GCSE’s summer 2020 thread 5 - And then there were none..

Normal timetable till half term (finishing coursework, other subjects to keep ticking over just in case these autumn exams are taken, or normal maths/English resits), no homework but 1/2 hour PE a day. Then over to 6th form subjects and transition stuff (most are planning to stay on). He's pleased to have a more structured day again after the holidays.

Just this week of tidying up end of courses and saying goodbyes to subject teachers before moving on next week to A level type timetable for 8 weeks.

We are having GCSE type work set for the next couple of weeks and then full-on bridging work for A-level subjects and 3 others of their choosing in case they cant take their first choice. They will also be starting some sort of Extended Project thingy.

Also career/mindfulness/wellbeing videos and things like that. No PE though.

Redsky ha-ha yes DD also getting PE type exercises from her PE teacher and form activities too. Same as yours she is not doing them.

She's back to full on working after 2 weeks off for Easter and all her teachers are setting stuff left right and centre. She's concentrating on completing coursework first then subjects she wants to carry on doing at A Level then some maths and science just to keep her hand in.

Not sure how long she'll be able to keep this up as it's quite relentless.

Redsky nothing been set for Yr11

Now we're all (?) "back" after Easter, can I ask what work (if any) your Year 11s are being set now?

DS's seems to be a mix of

• GCSE revision (e.g. complete these GCSE questions)
• work that is probably not specifically part of the GCSE syllabus but extends what they learned there (e.g. in Economics, DS's task today is to find out why oil prices have just crashed)
• A Level bridging type work (set for all DC, not just those interested in that subject for A Level)

They are still following "normal" timetable.

His motivation to do any of these is scarcely above zero, though I personally appreciate he has something to do to keep his brain at least slightly working.

He's also getting PE exercises and "pastoral care" type challenges. He's entirely ignoring these.

School sent home a "we know no more about when schools will re-open than you do so please stop contacting us" letter. I can't see DS being in a physical school again until at least September. Schools have enough to worry about without factoring in Year 11s.

DD doing online school, teacher has said that Yr 11's will be asked to come into school to do A level courses til end of term in July if schools open.

So...I will be emailing the school today!

I must admit did send one email to DS's head of year (who has been their head of year since Y7) thanking her, and also asking her to pass on thanks to the teaching staff for everything they've done, but I would never have dreamed of mentioning grades. There was one teacher that DS specifically asked me to mention (I showed him the email before I sent it) but that was because DS has genuinely found him inspirational. I had a lovely email back from her, I can imagine it must have been hugely emotional for the teaching staff trying to deal with everything.

Our head has also emailed stating that parents/students must not contact teaching staff about grades. They've said that they will sent out a standard response email to any grade related requests (which I would imagine will simply say something along the lines of sorry we're not allowed to tell you anything!), which sounds like a sensible approach to me.

We have had three emails from the head asking us collectively as a parent group not to email at all so I haven't. I wouldn't thank the teachers either as I have met them all exactly once - they change quite often. DS doesn't seem to have relationship with any of them which is sad.

I would thanks the head of year if I was going to thank anyone as he sends out the most communication.

Yes, DS sent a message on Teams to his English teacher when they finished as she has been a superstar genuinely and is going on Mat leave. He will be going back in 6th form so it doesn't feel like hes leaving either.

I haven't sent any emails to subject teachers because DS is staying on for 6th form so 'original official' end of teaching seemed a better idea? I did send one to his form tutor as he is leaving in July and I was concerned he might just disappear off the radar as a games teacher. (Hoping he still has a new job to go to.)

I haven’t sent any either.
Only one right at the beginning of school closure to ask about some mock grades we hadn’t received back yet. This was before we knew how the results would be given or even if the exams might take place at a later date

I haven't sent any emails, maybe I should have???

I have had some dodgy emails from students. They are easy to spot though : once sneering and unpleasant and antagonistic, they are suddenly full of enormous gratitude form my inspirational teaching!

I haven't had any from parents

I’m one of ‘those’ parents, too
I thanked the teaching team for all they have done for DD in my letter of notice.

I couldn't imagine having it in me to email teachers about the grades!

I emailed the not sacked replacement music teacher and copied in the head on the day schools shut. He deserved a medal for what he did.

That's a relief to know, Noble. Such strange times, it's hard to know what the right thing to do/not do is!

Any thank you emails would have been gratefully received and possibly made us a bit teary (the week of the unexpected school closure was a real emotional rollercoaster).

That's good to know noble. I also send in emails (on the basis that DS has finished Year 11 to all intents and purposes) thanking teachers for what they'd done and saying I appreciate that they are continuing to support the students during this awkward period. Now wondering if they were considered to be shameless fawning. (I would have sent similar emails in June, under normal times).

I'd hate to think the email came across as a simmering ploy for a decent grade.

Trust me, the emails begging for decent grades actually mentioned grades!

JustHere, I've just read that article.

We did send an email on the day before school closed to DD's head of year, who also happens to be her Latin teacher, thanking her for everything she'd done for DD. It was from genuine gratitude; she has taught DD since DD joined the school in year 8 and has always championed her and made her believe in herself, when she was struggling with her SEN.

I'd hate to think the email came across as a simmering ploy for a decent grade. 😩 DD doesn't need even a pass in Latin and she was on target for a strong 5 or a 6 after mocks, which would be great; definitely.not expecting anything higher.

Did anyone see the Guardian article about how teachers/schools have been swamped with emails from parents about their child’s grades?

Twice!