Starting Year 11-GCSE2021 (title edited by MNHQ)

@Titsywoo I feel for your DD, it's just sh*t really. My DD's mocks start in 2weeks but her school have also had some yr11s sent home to isolate this week...you kind of feel that it's only a matter of time. Also I know they too have teachers isolating and trying to teach via zoom, not sure that's working particularly well either but hats off to them for trying. It really is tough at the moment.

DDs mocks started yesterday - well they were supposed to but her french listening was on Wednesday. I'm quite annoyed about it as her french teacher is shielding and the person who has replaced her only told them about the listening the day before. It was in the normal classroom and he didn't have control of the kids so some were mucking about and DD couldn't hear properly so said she ended up guessing some questions . She went and complained and apparently the head of languages has been informed. The same day loads of her year were sent home to self isolate due to a case and they are sitting their exams at home. That would be fine but according to DD the grade boundaries aren't set so if they end up cheating then she may not do as well. Lots of things pissing me off at the moment! DD has been revising really hard and will spend this weekend getting ready for her art exam next week. It feels non stop at the moment. They have a second set of mocks in Feb/March.

@BobsKnobs I think it's extremely unlikely the vaccine will be in wide use by the time our kids take exams. Seeing so many kids having to isolate & I expect them to still be doing this through spring. Online learning cannot replace face to face teaching. Kids need certainty and they're being completely shafted by our government at ofqual. I still wouldn't be surprised to see them ditch the exams as late as Easter!

Well, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the Microsoft Teams Parents’ Evening! No queuing, jostling and elbowing from other parents, we could actually hear the teachers and all were pretty accurate to their fine slots. I’m converted!
DS is now very focused and has taken on board the comments from his teachers. He knows where he wants to be and he’s working to get there.

Microsoft Teams parents’ evening next week

30th November for us

Mid January for DS and there's talk of more in March too.

Mid January for DS and there's talk of more in March too.

Back to school today. DS's report wasn't too good before half term so i've no idea what our online parents evening is going to like this month. No idea what's happening with GCSE PE either as his two out of school sports have been cancelled yet again.

Completely agree with you @Neversaygoodbye about our kids not know what's going to happen. Seems like they'll be stuck in limbo for many months.

toobuktim yes, it does feel like drudgery with very little uplift. All mine are doing is study, study, study. I’m having all on to even get them out for an hour dog walk. They dare not take their feet off the gas as everything matters. I keep reminding them that no one can give 100% all the time.

@Neversaygoodbye the kids have absolutely no say or input into what has happened to them or what may or may not happen in the future, I really feel for them. The not knowing is an absolute killer for some and those like your daughter with anxiety, it’s multiplied many times over.
There are many that suffer with sad syndrome this time of year, I can imagine that this year will be even harder. No fun events like fireworks night, family get togethers, spending time with friends or hobbies and extra curricular activities. Our kids are being out through the mill enough without the stress of what is going to happen over the next 7/8 months.
I’m glad they at least (currently) are being allowed to stay in school.

@Toobuktim my DD has been diagnosed with anxiety so this will they won't they situation is just awful. Williamson saying exams will definitely go ahead is a joke, he just can't promise that in the current climate - anyone with an ounce of intelligence can see that and would have provided our kids with an option that gives more certainty. My friends will tell you I'm not an advocate of the exam system anyway, I believe modular assessment with coursework gives most kids a fairer chance of success, not a system based mostly on memory at GCSE and one or two days to "shine".

That aside, I think their's nothing worse than "not knowing" and I think that's where our kids (and teachers) are at just now.

@Neversaygoodbye I’m with you on that one. With such unpredictability for all concerned, that would probably have been the best option. My DS is fairly steady, not much fazes him, but if my DD was in the same boat it would be a completely different situation for her. It just feels like they are being toyed with.

If that is the case I hope my dc's mocks don't go ahead in a few weeks otherwise the whole year will be spent revising and testing. Maybe the government should have thought about standardising the mocks this year. I am just so angry they didn't have the forethought you have a proper plan B for this cohort.

That seems a ridiculous suggestion. My DD already has mocks scheduled for Dec. Basically they'll be constantly being tested and doing revision with no let up over the next 7 to 8 months. They've already had months to decide what to do for this years GCSE'S and yet it's still being "discussed". Basically they don't know what the F**k to do and no one's got the balls to make a decision. Personally I think the Scottish had the right idea, at least their kids know where they stand.

Sorry! uploaded them back-to-front!

Can only upload 3 pictures, but this was in the Times this morning

Checking back in, had a shitty few months so been a bit absent.

DD is currently SI she sat next to a confirmed case the Wednesday before half term and got the email on the Saturday that she had to SI. She was gutted, she's worked so hard this term and needed a proper break not being stuck at home. Her mental health plummeted at the beginning of lockdown, she's so sociable and loves being out so it has been very hard this week plus we have my DFs funeral on Wednesday which she was worried about missing.

She is revising hard for mocks which start 30/11 the timetable looks a bit full on as they are done across 6 days, she should have had her actual Italian speaking assessment tomorrow but assume that will be rearranged for those who are SI? I am worried for them I have never seen her so stressed I just cannot see how exams can go ahead as normal with such disparities across the country with how much time is being missed due to SI.

DDs mocks start 23rd Nov, we've had the timetables through and revision guides but thought that schools just did them whenever they wanted and only the actual GCSEs where standardised.

I’m a bit confused about the mocks statements - usually every school does their own thing. Nothing standardised in England. So does this now mean they will be standardised and all kids will take the same mocks? And relied upon if GCSEs don’t go ahead?

My DDs mocks start 1 Dec for 2 weeks with more in the new year. I think she has some new teachers this year; although they promised to keep them the same I guess that's just not possible under the circumstances. We also have virtual parents evening this week, but only with teachers that have requested to speak to you - so out of all her GCSE subjects we only have 2 appointments...trying to see the positive in their methods!

My DS’s mocks are at the end of November, but it looks like they are talking about official mocks in January.