Dear all.
I wanted to share something with you that has had a profound effect on me. It took me back to the conference in April that was organised by the Centre for Disability Studies.
I have now reached the end of the Foundation Year in BA Social Sciences Degree here, at the University of Leeds. The reason I'm writing is because today I received my first set of marks for one of my modules - I know these marks may change, either way - but I still wanted to share my joy with you, and a rather negative comment that was made in the feedback - albeit the feedback was generic rather than individually tailored. I scored 44% (Conflated). The pass mark is 40%, so of course I'm very happy that I've passed unfortunately though, this is the generic feedback again, and I don't wish to copy the wording exactly so I'll attempt to paraphrase, basically, the feedback appears to be suggesting that anyone scoring less than 55% is wasting their time and should reconsider their time at University.
This is not helped me because it is something I have heard repeatedly through the times that I have been 'forced' into mainstream FE and had little to no support to achieve my ambitions of obtaining some GCSEs. This has been preying on my mind over the weekend, prior to receiving the exam results. I think if I could have a meeting with someone like Michael Gove, I'd like him to do something about the fact that a fair proportion of the qualifications I did at school is not recognised in the 'real world'. Even getting into University with the qualifications I have got, I had envisaged being a minefield, however the tutor at the School who is responsible for students with disabilities and other needs seemed genuinely sympathetic to my problems.
There have been some people here who have been incredibly encouraging when I have passed module but, and this relate to comments that were made to me both that residential specialist college I was there and at the mainstream college I went to that "the mark I got was worthless as far as they were concerned". That really, really hurts!
Well,I know that's just one result so far, but I am now more optimistic that I can do just as well with my remaining marks. Being a disabled student in the 21st Century really isn't easy. Yes, the University does have support mechanisms in place, obviously that plan was never fought through properly as there are more students in need of support from the mental health coordinator (yes there is just the one! -this service is also used by staff) and they need to increase the amount of strategy support tutors, and hire some on a full-time rather than the majority being part-time workers.
If anyone is interested in my further results, please do not hesitate to contact me off list.
Becky.
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
|