My son is struggling with year 10 /g.c.s.e's

Hi, your post describes my 15 year old son to the letter  I am currently fighting his school for an ehcp, his learning difficulties are only mild and he has been diagnosed with asd last November, I battled for 10 years to get him this diagnosis. He only makes it in 1 day a week due to not coping and he's got worse with being in year 10. School don't listen as he's a perfect student who doesn't mess about, he explodes at home and has panic attacks before school. Demand they listen love, I know my son won't cope with exams/revision and I'm desperately trying to help him. Good luck and I'm thinking of you both xxx

Hello, I would just like to express sympathy, because my sons have a not dissimilar problem.  My older son Glen (year 11) has anxiety and asperger traits, because the CAT test on entering upper school (year9) indicated that he should take 10+ GCSEs the school put huge pressure on him, leading to him leaving for a structured home ed group attached to another school in year 10, but now he is really struggling even to get 2 of the 5 GCSEs with the smaller setting, so it is really important to make the school understand at this point I do hope you succeed, all best wishes Stella x

Thanks Silver100 for your reply, Ive got the meeting in the morning and im just gathering as much info as i can to be prepared as i know its going to be a battle to make them understand. His head of year said 'how can we help Tim if he does'nt ask for help' bearing in mind ive been trying to explain for 3 years and they received a report stating his diagnoses and I.Q result, they STILL expect him to be able to express himself when he needs help, and as you know its difficult, almost impossible, for someone on the spectrum to do this. Yet the school are saying they have other children with autism there. if thats the case my question will be then how are they being taught? are they getting the understanding they need? and if so why isn't Tim getting the same provisions.

As you have stated Tim does feel swamped by all the pressure of homework and revision and the tests he's got coming up. He had a math's paper to do over the weekend from school and the questions on there were extremely difficult. My partner and i really struggled with helping him, i dont know how they expect Tim to be able to grasp it.

It was just another example of them basically not having a clue, but i am going there tomorrow to the meeting with lots of questions and i will not leave without answers and a plan put in place, even if it means looking elsewhere for Tim to go.

Thankyou all for your comments, they have helped a lot. I will let you know what the outcome of the meeting is... Sally..

Tim'smom said:

.. she has stated that she feels Tim's outbursts are down to behaviour not autism..

Does she know anything about autism? It doesn't sound like it.

His Autism makes it difficult to cope and this is expressed by behaviour they don't like but how else is he to express it as they are not listening, either to him or to you.

Ten subjects is far too much.  One of the things that people with autism find difficult is a lot of change. We are like huge oil tanger turning when it comes to switching from one task to another.  With an IQ of 76 he is going to need a lot more than 2 and a half hours per subject per week.  The autism also often makes it difficult to organise one's self and having homework on ten subjects a week will leave him feeling swamped.  He needs more time on fewer subjects.

The public perception of autism is the social problems but there is much more to it than that, which this SE teacher seems to be completey unaware of.  Schools are very difficult places also because of the sensory overload. They are noisey and crowded with lots of movement - all things that are difficult for an autisic person.  Schools that are better at dealing with pupils on the spectrum have quiet areas where the pupils can go at any time.  They need to read something about Autism. I would recommend Olga Bogdashina's book on Sensory Issues - she is both a teacher and a parent. They might learn something from the The "newsround special" TV programme made by children on the spectrum. 

No, your son does not have to do ten GCSEs. I am not surprised that he is unhappy about going to school and you are right to keep him off until they agree to recognise his problems and are willing to put something in place, even if it is just reducing the number of subjects.

On the issue of revising, reading notes repeatedly doesn't help. Revision needs to be active even if it is just doing a quiz. See what you can find for him on the internet.

Hi yes you are right the school are definately not meeting his needs, despite my numerous attempts to get them to listen. The head of special needs teacher in his school has'nt got a clue, she has stated that she feels Tim's outbursts are down to behaviour not autism. I spoke to Tim's psychiatrist this morning and she said the teacher (head of special needs) at his school received a copy of the report which stated Tim's I.Q of 76, and she was quite alarmed that the teacher has'nt done anything to help.Tim doesnt receive any help what so ever. Tim has also refused on many occasions to go to school since he has been in Comprehensive. The head of year and head of special needs will be present at the meeting on Friday, i don't know what will happen as i have tried to explain to them many times before of Tim's situation but still nothing gets done.. It's a case of ''talking to the wall''..

My partner will be with me at the meeting for support, but i want to try and get as much information as possible together as i am the only one Tim has to speak up for him..

Thankyou, Sally.

Thankyou so much for your feedback. The exams don't actually start untill next year when Tim is in year 11, this at present is tests in preparation for the G.C.S.E's. However Tim has already shown that there is no way he can cope any longer with the situation in school as it is and sadly it is only going to get harder for him as the G.C.S.E's come closer. I have been struggling to get support for Tim since beginning of 2010, he has been seen by a child psychiatrist and several teats were performed, he also was seen by the assistant psychologist and an I.Q test was performed and Tim scored 76 which i beleive is border line range, the results suggested that Tim was of low academic abilities but functioning just above the learning disabilitie s range. The child psychiatrist stated that Tim showed a number of features which are consistent with a diagnoses in the autistic spectrum. However school still expect him to be able to express himself when he needs help, which Tim finds incredibly difficult.

Thankyou all i will definately look at the sites you have suggested, and i appreciate all your help, Sally..

Hi Tim'smom,

I understand you have an enquiry regarding your son's education.

Hi Tim'smum. How awful for you both - but why does he have to do his GCSEs so early? We raised the same question for my eldest son - who is not diagnosed with any condition - schools are putting kids in for exams way too early, before they are ready really and in Year 10 are they really mature enough to cope with the pressure - I think not!

Can you suggest to the school that if they can't do anything to help your son, then perhaps this is not the right time for him to sit his GCSEs? What harm will it do really if he doesn't sit them in Year 10 - absolutely none - he can do them when he's ready, older and more relaxed about them.

My eldest was supposed to resit his science exam in January - because 'he didn't reach the marks the school was expecting him to reach'. The resit of the exam was to cost us £30.00. He didn't want to resit the exam and we told the school he wasn't doing it. We've had no comeback whatsoever. Think schools are trying it on a bit really - it's all about making them look good. 

There's absolutely no point in having your son feel anxious and stressed - it's just not worth it. Lots of luck to you both. x

thankyou so much for your reply , i had a phone call off his school this morning saying the earliest they can see me to discuss my son's difficulties is Friday. I have no alternative but to keep him home untill we discuss what can be done as my son had a major outburst last night. He was very distraught, and its got to the point where he is going to either hurt himself in frustration or destroy their property. I've had enough of not being listened to.

I will definately check out the site you suggested and if anyone else has any suggestions i would really appreciate your help.. thanks again.

Hi - this is very unfair on your son + you.  I would raise the need for a statement of educational needs again as an urgent matter.  You can argue his lack of support is affecting him more.  There shd be info on the home pg so check that out, also there's the ipsea site.  I hope things work out for you both soon - this must be v difficult for the both of you.