GCSE summer 2020 thread 6 - Carry on Corona Cohort, Further adventures aboard the Corona Charabanc.

Piggy, I don't think boys are generally at a disadvantage, I have just observed that for kids I know (mostly at comprehensives) the girls are more likely to work hard in the first 3/4 of the year, but the boys do some catch up at the end.

I agree that girls are often less confident than boys, and that part of the hard working thing is a reflection of their need to "do the right thing" whilst boys have the self-confidence to please themselves. At DS2's school there is a shocking lack of girls in set 1 maths (think it was 5/30) which I thought the school should be addressing. The lack of confidence impacts on exam performance as some girls are less able to move on from questions they can't do. At my niece's highly selective private school several girls sobbed/cried through one of the maths A level papers last year, one had to leave the room as she was disturbing the others. I am sure the emotion must have impacted on their ability to think straight. I don't think boys have that issue to the same extent.

What was the thing which made you realise your bright girls were under-performing? Was it because if you rank the students on the work up to lock-down the girls do better than the boys?

To answer your question monkey yes, we had to. Which is where the revelation about girls came from. I think teachers have been so 'trained' to assume (all) boys underachieve that they don't always spot if this is not true in their context.

It's also not, of course true nationally that it is all boys form all backgrounds who underachieve. We can see that in parliament!

I do agree it's an imperfect system though and am not at ease with the rigid standardisation with no room for looking at circumstances affecting schools such as staffing crises. I think grammar and private schools (assuming consistent high results) are at an advantage and I think this will come out afterwards.

I really can't find it now and I have looked but there was a study of unconscious bias don a few years back which then reported by gender and profession etc. Despite what the DfE and Ofqual have chosen to do in their presentation of teacher, teachers were right near the bottom of the league table (ie the best place) in terms of unconscious bias. It made the news at the time because the police were near/at the top.

Because there is so much impetus to improve the lot of boys, a lot of stats about girls are buried : they are way more likely to be informally excluded and have been shown recently to be far less ambitious at aged 15 than male counterparts of similar ability. Everyone in my school assumed boys were underperforming, agonised over their grades accordingly and then, not long before the grades were submitted the penny dropped that, in fact, year on year, the brighter girls were the underachievers in my school! As they often are in mixed sex , high performing comprehensives, apparently!

I do still have concerns regarding the system in terms of equity. Is it really good enough that there will be no widening of gaps for disadvantaged groups? I do get that this is the most pragmatic solution but could more have been done at some level ? I.e impact assessments, unconscious bias training assessments? I know schools had enough to deal with the standardisation just seems so rigid.

Still waiting to find out what is happening on results day. I am not impressed that there was no communication before the end of term, but don't want to talk to DS about it too much as I don't want him over-invested in it in case results are disappointing. I know they will be fine for progression, just want the suspense of waiting for what the statistical model says over.

One interesting thing is how they might reconcile the facts that:

• in general boys are much more inclined to "up their game" at exam time, but still don't do as well as girls at GCSE;
• the govt education select committee wants to ensure that no particular group is disadvantaged by this year's approach;
• OFQUAL has said they will not change rankings

Did any teachers on here look at the gender split in their CAGs compared to normal?

Aww thanks all...I topped up an old CertEd with History and English modules to gain a BA (Hons). Was tough but worth it, hopefully starting funded Marketing Masters Sept.

@foolsAssassin looks like potentially good news fingers crossed.

@KingscoteStaff - Wimbledon Common is big enough to find a secluded spot. Bishops Park is also a favourite with Regents Park emerging as a contender. What is it with these teenagers and their parks?

You’re so right Kingscote 😱 All the SW/West London parks have blurred into one. For DD Wandsworth is the least frequented due to the limited transport links to back home...one of my conditions of going out is that she can make a quick get away if it all becomes too much!

@ealingwestmum The scent of weed wafting from the Park Life teenagers on Wandsworth Common was eye watering this afternoon.

Congratulations @OrangeCinnamon1 that’s fantastic!

DS wanted to go away for a few days but they/we couldn’t find a hotel to take them

Orange wow congratulations that's a fab result 🥂🍾👏

Hope the appointment went well today Paddington

What course is your DS doing Foolsassasin? So cool he's happy to board at 16 - sounds an enriching adventure.

Impressed with DC going on post GCSE trips. Sounds amazing.

Well done @OrangeCinnamon1 that’s brilliant.

Also loving hearing about all the DC taking their first trips, home and abroad. DD had a long weekend away with friends recently; a mixed group of school pals, managing to not get too over the top on the drinking, judging by the breakfast photo of one morning. Better than a 5* hotel

Also nice to get away from daily park life for a bit. I know they are bored, but some of the gatherings are making me a touch nervous. She’s relatively sensible but I can’t vouch for the wider mix they are attracting!

Congratulations @OrangeCinnamon1 👏🏻👏🏻

Congratulations @OrangeCinnamon1! What subject?

Fantastic achievement Orange!
Can we all wear hats for your virtual graduation?

Well done Orange !

My post to say Well Done to Orange didn't work. An OU degree is a great achievement, takes a lot of focus and commitment.

No @Monkey2001, they flew alone but are staying at a friends house with parents there!DD has flown alone before when she was about 13 but that time had an accompanied flight and had to wear a big label round her neck. She looked a bit like Paddington Bear.

Well done Orange!

Been busying buying suits for Ds1 school 6th form, agree it's poncey, for a school to still insist on suits, but god does he look dapper in a suit.

School email re going in to get results. All seems low key which was odd.

DS also away with friends on a post-GCSE trip to Cornwall. Luckily his friends are very sensible (although he is less reliable). Seemed strange doing the post-GCSE thing without the GCSEs.

Is the Switzerland trip without adults? Sounds very adventurous going abroad as a group of unaccompanied 16 year olds!

Thankfully the 16 year olds are limited to wine and beer until they are 18. I think she knows to keep away from spirits after a previous experience. She is a good girl and fairly sensible.