Starting Year 11 GCSE 2021 Thread 2

@Titsywoo hi I just updated on the other thread re.exams. DD hands in all Art next Wednesday and then 2 weeks of exams with one week for catch up afterwards. We believe they will also finish on 28th but school still haven't confirmed this. I can't wait for it to be over to be honest. Then I'm just hoping she won't spend the next 3 months in bed 😂

How is everyone getting on? So weird how normally this thread would be a constant stream of chatter at this time of year for y11s but everything is so disjointed and noones DC is having the same experience atm. My DD just finished her first week and a half of assessments which is the 'easier' content and now has 10 days until the second set which is 2 weeks long. So her last full school day is next Friday and then they are on study leave with their last day of school being 28th May. The final week (24th to 28th) is assessments for practical subjects which has pissed me off as art was not supposed to have an exam and now it does so they have asked that the coursework be handed in on 24th before the assessment starts. That last week could have been spent on finishing everything but now they have to do that while revising. Some of the decisions the schools are making just seem to be trying to make this whole thing more stressful for students.

I'm envious of those with end dates. Our school have not mentioned it once!

We've been given a provisional last day off the 28 May. They have said any pupils who require more evidence will attend until the 7th June. Virtual sessions with a view to support students in preparation for college.
will be happening until 25 June.
Really can't believe it's come round so quick and DS now only had a max. of 7 weeks left

@Downriver

Mini exams until 28th May then 2 weeks of bridging to A level after half-term and a closure event. Basically off school from 18th June

Though he is resisting my encouragement curently!

@ihearttc same for my ds. They have a week of fun stuff following the exams, then homeschool online learning with bridging work for A Levels. There is a prom in June to be held actually in the school as less chance of restrictions.
I’m working on encouraging him to get a part time job!

DS is finishing 28th May. They are apparently doing 6th form bridging work and an online work experience (not sure how that will work)

Well blimey then. She'll be hanging around like a wet week..

@Downriver I believe so. I think DS finishes on the 21st May🙄They normally do a week of 6th form preparation in June but who knows whether that will be on this year.

Has anyone a clue as to what happens once the drip drip of assessment is over? School have said nothing yet, but will year 11s basically be off school from end of May?

Does anyone know if the exam boards have released the assessments? I don’t think DS’s school are using them but would like him to have a look if possible for revision.

The disparity between schools is baffling.
I think the banking of grades sounds wonderful but think it goes against the JCQ guidance!
I thought all the children had to have the same evidence and not be able to pick and choose different work to suit individuals?!

My friend’s DD basically knows her results already, she’s in another local school. They’ve been told they won’t get any less than what they achieved in their mocks. 2020 and 2021 students are just basically going to have whatever results they’ve got viewed with cynicism, it’s pretty unfair really, such disparity between schools.

@Blubell46 DS’s school is taking a similar approach to yours properly invigilated in the hall. They’re basically doing GCSES with 2 x 1hr 45min papers for sciences, 2hr maths and so on and these will be his marks. He wouldn’t mind if other schools we’re doing the same thing but they all seem to be doing mini ‘quizzes’ in the classroom or nothing at all in one case

We have been told all previous works will not be considered and all grades will be based on these exams.
That goes against all the guidance

DD has had lots of short assessments before Easter then has two weeks of timetabled exams in the hall with candidate numbers etc

Shes been revising but her motivation is through the floor, she had a tough time with some issues the school are having in Y11 before she broke up and has been very low.

We've not had an end date yet but prom has been booked.

That is great if you can bank your grades- your school is very kind!

My ds school has full on exams from the 10th May in the hall with candidate numbers. We have been told all previous works will not be considered and all grades will be based on these exams.

I personally think that it is too much pressure considering the year they have had. I wish it was consistent between all schools.

DS is doing ok too. He is having lots of informal classroom assessments it looks like and no formal exams at all.

They leave 28th May but no prom or anything unfortunately.

That sounds like a good plan by your school, DS has exams starting a week on Monday which will account for 40/50% of his final grade and I think he’d opt for your schools approach rather than his!
We did get their release date today, Friday 21st May, after which there will be a period of remote learning and they will definitely be having a prom at some point too before the summer.

My ds is quite ok with the forthcoming exams, he says it’s not ideal, but it gives him some focus to keep on track. Otherwise it’s a long time till September and the start of 6th Form.

@Cuddling57 agreed. My only 'comfort' is they're all part of the same cohort, and I'm hearing a lot of the same.

DD had her Maths exam yesterday - she's on track for an 8/9, and is planning to take it at A Level. She said she could barely get started on some of the questions on yesterday's paper and expects to fail. Brilliant. She woke herself up at 5am this morning to get more revision in for today's exams. I know they have to go through it, but gearing up for 2 years to a pinnacle of exams is quite different to having exams constantly with little preparation time, and remote learning.

@EmmaStone my DS is the same with motivation. Surely so many children must be. How are they all going to maintain it for so long too especially after the year they have had. They are not having the opportunities to go out and have fun to let off some steam either.
Hopefully the schools lower their grade boundaries to accommodate this.