Starting Year 11-GCSE2021 (title edited by MNHQ)

Having just looked at the provisional exam timetable for next year I can see the exams go right upto the 2nd July. I thought there was usually a contingency day built in. Will that go into the following week? DS's school breaks up on the 2nd July?!

@Toobuktim my ds still has all his teachers but for how long who knows...

My worry is that he had exams as soon as he got back supposedly to see where they are after the lock down and mocks are in January.

Would be really good to know for teachers, kids and parents what they will do for Summer 2021- they seriously cant go ahead? If they do I really hope they make some concessions

So, another lockdown and more discussions about examinations.
I’m curious, how many of your dc have still got all their subject teachers? Currently my ds has all of the teachers he had last year except in English language due to maternity leave, the teacher he had now is a supply teacher. At least the supply teacher is an English teacher - is everyone else still got actual subject teachers in place?

Yes good luck with entrance exams! My DD will stick with where she’s at now thankfully. I don’t envy anyone doing entrance exams but I guess the good thing is those schools won’t need to be too concerned regarding the delayed GCSE results.
DDs all on half term here too with big plans for lots of revision. DD2 not decided on A levels choices at all but they have til Feb. She also had a report card. Nothing stellar but nothing hideous so all good. I’ve no idea when parents evening is. Maybe after mocks in January. The online calendar has disappeared so I’ve no clue about anything anymore.

Thank you!

Been so pleased that we have got through a term that hasn't even thought of sixth form applications! Need to look at that this week and hope not to late.
All the best for the entrance exam.

We have made it to the end of the first half term and have managed to have no days off! Lots of assessments but more importantly DD has enjoyed being back at school. Mocks due at end of November so she has plans to start some revision during half term. I had a quick look at aqa website yesterday and it looks like there is a preliminary timetable for next June with physics last on 2 July. Open for feedback until end October. I'm not good at adding links. Hope all have time to relax over the next week

We’re in half term too. It includes an entrance exam for a sixth form and lots of GCSE revision. Fun

Dd got her first report in ages yesterday
Grades were based on various things but we'll get more accurate ones in Dec after the first sets of mocks which start on 9th November. Lots of revising planned over half term. They spilt the mocks into core and options subjects and do them a few weeks apart. So the first exams she has are options which is history, French and art. Makes it a lot easier as she can really concentrate on those 2 and do some art coursework. She also has to write and practise the eng lang speaking ready for the first week back. We've come up with a great topic which should be easy for her to come up with a great speech for her.

Last day of half term here for us. A school report and news that parents’ evening will be held after half term in Microsoft teams. That will be interesting.
DS has just come to the end of isolation and is still very focused on doing well in his mocks. He refuses to let the covid get to him he says. I wish I was as strong minded and focused as him! I’m the one who probably needs the coping strategies @Cuddling57
We’re up north and in tier 3, that’s not going to change any time soon.
I just can’t see us - or the West in general getting back to any sense of normality in the next 6 months.

We are struggling here. So much homework, coursework and mocks coming up too. So tired. We are in tier 2 so can't have people visit or go to friends houses. My DS said there is no fun, only school. Luckily his football on a Sunday is still on and hopefully the weather will be ok to meet friends outside in the half term.
I feel so sorry for the kids this year - as if it wasn't going to be a hard enough year as it is. Anyone got any tips?

Thank you, that’s really helpful. I think he was worried cause if they use the data towards their grades in the summer if it all goes pear shaped then a 6 isn’t going to look good. He did say he got the second highest in the class so it must have been very hard. Now just need to work on English!

@ihearttc DS had a maths test a few weeks ago, his score was lower than he's ever received. The teacher emailed because they had a shit teacher last year so didn't cover all the curriculum and what they cover was poorly taught (someone in top set got 3/80). She is new and is desperately trying to cover everything but said that she's come from a school with a high number of Grade 9s previously and all the Grade 9s received were at a Grade 7 at this point. So judging from that, the Grade 6 is probably right on target for the 8 at the end of the year... Hopefully he doesn't need to worry

DS did his English speaking exam over lockdown which actually worked really well as they could just concentrate on that. They filmed it (or rather I did) and had to email it in.

DS is normally so laid back he is horizontal but he is getting so stressed. They are having test after test and being told they will all count towards their final grade if they need to be given CAG. He is predicted an 8 in Maths and only got a 6 in a maths test this week so he just had a complete meltdown. It’s far too stressful for them.

Anyone else just getting really pissed off now? This is way too stressful for the kids. DD is desperately trying to revise for the first set of mocks next month while also keeping up with loads of homework, revising for tests, art coursework (which they are saying needs to be done next month - why?!). Her Eng Lit teacher has been off since Sept and so has Eng Lang teacher so they've had random supply staff who haven't been teaching properly. She was originally told her Eng Lang speaking assessment was now going to be in front of the teacher and a small number of students but now she's been told she has to do it as soon as she gets back from half term and in front of the whole class (a large number of whom bullied her years 7-9). Argh! July can't come soon enough!

@AsPerMyLastEmail
Our local college had a notice on their website that they would enrol everyone on their chosen course this year irrespective of their results.
I assume they will do the same next year.
Obviously this wouldn't work well for courses/places that are over subscribed.

I can imagine colleges and schools shifting their term start maybe?

Here in Hants schools are officially due back 2/9/21.
If they shifted to Mon 6th that would give a week for sign up.

No time for reviews/remarks beforehand though, which will be a shame for those not allowed on specific courses.

Eng Lang x 2, Eng Lit x 2

There are clips on Seneca, but have you tried Primrose Kitten online?

Hi All, Does anyone have a good resource they can share for GCSE double science where there are revision videos? My DS is a visual learner and just reading the textbooks doesn't really help that much

I guess the reasoning is that Covid or self-isolation would take them out of schooling for 2 weeks.

One maths and one English GCSE exam will be held just before the May half-term, giving any Year 11 pupils who are affected by Covid-19 the best possible chance of still sitting a paper in each of these core subjects. (from DfE announcement)

I take that to mean just 1 paper each not 3 for maths and 2 for English.

So if they were then ill later they would still have those done and thus be able to be awarded a grade.

Not sure I know what they mean by one Maths exam and one Eng exam before May half term.
Does it mean In April to sit all 3 maths papers, and both Eng Lang papers. Or just sit a paper from each. I’m confused