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Mother’s tears as son with autism gets school praise

Source: BBC

After failing his SAT tests, the mother of a boy with autism was moved to tears after his head teacher listed his many talents – which exams can’t measure – in a letter.

Boy with autism fails exam, receives surprise letter from school

Assistant head teacher writes a touching letter to an 11-year-old boy with autism after he failed his SAT exams. The boy, Ben Twist, had just taken his SATs, and despite his best efforts, the results weren’t quite what he had hoped. Mrs. Clarkson took into consideration that exams aren’t everything and wrote that in a heartfelt letter to the boy. Ben’s mum Gail was so moved by the letter that she shared it on Twitter.

Unfortunately, Ben failed his SAT exams, but later received this surprising letter from his teacher. Source: Twitter/GailTwist

Mother “welled up” at the “beautiful words” in the letter

In 2016, Ben Twist was 11 years old and attending Lansbury Bridge School in St Helens, Merseyside. Ben had been diagnosed with autism when he was five. Ben was given the congratulatory note above by assistant head teacher Ruth Clarkson, after he failed his Sats test earlier that year.

Mother Gail told the BBC she "welled up" at the "beautiful words" in the letter. Ben was sent home with two letters from the school, one with his Sats results addressed to his parents and the other one addressed to the 11-year-old himself, from assistant head teacher Mrs. Clarkson.

It said the tests did not measure his "artistic talents" or "kindness" or "musical ability".

Ms. Twist was so moved by the letter to Ben she posted it on social media and has seen it be shared more than 2,000 times.

She said: "I scan-read the first few lines and I just started welling up, because it was beautiful.

"I read through it…called Ben over because I wanted him to hear the beautiful words. I thought it was really important for him to know he is valued in so many different ways rather than what he does in a test."

The letter’s author Mrs. Clarkson, said: "He is able to put his opinions forward and he is able to express himself articulately, and he is able to show his true potential in a very relaxed manner. That is what we’re so proud of him for this year."

Ben said: "It made me feel that I am very great and people know that I am amazing."

Details first published by the BBC in July 2016

Source: BBC

Lansbury Bridge School & Sports College praised Ben’s progress since starting school, and highlighted his other valuable skills and talents which don’t get measured by standard tests.
An earlier photo of Ben just starting his new school Lansbury Bridge School & Sports College praised Ben’s progress since starting school, and highlighted his other valuable skills and talents which don’t get measured by standard tests. Source: Twitter/GailTwist

The letter listed the things Ben was good at, things that regular school tests can’t measure

Mrs. Clarkson sent Ben home with a personal letter to let him know just how skilled he is, and what value he brings to the table.

The letter reads:

Dear Ben,

I am writing you to congratulate you on your attitude and success in completing your end of key stage SATs.*

Gil, Lynn, Angela, Steph and Anne have worked so well with you this year and you have made some fabulous progress.

I have written to you and your parents to tell you the results of the tests.

A very important piece of information I want you to understand is that these tests only measure a little bit of you and your abilities. They are important and you have done so well, but Ben Twist is made up of many other skills and talents that we at Lansbury Bridge see and measure in other ways.”

Other talents you have that these tests do not measure include: -Your artistic talents, your ability to work in a team, your growing independence, your kindness, your ability to express your opinion, your abilities in sports, your ability to make and keep friends, your ability to discuss and evaluate your own progress, your design and building talents, and your musical ability. 

We are so pleased that all of these different talents and abilities make you the special person you are and these are all of the things we measure to reassure us that you are always making progress and continuing to develop as a lovely, bright young man.

Well done Ben, we are very proud of you.

Best Wishes,

Mrs. Clarkson’

It would have been all too easy for Mrs. Clarkson to send a standard letter telling Ben’s mother where he needed to improve or change in some way. But she didn’t, because Mrs. Clarkson understands that each individual is made up of many parts, and has so much to offer in so many ways, and that their worth can never be measured by the results of a school test. 

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