Exams and qualifications

[Canopus]

I have mixed feelings about the importance of taking exams and gaining qualifications for people with AS. In one respect, the primary purpose of qualifications is to satisfy employers. Therefore, if the individual is likely to have difficulty finding or holding down employment due to their AS then there may be little point in taking exams or even attending school for that matter. On the other hand, taking exams and gaining qualifications is an ideal way to improve ones self esteem and convince teachers and LEA officials that one is capable of achieving something and should not be looked down on or viewed as subnormal or retarded in some way due to their deficiencies in social skills or sports. The purpose of this article is to highlight what qualifications are available to under 16 year olds and methods of obtaining them so that a kid with AS and their parents are informed about alternative to taking GCSEs at a mainstream school. Also, many myths about the education system and qualifications are exposed and shattered.

 

Introduction

 

Many kids with AS fit into the high intelligence category which tends to shape the attitudes of parents, teachers, and LEA officials into wanting them to do well academically and get lots of qualifications. As a result, many parents will bash their heads against numerous brick walls and fight endless battles with schools and the LEA in order that the school provides for their kid's SEN. If their kid was of lower intelligence then the issue of getting good GCSE grades will probably be far less important, so the parents may decide to withdraw their kid from school because there is little point in keeping them there. A kid with AS may be willing to go to school even though they generally do not enjoy school or are regularly bullied. They might complain at home about various issues like PE lessons or teachers criticising their handwriting but will never consider playing truant unless things get really bad for them. This is because they want to take their GCSE exams and get good grades. They are probably unaware that alternatives exist if they want to take exams and get qualifications and these alternatives may be better than attending a mainstream school or can be done outside of school hours whilst attending a mainstream school.

 

I took the traditional orthodox route of GCSEs, A Levels, and a university degree. This choice resulted from a combination of lack of information about alternatives, and myself thinking that I was of high intelligence and academic ability so should aim as high as I possibly could. The reality was that I struggled and suffered badly during the process. Had I known more about alternative qualifications and ways of getting them then I would certainly not have taken the route I took. Had I been diagnosed with AS at the age of 12 then I would probably have quit school altogether and taken an Open University degree at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

A kid with AS should not be forced by their parents to attend school and get GCSEs, or go to university and get a degree simply because they are clever and to do otherwise would be a waste of a good brain. Ones intelligence is one thing, but whether they are happy attending the institution and fit in with the system is another. It is totally wrong to force a kid to go to school if they are bullied or treated badly by the staff, or attend university if they have difficulty surviving the teaching system and coursework deadlines. There are also people with AS who possess expert knowledge of a subject but have difficulty getting it down on paper. Unless they can overcome this problem then taking exams may not be a good idea in practice no matter what the school or educational psychologists say. What is most important is that a kid enjoys their education and feels as if they are achieving something worthwhile from it. They shouldn't have to struggle or suffer for the want of paper qualifications, study too many subjects they see no purpose studying, or attend an institution they do not enjoy attending. There is nothing in this world that can ever compensate for or counteract an unhappy childhood. If your kid wants to take exams and get qualifications then let them, otherwise don't worry too much about it.

 

A common mistake made by parents is thinking that kids get one opportunity to take their GCSEs and if they miss this chance then they have effectively screwed up their education and possibly their future. This is totally and utterly untrue. The reality is that it is possible to take exams and gain GCSEs and many other qualifications at any age. It is also possible to retake GCSEs an unlimited amount of times in the attempt to gain a higher grade. Another concern made by many parents is that if their kid does not attend a mainstream school then they will not get a broad and balanced education as they will focus on what interests them the most to the detriment of everything else. If your kid is educated outside the mainstream school system, they could choose to study fewer subjects to examination level than if they attended a mainstream school. This should be viewed more as focusing on what they want for their paper qualifications as opposed to their full education. It is important to remember that education and learning is supposed to be for life and not just confined to ones days at school, so your kid has the rest of their life to study other subjects and learn about other things.

 

GCSEs are not worthless qualifications but they are vastly overrated by much of society. Schools want kids to do well in their GCSEs for one reason alone - to increase the schools position in the league tables. There is no requirement to have any GCSEs to access higher education or gain employment, so if your 16 year old doesn't have a single GCSE then it is not the end of the world for them no matter what others say. In fact there are times when I think the primary purpose of GCSEs are for 10 year olds to impress their classmates with rather than 16 year olds to use to access college or gain employment! This is nothing to do with GCSEs being dumbed down since the days of O Levels. It is because there are alternative qualifications available today that are superior to GCSEs. There is no advantage or purpose in getting 15 A* grades other than showing off. If your kid wants to take GCSEs then what matters the most is getting good grades in the subjects that interest them and they are good at as opposed to trying to gain GCSEs in as many subjects as possible. The old saying of quality is better than quantity holds true for qualifications and 5 GCSEs at A*, A, or B grade are worth more than 10 GCSEs at C, D, or E grade. GCSEs are available in a wide variety of subjects, many of which are not offered at mainstream schools. A list of available subjects can be found on the websites of exams boards. Your kid might be interested in taking exams in some of these subjects either in addition or as an alternative to the GCSEs offered at mainstream schools.

 

After 16

 

There is no legal requirement to have GCSEs to do A Levels and many colleges readily accept students aged 16 and above onto certain A Level courses including electronics and computing without GCSEs in these subjects. Colleges usually expect applicants for other A Level courses such as maths or history to have a GCSE in the subject, but will often accept applicants providing they can somehow demonstrate (usually via an interview) that they possess sufficient knowledge of the subject to start the A Level course. If your kid is rejected because of lack of a GCSE then try an alternative arrangement such as the part time evening course rather than the full time day course, or apply to another college. Most colleges also offer a variety of vocational courses which could well be better choices than conventional academic subjects even if your kid is academically able. Many universities will accept BTECs and City & Guilds instead of A Levels. Investigate with universities what their entry requirements are before your kid commits themself to any particular courses. Information about course entry requirements can be found on university websites. Most (possibly all) universities require some evidence that the applicant is fluent in English. An English language GCSE is most commonly used but other recognised English language qualifications also exist. Check with the university about this.

 

Now what are the alternative choices available when it comes to getting paper qualifications?

 

1. Private/external candidates. It is possible to take GCSEs and A Levels in many subjects at any age by studying at home then taking the exam at an exam centre. This is available for kids who either attend mainstream schools or are home educated. Your kid can take exams in subjects they are studying at school or subjects that are not offered by their school providing the exam board makes them available to private candidates. The reason a few subjects are not offered to private candidates is because the coursework element is too difficult to accomplish at home without special facilities. It is the responsibility of the student to find an exam centre and arrange the exams. This process can be quite tricky. Most exam centres are schools and colleges and lists of those that take private candidates can be found on the websites of exams boards, but there is no indication whether the exam centre offers the exams your kid wants. Quite often the exam centre will only offer exams that their students take which correspond to the courses the school or college teaches. If the exam is in a particularly unusual subject then it is best to contact the exam board to find out where offers the exam. Sometimes it may be more successful to approach the matter from the opposite direction by contacting local schools and colleges and asking if they take private candidates and which exam boards they use. If the exam centre happens to be the secondary school your kid attends then they can refuse to let them sit the exam! Another secondary school in the same LEA might let your kid sit the exam. Private candidates are responsible for providing their own textbooks and course materials and have to teach themself. It helps if they know someone knowledgeable of the subject who can help them if they have difficulties. Standard textbooks are available for most subjects but private candidates can use whatever material is available to them. There are also certain internet sites and discussion forums dedicated to particular GCSE and A Level subjects. A private tutor can be employed either on a regular or occasional basis to help out with any difficulties. Past exam papers and their marking schemes are available to download from the websites of exam boards. Most GCSEs and some A Levels have a coursework element so your kid must allow themselves plenty of time to complete the coursework before the deadline. The cost of taking exams as a private candidate are quite low. Exam boards typically charge about �30 per subject and the examining centre often adds an administration charge between �5 and �30 per subject.

 

2. Distance learning or correspondence courses. Several organisations run distance learning courses offering GCSEs, A Levels, and vocational qualifications including those rarely offered by schools and colleges. Distance learning courses are primarily intended for adults but most organisations will take under 16 year olds who either attend mainstream schools or are home educated. They are allegedly quite popular with home educated teenagers whose want GCSEs, but have parents who lack sufficient knowledge of the syllabus to teach them. Some distance learning organisations just supply the learning materials either by post or e-mail, but others also provide tutor support by telephone or e-mail as well. Usually students enter exams as private candidates and it is the responsibility of the student and not the distance learning organisation to arrange the exams. Many distance learning organisations will offer a list all exam centres that take their students. Distance learning courses are an ideal way for kids with AS to gain qualifications as they can study at their own rate at home without the pressure associated with institutionalised education. Course fees for distance learning courses vary but typically will cost �200 to �300 for each subject or course.

 

3. State colleges. Under 16 year olds will only be accepted at a state college as a full time student if they have the support of their LEA. Getting support from an LEA to attend college instead of school is very difficult and usually only offered as part of SEN provision. If your kid is officially diagnosed with AS or statemented for SEN then it is worth enquiring with the LEA whether they are prepared to offer college instead of school. Very rarely will an LEA allow an under 16 year old to attend college full time to study subjects offered at school or any GCSEs for that matter. They will usually allow only vocational courses as the facility is officially intended for less academic kids. Most colleges offer evening classes in both academic and vocational subjects. They are intended for adults in employment but an increasing number of colleges are accepting under 16 year olds who either attend mainstream school or are officially home educated. The attitudes towards accepting under 16 year olds vary from college to college and course to course. Many colleges are more inclined to accept under 16 year olds wanting to take vocational courses in say computing or an arts subject, or a GCSE not offered by most school such as astronomy, rather than GCSEs offered by schools such as science or English. I am unsure what the situation is regarding SEN and evening classes. State colleges offer free education for full time students in the 16 to 19 age group, but under 16 year olds attending evening classes may be subject to tuition fees and costs vary from college to college. Some colleges will charge full fees and other colleges will offer a reduced rate to under 16 year olds.

 

4. Independent colleges. A number of independent colleges exist that offer a limited range of GCSEs, A Levels, or vocational subjects and many are willing to accept under 16 year olds who attend mainstream school or are officially home educated. Courses often run in the evenings or at weekends as well as during weekdays. The attitude towards SEN can vary from college to college. Some welcome kids with AS, physical disabilities, or those who have left school due to bullying and are willing to provide for their special needs, whilst others may be less inviting when it comes to the provision of SEN. Most independent colleges are registered exam centres and students take their exams there. The staff also help with the coursework. Fees vary from college to college. Some charge a fee for the complete course whereas others charge on a lesson by lesson basis.

 

5. The Open University. Offers a wide variety of degree courses to over 16 year olds and most courses do not require any previous qualifications. This is an ideal alternative to real universities for students with AS as they can study at their own pace at home without the pressures of tight deadlines or the stress of lecture halls.

 

6. University distance learning courses. Some universities now offer distance learning degrees in certain subjects and students will graduate from that university in the same way as if they attended the university in person. Check with the university for entry requirements.

[Tez]

Thank you Canopus,

 

This is quite timely for us because we are discussing these very issues with our son. He wants to do well but finds he can't cope outside the house so any LEA school is going to be unsuitable and he is upset that the National Curriculum is so prescriptive. The traditional school system has killed his desire to learn and he is completely antieducation at the moment.

 

We have discussed the Open University as a future way of him studying subjects that he enjoys because that's how I took my degree and I found the learning style so much easier than traditional schools and universities.

 

I'll read the article in more detail tomorrow.

[barefoot wend]

Canopus

 

Thanks for all the info.

 

I have been looking at the OU - they do some very short courses (6-12) weeks as well as the longer ones. Some of them are very interesting. They are also open to anyone regardless of qualifications and give a discount to SEN/DLA applicants.

 

I recently got hold of the Discovering Science pre-degree course and Kerre and I have been looking at the DVDs it contains as well as the books which are pretty user friendly.

 

I think, for us, this is probably the way we'll be heading long-term.

 

Barefoot

[Canopus]

Actually, I forgot to mention the short courses offered by the OU. I haven't had time to check them out properly yet but they appear to be excellent choices.

[streamdreams]

I have mixed feelings about the importance of taking exams and gaining qualifications for people with AS. In one respect, the primary purpose of qualifications is to satisfy employers. Therefore, if the individual is likely to have difficulty finding or holding down employment due to their AS then there may be little point in taking exams or even attending school for that matter

 

This is a very dangerouse set of asumptions and one i can not agree with period.

 

As a AS person and the father of two AS boys, I know just how hard it is to get results first hand. A lot of it is to do with self esteem and ther is nothin like not even geting interview

 

This is a very dangerous set of assumptions and wide open to misinturpretation.

 

As AS person and the father of two AS boys, I know just how hard it is to get results, first hand. Yes I do agree with you that there are other ways to achieve results once the conventional ruled have been ruled out an the information you have provided is very useful in that respect. Yes exams can be spread out to reduce pressure, so on and so fourth

 

But I am sorry but this world is Darwinian and employers do look at bits of paper. we need to be careful, employers to not understand all of the �alternatives� and these days rightly or wrongly CV?s are scanned by computer for key words like �degree� before being passed on by agencies. Many employers will never see a CV if it does not have the right buzz words.

 

AS people are constantly being reminded that they are different, being able to achieve has a major positive impact on self esteem. May be I am speaking for my self but, I don?t want my results down graded, I don?t even want a level playing field( see Darwin), I want the tools and skills to do the job.

 

With regard to employment, the are no real figures at the moment about the employment status of AS / HFA people. There is a figure of 6% quoted from time to time but that an old study by the NAS which includes the whole Autistic spectrum both High and Low functioning. Secondly we do not know how many undiagnosed HFA/AS people are out there. Some estimates are as high as 1 in 200 of the general population.

 

if the individual is likely to have difficulty finding or holding down employment due to their AS then there may be little point in taking exams

 

If a teacher said that about your child how would you react? I can imagin the post on the forum

 

There is simply no way at the age for 15, 16, 17 that you can make that distinction about some one at that age, and it would be very irresponsible to try. Results come in unpredictable steps. Progress can come much later put label a person and treat them with such an attitudes and self esteem or lack of it therefore will inhibit any form of growth.

 

 

Lastly, I like the main part of you article, its just he first paragraph that makes me shudder at the core.

 

J

[Canopus]

There are no accurate figures showing the number of adults with AS in employment. I have encountered figures that are as depressingly low as 12% although there is little information on how the figures were arrived at or whether they are just for AS or for all types of ASD.

 

Employers are interested in many things and paper qualifications are just one of them. This applies equally to NT as well as AS job applicants. Having a track record of working with people and team building skills are often seen as more important to some employers than the exact nature of ones paper qualifications. There is also the issue whether one will fit in with the ethos of the company and its workforce and survive the office politics. In recent years employers have shown a decrease in interest in single minded experts and an increase in interest in people who possess a multitude of skills. This is often a disadvantage to people with AS. Many people with AS constantly get rejected at job interviews or have difficulty holding down a career. These facts should be taken as a warning for kids with AS thinking they will get the career of their dreams simply by holding high level qualifications, and a warning against parents into pushing their kids into doing things like studying for degrees at Oxbridge in the hope they get the career of their dreams.

 

The attitude towards paper qualifications vary from employer to employer. Some only want the orthodox GCSE, A Levels, degree from a good university route, whereas others are very welcoming of Open University degrees, vocational qualifications, BTECs etc. I suspect some even question the desirability of the traditional orthodox route in todays fast changing world. It would probably be safe to say that the attitude towards eccentric people and people with AS vary from employer to employer as well. Now, does anyone know which orgainisations like employing people with AS?

 

It would be impossible for me to advise someone with AS whether it is or isn't a good idea for them to gain paper qualifications unless I knew them. The decision has to be made on an individual by individual basis. That is why the primary purpose of the article is to identify what choices are available in the hope that a kid with AS who wants paper qualifications can find what is best for them. Many people with AS want to achieve in life, but they can only achieve to their full potential under the best system for them. In some cases this may not be the conventional route such as GCSEs at a mainstream school or a degree at a redbrick university.

 

Kids with AS may be reminded that they are different, but does it ever damage their self esteem or their attitude towards academic issues? I had a very low self esteem as a kid but probably wouldn't if I had been diagnosed with AS. I could be proud of myself rather than thinking I am just badly behaved with poor social skills and hopeless at team sports.

 

Teachers probably told kids with AS that it isn't worth taking exams because they will never get past a job interview back in the days when the majority of kids left school at 15, but they would never say it nowadays. I think this happened with Einstein. The teachers might secretly know the kid doesn't stand a hope in hell of employment but all they care about is school league tables so will want them to take exams.

[Guest hallyscomet]

posted this in the wrong spot

hailey

Edited November 7, 2005 by hallyscomet