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The government should be made to fulfil their promise re Autumn GCSE sittings since there is now no appeals procedure. [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

160 replies

H0usePlant · 26/04/2020 15:45

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/education/2020/apr/22/schools-and-exam-boards-undermine-promise-to-pupils-of-september-tests

So having had the chance to sit GCSEs( understandable in the circumstances if schools don’t go back until the Autumn) the gov promised a robust appeals procedure and Autumn sittings. There is now no appeals procedure to speak off as regards actual results and it’s looking less likely there will be Autumn sittings.

They promised both originally and many kids are going to be really upset that through no fault of their own that there will be no chance to put right any issues with GCSE grades allocated. It will surely have an impact on the future chances of those wishing to attend Russel group unis.

Having read several year 11 threads it’s clear all schools aren’t adhering to advice that work from home after school stopped is not to be used.Many kids do cram( there is no gcse rule book prohibiting this), some kids will have had issues outside and inside school that will have an impact on grades being allocated without exams. Private schools have an added incentive for higher results and no Sats data. Teachers, schools and circumstances vary. As such it’s clear in all likelihood there will be discrepancies.

My dd has had an awful time and isn’t holding out much hope that she’ll get what she should/ could have done. She has been working hard since school left for Autumn sittings as that is what was promised. These appear to be disappearing too. Sitting GCSEs next summer whilst studying for A levels isn’t workable. They have hoards of free time and anxiety now. She is now feeling powerless to put right any discrepancies herself. We as parents will be powerless to do anything when results come out.

It’s shit and the gov should surely be offering money to exam boards to ensure exams are held in the Autumn as they promised.

OP posts:
H0usePlant · 26/04/2020 17:17

If they couldn’t provide Aut sittings they should never have promised them. Really shit organisation. Did the DofE not sit down and have a think about the logistics.Hmm

OP posts:
H0usePlant · 26/04/2020 17:15

Sciences aren’t looking likely going by the link.

OP posts:
H0usePlant · 26/04/2020 17:14

It’s such a shit show I’m more than happy to forget appeals but you need to give them something to put right a grade they feel is wrong or unfair.

The gov promised Aut sittings so they need to fund it if boards say it will cost them too much. They keep backtracking and it causes anxiety for kids who are already anxious and have gone through a lot- no exams, no school, no goodbyes, worry about the future....

Having exams to work towards would give them a focus and something to work towards.Empowerment.

OP posts:
TeenPlusTwenties · 26/04/2020 17:14

Why do you think your school won't grade her at 'what she would have got'? The whole purpose of the schools doing the grades is to achieve that.
I suspect that outside Maths, Eng Lang & Science there won't be a lot of demand for resits. Not enough kids are going to care about their business / history / food GCSE grades to study and retake, and without a large enough group the retake results won't be any more reliable than the school allocations.

H0usePlant · 26/04/2020 17:09

Well she’s got to get on the Alevel courses first and I doubt very much that unis will give her a place if up against somebody with good A levels andgood GCSEs. She wants the GCSEs that define her and she would have got. 2020 will not be an excuse on CVs,every kid will he able to use it.

She wants to do them in the Autumn as promised so all her current work isn’t wasted.

OP posts:
superram · 26/04/2020 17:08

How would you suggest appeals should be run? The procedure can be appealed against-the grade can’t. Can you imagine the chaos if every child that didn’t like their result could appeal-it would be unworkable. Which exams do you think won’t be run in autumn? Exam boards need minimum numbers to award fairly-they won’t run exams for 12 students.

TeenPlusTwenties · 26/04/2020 17:04

No, I'm not suggesting she redoes the GCSEs. I'm suggesting that she only apply to uni once she has her A level results so they can see what your DD is capable of.

They will know GCSEs this year are differently awarded. If she feels she has extenuating circumstances she can also cover that in her personal statement.

She does have power over her future. Work hard for A levels and get good results there.

H0usePlant · 26/04/2020 16:54

Sure she’ll get on some uni courses but not the better/ best ones. The kids with stellar GCSEs that prove they have ability in subjects before Alevel results, the kids who didn’t have a shitty time or who are maturing and have non text book studying skills are going to miss out.

Fine, GCSEs were cancelled, tough luck but give them a chance to appeal or at the very least a chance to put it right.

My dd is really upset as it is. Studying for Aut sittings gave her some power over her future and made her feel she could do something about it.

OP posts:
H0usePlant · 26/04/2020 16:49

But how will that actually work? Where do you sit them and having had 2 years break you’d have wasted years of work and be back at square one alongside sitting them in only a year.

They promised Autumn sittings and this messing around, vague rumours, going back on promises is causing anxiety.

OP posts:
TeenPlusTwenties · 26/04/2020 16:46

Schools won't be allowed to submit substantially better results than their usual data suggests they would.
I would have thought that provided she gets what she needs to go on to do her chosen courses she would be better off letting it go.
She can take a year out and apply with A level grades achieved if she feels her GCSE awarded grades don't reflect her true ability.

Yes, it sucks. It also sucks for my y10 who was on target to pass stuff and the way she is now I think we'll be lucky if she sits anyway.

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