advice please, ds didn't finish the exam due to illness

I wonder · Post by **I wonder** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:20 pm

Dear regretmum, I am sorry about your son's illness during the exam. But rather than your son only, we should be talking about all the children sitting in the room with your DS, as I am sure they were affected as well. I understand from what I have gathered on the forum that someone vomited in the same exam-room. this i feel should be enough to put off the minds of little ones who were sitting next to him/in the same room. At least you knew beforehand that your son was not well, but others did not even had any idea about what was going to happen. Who knows, how much they were affected? and how gifted they are? Also just because they were not unwell, they are not even appealing and gathering any evidences to prove that they really are gifted.
I fully agree for consideration to your son for selection, but at the same time the Kent council should make sure that the other affected children (who also lost time as well concentration in this melee) are also given due consideration and are not put to any disadvantage. All the best!

MJMoore · Post by **MJMoore** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:38 pm

Is it really necessary to make this mum feel worse? If it was just a cough, how was she to know that he would end up vomiting? In fact, how does any parent know in advance whether their child might get ill, or get upset because of nerves?

Post by **hermanmunster** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:45 pm

well said MJMoore - regretmum is feeling awful as it is. I remember children being unwell in my own 11 plus exam 40 years ago, actually it didn't make any difference to us - I reckon we were pretty focussed, fortunately in those days the unfortunate child was able to go home and took the exam along with 2 others in the headmasters study a few weeks later.

regretmum · Post by **regretmum** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:57 pm

I wonder wrote:Dear regretmum, At least you knew beforehand that your son was not well, but others did not even had any idea about what was going to happen.

I wonder, are you suggesting that I knew what was going to happen ? I wish I had.

I agree every child has a right to appeal for whatever reason. Maybe you are aware that there are quite a few people have complained to KCC, not only because of this, also for the time issue.

Bexley Mum 2 · Post by **Bexley Mum 2** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:57 pm

Well said Hermanmunster. I suspect an able child would be focused on the paper and not necessarily put off by another child being ill and I presume regretmum's poor DS was bundled out of the room fairly swiftly. My eldest DS came out of one of his 11+ papers 4 years ago and said that one of his friends had put his pencil down and sobbed at the start of one test. Presumably this caused a degree of commotion in the test room until he was taken out and calmed down. But it never occurred to me or other parents I talked to that any allowances should be made for our children's performance in that test - everyone was just concerned about the poor boy who we thought had blown his chances (fortunately he hadn't).

Tracy · Post by **Tracy** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:34 pm

This post might be contraversial but, going through this for the 2nd time, I had a chat with my dd before the exams to prepare her for the upset, nervous or ill child.

She is normally a very caring child but I told her that this time she had to put herself first and leave any upset to the adults to deal with as that is what they are there for. I told her that even if the upset was to do with one of her friends then she was to just ignore it and get on with her work.

I know this sounds bad but we had a long chat about why she she do it this way this time. Unfortunately, the lack of compassion from the system has made it this way.

I wonder · Post by **I wonder** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:40 pm

Dear Bexley Mum, your statement "I suspect an able child would be focused on the paper and not necessarily put off by another child being ill" is only valid if the children are allowed the right duration of time.

But in this case apart from beeing disturbed by the circumstances, teacher in confusion allowed them just 9 minutes in place of 18 for two sections of NVR which others found difficult to finish even in 18 minutes making it mandatory for the children to guess at least 8-9 answers in each sections. Later on realising her mistake she allowed just 5 minutes rather than 9 minutes more to complete the paper. during this time these children rechecked those guessed questions. Do you still think "able" children would not be affected.

Sally-Anne · Post by **Sally-Anne** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:48 pm

Hi I Wonder

There are two completely separate issues here - the very unfortunate matter of regretmum's son being taken ill during the test, which is the topic of this thread, and the apparent inconsistencies in the timing of the NVR papers at one of the test venues which have been flagged up on another thread.

Could we please keep the two discussions completely separate. Regretmum and her son did not have any responsibility for the timing issue!

Sally-Anne
Moderator

medwaymum · Post by **medwaymum** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:17 pm

I wonder wrote:But in this case apart from beeing disturbed by the circumstances, teacher in confusion allowed them just 9 minutes in place of 18 for two sections of NVR which others found difficult to finish even in 18 minutes making it mandatory for the children to guess at least 8-9 answers in each sections. Later on realising her mistake she allowed just 5 minutes rather than 9 minutes more to complete the paper. during this time these children rechecked those guessed questions. Do you still think "able" children would not be affected.

Am I missing something? As far as I'm aware KCC havent responded to these complaints therefore I'm afraid you are second guessing what happened in that room. Regretmum's child was probably escorted out pronto, poor chap, and the rest is second and third hand information. I wish you luck regretmum and please don't blame yourself, you did what every single one of us would have under the circumstances...I'm sure you didn't have a crystal ball.

inkypinkyponky · Post by **inkypinkyponky** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:03 pm

Probably a bit late for this advice, but might help for younger children due to take 11+ in years to come.

3 years ago DD1 took 11+ and her Headteacher advised all parents that if a child is ill enough to be kept off school, nerves not included as ALL children are nervous, then they are too ill for the 11+.

Therefore even though some tests were on Saturday, if it had been a normal school day, would the child have been sent to school? A raging temperature with Calpol being taken would indicate fighting an infection but just a cough would not necesarily be enough to stay off school, and the vomiting maybe could not be forseen. A tough call but parents know their children best.

The 'catch up' tests are administered quite soon afterwards (don't know exact time frame) but a friend's daughter who was in hospital with a collapsed lung due to a severe asthma attack, missed both tests but has done well at secondary and has just gone to Uni.

Good luck to all.

advice please, ds didn't finish the exam due to illness

Children sharing examination room with regretmums DS

Re: Children sharing examination room with regretmums DS

Children sharing examination room with regretmums DS

Re: Children sharing examination room with regretmums DS