...and the added question of rest breaks being used to go to the loo - does anyone differentiate between reasons for rest breaks?!
Sarah Cassel-Gerard
Examinations Officer
Esher College
Centre 64785
020 8398 0291 x 2531
-----Original Message-----
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hemming, Christopher (Hills Road Staff)
Sent: 10 October 2014 09:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Changes to JCQ Access Arrangements for Rest Breaks
This looks like a good topic for discussion at the AoC Conference. We had 84 with rest breaks last summer - it's becoming a cause of great stress to our invigilators.
What is a reasonable amount of time and how many during the course of an exam? Are they fit to take such an exam?
Chris Hemming
Examinations Officer
Hills Road Sixth Form College | Cambridge CB2 8PE
Direct line 01223 278027 | Fax 01223 278070 | [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Claire Willis
Sent: 09 October 2014 16:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Changes to JCQ Access Arrangements for Rest Breaks
Hello all
Can I canvass your ideas and planned approaches please to the new instructions from JCQ on page 21 par 5.1.3 where it states that the duration of the supervised rest break should be determined by the SENCo and that this must take place before the start of the examination series?
We have approximately 70 students with rest breaks for various needs and there is a concern that it is impractical to determine a suitable rest break time for every student for each exam.
We have queried with JCQ the scenarios of students with CP or anxiety/panic attacks and the difficulties encountered by the SENCo in trying to predetermine a time scale for rest breaks. JCQ agreed that if it's the candidate's normal and established way of working is to seek a supervised rest break during the course of an examination when their pain or discomfort begins to manifest itself, or their stress or anxiety levels begin to rise, then having variable amounts of time for rest breaks would be perfectly acceptable.
Would you consider that this caveat almost seems to make the directive in the JCQ guidelines impractical? Perhaps this requirement for predetermined amounts of rest break time can be applied to those with ADHD etc who know in advance how long they need to refocus?
I know what I think we should do but some others aren't so sure so I'd appreciate your feedback if you can spare the time.
Many thanks
Claire
Exams Manager
Peter Symonds College
Owens Road, Winchester, SO22 6RX
01962 857500
--
Scanned by iCritical.
________________________________
Please consider the environment and don't print this email unless you really need to.
________________________________
This email is confidential and is for the attention of the addressee only. Esher College accept no responsibility for information, errors or omissions contained in it. If you received this email in error, please inform us by reply and delete all copies from your system. No legally binding commitments are, or will, be created by this email and where it is our intention to create such legally binding commitments, we will do so through hard copy correspondence or documents. All email received and sent by us may be monitored to protect the business interests of Esher College.
|