‘My GCSEs were exhausting’: Patrick McCabe’s success reveals the limits of Send tech
Summary
Patrick McCabe, a 16-year-old student with cerebral palsy, used eye-tracking technology to complete his GCSE exams over four months, which took much longer and was very tiring. He passed all seven GCSEs and has started A-levels, but his experience shows that much more needs to be done to make education and exams truly accessible for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England.Key Facts
- Patrick McCabe has cerebral palsy and communicates using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device.
- It took Patrick four months to complete his GCSE exams using eye-tracking technology.
- His exams started in February and continued every morning until June.
- A 30-mark exam question could take him up to six hours to complete.
- Patrick passed all seven GCSE subjects and earned the grades needed for sixth form.
- He found the experience exhausting, both physically and mentally, because it took much more time and effort to express his knowledge.
- His school and family faced challenges securing fair exam conditions from exam boards.
- Patrick’s story highlights significant gaps in support, expertise, and funding for SEND students in mainstream schools.
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