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Original poster

GCSE predicted grade reviewed from A-A* to C

35 replies

BlueBrightFuture · 14/07/2015 11:49

DD worked hard on this subject both on the art work itself as well as research and annotations. She left her book at home twice this year… once she forget and left if by the front door and the second time because a piece she had worked on the night before had not dried properly. I know nothing about art but I think her books look well presented. Yesterday when the end of year report came home DD’s predicted grade was revised to a C whilst she had a 1 for effort and a 1 for attitude for the subject ( 1 being the highest mark).

I have asked to school what their reasons are for downgrading her work and was told that it was downgraded because he had not seen her work and that he can’t mark what he has not seen?? I know that DD often mentioned that Sir had not checked her book during the book check because she is at the bottom of the alphabet and there was no time left in the lesson. I e-mailed him about this and his version of events is that did not have her book with her on the dates that the books were checked. I don’t understand how this would be the case because she has her folder with her when she leaves the house in the morning? I’m not clear how she loses her book between leaving the house and arriving at school on a regular basis. Also the folder she has on her contains only a few pieces as the previous folder was full and has been kept in the schools’ cupboards since June of this year together with her first final piece. If the book is in school then how does the teacher not have time to mark it?

I know that she will get a new teacher from September because this one is moving on to another school. However I think it is unfair to send a student in the summer holidays without a clear understanding as to what her current levels are and what she can do so she will be in a reasonable position by next September. I have e-mailed the head of art at the school but it seems that they have packed up for the year and are not very interested in dealing with this matter before the summer hols.

Thinking about emailing the school again and ask for further clarification but not sure how to put it to them in a nice way that I really would like to know how DD what her predicted grade based on her work rather than C because I have not seen it.

Any tips greatly appreciated.

Thank you

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MadamArcatiAgain · 24/07/2015 23:15

Can I ask, in the nicest possible way, WTF is the point of a school report, if you argue with it?

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 24/07/2015 12:32

saoirse31 – The school encourages parents to get involved in our DCs work. I e-mailed the teacher previously because some of the things he told us made no sense. Besides I don’t see how your comments are helpful. I think we all parent our DC the way we see fit. It was DDs suggestion to perhaps drop art and do French instead.

Orange – the cupboard is for completed work not to store bits and pieces.

I know what the schools criteria are and it is not the only school in our area which asks for such high grades. In previous years DC who did not make the grades were not invited back to the school for A level. This has been the policy for years so I can’t see them change this any time soon.

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MadamArcatiAgain · 23/07/2015 22:56

OP-I think art is a subject where hard work is maybe not enough- there has to be innate ability for top grades.Maybe they just don't think she has the talent they initially thought, but don't want to get into that argument with you.

MadamArcatiAgain · 23/07/2015 22:53

What the heck difference does it make what a predicted grade is anyway.It is the real grade (at GCSE anyway) that counts.

What the catfromJapan says is true.On the published admission criteria my DCs school asks for External candidates to have 10As or better, but that only applies to 'in area' kids.Out of area (which the vast majority of new joiners to the 6th form are, take the most able and they will have all A*s

thecatfromjapan · 23/07/2015 18:56

I've p.m. Ed because I'm being discreet about personal details, such as where I live.Smile
The schools you've listed are private. My experience is only state. Selective state schools really do ask new entrants for 6th Form for very high grades.

BeaufortBelle · 23/07/2015 18:38

Which ones thecat because league table toppers such as KCS, St Paul's, Westminster don't.

thecatfromjapan · 23/07/2015 18:35

I know of schools that ask for all A* for external applicants for a 6th form place.

Noble's advice in the second post was very good. As always.

saoirse31 · 23/07/2015 18:19

Really can't believe that you were emailing her art teacher during school yr re location of her work!!! you need to step back , op and let ur dd manage her work.

Also re your comments about "we thought..." etc re french.... does your dd not choose her subjects herself? you seem v v over involved.

Orangeanddemons · 22/07/2015 19:14

How on earth would any teacher know if all the work was in the cupboard? As a teacher I am never ever going to sort through a cupboard of stuff to find work. If a student wants it marking it is their responsibility to hand it over directly.

As far as I'm concerned a storage cupboard for work is for the students to keep work in and nothing to do with staff

Millymollymama · 22/07/2015 18:15

Why on earth would an art teacher let you know!!!?? Are you doing the work? Try and let your DD manage her own work and communication with the teacher.

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 22/07/2015 18:08

He knew it was in the cupboard because at Christmas time he said that he could not mark all the work because he had not seen it so I emailed him just before half term and asked him to check her work and if anything was missing to let me know. He never said anything was missing. The school tells students that they can leave completed portfolios and final pieces in the cupboard. If they don't know what is in it then lets hope nobody's work goes missing. DD has brought all her work home so she can make photos of the work as suggested on this tread.

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Orangeanddemons · 22/07/2015 17:55

Also, if I've asked for work to be handed in, and it's left in their cupboard without telling me, I don't go and look for it. I assume they've handed it to me.

Orangeanddemons · 22/07/2015 17:53

I teach a coursework heavy subject. I often have to move grades down when students don't have the work. They may have done it but not presented it, or handed it in/ left it in Geography etc etc.

It would have to be several consecutive pieces of work for me to move the grade down, but it happens all the time.

Millymollymama · 22/07/2015 17:46

Where my DDs went to school even the fluent Chinese girls did Mandarin GCSE! Also, GCSE is a prep for A level and A level French. If you think A level French should be no problem for her, how is the school to judge this? I would be looking for her to be going onto degree level, providing her essay writing, interest in French literature and culture and reading/translating is good enough. Why on earth would you not take a GCSE you can allegedly get a very high grade in? Of course it has value!

I have never, ever, heard of a school wanting all A or A grades for 6th form. Even the most selective ones. How many children does the school kick out each year, OP? That would be interesting to know. If a child is a genius at maths and science but not so hot at Art, are they really not allowed back in? I bet, if you ask, there are exceptions. I would also think that B and above might relate to Ebacc subjects and ones required for A level subjects. Why would they throw out someone with 9 As and a C but keep someone with all B's? That is purely ridiculous and the person with the A*s is much more likely to get better A levels.

BeaufortBelle · 22/07/2015 16:23

So, a

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 22/07/2015 14:34

The issue is that she wants to go back to the school to do her A levels without worry about getting in. I have no idea what other schools require and I don't think it is relevant. Anything other then meeting the criteria for her current school is not important.

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BeaufortBelle · 22/07/2015 14:21

But even the most selective schools only want 8 or 9 A-B with A's for A'Level study. So, if the school is uber selective then your dd must be taking a min of 10 GCSEs and there's some slack. One of ds's chums got a freak b for English Language. The v close to top of the league table school didn't quibble. Don't really understand the issue still. Sorry.

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 22/07/2015 11:52

As I said before it when applying for A Levels the school gives priority to students with grades B and above.

She could drop the subject provided she takes enough subjects. She is fluent in French so that could be an option. Life would probably have been easier if she had to start with but we did not think a French GCSE has any value to someone who is fluent in French.

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DocHollywood · 21/07/2015 19:23

Is it actually possible to drop a subject for year 11 anyway? Unless she's taking it to A-level I would just let her enjoy it without getting upset about the prediction. And it sounds like the teacher based it on absent work, not the quality of the actual (unseen) work.

BeaufortBelle · 21/07/2015 19:14

If she isn't going to do it at A'Level, what's the issue? My children went to very academic schools. Ploughing Art or a GCSE other than Maths or English would not have disqualified them from the 6th form. Why on earth don't you think they will let her back in if she gets a C grade for Art?

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 21/07/2015 16:02

I think it is unlikely what she will go on to do art at A-level. I'm honestly not sure if she is the arty type. I have never been interested in art and I don't have an eye for it. The stuff she produces I would never be able to do. (but I draw stick people). Thing is that the school have always maintained that she is good at art which is why she picked it as her non academic subject.

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Millymollymama · 21/07/2015 12:53

Most schools, even the most selective ones, don't usually make a student leave because of one C grade! That is not going to happen. Usually the most selective of schools want A or A* in the A levels chosen and if Art is not among them, so be it. I never know how Art can really be assessed when all the work has not yet been done! There is time for improvement in year 11 so why is a final grade prediction based on Yr 10 work? Clearly there is a lot of room for movement in the grade and I would concentrate on what your DD needs to do to get the grade up. The teacher will be able to help with this. A Year 11 prediction at the end of next term, rather than at the start of it, would be more valuable surely?

You must know if your DD is an arty type. Most of us do know if this is a subject that suits a child or not. You seem to indicate that she wanted to do Art A level but then talk about dropping it. Was she really A level material, if you are honest? It is a subject that requires a lot of work (more at A level) and if your DD does not want to do it, then dropping it may be the solution.

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 21/07/2015 09:23

All other subjects are predicted A & A*. It is just art that sticks out like a sore thumb. If she has a C there is a chance the school will not take her back. Priority is given to students achieving B and above and it is heavily oversubscribed. We have meantime learnt that DDs form is now not getting a new teacher but the head of art will be taking the class instead. So can only hope things will improve but if things don't change early on in the year we may look in to dropping the subject. Shame.

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BeaufortBelle · 19/07/2015 15:49

I'd pick it up with the new teacher at the start of next term. You and your daughter to could make an appointment and take the portfolio with you in a positive way. You could say you were disappointed with last year's final C and are looking for advice to improve this.

More broadly what are her predictions for English, Maths, Science, MFL, etc.. Providing those are OK I wouldn't worry too much about art I don't think unless my child wanted to go to art college.

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 16/07/2015 13:12

If it were a downgrade to a B I would not make much of it to be honest but to downgrade from an A to C in a matter of a few months needs an explanation that we can work with and make decisions. If a C is indeed what she is going to get it would be worth considering dropping the subject because with a C she would not be allowed back at the school for A level.

Not sure how much teaching time there will be in year 11. I have the impression that not long after Christmas teaching stops and it is all revision for the end of year GCSEs.

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