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Effect of illness in Year 11

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:58 pm
by Grumpy!
DS has been off school pretty much since start of new term, he's recovered from illness itself, but school don't want him back because of the awful cough he gets everytime he moves from one room to another from the change in temperature. Not getting much work sent home and he is sitting exam modules this week and next in separate room to main exam room so he can cough without disturbing others.

Do you think the exam board will take the missed schooling into account?

(Doctors have treated with everything they can think of, to no avail but are confident he will be cured by time!)

Re: Effect of illness in Year 11

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:51 pm
by Looking for help
Oh dear, grumpy, that is a shame.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think ours can get something known as special consideration by the school...I guess a note is made of the circumstances, and sent off with the paper, or notified to the exam board by the school. This means that more marks will be awarded than were scored, usually just maybe 5 or so, which could make the difference between a grade boundary, so perhaps moving someone from a B to an A.
Not sure if that is sufficient, if a lot of school work has been missed, but with modules there is the opportunity to retake.

Re: Effect of illness in Year 11

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:07 pm
by KB
Contact the examinations officer at the school who will be able to advise what special consideration can be given - it may be that if the cough is in effect a 'disabilty' he can get some extra time.
I think they have to have missed a great deal of school over an extended period for that to be taken into account though.
If they are modules that can be re-sat in the academic year the exam board seem to be alot less flexible - only personal experience on this though.
In any case you will need written details from the GP.

I would also take issue with the school - if he is well enough to be in school & is not infectious then they are in effect excluding him just because he has a disablilty that is annoying others - if they dont want him in the classroom then they should be providing supervised work for each missed lesson in another area of the school.

Do hope he is better soon.

Re: Effect of illness in Year 11

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:27 am
by kegsteacher
Alas the exam board won't take prior absence into account but if the invigilator notices your son in difficulties they can adjust the marks. Make sure they know that they need to do this (write to the exams officer) as if they don't report it it won't make any difference later on.

Re: Effect of illness in Year 11

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:34 pm
by missy
Sorry your son is suffering from a bad cough.Try a teaspoon of onion juice ,its sounds gross but believe me it can cure a nasty cough .Grind up the onion and whatever liquid comes store it in fridge and give daily.My mum had nasty cough it worked.

Re: Effect of illness in Year 11

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:04 pm
by Grumpy!
Thanks very much for the advice.

I did write to the exams officer and provided a letter from the gp too, so think can do no more in that respect.

Interesting what you say KB about having a disability and being excluded - it does feel a bit like that at the moment, he's otherwise very healthy (touch wood!). I've been debating whether or not I should insist they have him in school but tbh he would have to sit in a separate room - you wouldn't believe the volume of this barking cough - so he wouldn't be being taught and we are getting some work home. He's pretty good about working independently and the temperature of our home is more even and doesn't set him off coughing as much. Parents' eve tomorrow so will see if they come up with any ideas.

Onion juice????? Getting desparate now, will see if can get some down him!! Thanks. :)