[senco-forum] KS SATS/SEN

Hi Margaret
  As far as I know, no marker knows anything about any pupil whose work they mark.  
  In KS3 SATs, we have to say if we used a scribe or supervised when word processing on a form but the marker isn't told about extra time.  We do not give the marker any other information about the pupil.
  At GCSE level, we have to send the marker a form if they used a scribe or word processed plus a copy of the permission letter with the school address blanked out.   Again, we do not give any other information.
  We are specifically forbidden to reword questions or explain technical terms for pupils in any exams at KS3 or GCSE level.  
  In English, we can read only general instruction on the parts of the paper which test reading.  We can read the parts of the question which test writing.  
  For other subjects, we can read everything but we can only re-read on request.  We can't re-read a question when a pupil has a wrong answer.  We can only write down what is dictated, including punctuation so we can't re-phrase what a pupil says for them.  The hardest part about being is scribe is writing down wrong answers with a straight face.
  Some GCSE exam papers have specific papers designed for the profoundly deaf where the wording has been simplified.  Why they don't use that for everyone I don't know.

  It seems to me that exams test what can be tested.  Understanding the question is part of what is tested, they say, so we cannot rephrase.  We cannot help a pupil to time their way through the exam, nor can we tell them which questions to answer.  That's their rules.  Their reasoning is that access arrangements must not give some pupils an advantage over others - they are there to avoid disadvantage.  Planning, timing and understanding the questions are what is being tested so pupils have have not help with that.

  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall 

BJKLtd at aol.com wrote:
  Will the fact that my son has a language disorder/ASD be flagged up to the 
marker fror KS3 SAT's?

Not sure why I haven't asked this before - my son starts mock SAT's tomorrow 
will get extra time/reader but as he has severe language disorder 
reasoning/explaining is a huge issue.........just wondered if anyone out there could 
help - would ask school senco but she didn't even know that reports had to be 
produced for an Annual Review! Therefore have come to all you other senco's 
out there.

REALLY would appreciate knowing.................all exams 'discriminate' 
against those with language disorders and am at the point where I want to 
'complain' about this to the Government.

Thanks.

Margaret (Parent)

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall