Starting Year 11-GCSE2021 (title edited by MNHQ)

I think there is no fair way in the middle of a pandemic tbh.
Sorry about your DD1 Complex education is important, but MH even more so, so it is all difficult to balance.

Thank you, I think I posted moons ago but not sure. I do a lot of lurking to be honest. Same with the A level thread.
DD1 wants A levels to go ahead, for similar reasons as teen - she wouldn’t get great CAGs due to her MH. whereas DD2 knows her teachers well and has performed pretty consistently since yr7 so providing there’d be no crazy algorithm she’d do ok. She’s been working incredibly hard this year. It has certainly been relentless. I think I’d prefer her to do exams (maybe) so she sees the purpose and benefit of revision. They’ve had to isolate twice so far but the online has been ok. So I don’t know what’s fairest fir the country. Neither seems fair tbh.

Very sorry to hear that about your DD1 @ComplexNeeds How tough for you. I hope she’s getting good professional support.

Welcome to the thread btw (I don’t think you’ve posted on it before but forgive me if I’m mistaken)

Ah well done teen - it’s so important to keep it simple & slow it down isn’t it? DD2 doing GCSEs is fine but DD1 doing A levels has attempted suicide twice since September. She’s at school & applying for uni but I really want to hold off and take it slow. It’s a very difficult balance.
DD2 has had English & maths mocks this week. They’ll have the rest after Xmas. First day back!!

That is quite amazing Teen but it’s great there’s options like that. I shall be wishing for you to have that following wind!

AsPer Amazingly, she only needs 4 GCSEs at grade 3 (inc Eng Lan & Maths) for L2.
We have agreed she will take Maths, English Language, Biology and RE. If she were to pass all 4 she would actually qualify for the level 3 course but before lockdown we had actually agreed L2 would be the right starting level for her. We need to cover the 'extra' biology (was doing combined) and she has missed about 1/4 of the RE content too. But Maths & English Lang is just practicing.
It is doable with luck and a following wind.

I hope things work out @TeenPlusTwenties. What does your DD need to be qualified to do Level 2, 5 GCSEs at grade 5 or above?

We very much are not home schooling, definitely still on school roll, so they retain responsibility, and will enter her for exams etc.

We are trying to improve DD's MH enough for some work to be done at home, and then eventually get her back in at least part time. We live near enough to school she could come and go as seems best.

My eye is on college in September and to get her well enough for that, preferably qualified to do the level 2 course.

Teen that sounds very tough. Are you officially home schooling?

Like a pp's DC, mine found the Chemistry mock very tough and couldn't do some of it. It's one of her best subjects out of all that she's doing and definitely her favourite science so it's been a surprise that she found the physics paper better in comparison.

Thinking of you Teen and your dd. Also all posters whose dc are experiencing such difficulties- we’ve been very fortunate (2 cases and lessons as normal since September) and my children have still found things massively stressful so can’t imagine how it is with such disruption.

Thinking of you and your DD Teen.

I too want exams to go ahead, although DD was so annoyed with the Chemistry mock today she said they just haven't been taught half of it. So that will be the problem, her schools online provision wasn't great so they obviously still have content to teach and they are being hit very hard at the moment with Covid, our borough of London has the highest rates and there are 23 teachers out and most of Y11.

DD2s school has closed permanently on a Friday afternoon with no end date and have said they can stay home next week but with no online learning so just an extra week off, I can't juggle all that with work so my brain is fried and I just can't wait for the end of term.

Hello Thanks for asking re DD. Some teeny tiny glimmers of hope emerging that I am clinging on to. Not actually in school or doing any independent work yet though.

DD had 3 exams yesterday, two history papers in the morning followed by computing in the afternoon. She was pretty wiped out last night. Better news today as only Physics this morning and she said it went well...she's had a new teacher since September and really likes the way he teaches. Last year physics was her worst science so if it becomes her best mark then that just shows what a difference a good teacher can make.
I think England will push forward with the exams in June.

Though I’m wondering what the plans are going to be....

“In England, A-levels and GCSEs are due to go ahead next summer, starting three weeks later than usual. Plans for how to manage them in a pandemic are expected to be published later this week.”

Higher exams to be cancelled for Scottish pupils www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55230774

I too am hoping the exams go ahead, as previously mentioned DS has done nothing for his mocks, won't be surprised if he gets some shocking results.

@TeenPlusTwenties how is your DD doing? I often have moans about my lazy DS (like above) and then realise what ever happens to him is own bloody fault. We tend to get too absorbed in that, and forget there are DC's who are struggling through no fault of their own (above and beyond the situation affecting everyone). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you xx

I'm hoping they go ahead. DD isn't in school, or doing learning, and has halved her number of GCSEs. With luck and a following wind we might get her up to speed for June. If they go on CAGs the school will have next to nothing to work with.

I’m still torn between sitting the exams and not. My DS really wants them to go ahead, despite the missed curriculum and two sets (so far) of quarantine. His last mock today, so hopefully we’ll have his results next week and see where he’s at. Despite the double dose of quarantine I think he’s one of the lucky ones. A reasonable online provision from school since March, two weeks in school in July and he has only lost one teacher. He’s probably an averagely affected kid. He’s still studying hard and wants that focus of the exams next year.

Just read that today Scotland announced that they have decided to cancel Highers and advanced highers as well as Nat 5 again this year, along with Wales cancelling GCSE' too, should England not follow? Don't think they will but surely it seems fair?
My daughter is on her last week of 4 completing what they call diagnostic exams ready for her mocks starting 18th Jan - she has revised every night for the past 4 weeks that's on top of still learning NEW curriculum subjects which have been delayed.

Yes 3 today - Physics Paper 2, French Reading & Listening and finally French writing then English, Maths & History tomorrow. This is week 2 she's exhausted! 6 left! Then we have round 2 of A level mocks starting 6th January + ds needs to finish his geography NEA (20% of A level) oh and he has his driving test on 18th (been cancelled 6 times!)

It’s fun in our house 😂

Pleased she didn’t starve! Oooh the lights at Kew will be a lovely break - what a fabulous idea titsywoo
kitty 3 full exams is a bit harsh isn’t it?
My DDs are first day back after Xmas. She’s got her mock timetable and although she gave me a glance, I don’t think they have 3 in one day, but definitely two everyday - which won’t always happen in the real thing.

Dd had 3 mocks today with 15 mins between exams so barely enough time for a mouthful of food!

3 tomorrow too! Eng Lang Paper 1, Maths Calc & History- as I keep telling her it’s a marathon not a sprint! At least the real exam timetable looks a bit better.

No lunch titsywoo? Mine leave home at 720am, quick Bfast at 7 - no way would they last seven plus hours til 2pm doing exams. Ours no longer have lockers so lug everything around with them (including lunch flasks). I think they’re wearing coats all day due to open windows & max ventilation.

Maths and RE mocks tomorrow (well paper 1 of each anyway). Now the school have implemented the one way system all the classrooms are being used so nowhere to put bags now. Therefore they have been told they can only bring in their pencil case - no bags allowed so no packed lunch . I'm going to feed her a big breakfast and she should be able to leave at 2 when the exams are done but honestly?! Stupid bloody idea.

Hattie- say yes. Be thankful she chats to you about it. And help her make the best choice for her.

Be open minded.

Otherwise, whatever will be will still be but you will not be her confidant.