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

Piggy, you're not alone - I really miss well my DD with revision, mostly because I got so much out of it; I was a hard worker at school, but didn't go to a great school and some of the teaching was pretty dire, so I've been able to put some of those particular ghosts to rest (I'm looking at you, sciences!!).

The comment about a child whose parent was a maths teacher seems a bit unfair. DH and I are both musicians and DS is a music scholar - of course he gets input from us but ultimately, his performances are down to him and his ability.

@Wheresthebeach when you say half term to you mean after Summer half term (late May/June) or after Easter?

Good point about essays, that would stand out a mile.

I really wish they’d make clear announcements so everyone can get on with it all. DD is increasingly looking washed out. Lack of exercise, socialising etc. School talked of exams after half term, which I really hope they abandon. Can’t imagine the kids would do well after having been cooped up.

@Wheresthebeach Indeed!
IMO particularly in essay based subjects, it would be easy to spot ‘change in writing style’.
Also, even in science subjects it would be easy to spot ‘more sophisticated language in answer responses to that of work over the last year and at mocks!
That said, when they all move on to A level, there will be ‘no hiding place’ there!
For the students of the Corona Cohort who have submitted genuine work during KS4 (and at all other Key Stages) at school and have done since ‘online learning’ has had to be introduced- I hope they truly ‘get what they deserve’ as grades in July...

Do you know what I actually miss is my little revision clubs with DS? . I used to sit with him and help him revise and do little quizzes and all of that feels like it's a big hole in our routines.

Yes, I do think coursework/assessments after the 20th isn’t okay. I moaned about it earlier on in the thread although DS continued in the end. That’s not a level playing field for all.

@ProggyMat Yes that would be fair. Work that supports the predicted grades all okay, anything that is above predicted grade suspect.

I wouldn't, no... but some would. And I have always helped S with work at home in a lot of subjects and DH has always 'helped' him with his maths.

And helping in any way means it is not really unaided work so work done form home logically advantages some over others.

Ahh...fair point @Piggywaspushed...jogged memory of DD saying the girl who gets the highest marks in maths Mum is a maths teacher....hmmm...mix of natural ability and top class help at home. I pegged out at times tables!

Piggy Obviously if they have parents who specialise in a subject area I would expect that they will benefit from extra lessons etc at home. But surely you wouldn’t actually write their papers or do the actual coursework for them. For instance I did Economics A’level (my claim to fame) and also Management type courses at Post grad, so when DS was doing Economics for A’level and was struggling with it, averaging D’s I was able to muscle in and sit him down to explain some topics and concepts to him again leading up to his exams. His grades in coursework consequently went up. But I would never in a million yrs write his coursework for him, I just gave him the tools, explained how essay writing works etc.

@Shimy- I hear ya
Surely though, any work submitted after 20th March that had suddenly increased grade wise by several levels would suggest a ‘rabbit was off’?

I don’t help my DS either and I’m sure most parents/older siblings don’t either but the point is that in theory they could. You don’t need to have experienced the specific syllabus to offer general help. My degree is in English lit, for example, I would still be able to offer useful advice generally in how an English or history answer might be improved, even if I’ve never personally studied the actual book or history period on the syllabus.

How would centres know whether a student has genuinely completed an assessment under comparable restrictions to those done in the classroom? They can’t.

Yes, open book of course would count.

Thinking about it now, I remember when ds1 did his GCSEs, there were threads on here discussing the curriculum (as you do), but posters were discussing topics in great detail, how specific questions should be answered, there were discussions about Physics, Chemistry various experiments they had done at home , it was all very baffling.

Ahem ... some parents are teachers. I could do AMAZING GCSE English test papers! DH is a maths teacher. Reckon DS could get a 9 with his help?

Yes, shimy ,they do : lots of parents 'interfere'! And don't forget that some subjects have coursework.

I think parental help isn’t a huge issue, open book is.

@shimy my DS actively doesn’t want me to help him, hasn’t since Yr8.

Hmm, that AQA hasn’t really given clarity either. What I want to know is

1. Are DCs going to be marked on work carried out at home since 20th March other than NEAs
2. Will the DCs get any indication what marks the teachers have submitted to give them a heads up on what they may wish to continue to revise for.
3. When will exams happen if you want to try and improve your grade and, if your exam grade is lower, can you keep the previous grade awarded?

I’m baffled at all this talk about students having help with work at home. Realistically how much help can parents help a yr11 dc with their work? Unless they’ve gone through the syllabus with them, is that really possible? Do people really do this? I do remember all the parents that used to help their sprogs with work in reception, the AMAZING garden that Luca made , the AWESOME solar system design in yr6 with careful lighting that twinkles in the dark (Stephen Hawkins would be proud). But GCSE work?

Noble the page You ‘click’ before it says this was updated 2nd April so not sure.

Thanks for the links.

Interesting that the Cambridge link suggests that work completed at home can be included as part of a centre’s evidence - as long as centres can “authenticate“ that it is a student’s own work.

Thing is how would that work in practice? Very obvious additional help/input (ie a student submitting work way above the quality they typically produce) might be easy enough for teachers to identify but I can think of so many little loopholes where students could ‘cheat’ in some small way to try to increase marks ie a bit of help from parents or older siblings.

‘Tis a minefield.

Thank you all for your recommendations. We’ll stay away from dystopian themes .

@wrongdissection

So some are saying they’re places are secure regardless and some are saying you still need minimum grades.

This is why we need clarity!

Our 6th form has also said that entry requirements will remain the same as previously advertised before coronageddon.

@RedskyAtnight

Those are exactly my questions and concerns.

It seems unfair to not let students know what will happen, whether they should start to prepare for a level or whether they won’t get in and have to retake, then what happens if they re-take.

Honestly so much confusion I think it’s disgusting to put year 11s in this quandary and not tell us what they’re planning.

Hopefully sixth forms will just be lenient and those who have an offer can be awarded them regardless but I have a feeling it won’t be straightforward.

We’re just being kept in the dark.