Starting Year 11-GCSE2021 (title edited by MNHQ)

I want schools to go back and for the exams to go ahead. I just think that at the moment with the debarcle of who will test the students, how long that will take etc might lead to yet more lost school days and also possibly some school students being off to isolate etc on and off over the term.
For my DS online or home schooling is just not working, he needs to be in the class with a teacher.

Its late January that they are going to accounce the exact 'exam changes' or 'provisions' that they will use is that right?

Jan not Han

We want the exams for my Y13 and Y11 sons. I only wished they closed schools in Han so they could get more exam practice in

I agree re exams. I think whether years 11 and 13 are in or not from jan will reveal the commitment to exams. A lot probably depends on data from this week though doesn’t it? It depends how bad the impact of Christmas mingling is etc surely? And re exams - given the commitment has been absolutely to do them I think they would need a really concrete reason to shelve them based on proportion of kids unable to access the curriculum Etc. I’m not saying what I think is fairest but I would definitely be voting for exams given I think that all alternatives are no fairer.

I’m just back in from work @SoTiredNeedHoliday - what has changed since Gove said at midday that schools would be open from next week?
If we had a vote it would be for sitting the exams come what may in this house

What do we all think that the government will do about the kid's exams in April / June?

Given that the Government no longer seem to be committed to schools being open in January/February now what changes will happen?

Just reading the paper this morning and a decision is going to be made today about school reopening next week. We’re still tier 3, and am surprised by that (north-west) I fully expect our area to be tier 4 in the new year. I just hope schools don’t get closed down again, but I reckon they will for January.

DD convinced me that it would be 'fun' and much 'safer' to go midnight shopping for our last essential food. Back home at 1:30 , she goes to bed and I'm left to put food away. I'm sure we only needed bread and eggs, not four bags of (chocolate biscuits) and a new duvet! She is due to write an exam first week back so has been revising and only seen one friend for SD walk so it was good for her to go out and see her laughing. Luckily the supermarket was quite empty so she was able to show off her trolley skills! She now thinks it would be great to do this on an annual basis .
Have a peaceful Christmas. We need it and all DC deserve it

My ds has mocks after Christmas and is loosing motivation...started off well and now has decided he needs a break...I don't mind but he has a lot to cover in such a short amount of time!

I feel the poor boy needs a break but at the same time it is an impossible task to be ready for the mock exams on the 4th.

What a year it has been for our kids.

DD has given up, she says exams can't possibly go ahead. She has supposedly got a second lot of mocks in Feb, first lot of mocks was first time she did any revision, she is one of those who has traditionally found it all very easy except in a few subjects and revision has shown that she can boost the 7s to a 9 but now she doesn't see any point.

She was super motiviated by some sixth form entrance exams and got an offer from a very competitive public school that takes girls in the sixth form but no scholarship so we had to turn it down, she is quite relieved about it as she would have to have German rather than her beloved Classical Civilisation so it is the right decision on more than one count. She is also very happy at her current school and her sixth form needs four at Grade 6 or above and four at Grade 7 or above with the subjects being studied at 7 or 8, and her insurance sixth form option needs 6s in her studied subjects and the rest can be four or fives. I am trying to reason with her about university applications but I can also see her angle. I do not feel convinced the exams will go ahead but like everyone on this planet we don't know anything about the course of this virus for certain.

I agree, they really need to do something to get them back in. DS hasn’t even done his mocks yet so is really worried that they now won’t get to do them and they won’t have any data to go on. He is literally spending every waking moment revising.

I think they just need to make lateral flow tests available in all tier 4 towns and say children can come back with two negative tests 5 days apart near to the start date of term. Take the pressure off the teachers and put the onus onto the parents to keep the teachers safe.

DD has been given a test kit to take on 2/1 and a letter saying she is due to return on 5/1 as normal along with Y13. The rest of the school will be remote until 11/1, we are also in London.

No mock results here but has been told she has to catch up on all class work due to isolation over Christmas so that will keep her busy, good in a way as she can't go anywhere now

Mocks were done before Xmas but we have not received any results yet. What are everyone's thoughts about schools returning now?

Mine are due to go back on the 4th. We are in London in tier 4. We really struggled with online learning last time. Dds mental health took a huge dip in lockdown

Hi Toobuktim - you said “@portico having kids with mocks on both sides of Christmas”

It’s easy actually as DS1 keeps me at arms length, but he knows what he has to do. He is self driven, whereas DS2 (my main focus) needs that push.

Well done to your DD, Lowther.👍

He’s only got 4 results back after his mocks, he’ll get the rest after the holidays. Strange that your school don’t go through the papers with them after, DS’s school do in the next lesson and give them a percentage too. I was quite surprised at the difference between the grading levels. He got 93% and 94% in maths and Physics, so good 9’s there - but also 82% in DT which was also a 9....bit bizarre that I thought. It must be hard for you @portico having kids with mocks on both sides of Christmas

Results in and really pleased, 1x5, 7sand 8s. English lit was the 5. DD a bit disappointed but a good place to build on. Pp mentioned going up a couple of grades in the exams so holding on to that! We are all tierd and looking forward to the alarm not going off on Monday. DD went for a long walk with a friend from previous school and the catch up and fresh air has been good for her. Baking brownies now! Have not baked for ages as it's been books, books and more books! Hope you are all having a relaxing weekend - we need it!

Thanks @portico, thankfully his favourite subjects. It’ll be an interesting process no matter the outcome!

Hi Toobuktim
I hope your son gets to do Physics at Oxford. He will need Physics, Maths and Further Maths at A Level. Go for it 🙏

I think my ds would be overjoyed with a 6 in his language, I really hope that one “low” gcse won’t scupper his chances of getting on the course he wants to do. He’s thinking physics currently and would really like to try for Oxford.

As stressful as it will be, I really hope GCSEs go ahead.

I think for admissions all GCSEs need to be in the 8/9 levels with a couple of 7s. A six in any GCSE would result in rejection at the first preselectipn

I’m sure GCSEs will go ahead - certainly at work tge planning is all tgat they will. My children’s school keep reminding them that they are only mocks.

I think in normal years the mocks wouldn’t matter so much but DS1 is putting so much pressure on himself for his after Christmas that I think it’s all going to go wrong. He is predicted an 8/9 for physics (easily his best subject along with maths) yet only got a 5 in the last test. He said they are cramming so much stuff in that he can’t remember anything. I’ve just paid £50 for some online science revision programme that he can work through to give him some focus as he doesn’t know where to start and is just randomly revising. He is definitely doing it but I’m not sure he is actually revising what he needs to revise.

It’s so tough on them-luckily he has a 6th form place pretty much regardless of grades and a college course as a back up if it all goes pear shaped but he so desperately wants to get the grades he feels he deserves.