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Original poster

Parents struggling with tiers of GCSE Entry

41 replies

Hercwasonaroll · 23/01/2020 18:36

Ofqual blogged (again) about tiers of entry.

They are very clear that if a student is expected to get a 4 or 5 they should be doing foundation. Some subjects no longer have the grade 3 back up on higher any more.

ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/gcse-tier-entry-in-2020/

Check your child's tier of entry carefully!

OP posts:
TreeClimbingCat · 23/01/2020 20:57

In my sons' school it was a 6 or above to sit the higher papers. I believe we were informed in writing of what exam our child was being entered into and to check all the details on the sheet with regard to tiers.

We were always given information about this at parents' evenings in years 10 and 11.

But I agree a lower, intermediate and higher paper. Cover everyone, all levels of ability.

noblegiraffe · 23/01/2020 20:56

The kids getting a 4/5 on foundation or higher will have answered the same questions - there’s a 20% overlap on the papers.

Would it kill them to allow Science Higher to go down to 3-3

But grade 3 material isn’t tested on the paper, the ‘grade 3’ isn’t actually a grade 3 as such, it’s a safety net grade added in to try to stop borderline students getting a U. So a 4-3 is a safety net. What would a 3-3 be? It would represent science departments really entering kids for the wrong tier, which should be discouraged. They only added a 3-3 at the last minute the first year because otherwise it would have been a disaster.

Original poster
Hercwasonaroll · 23/01/2020 20:45

For A Levels a student shouldn't be taking them if they have got a 5 on either paper to be honest. They will struggle a lot.

In terms of passing the qualification a 4 or 5 on higher or foundation are the same.

OP posts:
ProggyMat · 23/01/2020 20:41

It would if a 6th form is differentiating between a 5 on foundation and a 5 on higher.
Hence, surely the question should be asked ‘are they the same’?

Original poster
Hercwasonaroll · 23/01/2020 20:38

It would, but why would that matter?

OP posts:
ProggyMat · 23/01/2020 20:37

*show?

ProggyMat · 23/01/2020 20:37

Surely it would shoe the exam board, code and tier?

Original poster
Hercwasonaroll · 23/01/2020 20:35

Proggy why would the printout matter? A 5 is a 5.

OP posts:
IHeartKingThistle · 23/01/2020 20:30

We don't have tiers any more in English. It's fucking madness, I tell you.

ProggyMat · 23/01/2020 20:27

S’pose the certificates don’t arrive until well after the DC has started and settled into 6th form after meeting the entrance requirements.
The ‘villain of the piece’ may well be the print out given on results day?

Original poster
Hercwasonaroll · 23/01/2020 20:17

That has always been made very clear.... They are the same thing. On the exam certificate it doesn't say which tier you took. I don't know why people think they are different.

OP posts:
ProggyMat · 23/01/2020 20:11

Perhaps clarification that a 5 on a foundation paper is equivalent to 5 on the higher, may be best?

Original poster
Hercwasonaroll · 23/01/2020 20:05

Intermediate would be perfect!

However if a 6 isn't a realistic possibility then you should be doing foundation.

OP posts:
eggofmantumbi · 23/01/2020 19:37

Or just scrap the tiers (certainly for MFL)

TeenPlusTwenties · 23/01/2020 19:35

Or, and this is a novel idea, how about an Intermediate tier?
So Foundation 1-5, Intermediate 3-7, Higher 5-9.

TeenPlusTwenties · 23/01/2020 19:22

It seems wrong to me there is so little overlap in the grades for science.

Would it kill them to allow Science Higher to go down to 3-3 or conversely to allow Science Foundation to go up to 6-6?