Y11 2023/24 thread 5 - results!

Really interesting to read this thread and see the discussion over aqa English. Ds got a 3 in English Language, predicted a 6 so this was a big shocker. The school didn't mention anything to do with looking at it again. He is still able to do the btec extended diploma that he was planning to do anyway, along with a resit so I don't know if it's worth asking the school to look in to it? I don't think resitting is the worst idea but he's just perplexed as to how it went so wrong. He felt good when he came out of the exam so it just feels odd!

All of the boards are trialling AI for different elements of the process. It's a way off before it's a large scale thing.

In terms of checking marks, the software does that already - I can't move on without putting something in the box.

Different boards give choice. I certainly wouldn't want to lose that.

@MrsHamlet ok I get that but if it was all one board surely that would be less work (cheaper)? Also wouldn't for some subjects and certainly for checking marks were added correctly wouldn't there be a good case for using AI?

You have to pay for exams because they have to be set, standardised, printed, distributed twice, marked, checked and stored. It's a huge operation.

My daughter thought eng lit was awful and she got a 9, even getting full marks in paper 1- Macbeth/CC which she is gobsmacked by! She got a low 8 in language having come out very confident. She would usually get the other way around! So proud of her, these kids go through a lot of stress and it’s so great to see them get the marks they deserve.

That’s so shit for your boy and of the school. My DD got similar results, she’s very dyslexic and has slow processing skills so these results were great for her. She passed foundation Spanish with a 4 (believe me when I say this is amazing for her) and her Spanish teacher came and gave her a huge hug because she knew how hard she’d worked to get it.

Your son sounds amazing, I hope things work out for him.

I remember from my own GCSEs that there were different exam boards but why does that continue? Surely if successive governments want to improve education a simpler way would be to have one board and to standardise exams and not make schools pay to enter students? Am I being too idealistic?

I’d really like to understand what’s happened across the country in English - it feels like many of us have found it an anomaly.

DS1 got 2x 5s (English lang and lit), 5 x 4s (maths, double science, history, RE) 3 x 2s (engineering, PE, Art). The 2s were all expected, school changed engineering course at the end of year 10 because of staffing issues, moved the short course sport to GCSE PE and he ended up hating art.

The maths result is fantastic for him. English and history grades are a curveball. He got 8s and 7s at mocks in February. Need to speak his sixth form college next week as 2 of his 3 a-levels are impacted. He is heartbroken. As a family we've gone through hell this year; my DH has 3 different chronic illnesses all caused by one genetic blood disorder, toxic narcissist MIL who lives 250 miles away was diagnosed as terminally ill in January and given 8 weeks to live, she is NC with all family apart from DH and one of her siblings so DH has been driving 600 miles a week to support her every week for 8 months because she has outlived every timeline we were given. Then in the middle of exams he got a stomach bug.
Yesterday the school basically ignored him and anyone with lower grades and fawned over the ones who got the highest marks. No teacher sought him out, nobody offered words of advice or support or helped us make sense of marks or grade boundaries. He's the kindest, most caring, loveliest boy, he's so easy to be around and these grades don't define him etc but right now, at this moment, they are defining him and it is incredibly painful to watch him go through that.

I'm certain in 5 years time this will all be water under the bridge but right now....oooft.

My son is gutted. His food tech he got q two yet he submitted everything even whilst he was off school. He's had his first migrane in months. And I'm so angry with school

Didn't get what he needs and he is distraught. Considering I have a school avoided I'm so proud of him . I'm anxious and feel sick. I want to phone in sick for work but I really can't.

There was a theory last year that alot of kids were following English You Tube/Tiltok accounts etc about how to get high grades in English, there's loads of them around and alot of children were writing very similar answers based on the content of these videos. Not sure if there's any truth in this at all.

I find the English AQA grades interesting. DD got a 9 in Language and a 7 in Lit. This is a reversal of her mocks and all practice papers leading to exams. She also felt that lit went really well but not language. Her friend got a 6 and was also predicted 8/9. Apparently the majority of the class got grades much lower than expected in Lit too with a lot of 5's and 6's. She goes to a grammar school where the cohort is bright and conscientious. It feels like something has gone amiss.

No @GlomOfNit not worth asking imo. Your ds has the best mark he will get for the subject I would imagine. I think my dd was predicted a 5 and got a high 7 in Edexcel English lit. She said she really liked the paper on the day and knew she’d done really well.

The very last thing the head from his old mainstream school said to us before DS moved to his special school in Year 7 was "he won't be a credit to any school, he's unlikely to get any qualifications"

That’s disgusting and everything I hate about certain schools. Very quick to put down young people for not fitting the mould academically and/or socially.

Good on you and especially your DS for not letting those arsewipes stop you moving forward.

The English grades are certainly quite a shocker.

I'm interested in how others did in English Literature. DS took it with Edexcel. (In fact, his three grades were the three subjects he did with Edexcel.) He is great at literature, reads voraciously, is analytical, sharp, loves taking texts apart, was getting very good marks in class and got a 9 in mocks.... he got a 7 and he only just got that, he's sitting precisely on the bottom grade boundary. It doesn't 'matter' as such, he's not now planning to do it for A Level (he decided that a couple of months ago) but it's a shame. And so few of his peers at school got the higher marks for Edexcel English Lit.

As it is, there seems little point in going for a review (is there??) because like I say, he's sitting right on the boundary and I don't want the review to find that in fact, the marking was TOO generous and he'd lose that 7!

Well he has, and I'm very tempted to march into his office in September and tell him he was wrong.

Yes, do.

One English teacher told my DD she was a waste of space.

Guess what DD does now?

Teaches English.

@TFthatsover how amazing for your DS, congratulations. But what awful behaviour from the previous school.

It's so upsetting for them, they are significant differences. I don't understand how there is such a difference, esp when they are consistently getting high grades in mocks and also across all other subjects. With DS being ND his grades go from 3-7 as it just depends on so many factors for him so nothing would be a massive surprise really grades wise.

DS was predicted a 5 in lit but was always told it would be more of a target on a good day, he got that in mocks but was more likely to get a 4 being realistic. To miss the 4 by a mark is disappointing but he's fine about it. He had such a wonderful teacher I am disappointed for her also, she really got him and was amazing at dealing with his issues.

It's a nightmare for those missing out on the A level courses they want due to these discrepancies.

DS did well with marks and has got through to his choice of college.

He was 3 marks off a 4 for English Lit and his teacher advised to go for a review (and got his permission). He got 6s in his mocks and came out of the exam thinking he had done well (even told his teacher that on the day).

My DS has SEND but different profile and blew his predicted grades right out of the water. He was flabbergasted. But then, he worked like a dog. It’s so good for them when really hard work pays off.

@TFthatsover that is absolutely awful behavior from the previous school. The person who said that should be ashamed. Well done to your son for getting into college and getting qualifications.

Thanks @MrsHamlet, it's still all sinking in.

Well he has, and I'm very tempted to march into his office in September and tell him he was wrong.

You should. People with attitudes like that shouldn't be in education.

Well done to your son. That's brilliant news.

My DS who has ASD / ADHD has passed his AQA Entry Level 3 Certificate in Maths, English literature and language and double science and is off to college. While these aren't GCSE's, they are formal qualifications and I'm so proud of him. He has come so far and has worked his socks off.

The very last thing the head from his old mainstream school said to us before DS moved to his special school in Year 7 was "he won't be a credit to any school, he's unlikely to get any qualifications". Well he has, and I'm very tempted to march into his office in September and tell him he was wrong.