GCSE Summer 2021 - Concerned? Worried or just crying......

My ds js in year 10 and I am now worried. Initially he was doing well but it is hard to be so disciplined at such a young age, for so long and realise the impact it will have later.

He is anxious about going back, so I am not sure if that will work. We have had no zoom or Microsoft teams like a few of my friends children. Slightly concerned- as I think he needs to have a chat with all his teachers and recharge his batteries and get motivated.

I feel very sorry for all Year 10s and 12s.

I am now even wandering how will it all work in the Autumn term- as they start in Year 11!

I have dc in year 10 and 12 and we have had very little work, little feedback, zero marking and no face you face work. I'm desperately worried.

I think the only fair way is to adjust the grade boundary. I don't want content to be reduced as some children will have covered in different order and it would be chaos. Also the content is somewhat related in many cases so not sure they would have the time to do this properly.

I am not sure about teacher assessments either. Dd thinks for example that some children always cheat in their assessments in class and at home it will be worse with some receiving lots of help some left to their own devices.

It's a mess and I am really worried 😯

I haven't signed, but that's not to say I won't sign.

My DD did very poorly on her Y6 Sats, so her GCSE targets are low. Her GCSE teachers are a bit bemused by this, as she has made a maxing progress. I can't support anything that means her SATa or targets would be used for a final GCSE grade. Also, she's had no zoom or similar with teachers, it's mostly the lesson power point and she's had to teach herself. Sometimes if I don't understand it we've just hit a brick wall and she's made zero progress. She's now, for reasons I won't go into, not doing any academic learning. She needs to be back in school with an actual teacher. The gap between bright children and good schools and less able and crap schools is now going to be massive. I'm not sure what the answer is. There probably isn't an ideal solution.

Of course the most popular part of virtual school by far with both my children has been meeting the teachers pets!

Agree the children in unsupported homes, cramped environments, poor schools etc are very badly affected and I worry for them.

I know my children have been very fortunate and their teachers have worked massively hard in order to achieve it - my year 10 said today they wondered why in the last 2 weeks at school their biology teacher made them do a load of seemingly random practicals - they’ve just twigged they were some core practicals.

I worry about the practical elements of exams - my year 10 is doing music & drama both of which would have had some assessed components in year 10. My year 12 is doing A level Geography with the NEA counting for 30% which would have been completed this school year (and hasn’t been started).

I find it shocking that some secondary students have had no face to face time with teachers. Our school pretty much emptied its classrooms sending students home with piano keyboards (if doing gcse music and didn’t have one at home), rowing machines, computer equipment, most of tge library books etc etc - anything people could make use of at home went pretty much.

The problem is, all students are not in the same boat. My ds is in Y10 at a good state secondary and their virtual offering has been reasonable, but far short of what they would’ve had in the classroom. We certainly haven’t had live lessons, tutor time, or anything other than ‘teach yourself’ work set. Feedback has been extremely patchy - there are 300 pupils in my son’s year, I’m sure the school are doing their best but I’m definitely worried that the gulf between indies, grammars and schools that have gone the extra mile is going to be really wide. My younger son is at an independent prep and the quality of provision is miles and miles better - he hasn’t lost any learning time and is being taught virtually with work marked and returned every day.

I’m sad too from a social perspective, my son really wanted to go back this year but it seems that schools are being held hostage by the unions. I am sad for my child, but I am even sadder for those children who are not supported at home, they stand no chance.

Our school confirmed today that they have decided against bringing yrs 10 & 12 (I have children in both years) in before September as things stand. They’ve been running virtual school to normal timetable with lessons on Google Meet from the very start of lockdown and they feel carrying on like this gives the students better quality teaching and experience. They still have assembly, tutor time, choir practice, music lessons etc. End of year exams will be. Via Google Classroom which they have trialed and seems suitable.

I’m pleased they’ve decided and feel this is the best option. (The school is a state Grammar).

Papers not pauses

I have a Y10. Im also a School Governor.

Believe me, we've had plenty of zoom meetings about all this. OFQUAL are concentrating on delivering grades as planned for Y11 and Y13. Schools have only just got past their deadline to deliver all assessments and data. Our Head and SLT have assured us that OFQUAL and the Government have said they will be turning their full attention to current Y10's and Y12's as soon as possible.

There are many theories flying about but they are just rumours and ideas atm. Some heads are talking about a reduced GCSE paper to included the curriculum they've covered within school. Pauses could have multiple choice selections for certain schools who have covered the curriculum in a different order. The grade boundaries may be lower or wider?

I get the worry. I'm worried. But I'm bolstered by the fact that all students are in the same boat. I can assure you some adjusting for exams will happen.

yes, it was so frustrating.

I really hope they can find a fair way to assess them next year. It can't be seen as business as usual.

I have signed the petition as I am very concerned about this. My DD suffers with stress, anxiety and depression. A week before the schools closed, she had just completed an 8 week reduced timetable to get her back into school full-time, after having a month off school due to poor mental health. I was feeling quite positive that she would be able to catch up.

So DD has already missed a huge amount of year 10 content even before the lockdown. She started off quite well, doing a couple of assignments every day. This quickly reduced to only working on one assignment 2 or 3 days per week. However, since Easter she has really struggled to focus on anything and she has only managed to do 1 1/2 assigments so far this term. I think I will have to come to terms with the fact that she will not be doing any school work until the school reopens.

My main concern, when they are back in school, is that they are going to pile on the pressure and have to work faster to catch up. She already struggles to deal with the pressure put on her and I feel that year 11 is going to be much more difficult for her to cope with. She is predicted fairly high grades in most subjects but I think we will have to just aim for passing them. This could really impact on her ability to get onto the A-Level courses she wants to do.

Someone mentioned the potential for using work completed at home as part of the assessment for their GCSE grades. I really hope they don't do this as DD will be seriously disadvantaged. I can already feel my own stress rising.

I completely agree and have already signed the petition. The uncertainty is so much pressure in itself.

After stressing massively and constantly nagging my Year 10 son, I have come to the realisation that constantly pressuring him is doing him no good at all. Today, therefore he has gone on a socially distanced bike ride! Mental health must come first.

I have a year 10 & 12 and I am concerned. Less so for the year 10 but I’m really worried for the year 12. An NEA which is 30% of one A level and requires field work was due to happen the week lockdown started - this is now tentatively pencilled in for late Oct.

My year 10 should be doing drama devised component of gcse next month which obviously won’t happen.

The pressure they will be under in years 13 & 11 will be immense 😒

@SoTiredNeedHoliday
They didn't confirm what they were planning for next year,just that they weren't rushing this years results out, to ensure the process worked for everyone.
DD was due to take 3 A Levels this summer and hopefully head to uni in September.
The exam boards have asked her teachers to
a) submit her predicted results
b)submit 2 pieces of evidence for each child to support the predicted grades
c) grade each child within the class so the brightest would be number 1, the least able would be e.g 30 (if there are 30 students in the class if you see what I mean)
The idea is that the grading of each individual within the class will be collated nationally and that will give the National grade boundaries.
There will also be the opportunity to appeal if you think the result is unfair.
I think it sounds fair and the best process considering the circumstances.

petts I agree there needs to be some kind of reassurance. I believe our school is considering the assessment idea too, as they seem to be piling on so much work, there seems to be genuine anxiety coming from the school with regards to getting the children ready early.This is unhelpful, as it is creating even more pressure!!

I have a DS year 10 and also a DD year 13. The exam boards have kept us up to date with all the A level grade plans this year but also mentioned they would put the results out as per usual mid August. They did talk about declaring results in July but have said as this is all new, they want to be absolutely sure the process works so as to benefit next years GCSE and A Level candidates.
I'm have been reassured by them that are absolutely planning ahead for next year and for now, I'm not too worried.