DS (14) is about to do his end of year 9 exams. These will be used to set them next year for the GCSE courses.
He gets 25% extra time (as do a number of others in his year). We have just found out that once the end of “normal time” is reached, they all have to switch to green pen (or mark it up if they are typing not hand writing) for everything they do in the extra time.
DS is unconcerned (it is the rule and he is happy just following the rule), but we are surprised and a bit concerned. With such as obvious marker, how can they ensure that these children are not affected by implicit bias with the teachers marking them? It just feels a bit off when it is meant to level the playing field.
It is a large school, and although the teachers are great, the SENCO is not so great. We asked what the reasoning was, and were told it was necessary to evidence their need for and use of extra time, which the school need when making an application to the exam regulators for them to have this arrangement in their GCSEs.
Has anyone come across this before? Is this something that is standard in England? Any advice or insight gratefully received. Thanks.