stimulants due to side effects so he gets by on intuniv but it's not optimal. We moved to the UK in 2022 with diagnoses in place, the school senco refused him extra time or a prompter in exams. He does get rest breaks and the use of a word processor though.

I've recently started sitting with him while he's revising science, it's clear that he's taken nothing in during class time, but in a 1-2-1 set up with me he is grasping the topics and is able to the answer questions to a good standard. It's potentially too late to cover 2 years' worth of material before the exams start in May though.

He's been advised not to take A-levels, but instead go to college and do level 1 or level 2 qualifications. I'm now wondering if we should aim to re-do his GCSEs with me teaching him at home and have him sit the exams as independent candidate a year from now. How hung up should we be on GCSE grades? Has anyone done this after their child has been through the process at school first?

Does DS have an EHCP?

One problem with re-sitting GCSEs next year is DS may have to change boards or to iGCSEs which may include different content.

What does DS think? It is very different working 1:1 with you full-time and doing it just for revision.

In case it is relevant to you, home education needs to begin before 16 or DC to have an EHCP for child benefit to continue.

What grades is DS predicted? What did he get in his mocks? Why have the school refused extra time and a prompter?

No EHCP, I was told his needs are not severe enough to warrant one. The senco assessed him in year 9 when he started and she felt he didn't extra time. I have tried to persuade her, this was his normal way of working overseas and I've got letters from paediatricians stating he needs it, but her assessment is final. I also asked if he could drop some GCSEs at the start of the school year, she forwarded the email to the deputy and head of year. The deputy sent me the rudest reply I think I've ever read... then the head of year brought it up in the year 11 assembly so poor DS was mortified. Any time I approach the school about his SEN I am met with absolute derision and I am baffled by it.

His mock grades range from 0 to 3, but he did get a 5 in his English mock so he might get an English pass. His predicted grades are all 3s and 4s, even for subjects where his grade was 1 in the mock!

Ah I see, so I should look into which board he would sit them with. I have a science background and maths degree, I'm also currently off work due to a heart issue so we could make it work. I haven't discussed it with him, I don't think the arrangement can be that he's homeschooling full time because he'll slip into fairly reclusive behaviour. It would need to be alongside something else

You should request an EHCNA yourself. Don’t listen to the school saying DS doesn’t need or won’t get one. IPSEA is a charity who supports parents, on their website they have a model letter you can use.

Have you spoken to the Exams Officer at the school?

Have you also spoken to the college(s) DS has applied to? If DS doesn’t get a 4 in English &/or Maths he will need to resit at college.

If DS does sit GCSEs independently you would need to find an exam centre who accepts independent candidates. Not all centres accept independent candidates especially where they require exam access arrangements.

thanks @Headfirstintothewild The college he has applied to is aware, they haven't said that he'll need to resit his GCSEs if he fails though. They have offered him a place on a level 3 course, he'd need to drop down to level 2 or 1 depending on his GCSE grades.

Thanks I'll have a look at IPSEA, I was wondering if it's maybe too late to push harder for exam arrangements given he's about to sit the GCSEs. I haven't spoken to the school exam officer... I didn't know there was one! I will try that, I don't have high hopes based on my interactions with school staff so far

DC who don’t get a 4 in Maths &/or English have to resit/work towards resitting. Depending on their grade/what the college offers they may be able to sit Functional Skills qualifications instead. It wouldn’t be too late for a prompter to be put in place.