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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

OP posts:
Millymollymama · 16/07/2015 12:50

Is this worth the arguement in Year 10? She has more time next year and she now knows to get her brain into gear about deadlines and the quality of the work. If she cannot do that, so be it. Frankly the A* children are pretty obvious - they have a clear talent. There is a new teacher next year so I am sure it will get sorted and she will be more mature.

For what it is worth my DD had a crap teacher for Art at GCSE and got a B. Was predicted an A. She changed school for A level and did get an A for Art and A* for Photography. She worked like stink, did really high quality work, and met her deadlines.That is all there is to it.

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 16/07/2015 11:57

Losing the will to live with the art department to be honest.

Got an e-mail from the school saying that they looked at the work and are confident she is capable to achieving an A-A* but that her recent effort has been below expectations which is why they changed the prediction to a C.
No mention of the fact that they only looked at the work after they awarded the grade not an explanation why the teacher made the claim he was not able to look at the book whilst it was in the art cupboard at school except for the work in her new book but that is only a few pieces anyway.

Thing is that they have given her a grade 1 for effort which is the highest grade you can get.

I am the first one to admit that I don’t know toffee about art and could not tell you the difference between a good piece and a bad one but I do know that the fact that she doesn’t put a lot of effort in to her work is nonsense. She spends hours and hours on her work every week and takes care of presenting her work neatly. I’m confident that what she has produced so far is to the best of her ability and if that work only deserves a C than they can’t say that she is capable to get an A

I really don’t get it… I feel a bit like being told by the gas man that I need a new boiler whilst all I really need is a new switch Iyswim. Now what?

Thanks

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 16/07/2015 10:55

Sue it doesn't work like that.

Value added are worked out based on I think KS2 SATs. They can't just predict lower to boost their value add!

The prediction has been lowered from A by the teacher because for some reason the work hasn't been looked at. Normally teachers are expected to be very accurate with their predictions by the end of y11, and are expected to justify deviations from final results.

SueDunome · 15/07/2015 21:41

If your dd achieves an A-A* and her predicted grade is C, the school will achieve several Value Added points, so maybe they have done it on purpose?

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 15/07/2015 07:19

Yes, she is year 10. Going in to y11 next September.

Thanks for the tip to make photos. DD will be bringing all her stuff home today and tomorrow do she can make photos .

I have emailed the d hoop as suggest. Telling them in a nice manner that she is coming to see the teacher with her work rather than "would it be possible to see the teacher". See what they say.

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 15/07/2015 06:46

Just to clarify, is your DD just finishing y10?

Original poster
BlueBrightFuture · 14/07/2015 14:24

Thanks. I will email them again as suggested. I have the impression that the art teacher is not bothered about making an effort as he is gone at the end of the week. It is just that I don't want to come across as "one of those parents." There are probably a lot of other parents wanting to clear up matters before the summer break.

She has a locker, I was thinking along those lines as well but it is so small it just about fits her PE kit.

I'm finding it all really strange.

OP posts:
senua · 14/07/2015 14:13

Is any teacher really going to go to the bother of changing grades - and doing all the resulting paperwork - at this stage of the year. Especially if they are leaving.

Based on past horror threads about teachers losing GCSE coursework, I would be more worried about DC understanding the importance of knowing where their stuff is. Another tip: keep photographic evidence!

Perhaps a pre-emptive e-mail to the new teacher in September to discuss the wrong grade? They will be ecstatic to get a C grade predicted pupil up to an A*/A result.

inthename · 14/07/2015 13:58

as above, which should sort the problem out. I did think though - does your dd have a locker? only I found my ds was taking books and folders (including art & dt) into school and leaving them in the correct storage place at the start of the day but then ending up in the actual lesson without them as he forgpt to pick them up and the teacher wouldn't let him go and collect them (though hes yr 8 so bit younger) just a thought.

noblegiraffe · 14/07/2015 13:45

Email back saying 'I would like an accurate predicted grade for DD based on the work she has completed. It is important that she know what her current level is and what she needs to do to improve, and I am sure that you are aware that predicted grades need to be as accurate as possible for college applications. She will be bringing her art folders in to you tomorrow, please can you return them to her, along with the revised predicted grade by Friday. Many thanks, X'

And copy in the head of department.