10,000 signatures reached
To: Education Secretary Damian Hinds
Make GCSE English exams fair for students with Dyslexia
Remove marks for spelling, handwriting and punctuation on English GCSE exams for children with Dyslexia so they are not discriminated against.
Why is this important?
Many children with dyslexia are exceptionally gifted at English but will now struggle to pass their GCSE due to how many marks are dedicated to spelling and punctuation. This is discrimination and can only have a negative effect on their futures. It can also negatively impact their mental health.
Both of my children are dyslexic and both have a gift for writing. Their school teachers say they are very talented, however being dyslexic they cannot grasp spelling however hard they try. They also struggle with handwriting and remembering punctuation and because of this will possibly fail to obtain a C at GCSE even if they get full marks for everything else.
I know they are not unique. 10% of the population are dyslexic. Taking away marks for poor spelling, not just in English but other subjects too, could mean that these students may not be able to access further education, even if they are exceptionally bright. Dyslexic children are being set up to fail all because of spelling. I believe this approach is archaic and needs to change now.
Both of my children are dyslexic and both have a gift for writing. Their school teachers say they are very talented, however being dyslexic they cannot grasp spelling however hard they try. They also struggle with handwriting and remembering punctuation and because of this will possibly fail to obtain a C at GCSE even if they get full marks for everything else.
I know they are not unique. 10% of the population are dyslexic. Taking away marks for poor spelling, not just in English but other subjects too, could mean that these students may not be able to access further education, even if they are exceptionally bright. Dyslexic children are being set up to fail all because of spelling. I believe this approach is archaic and needs to change now.
