How Exam.net is helping students with Additional Support Needs at Larbert High

About Larbert High School

With over 2000 students and 150 teachers, Larbert High School in Falkirk, is the largest non-denominational school in Scotland. Among its diverse student body, 40% are registered with Additional Support Needs (ASN), presenting unique challenges in providing equitable assessments.

Andy Auld, Depute Head Teacher and SQA Exams Co-Ordinator, found Exam.net when reading about its trial in Glasgow schools and saw its potential in supporting the growing number of students with ASN at his own school. Adam Llewellyn, the school’s Assessment Arrangements Manager has helped Andy get staff quickly adapted to the platform.

Challenges

Every formal assessment in the school required an enormous amount of time and resources in order to accommodate students with ASN. In the past, exams often required 15-20 additional rooms and extra support staff to provide individualized accommodations.

In addition, for the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) exams, students needed to be able to work in a secure digital environment, as well as being able to access support tools such as text-to-speech and a spell-checker. The SQA also stipulates that the exam conditions for students with ASN must mimic the conditions that the students are used to in the classroom. Hence, the school needed an online assessment platform compatible with iPads and that could be easily rolled-out throughout the school, in order to prepare students thoroughly for the external exams.

“We have used Exam.net throughout the year, ensuring students with ASN are comfortable using the platform.”

Andy Auld
Larbert High

Solutions

Even though Larbert High School is a large school, the rollout of Exam.net was perceived as very smooth and friction free. Adam led interactive workshops for all the school’s teachers, helping teachers get up and running. He then followed up with subject-specific training sessions with Exam.net in each faculty.

“Exam.net has proven to be simple to use. We have received very few questions, as teachers and students have easily figured out how to use the platform on their own, boosting their confidence.”

Adam Llewellyn
Larbert High

Given that all students in the school have iPads, the Exam.net App was installed on each device, simplifying the process of managing a variety of assessment arrangements. Students then accessed the digital exams via the virtual lobby, allowing teachers to add individual accommodations, whether it be extra time or tools such as text-to-speech, without logistical complications. With Exam.net, students with different accommodations could now take exams in the same room, reducing the need for extra resources.

“Exam.net not only benefits the students, but from a logistics perspective, Exam.net is outstanding.”

Andy Auld
Larbert High

Benefits

Exam.net has helped students with ASN by providing a consistent, user-friendly digital environment. Students now have the resources they need during exams, boosting their confidence and independence. The interface is intuitive and students have adapted quickly to the platform. In fact, given the choice of writing an exam on paper or digitally, more and more students choose to conduct their exams in Exam.net.

“The students are our biggest influencers in spreading the use of Exam.net from faculty to faculty.”

Andy Auld
Larbert High

Teachers have experienced significant reductions in their workload and logistical stress. During the last SQA exam period, Andy managed to reduce the number of classrooms for students needing alternative assessment arrangements (AAA) from 15 – 20 rooms every day, to just 2. Now, images of teachers running from room to room to print out student work and students forgetting to save on their devices are nightmares of the past!

Going Forward

Larbert High School has successfully integrated Exam.net for all students with ASN and is expanding its use across all year groups and subjects.

“At the end of the day, who’s not going to be interested in something that cuts down their workload and allows standardization without compromises? That’s a win-win!”

Andy Auld
Larbert High

Within the next 18–24 months, the school plans to conduct all tests online using Exam.net. Future plans also include incorporating stylus pens to support subjects like Maths and Science, allowing students to write formulas directly within the platform.

Read more about how Exam.net supports Scottish schools and students with Additional Support Needs (ASN) while meeting SQA exam requirements here

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