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Scottish exams cancelled

17 replies

AKissAndASmile · 10/10/2020 14:11

I don't know how I missed this. I've not seen any threads on Mumsnet either, which is how I usually find out what is happening in the world Blush

So the Scottish equivalent of GCSEs have been cancelled this summer!Shock

So do we think GCSEs will be cancelled too? Grateful to Scotland during this pandemic for always giving us a heads up about what will be happening in England soon Grin

OP posts:
AKissAndASmile · 10/10/2020 14:11

www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-54423265

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AKissAndASmile · 10/10/2020 15:55

Bump

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Fridgeandkitchen · 10/10/2020 16:00

I think there is a thread running on scotsnet. JS made a
the statement after Nippy closed hospitality during the week.

TeenPlusTwenties · 10/10/2020 16:02

I think it has been discussed on the education boards.

I really don't know what I think should happen for GCSEs next year.

There is no 'fair' way to do it based on the inequality of disruption different pupils and areas will have faced.

Groovee · 10/10/2020 16:03

The Nat 5's have been cancelled. Highers and Advanced Highers will still have exams.

AKissAndASmile · 10/10/2020 20:31

I didn't see those threads, and I'm on MN aLOT! Seems England doesn't care much what's going on in Scotland, because to me this is major news

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AKissAndASmile · 10/10/2020 20:32

I just texted a friend who's a teacher (in England) and she hadn't heard either Confused

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BashfulClam · 10/10/2020 20:56

Yes they are going to be cancelled. I actually said this a few months ago that they should move to the learning outcome module style that I did at college.

chomalungma · 10/10/2020 21:03

I don't know what they will do in England and it's shameful that it's not been talked about.

So much education lost. Such a varied education given. Even if they look at mocks, that's still unfair based on the range of education given.

And if the results are very different to what the school usually gets, how will that be fair?

It is not surprising that this Government haven't discussed this.

Legit · 10/10/2020 21:07

Others may disagree, but I don't think they're taken as seriously as GCSEs are in England. The later exams are the important ones, and those will hopefully go ahead.

AKissAndASmile · 10/10/2020 21:36

The later exams are the important ones, and those will hopefully go ahead.

So the Scottish equivalent of GCSEs are not important?!Confused
Obviously.....judging by the lack of interest in this thread Confused
If GCSEs were cancelled I guarantee the thread would have reached 1000 posts by now.

No wonder Scots want independence....they're obviously not deemed interesting or important in England
Not surprised Scots want independence.

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Christmasfairy2020 · 10/10/2020 21:45

Post on aibu you will get lots if comments

AKissAndASmile · 10/10/2020 22:54

Ok @Christmasfairy2020

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BashfulClam · 11/10/2020 00:06

@Legit what? They are just as important up here. It’s two full years of work and bloody hard work if you want to do well.

Legit · 11/10/2020 11:06

As I said, opinions vary. Is that ok? My DC took 8 National 5s. It was a 1 year course, not 2. The school puts much more emphasis on Highers.

FlippingBottleFlippers · 11/10/2020 11:47

My DD is in S4 and directly impacted by this. She is gutted as now feels that the pressure is on her all year to perform at a consistently high level. We are still waiting to hear exactly how it will work in terms of assessment and moderation, as a parent those are my greatest concerns. She is hoping to sit highers next year but whether or not she can progress depends on her grades this year so in my opinion they are still important for her.

For some pupils National 5 may be exit level for example if they are looking at modern apprenticeships.

Legit · 11/10/2020 13:26

I agree that they are much more important for those who don't take the higher level Higher or Advanced Higher exams. It's important that they are assessed rigorously and fairly.
For many pupils they're a stepping stone to the more important Highers, which qualify them for university. I understand that the Scottish Government's original intention when they introduced the new exams was that most pupils wouldn't take Nat5s but would move straight to Highers. But schools decided that pupils needed the practice of an examined course before they took Highers. Our experience was that the first 3 years at High School were relaxed, with very little homework, for example. The one year Nat5 course was a significant step up, requiring a more serious attitude to school and to homework. Hopefully that will continue under the assessed system this year. I don't really understand how the same number of subjects can be taken in either 1 or 2 years, at the choice of the school, though. It would be good if a 2 year Nat5 course allowed a higher number of subjects to be taken, depending on the ability and interests of the pupil. Similar to the GCSE system, where as I understand it some pupils may take 6 or 7 GCSEs and others may take 11 or 12.

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