Not the week I wanted, Not the service I needed Options

[Clari Nicki1]

Trinity - they book the exam centre well in advance so I know when the exam is before I even fill in the form.

LCM - the local rep organises the exams within the time slot they're given. I enclose a letter with my entry form if there are special request such as days that a particular candidate can't attend.

The only benefit of AB is a nice forum and I do like some of their books.

Not necessarily the case- our rep often doesn't know the dates of one of the venues that is used until after the date we have to hand the forms in as it is a specialist music school and only certain dates are available for non school use etc...

Perhaps so, but don't you think there's rather a lot of people who expect everything to be arranged exactly to suit their particular convenience, and a reluctance to accept that sometimes that's the way the cookie crumbles?

Absolutely; I think one of the problems is these people impact upon those who have genuine reasons for needing to change. I'm certainly aware of teachers attempting to change exam dates simply because pupils are not ready in time - to my mind, this isn't on.

The only one I've asked to rearrange was a lollipop lady who was given a time around school finishing time.

...and when I was classroom teaching in school I had to get time off work to do my exam- the school was fine about it.... couldn't she get someone to cover for her?
If teachers want to control the timing of exams, they should group together with other local teachers and have a visit at their house.... I do that... i have several candidates to re-arrange, due to work/ school trips etc- but one of my pupils is missing her school trip to Thorpe Park to do the exam- the mum didn't give me the date in advance. so I couldn't avoid it- mum and pupil are fine about it- they know the score.....

[BarbaraR]

One of my pupils announced he was going to be away during his exam time and he hadn't known of this when I sent the entry in. When I phoned the Board, although the person I spoke to was really pleasant and helpful and offered an alternative, this was in a town 30 miles away. My pupil was able to take up this offer, which was fine, as no alternative seemed to be available in our local centre.

[jm-hamilton]

One of my pupils announced he was going to be away during his exam time and he hadn't known of this when I sent the entry in. When I phoned the Board, although the person I spoke to was really pleasant and helpful and offered an alternative, this was in a town 30 miles away. My pupil was able to take up this offer, which was fine, as no alternative seemed to be available in our local centre.

I'm prepared to go anywhere within our region.

[jm-hamilton]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

[andante]

Why two?

[BerkshireMum]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

So glad you were able to get through. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm sure the people on the other end of the phone must be saints if they can be so lovely with the number of phone calls they must be getting.

[Seer_Green]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

Super (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) ...but if this is the case, why are the Board still advertising that all appointments are full and they won't do any rescheduling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[jm-hamilton]

Why two?

He's doing two Grade 8 exams - one in singing and one in piano.

[Louise H]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

Very pleased it is sorted out for you and I hope you (and your pupil) can relax a bit and get on with the exam prep rather than worrying about when/where you might be able to do the exam.

[jm-hamilton]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

Super (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) ...but if this is the case, why are the Board still advertising that all appointments are full and they won't do any rescheduling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

The automated message did say that they won't do any re-scheduling. I just ignored it and hung on anyway. I said I would go anywhere in the region, but it did take a long time for him to find anywhere that had a space.
I was tempted to leave it until next week to ring, on the basis that they might have got some more cancellations, but my nerves couldn't stand it - I was getting so stressed about it.

[Seer_Green]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

Super (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) ...but if this is the case, why are the Board still advertising that all appointments are full and they won't do any rescheduling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

The automated message did say that they won't do any re-scheduling. I just ignored it and hung on anyway. I said I would go anywhere in the region, but it did take a long time for him to find anywhere that had a space.
I was tempted to leave it until next week to ring, on the basis that they might have got some more cancellations, but my nerves couldn't stand it - I was getting so stressed about it.

Glad it's sorted now. My pupil has begged to get the time off work so I think we're OK now.

[jm-hamilton]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

Super (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) ...but if this is the case, why are the Board still advertising that all appointments are full and they won't do any rescheduling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

The automated message did say that they won't do any re-scheduling. I just ignored it and hung on anyway. I said I would go anywhere in the region, but it did take a long time for him to find anywhere that had a space.
I was tempted to leave it until next week to ring, on the basis that they might have got some more cancellations, but my nerves couldn't stand it - I was getting so stressed about it.

Glad it's sorted now. My pupil has begged to get the time off work so I think we're OK now.

Glad you've got yours all sorted out now. Hasn't it been a nightmare? I'm getting too old for this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[maggiemay]

Glad to hear you have a result, jm-hamilton!

[jm-hamilton]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

Very pleased it is sorted out for you and I hope you (and your pupil) can relax a bit and get on with the exam prep rather than worrying about when/where you might be able to do the exam.

Thank you Louise.

[Seer_Green]

Have just got through!!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lovely man - very sympathetic and understanding. Took trouble to find me something. Am now booked in 2 separate centres for week 6 - the first is about 2 hours drive away, the other about an hour and a half in the opposite direction - but at the moment I don't care - I've at least got him in somewhere. They are on different days.

Super (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) ...but if this is the case, why are the Board still advertising that all appointments are full and they won't do any rescheduling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

The automated message did say that they won't do any re-scheduling. I just ignored it and hung on anyway. I said I would go anywhere in the region, but it did take a long time for him to find anywhere that had a space.
I was tempted to leave it until next week to ring, on the basis that they might have got some more cancellations, but my nerves couldn't stand it - I was getting so stressed about it.

Glad it's sorted now. My pupil has begged to get the time off work so I think we're OK now.

Glad you've got yours all sorted out now. Hasn't it been a nightmare? I'm getting too old for this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) She's just e-mailed to say work have backed out and told her she can't have the hour off for it. I feel so cross, and so dissapointed for her. She's put so much hard work in these past months, but there's just nothing left I can do. All I feel I can do is write to the Board to formally withdraw her and hope that they suddenly come up with a magic (or at least creative) solution.