Subject teacher as the live speaker (reader)

Query to BATOD

“A deaf student will be taking French GCSE next summer… and for the oral/listening elements the school have said the student can’t have their own French teacher as the live speaker, is this correct?”

BATOD response:

BATOD would contest the school’s statement. The SENCo is allowed to provide a live speaker for pre-recorded examination components, e.g. MFL Listening examinations, where it is the candidate’s normal way of working within the centre… and JCQ AAA 23/24 “5.12.5 The live speaker should, wherever possible, be the candidate’s subject or specialist teacher.” That is, the learner has access to the individual who can provide the familiar voice/lip patterns.

BATOD would also recommend the learner has access to a separate invigilation.

*Please note this would be the same for someone who is acting as a reader or any other role where the candidate needs to listen to live voice/use lip-reading to support listening.