so is anyone's child not predicted to get an A* in gcses

I spent most of my lunchtime today running a session for some girls who are hoping to get a B grade. They wil need to do much more than simply turn up.

I never did O levels.

But the work is different, every different. It is more spread out throughout the two years and a lot more coursework too.

You have to remember that when you look at a paper now you have an adult head on - so it is easier before you even begin.

But to say exams are easier really does have such a negative impact on students who are working really hard to pass.

Also we have to remember that when we did exams, our elders would have been saying the same thing about their exams being harder. I remember these comments myself. If we believed all this, going back in history, when our grandparents did exams theymust have ben euivalent to degree standard - but where the ^really?" Rose tinted glasses and all that.

Do you really think that hula? I'm sure in some subjects (science for example) the new GCSEs are a lot easier than the old O levels used to be. Different as well perhaps, but substantially easier in both breadth of content and depth of question.

It is a complete falacy that exams are easier now than "in our day." They are simply different. And we are simply older and look back with rose tinted glasses.

I really do feel sorry for the childre who have to deal with all this rubbish being spouted out. It really does rubbish any hard work they put in.

My Step-daughter was predicted to get all A*s for her GCSE's a few years back. So she coasted nicely along, thinking how clever she was..... Got a lovely crop of Bs, Cs, a D and an F.

It did her no favours at all

My DS#1 Bless him he does try (sometimes) but I'd be pleased if gets more than one A let alone A*.

My godson got 11 A*s though.

I think you have to do a little more than turn up to get a B.
My DS battled against the odd to do GCSE arabic. The rest of his class were all native speakers and he taught himself mostly with a bit of help from a private tutor for some lessons nearer the exam as the arabic teacher refused to have him in the class (as he wasn't a native speaker) she predicted he'd get an F and simply would not teach him. He got a C which as far as I'm concerned was as good as an A* bearing in mind his circumstances and that it was his second foreign language.

I agree it's much better in t'old days when you did mocks and mucked them up. BIG wake-up call.

Spoke to someone this morning and, predictably, she was bragging about Portia being all set for 11 A*s. Now parents get a chance to boast BEFORE their kids have even taken the sodding exams.

Message withdrawn

'I think you get a B just by turning up for the exam?'

this sort of comment and attitude really pisses me off
and all the media about how easy exams are now

funny that parents stop spouting this sort of crap when their own child is sitting the exams , suddenly fearful that little freya may not come out with that ever so easy A*

The one saying your child is thick if they take btechs and other worthless qualifications,and go to the wrong universities blah blah blah ..oh post about a thread is it allowed?

Never mind, I think I've found it!!!!

The kids I'm talking about have the wonderful quality of not having their heads up their own arses, too

Which thread?

God that other thread is doing my head in....sits on stupidly thick hands ....and breathe

Usualsuspect, I didn't get any A*s either, and I'm happy! Good for your son!

I just hate it when people come on here and say how easy it is...well maybe, for us, lots of us are educated professionals, it may well have come easy.

But for kids like the ones I'm talking about it isn't easy at all. They tell me that they're in the bottom group because they're thick . It's heartbreaking to see their self esteem so low.

It's nice that we're starting to move towards a system that does cater for low ability kids though.

One of my class can barely write his name, but tells me that 'fixing cars is a piece of piss!' (He goes to college one day a week!)

oh and hes not from a rotten background either

I didn't think you were allowed on MN without A children..for what its worth my ds didn't get one A and he took btech in music hes doing just fine at college ,hes happy I'm happy

Hi Sea

Aw, that's lovely Abbie. I taught a group of Yr8's last year, that arrived at secondary on level 1 and 2's Like yours, they have a multitude of rotten backgrounds and SEN, but they are the most delightful bunch and work so hard to try to improve their grades.

They are about to choose their options and I'm already getting overwhelmed with the thought of them receiving their results in 2 years time!

One of my year 9s is pregnant. She will sit her GCSEs with a two year old child

And they have to put up with people saying that you can get a B just by turning up...

My own children are too young for GCSEs.

But my year 11 class are set to get Fs, Es and Ds.

And I'm proud of each and every one of them, as they've fought hard against a variety of SEN: ASD, dyslexia, dyspraxia.

One of them is pregnant .

Many of them have horrific backgrounds...one is in care, at least one is on the at risk register...others are suffering various degrees of neglect that fall under the radar, sadly.

I think their grades (and enthusiasm!) are worth as much as an A*!!!

I don't mind admitting that my DS, currently in Y10, is predicted mainly Bs, with a few As. I'd be delighted if he actually achieves those grades... but as Snorkie says, complacency is a real worry as my DS doesn't really get the concept of having to work to his full potential in order to meet those expectations .

At the moment DD is predicted C's and above (she's only in yr 9 though, but you know, even if she was predicted any A*'s, I don't think I'd temp fate and post about them.

Ask me that again, when I've been to open evening next month!

Doubt you'll find any here. Don't you have to deregister from MN if you have a thick child?