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Original poster

ONLY for parents of Year 9 and 10 students doing GCSEs this year

41 replies

barbosska · 06/04/2020 21:05

My yesterday's post on Qfqual's proposal no to award grades to students from Year 9 and 10 registered to sit their GCSE exams this year was swamped with non- constructive comments full of negativity and lacking any practical solutions.

Therefore I had to create a new thread for people affected by the Ofqual proposal.

If your child is not in Year 9 or 10 registered for the GCSE exams this year and you want to say how the schools with early GCSEs cheat the system etc, please add your comments to my yesterday's thread.

There are about 50,000 Year 9 and 10 students in the country who will be affected by this proposal.

We have about 500 students in Years 9 and 10 at our school and today we have done the following:

  • our school has written to Chief Regulator of Oqual Ms Sally Collier
  • the Board of school's governors has written to Ofqual
  • parents have signed a collective letter to Ofqaul
  • parents have individually written to Chief Regulator of Oqual Ms Sally Collier
-parents have individually written to the Education Secretary Mr Williamson via the governmental website link:

form.education.gov.uk/en/AchieveForms/?form_uri=sandbox-publish:AF-Process-f1453496-7d8a-463f-9f33-1da2ac47ed76/AF-Stage-1e64d4cc-25fb-499a-a8d7-74e98203ac00/definition.json&redirectlink=%2Fen&cancelRedirectLink=%2Fen

I suggest that parents of the affected students do the same asap whilst the proposal is being discussed.

Our children have worked hard alongside Year 11 children and they need to be treated fairly and equally.

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Soontobe60 · 07/05/2020 19:44

@barbosska

I'm curious as to who made you the boss of mumsnet, telling us who can or cannot post on a thread. That's the height of arrogance and entitlement.

SpringUnsprung · 07/05/2020 19:37

Very relieved. Smile

Original poster
barbosska · 07/05/2020 13:57

@boredboss

Yes, on 4 May Ofqual has made a decision to award grades to Year 10 and below.

This is the link:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/883094/Update_on_summer_2020_for_students_in_year_10_and_below_and_for_private_candidates_05MAY2020.pdf

We are all very happy.

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boredboss · 07/05/2020 11:16

DS was informed this morning they would be getting grades.

Don't have any further details - don't know if it is just that subject or all.

Although he was disappointed not to get to take the exam, there's no provision for it at his school next year so he's happy enough.

Easilyanxious · 15/04/2020 18:33

Have also sent comment as well
It’s all very well saying they can do them next year but they have and will continue to miss lots of school time in important year 10 so will have masses to catch up on . They accepted these children for the exam and should treat them exactly the same as schools have entered them in early for particular reasons . If wales can see it no reason why England can’t

drumblebumble · 15/04/2020 18:30

Presumably you have all seen the news that Ofqual have u-turned and are now minded to award grades to younger students? .. schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-ofqual-launches-consultation-on-2020-calculated-grade-proposals/

Easilyanxious · 15/04/2020 18:08

Thanks for keeping us updated
My son is just the one but with being so far behind when they go back getting that one awarded would be one less to squeeze in as they are going to have so much to catch on anyway . Have signed Peterson and shared with a few people

AlexaShutUp · 13/04/2020 23:36

My dd is in year 10 and was due to do a GCSE this year. Her predicted grade was a 9, so she would have been happy to be awarded that result. However, I can't say that I'm really bothered if a grade isn't awarded. It's not the same for her as it is for the year 11s, and she'll either have to drop that one or do it next year. It isn't a big deal.

I'm much more concerned about the impact on her other GCSEs next summer, if we end up going in and out of lockdown between now and then, while a vaccine is under development.

Original poster
barbosska · 13/04/2020 23:24

@SpringUnsprung
@GreenTulips
@harpmum

This is a petition a Year 10 student has created to get people to sign, so that Year 10 students and younger get awarded GCSE grades.

She did Drama course for 2 years and will now not get her GCSE grade, if GCSE proposal goes ahead.

www.change.org/p/department-of-education-early-entry-gcse-students-to-be-awarded-their-grade-summer-2020?recruiter=90034045&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=6da7c4c7-66e8-4617-a4fe-7a681893cdca

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Original poster
barbosska · 11/04/2020 14:16

The feedback of affected students has been heard.

This is video which explains how the grades will be awarded.

From 4.26 min Julie Swan , Executive Director General Qualifications, says they’ve received feedback in favour of grade awards to younger students and her slide on consultation lists this as a separate point:

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Original poster
barbosska · 10/04/2020 14:15

There is a consultation on DfE website, which affected parties can participate in:

committees.parliament.uk/work/202/the-impact-of-covid19-on-education-and-childrens-services/

Call for evidence point:
"The effect of cancelling formal exams, including the fairness of qualifications awarded and pupils’ progression to the next stage of education or employment"

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Original poster
barbosska · 10/04/2020 14:12

Yesterday (9April) Ofqual issed instructions on vocational and technical qualifications and did not single out younger students.

Hopefully, they have listened to our concerns.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/879019/Summer_2020_results_for_vocational_technical_and_other_qualifications.pdf

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Original poster
barbosska · 09/04/2020 13:24

@GreenTulips

I have sent you a pm

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Original poster
barbosska · 09/04/2020 13:18

@SE13Mummy

I have sent you PM

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Original poster
barbosska · 09/04/2020 13:13

I am sending you PM

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GreenTulips · 09/04/2020 10:48

Oh and the school have paid the entry fees.

GreenTulips · 09/04/2020 10:47

I agree, the year 10 exams have an impact on the levels for year 11. So if they pass they’d study the higher levels next year or start usually May this year. I have two affected. It’s disappointing they want their grades.

SE13Mummy · 09/04/2020 10:40

@barbosska I'm unable to reply to your message but would be interested in knowing which email address you used for Ofqual so I can also send my comments.

ZombieFan · 08/04/2020 22:42

So this is Holland Park School, which hasn't had a full Ofsted inspection in 6 years and the head earns over £275,000 per year. That explains everything!

Original poster
barbosska · 08/04/2020 21:31

boredboss

If your school wants to join other schools effort, they may want to add their signature to the letter to Ofqual:

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJZm_3L20knlQZJnYVmd74NU3gw9i6dY0Yy1OQoytA5Jy29g/viewform

The text of the letter itself:

www.hollandparkschool.co.uk/academic/letter-to-sally-collier

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sandybayley · 08/04/2020 21:11

As a parent of a Year 11 taking GCSEs this year and also of a Year 10 who was due to take a foreign language GCSE this year I'm very comfortable with the Ofqual decision for my Year 10 to not get a grade this year. I also have a Year 13 anxiously waiting for A Level grades for an Oxford offer.

My children's schools really need time to assess A Level grades, they need time to assess GCSE grades so my DC can progress to A Levels in September. They don't need to award my Year 10 a GCSE grade.

This us about what really matters - there are sacrifices to be made and more important things to worry about.

boredboss · 08/04/2020 20:48

DS's school to most GCSEs as normal in year 10 & 11, with the exception of one subject - this is done in years 9 & 10 outside of the timetable after school.

If these kids have to delay their GCSE until 2021, they will have fully completed the two year course, and then have to wait a year with NO lessons to take the exam. The teacher has confirmed that their is no time / room on the timetable or with teaching staff next year.

My point is that I suspect there are various reasons why pupils take exams early, and it's not as simple as saying oh well, they're still at school they can take them next year.

Original poster
barbosska · 08/04/2020 20:16

ZombieFan

thank you for your comment.

I have created this thread ONLY for parents of Y9 and 10 students affected by the proposal.

You can read a discussion of the wider public on the various aspects of early GCSEs on this thread which I left open too.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3871106-Year-9-and-Year-10-GCSE-students-unfairly-treated-by-Ofqual?pg=1

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ZombieFan · 08/04/2020 19:07

Children in Y9 still have 2 years to do their GCSEs so they are not affected.
Children in Y10 usually only do one GCSE early. They will still be able to sit the exam for it in Y11.

I think it would be best to support the children positively rather than making them think its a disaster, it really will be fine.

Original poster
barbosska · 08/04/2020 18:05

I've got an email from Oqual today saying:

"Although the guidance outlines our intention that exam boards will not issue grades for students in year 10 or below (unless students have been officially moved up a school year), we will shortly consult on this proposal.

The consultation will open on the Ofqual website soon after Easter for all those who wish to submit their views. With your permission, we would like to pass your email on to the team who will be conducting this consultation so that your views and the detailed information you have provided can feed into it directly.

We will carry out a full analysis of the responses received and this will inform our decisions."

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