I've come across this too. I've had two students with dyslexia recently who
had difficulty with the English QTS. One of them had a updated psychology
report done recently specifically to make recommendations that included QTS.
I was truly astonished when, having sent it to the TTA, they replied that,
and I quote, "Although the report clearly identifies that the candidate has
dyslexia there is nothing to suggest that the candidate needs additional
provisions to those already provided" by which they meant only 25% extra
time ie. 12 minutes extra on a 48 minute test. To cut a long story short,
the TTA phoned me back after I had queried this and suggested that the
student did the version for visual impairment. The student actually did the
version for hearing impaired people as he said that the visual impaired
version was the same as the one for students with extra time for dyslexia. I
heard today that he has passed. The other student passed when he booked the
extra time.
My concern is that whoever reads the reports clearly does not understand
them ( and they did admit that this person is an administrator rather than a
psychologist kind of person ). Secondly how is it that they will apparently
accept the result of a version intended for a different disability?
On a slightly different point, I have had good feedback from students after
advising them to treat the next QTS Test as a rehearsal, not intending to
pass at all, just to get the feel of what it looks like and what they are
expected to do. Even students who have taken the tests several times have
passed when treating it as a rehearsal. Bonus!
Regards
Liz
Liz Thompson
Learning Support Officer
University of Brighton
Tithe Barn
Moulsecoombe Place
Brighton
BN2 4GA
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mary Reece
> Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 10:23 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Paper version of QTS tests
>
> Have others experienced problems obtaining permission for alternative
> paper
> version of QTS tests for PGCE students?
> I was astonished when I contacted the TTA to support a dyslexic students'
> request for paper alternatives to the computer test for numeracy that they
> asked for another diagnostic assessment as the current one only
> recommended
> extra time, a reader and separate invigilation. They were happy to allow
> this but not allow arrangements for a hard copy test. This student (and
> many
> other students no doubt) with mild scotopic sensitivity, experiences
> difficulties with the format of the maths test where she has problems
> 'reading' the scattergraphs, has to scroll up and down to re-read
> questions,
> and close tables so she can re-read questions before re-opening the table
> again. The questions are read out twice which is very distracting too.
> Despite having her E P report the TTA seemed unable or unwilling to
> extrapolate the information sufficiently to allow her to sit a paper
> version. The E P would not have known she was thinking of doing teacher
> training (and QTS tests on computer) when he assessed her. She has taken
> the
> test on computer 5 times already.
> I am hoping they will re-think this as it surely does not comply with
> SENDA
> and I intend to ask for paper copy for other students with similar
> difficulties.
>
>
>
> Mary Reece
> Dyslexia Adviser
> Disability Resource Centre
> The Old Library
> University of Exeter
> Prince of Wales Road
> Exeter
> EX4 4PT
> Tel:(01392) 262094
> Fax:(01392) 262092
> The information in this email and any attachment is confidential and may
> contain privileged information intended for the addressee only. If you
> received this email in error, please reply to me stating the error, and
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