Starting Year 11-GCSE2021 (title edited by MNHQ)

Are you on the app NotDonna?

You can swipe across and watch the thread so you don't lose it.

And they have, thank you!

@indy69 I realise I’m late to the party but I keep losing this thread so is there any way we can change it to ‘Year 11 - GCSEs 2021’ or something please?

Came across this on another thread...
actionnetwork.org/petitions/fairness-for-students-taking-a-levels-and-gcses-in-2021/thankyou?#=

Mine are both really looking forward to going back, DD knows this year she's going to have to work extra hard, she's incredibly social and loves going out so I've warned her she's going to have to get a good balance. It's still radio silence from her school though.

My school is also doing a year group a day to introduce them to all the new measure and set expectations, I think it's a good plan.

All mine are very keen to get back. But they’ve got induction days for each year group before starting properly so they will know what’s happening and be able to have queries answered. It seems a really good set up and I’m not sure what else they could do.

How are your DCs feeling about going back ? Mine aren't keen, they don't feel like they have been kept informed enough about what year 11 and exam prep will be like thanks to the government fannying around.

Hello
We too have received plans for the start of term on 10/9. Change of school times and staggered lunches. This is to help transport arrangements as a city centre school. They are also using a nearby theatre for extra space and SD. School have been really great during lockdown. DD given a schedule every Monday, work to be handed in at end of week and feedback given the following Monday. Some lessons/discussions via zoom. DD has coped really well with very little input from us. In fact I think she has handled this situation a lot better than me and I am just trying to not show my worries. Last week spent a lot on stationary and files and she has organised her subjects accordingly. School have said that they will be having assessments on their return so she wants to spend some time revising.
I worry about DD returning but I think they may be more resilient than we thought.
All the best for our DC this year.
I'm so glad we have this thread going for advice and support

Oh and regarding exams I’m sure someone posted on here the Ofqual document saying that timing still undecided but English Lit will be reduced from 4 books to 3 and same for History. Removed field trip and related questions fir Geography. There wasn’t much else. But I agree teenplusTwenties in what’s likely to happen. I think they’ll really push for exams given the mess of this year.

We’ve had a back to school plan. It’s a huge undertaking and seems incredibly well thought out. They’ve zoned each year group into areas, created extra entrances, exits, limiting moving around. Staggered lunches, no serve but grab & go, using main hall as well as dining room. Staggered home time. Outdoor washbasins. They are getting each year group in separately to introduce new rules etc. It’s very complicated but I’m very impressed with their efforts!

We still haven't had the plans from DDs school apart from she goes back 7/9.

I am very worried for them, I've just got back from school and I just feel ill, everyone is so stressed, the phones are ringing off the hook all our staff are exhausted it's just been the most monumental fuck up for these kids and ours will suffer too I fear.

I have no faith that plans will be put in place that things will be well thought through, they just need some certainty, as much as is possible with COVID, and some assurance.

This is what I think will happen:

If exams go ahead, then they will peg grade boundaries to get similar results to the 2019 cohort - the 2020 cohort will just be an anomaly.
This means that boundaries/standards may well be lower than usual. Though actually I think the 8/9 might well still be about the same there will just be more spread to the 3/4.
I think more pupils will be entered for foundation maths/science than usual because of schools playing safe.
If some schools have had multiple closures due to CV19 then they might want special consideration - but if you start down that route where does it end.

If exams don't go ahead it will be a disaster as there won't have been enough time in school for teachers to get a good understanding of where they are at anyway. Additionally should the teachers grade on where they are at, or where they would have been at without all the disruption (eg on the first 2 terms of y10)?

I am just really worried that our child's year group will be forgotten about.

Opqual have completed the consultation...so they probably feel they have made the adjustments. No mention as to when the exams will be yet!

I have heard the government will be giving extra money to schools so they can catch up but the likely hood that our children will actually see a direct link will be surprising.

I am very worried about our year since I think they will be expected ti get on with it.

Ah I hadn’t heard of that but it sounds great!

I like your unintended pun (left field)

@AsPerMyLastEmail
University Campus Football and Business. It’s affiliated with Wembley (there is one in Manchester as well at Etiad stadium and also some in the US). Bit left field but looks amazing.

UCFB?

@NotDonna
He either wants to be a pilot (which has been his dream his whole life) so Maths definitely would be helpful for that. Or he wants to go to UCFB in London to do a Sports Media degree.

@ihearttc he’s right that maths A level is no walk in the park but if he enjoys it and is likely to get 8/9 then he’ll be more than fine. I’ve got an older one in 6th form doing maths. If he’s doing Gcse Ad maths the jump up is less steep. All A levels are a big step up though. If he’s doing anything with Physics, maths is likely to be very helpful, if not essential. If he knows exactly what he wants has he looked at the gov.co.uk website at higher apprenticeships? They offer some very interesting stuff!
This time next year it’s a double whammy for me - A levels & GCSEs..... I’ll blooming need a holiday by then!!

@NotDonna
I’m very doubtful they will let him do it either tbh. He absolutely loves those subjects (and Maths but doesn’t fancy Maths A level despite it likely to be his highest grade). He has 2 very different career aspirations and those subjects do all lead directly into them in a roundabout sort of way. He said there is no point doing A levels in subjects he doesn’t enjoy for the sake of doing A levels. If he had to change I think he’d probably drop PE and do Maths, Physics and Media but he is scared by the horror stories of A level Maths which is part of the reason he doesn’t want to do it. It’s scary that this time next year we will all be waiting for their results!!

@Thethingswedoforlove I understand. They don’t offer IB at our school but did at a previous, albeit A levels were also offered. Teens that chose it were decent across a range of subjects rather than ‘scientists’ or ‘arty’ or ‘mathsy’. You have to be a good all rounder don’t you? I understand your concern; mine wouldn’t like maths at that level!

@ihearttc he is choosing an unusual mix. My DCs school don’t offer media studies. They’re also a bit anti having more than one non traditional subject. They don’t even allow economics & politics together, which is odd & annoying!
I’ve not introduced myself.... 👋🏼 My DD doing the usual 2x English, 3x science, maths, 2x humanities & 2x languages. Fancies A level psychol, maybe economics, maybe politics, maybe biology. maybe history. Or maybe EPQ. Obviously not all of those. So really no clue!! Anything she decides now or even by the Feb deadline could change depending on gcse results.

We are in the UK notDonna. Dds school offers the IB only. So it is a choice of sucking up the English and being able to stay or moving to a whole new environment. She is very able. She just hates English. I’m not sure if open days will happen this autumn at the other sixth forms for her to get a feel of whether going somewhere else appeals. The IB feels like a load more work for not much recognition (but a great education). Her school is amazing. It’s just the English that is the sticking point....