Starting Year 11-GCSE2021 (title edited by MNHQ)

@Cuddling57 it’s supposed to be good, but we’ll see. But at the end of the day it’ll never be as good as being at school.
One good thing to come of this is that teachers must know they’ll never be replaced by robots or online learning permanently we’ll always need teachers physically in person because they make such a difference to our children.

@Toobuktim oh no. What's the online teaching like at your school?
Hopefully your DS stays well.

I have been searching the internet for coursework deadlines but can't find dates.

Dep Head has been scurrying in and out of most Y11 classes to scaremonger students into treating the Mocks as the ‘big one’. This was spelt out again in yesterday’s Y11 Mocks Letter. The thought of CAG scares, as I have no idea as to how it’s constructed and validated. Would sooner take our chances with exams in June 2021.

Well that’s my ds at home for two weeks due to coming in contact with someone who tested positive Then it’s half term and then he’ll only have three weeks of school before his mocks.

@Cuddling57 DD was told by her art teachers that her coursework was due at the end of October. Turns out that was bollocks to scare the people who did bugger all in lockdown into getting a move on!

No coursework here at all so no idea about deadlines. What subject is the coursework for @Cuddling57?

I'm with you all about the homework and coursework piling up and mocks looming in November, then again in the new year. Feels very stressful.
DS seems to have coursework deadlines for two subjects as late October. Does anyone know if this is a school deadline or or an actual gcse official deadline? I haven't heard back from the teacher yet (understandable).

15th October rings a bell as a date they were talking about letting us know what's going on?

Have they said anything about when they are going to make an announcement? I thought they said in a ‘few weeks’ a few weeks ago, so should be imminent.

Yes wouldn’t an update be lovely, it’s not like this is quite an important issue causing anxiety for students and school alike or anything

Instead DD’s headteacher has sent us a letter saying the students need to treat the mocks in December as the real thing, because there’s a high chance they’ll end up being almost treated as such.

I see Scotland have cancelled their Nat5 exams.

Would be great to get some sort of update from the government regarding their plans for GCSEs, be it cancelling or moving or a further reduction of content.

Well DDs meeting with the teacher re 6th form was a bit of a non starter. No discussion of A level choices but discouraged from doing the EPQ, which I’m surprised at. It’s very very early days but we obviously need to find out more about the EPQ.

We’ve not had a whisper of any parents’ evenings happening, they usually are around November for the year 11’s, so I’m hoping more information will be shared soon.

Our parents eve was online in June - a pre recorded message from each subject teacher that we could then comment on. I was happy with that especially given the circumstances but lots of other parents weren’t. I think school may have had negative feedback as this time it’s going to be on zoom and we need to book 10 minute slots with each teacher. I’m envisaging tech problems and realise we may miss our slots if the computer plays up! We shall see. Parents evenings are always crazy as there’s just so much queuing involved.
My DD announced today that she’s a meeting tomorrow with the careers teacher to discuss 6th form and A level choices. She’s not sure so it’ll be good for her to talk it through.

Online? That’ll be interesting.......and a nightmare to organise!! Have they given you any idea of how that’s going to operate?

Back again. We've finished our first week of self isolation as my DD tested positive last Sunday. Thankfully DS tested negative so at least he's not taken any more out of Y11.

He missed doing his English presentation though i'm sure he'll have to do it as soon as he's back in school.There's no getting out of it for him!

Bluebell, thanks for link. God the govt is so unhelpful on thus.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54355169

A friend sent this to me- not that it is any clearer!

We as parents haven’t heard from the school about GCSEs, but DD and her year have been prepared that they may not go ahead and to do well in mocks and teacher assessments.

I’m in two minds about whether I want them to go ahead. I think overall it’s best they don’t but the decision to cancel them needs to be made by the govt NOW. At the moment the kids have the numbers deal or both pressure of early mocks and teacher assignments AND the uncertainty of what’s going to happen.

Welcome @Cuddling57 In all honesty I’m not sure our schools have any more knowledge about the exams next year than we do!
@Blubell46 yes, I think it’s for the best and I think it should be decided now by the government - the sooner we know what’s expected of our children the better. As of yesterday there were 4 cases at our 6th Form in year 13 and now they have to spend the next 2 weeks isolating, it’s only a matter of time before year 11 is affected. The kids are certainly getting a raw deal currently.