GCSE's 2021

[barbites]

Dd is due to do her GCSE's next year. As of 15th June she will have 2 hours a week at school (no teaching) and I cannot see things being back to normal in September. There will be no mocks to use as a guide. Will this cohort of children actually get a qualification?

[Hercwasonaroll]

Yes they will.

How the qualifications will be assessed is a different matter. But they will get them.

No one has any answers yet.

They will do mocks at some point when back in school.

Try not to worry, every student is in the same boat. Get them to keep working as much as possible.

[venetianblue]

State secondaries have got to get a plan together for online teaching on zoom or meet or teams or similar.

[venetianblue]

If the Min of Ed or unions or heads are unsure how it works, they can talk to the 100s of (private) secondary schools here and overseas who have aced it.

[venetianblue]

Then whether and when secondary schools return it will be there and usable as and when needed.

When I hear of state provision for Years 7-13 and particularly Years 9-12 since March it is entirely unacceptable.

[venetianblue]

There is no apostrophe in GCSEs because it is simply a plural.

[allfalldown47]

@venetianblue
Wow, I bet you're fun at parties

Really, what is the point of a comment like that? Op has asked a genuine question and is clearly concerned about her child.

[Hercwasonaroll]

I can see you're trying to turn this into another state school bashing thread. There are copious threads outlining why zoom lessons aren't best practise in schools. The EEF also released guidance saying that there is no evidence live lesson online teaching improves student outcomes. You think you are getting a better deal, you may not be.

I agree that the government does need to make a decision about next year. The sooner the better so schools can plan for September. I worry about a situation where teachers are expected in school full time and also to be delivering online stuff as well. That's impossible.

[barbites]

Please don't think it's a teacher or school bashing thread. I'm genuinely concerned. I'm finding it very hard to wfh and motivate dd to work. She's probably averaging about 5 hours a week. She's a really bright kid but has always done the minimum! Her school is taking a gentle approach but she needs a bit more expectation from them.

[redtulip12]

My daughter has been told she will do her mocks in March instead of October. Seems ridiculously close to the real exams to me!

[barbites]

@venetianblue noted!

[LockdownLou]

@allfalldown47

Your comment

[venetianblue]

@barb you are right to be concerned. With GCSEs next year, a pupil needs teacher contact. It can be virtual, it works just fine.

[Lemons1571]

My guess is that the content of the gcse courses will be reduced. Some of the final mark will be based on teacher assessment. Maybe one formal exam sat per subject (distancing in exam halls may still be needed). And then the results will be based on a normal distribution curve, to mirror precious years outcomes.

They can’t just do nothing. You cant end up with private school kids getting A* and A’s, no one getting Bs and Cs, all the state school kids in the D E and below segment. Sixth forms and HE colleges would be empty!!

[barbites]

@redtulip I'm not sure how they will do mocks if they haven't been taught anything for months. I assume large chunks will be removed from tests...

[LockdownLou]

Except virtual teaching, doesn’t work “just fine” for lots of pupils out there does it? Not in the real world.
It will be fine for the average mumsnetter kids I’m sure.

[Hercwasonaroll]

It really doesn't work just fine.

I'm an adult who has had cpd moved online. It's tough going to remain engaged and thinking and that's only an hour a week on screen.

Reducing content on the exams is a no go because it would be unfair as not all schools do it in the same order. However optional questions and some kind of teacher judgement would potentially work. Kids who aren't working at home need to be aware that teacher judgement MAY form part of their grade next year.

[bonsaidragon]

Yes, of course they will get a qualification what we don't know yet is how they will be assessed, my dc are hoping to be awarded their predicted grades as they are happy with them.

[Maryann1975]

I’ve got a child in year 9 and I’m worried enough about her GCSEs, so I understand completely your worries for next year. Our school are offering one day a week for year 10, they’ve split the year in to 4 houses (Each house have one day a week in school) and each house group in to groups of 10. They are teaching maths, English and science, but as the groups are not set, the abilities in the group may be quite different, but that’s how it is. No contact with any Of the ‘options’ teachers (Eg history, music, french, art etc). Massively hard for both the school staff and pupils.

[bonsaidragon]

She's probably averaging about 5 hours a week. She's a really bright kid but has always done the minimum! Her school is taking a gentle approach but she needs a bit more expectation from them.

She needs you to up your expectation, be the parent and set her some tasks yourself and see her work daily, contact her tutor etc. My dc do five hours daily.

[poilymo]

Bonsaidragon. - are all the adults in your household working full time? Is your child doing schoolwork off a phone or an ancient laptop that crashes? Is your child suffering mental health difficulties? In the real world some children face all these barriers to home schooling and more through no fault of their parents

[barbites]

@bonsaiddragon thanks for that! I am being the parent, she does know our expectations but how do I make her engage? I cannot sit over her, my job is very busy and I can go the whole day without time to see what my kids are doing. I wish she was self motivated and driven but she isn't....I can't shout her into it. She's intelligent enough to know she should be working....

[venetianblue]

@barb You have exactly identified the issue. It is the teachers who are experienced and with the expertise to teach. Your DC should be in contact with them - virtually while the virus prevents it. You should not be obliged to do the teaching. You like most of us have your own job. Virtual secondary teaching is not perfect but because of the virus it is necessary.

[venetianblue]

Virtual secondary school is also good for the mental health of all these pupils preparing GCSEs. They have a structured day. They see their teachers. They see their friends and classmates. They ask questions, they have a laugh. There is discipline and the chance to ‘check in’.

[barbites]

@venetianblue it sounds very good. I don't think dd's school have any plans for this though.

[venetianblue]

Guess it’d only come from Min of ed initiative (bit like the mask wearing on public transport)