Exam Laptops - Argument around allocation for "normal way of working"

[Steve21]

Good Afternoon All,

 

A quick question regarding exam laptop allocation. We've recently been told to give 20~ students access to a laptop with their reasoning being - "The students need a laptop due to SEN needs & to show its their normal way of working for exams" - So we've purchased 20 and assigned these as requested on a one-to-one basis.

 

However, now a few weeks gone by and they've decided because so many of those students don't want to use them in normal lessons for writing answers etc, that they want to assign them to another group of 20 students, "but" still want us to allocate exam laptops to the original 20 as well as the new 20. Obviously we've explained that we can't do this, if they're removing the laptop from those students, and assigning it elsewhere it would no longer show it's their normal working and we couldn't give them exam logins.

 

The kind of responses being given include things like - "Because they are not on time constraints during lessons, they can write at their own speed and have refused a laptop" - which references our point that that wouldn't give them a need in the exam on that basis as it isn't their normal way of working and the requirements are very specific in regards to that being a requirement.

 

The second aspect, is because this now gives us another 40~ exam users we need to do proper lockdown accounts etc, as previously they had a bank of laptops to use in exams, but we're being told they don't need full lockdowns and only calc etc blocking (depsite these being full domain joined computers with 100s of software installed including things specifically mentioned like CADCAM/Coding etc), again against exam rules. So we've requested a list of students to setup for exam accounts, and again are being pushed for generic logins who they can assign to who they need on the day based on who's being "using the laptops" over the terms, rather than any list of students who have actually being monitored and using the laptops over the course since it started, rather than a few weeks before the exams start.

 

While we appreciate that it's down to SENCO/EO to sort access arrangements (and have specifically been told it's not for IT to question), this seems a blatant flagrance of the rules that IT aren't happy to setup based on the current responses we're getting, as we'd have no fall-back if queried by inspectors as to why they have the logins

 

Any thoughts? (Especially interested if anyone from a Governors/Exams point-of-view if you need involved in this aspect at all)

 

Thanks,

Steve

[gaz350b]

Just let the kids use their normal accounts on the laptops?

 

We use chrome books and then when it gets closer to exams introduce them to using the windows laptops and the exam write (pro?) software.

 

When it comes to the exams itself we then use a locked down account with no internet etc.

 

What ever is agreed this has to be all concerned working together and as a school if they have shown they have a need we should try and provide it even if on the day they never use it.

[Steve21]

Think you misunderstood my wording, They use their normal accounts on the laptops (outside of exams), but in regards to on the actual exam day, if you're referencing the lockdowns. That's when we're being told they don't need locking down, and need a generic account because they might be given to other students too.

 

I agree if they have a shown need they are provided one, but if we're "not" providing a laptop to a student is my point

 

Steve

[mavhc]

Email all your concerns so there's an epaper trail, ask all the questions you need to ask, eg how will you record which user is using which generic account, how will you ensure there's no files saved to that account that the same or another user may access in a different exam, what's the procedure for switching laptops mid exam if one fails, how does auto save work, etc etc.

 

Ask them how they'll ensure the students follow the exam rules, as you don't want them to have their results forfeited.

[gaz350b]

If you really want to cover yourself.

 

I would get the exams officer to send you the official guidance from exam boards on how they expect IT to be setup. Then Respond quoting how you are meeting each requirement.

 

If they still don’t agree with your stance then start involving senior school leaders to give guidance.

 

Then setup the system as agreed with those senior leaders not the exams office/senco

[RLR]

Exams take up way too much of my time. We seem to have them all year round. I eventually settled to setting up laptops that are only used for Word Processing. These laptops are setup to automatically login to an exam account allocated to that laptop so any student can use them. A script runs at login to copy the Exam Write Pad software from a share to the local machine and then run it. This runs in full screen mode with a password so students can't leave it and open other applications. Another script runs at logoff to move their work to a secured shared place so other students can't access it.

[CHiLL]

I've encountered this too, though not as bad. We purchased 24 SEN laptops, with 12x being allocated to students as 1-1 devices and the other 12 kept in the office for exam seasons, where they're set up as permenant laptops in the exam room, specifically for those students.

 

Though I do know that we have more than 12x students using those laptops across the year groups taking exams, who I don't believe is allocated a laptop. Like you, our perspective is that unless they've been assigned a 1-1 laptop by the SENDCO department, they shouldn't be using them in exams. Our exam officer has the same view, however, we've both been overruled by SENDCO, overseen by a member of SLT (who is the one making these decisions).

 

In the end, we gave up fighting it, because we're just ignored. We're just supplying laptops when our exams officer requests them.

[paulkerton]

"Normal way of working" means that the student uses them under accessibility arrangments because of issues that means the expected way of working doesn't work for them. This is something that should be co-ordinated by SEN.

For example, if your entire school was in a 1 to 1 situation, that wouldn't mean every single student could use them in exams, it would mean those students given exception to use a device when you wouldn't use one. For example, you could do a lesson that is expected to be written, but those who have accessibility arrangments would still be able to use a laptop to create their work. They could have dyslexia, atrocious handwriting, sight problems, tourettes, ASD, ADHD etc.

 

If a student refuses to use one, or rejects the opportunity - it isn't their normal way of working so shouldn't get discompensation for it in an exam.

Also, normal way of working should also apply to the type of device. If they use an iPad day to day in their classes, they should have the opportunity to use an iPad in exams. If they use a Chromebook day to day, they should be able to use a Chromebook etc. etc. etc.