Hi Rachel, Splash has been talked about being used in exams within the AAC Exams Access Group and the developer from Splash did a talk at the last AAC Exams Access meeting. There are also discussions in the forum section of that website about Splash. You can join the website here: https://aac.examsaccess.group/ Then you can do a shout out on the forum to see if anyone has lived experience they can share.

Hi Rachel,
I haven't use Splash for GSCEs but I have at KS3 and I know it can be done. Each exam board would need to approve it, rather than a blanket 'yes its fine'. It does have an exam mode. The normal route would be to apply for the papers as a PDF and then upload into Splash, with early opening. All this would obviously need to be 'normal way of working'. The creator of Splash is extremely helpful and would answer all your queries, https://www.splash-city.com/primary/contact-us/ he's working really hard with the PDF import at moment and making some great improvements. He knows those who have used for GSCE so could possibly put you in touch.

Hi Rachel,

Below is a direct communication received by the Physical Support Team in Birmingham following a session with the Splash City representative where access arrangements for Exams was discussed:

It is possible for a candidate to use Splash City for the completion of A GCSE exam paper provided the relevant steps are taken as part of the application via Access Arrangements Online.

The centre must make an application via ‘Other’ on access arrangements online and contact the Special Arrangements Officer of the exam provider directly via email, detailing the candidate's special educational need, specific access requirement and (if required) evidence
that Splash City has been their normal way of working for the completion of work of this type.

A unique reference number will be provided for the application which should be quoted in correspondence with the provider to ensure that the evidence provided is associated with the correct application.

An example of such an email is included below:

We have a student, who is taking the Principles of Applied Science (MVX11) on 3.2.25. He has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy following a haemorrhage at birth causing secondary brain damage. He has global developmental impairment and spastic quadriplegia primarily
affecting his left side.
As a result of the cerebral palsy he has associated learning difficulties, gross and fine motor difficulties, speech, language and communication difficulties, social and emotional immaturities which make him vulnerable. He has ongoing support from numerous professionals including; an independent education advisor, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist and paediatrician.
He uses an assistive technology programme called Splash City ( https://www.splash-city.com/) in maths and will need to use it in the science exam to enable him to access the paper.
The programme makes it easier for him to type into the question spaces but also to use a ruler to measure or draw lines and to plot graphs. Without the assistance of the programme he would not be able to accurately place the ruler or plot specific points on a graph. In ‘exam mode’ the aspect of the programme that reads the measurement is turned off. It is really replacing a practical assistant and enabling the candidate to be more independent.

I hope this helps.