Hi - A teacher at my daughters school has had a word with me. She has advised me to ask the school to contact the GCSE Exam Boards about the ‘special situation’ my daughter is in and ask this to be taken into consideration. I had not even thought of doing this - but I have just written an email to request notification. I suppose finding out your Mum is terminally ill two months before your GCSEs is not great for the revision! There is also the prospect of a ‘bad’ question - in her Biology mock there was a question about lung cancer (ive got lung mets) and the rise in the UK. Not suprisingly, she found this difficult!
Just thought it was worth others thinking about! Hope to be of some help even to one person out there (or one of your children!!)
Hi Sadie
My youngest daughter was sitting AS levels when I was diagnosed in 2008 and I definitely made sure the exam boards knew! I also made sure it was taken into account for her A2’s the following year as my situation certainly still exists and had/has an impact. It’s surprising how they may seem to be coping but are not really - so don’t underestimate the effect on them. It was only earlier this year that both of my girls told me that they had developed eating problems during this time. I had noticed that they had both become a bit obsessed with counting calories etc but hadn’t realised at the time that this was their way of having some control - scary stuff. Luckily they are back to being ‘healthy’ about food but in a very positive way.
Hope your daughter’s exams go well for her
Nicky x
Blimey what a good idea. Our son is sitting his A levels at the moment so I’ve just contacted the school to ask what needs to be done about this…
Thanks!!
Ann x
You should inform your school’s examination officer in writing. Then if your child does not do as well as expected they can get up to 5% extra marks. My daughter did badly in her English AS summer exam, in the middle of my chemo, whereas she had done really well in the Jan module (before my dx) and her course work. The school appealed and she went up a grade.
Yes do contact your child’s school - I was diagnosed last April; day of results my son was sitting in the car doing his A level revision since we never suspected that my arm pain was due to BC… His school’s examinations officer made all necessary arrangements after I wrote a letter with details and his personal tutor and teachers kept a close eye on him throughout the revision/exam phase that I found very reassuring. The good news is that he did better than ever expected on his exams so don’t assume the worst - think my being at home and helping with the revision and eating healthily and keeping positive helped both him and me. He’s now very happy at his chosen university and we all remain positive about my BC.
Thinking of you Sadie - I think I might have passed A level Geog last year after supporting the revision!!! Just being around and giving a structure to my son’s day when he was revising helped him - and helped me through difficult phase post diagnosis. Hope you will be celebrating come August with results!
i had a daughter sitting a levels and a son sitting gcses at the time I was going through treatment, I didn’t notify exam board and luckily both did really well, though the following year my son did breakdown due to ongoing situation/treatment etc… and failed his first round of a’s levels.
I did not know he could get extra allowance and wish the school had applied for this or mentioned this especially as we have had a really tough year with him.
In fact he is now sitting his a levels and I still did not know this could be taken into account.he is a lot better now.
I’ve done some reading nd we are asking for ‘special consideration’ and the schools examination officer can apply. The child can get up to 5% increase in their mark depending in individual circumstances. This 5% tends to be for v severe difficulty (immediate family members death) so we are looking at maybe 3/4%? But every little helps!
Absolutley!!! And I think I underestimate how much impact my illness and treatment is having on her as to the outside world, we are fine, but there is so much more going on!!
Thanks for your professional input and info ninja.
Gcse german oral as we speak!!! Good luck to all out there in exam land.
Thanks Ninja,
sadly it’s too late as he is sitting them now.
the school knew about this situation but I have been disappointed with the pastoral side,information not passed on and having to explain in detail to a teacher why my youngest y7 daughter broke down in class after cancer and dying was talked about in lesson, in a room full of other parents during parents eve, both hard for me, my daughter and for the teacher.
I am pleased with both his results at gcse and my older ones at a level and they achived better than was expected of them, so all is not lost.
this year my son is a different person and is confident and happy.
I am hoping this may help others and good luck to all.
Kernowdaisy - it is not too late until the results are published in August. Even then you would have right of appeal.
Phone up and ask to speak to the exams officer.
Don’t be fobbed off with anyone else.
Your child’s form tutor will have to report to a Head of Year (Pastoral). Get the name of the HoY from your child. Phone up and ask for a private appointment with that person. At that interview (take a friend with you), explain that you are disappointed with what has happened.
“having to explain in detail to a teacher why my youngest y7 daughter broke down in class after cancer and dying was talked about in lesson” - was the school aware of the situation before this? All tutors involved with that child should have been aware of the circs and this should not have been allowed to happen.
If you are still not happy with his/her support, ask for an appointment with the Head Teacher. If you’re still not happy, you have recourse to seek out the help of the Governing Body.
Ninja - excellent advice!! Ive just spoken at length with my daughters examination officer and he is putting the letter in to the Boards for us. It is clear from the info he sent a full 5% should be awarded to her (sadly my illness is ‘terminal’ - hate that word!)
This wound make such a difference to her, and to your son Kernowdaisy. Its not too late - it is actually the right time! Go for it!
