[SENco-forum]SQA Standard English Grade

Yes - speaking off the top of my head!
We sometimes use the dual approach both GCSE and SQA - tis the Standard Grade exam that allows pupils to play to their strengths as well as the one third for third for Reading/Writing/Speaking & Listing.

Anyway, more later 
Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Sharon Fawcitt [mailto:sfawcitt at dsl.pipex.com] 
Sent: 18 October 2006 10:37
To: Stuart Lucas; SEN at tringham.net; 'Becta Senco'
Subject: RE: [SENco-forum]SQA Standard English Grade

Can you tell me more about this exam?  Could it be used in England?
Sharon

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of Stuart Lucas
Sent: 18 October 2006 09:30
To: SEN at tringham.net; Becta Senco
Subject: RE: [SENco-forum] access arrangements

Just as a matter of interest -
You can use spellcheckers on the computer for the SQA exams -

Some of my dyslexic pupils did SQA Standard Grade English rather than GCSE
English this year - worked very well .. then again - I am up in bonnie
Scotland.

Just for info
stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of
SEN at tringham.net
Sent: 18 October 2006 09:13
To: Becta Senco
Subject: RE: [SENco-forum] access arrangements

Exam concessions are only awarded if it is something the child already uses
i.e. if they have a scribe or use Dragon normally in class then they can in
the exam.

The bizarre exception to this is a child with SpLD who uses TextHELP with
predictive software, spoken dictionary and spelling/homophone alert.  All
have to be switched off!

The reason my daughter uses them is that she was assessed as being unable to
access the Nat. Curr. and Literacy tasks with them - just as a child might
relying on signing.  She cannot see right/wrong spellings.  If she is
alerted to a wrong spelling by Windows putting a squiggly line under a word
she applies all her known spelling rules & strategies.  This then brings the
word up to a level where a spellchecker can offer some possibilities.  Prior
to this first stage her spell checker just goes haywire as she is such a
bizarre speller.  Even with only 4 words on offer she is still unable to
select the right one.  She needs to hear them and then makes the right
choice (mostly).  Without either of the above her work is gibberish and more
akin to an 80 IQ than the 141IQ she has. She might be better off with a
transcription although I defy anyone but me to be able to read it.

Sadly she is only allowed to use her computer as a plunk, plunk typewriter
and seeing as her writing is perfectly legible this is no concession or
'appropriate access arrangement' at all.  Her gadgets cannot make her appear
better or brighter than her 141 IQ should allow her to be.  It might make
her better than 'average' but she is not an average IQ.  I cannot turn off
her intelligence and it is discriminatory in the extreme to handicap her
further by not allowing her to use support that she normally uses in class. 

Sharon Tringham

PS There are some free screen readers on the internet or I purchased Text
Help's screen reader Genie some years ago for £25.

 Earlier posting:

I have looked very carefully at who would benefit from a reader given the
papers they are sitting and the level.  There are some who should not even
be doing a GCSE, but as we can't possibly offer Certificate Level for just 3
or 4 students across the board they are in with the rest for now.  In small
groups I will be doing some comprehension type work, based on questions and
answers in exam type conditions and getting them to 'share a reader' and
waiting if needed.

If technology/finance allows next year I will look at 'Screen readers' which
looked a good way forward when I saw one in use last year.  5 children
sitting in a room  headphones on, listening to the questions, typing their
answers and only one person needed to watch over them

I am not going down the route of scribes unless no other choice, but will
allow them to word process if it is faster than their writing or will
transcribe.  It is only if they are physically unable that I might go for a
scribe, but then Speaking software is available such as Dragon is
permissible.

Whilst I want the children to do the best they can, it should not provide
them with an advantage other other students who are not allowed to word
process etc.

Susie  

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C

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