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Original poster

Anyone dreading the gcse results tomorrow?

63 replies

Boxshibe · 24/08/2022 18:59

Dd has her gcse results tomorrow and I'm dreading it. She did no revision and came out of each exam saying it was fine. She has a place at college if she gets 5 passes. I'm worried she won't. Then what happens? Can she resit them all again?

OP posts:
EnglishRose1320 · 24/08/2022 19:59

I'm a nervous wreck, ds did little to no revision and said most of the exams were fine. However this evening he has declared that he thinks he failed half (including English and Maths) and may have just passed the others.

I have to remind myself that he was hideously unwell for yr7-yr9 and had less than a terms formal schooling for all of those years combined. He fought hard to manage school for year 10 and 11, and its an absolute miracle that he actually managed to sit all his exams. So really the results don't matter, however getting him to be okay with them is another thing altogether.

With regards to the marks being harsh, I'm aware they are back to or slightly better than the 2019 marks but what doesn't seem to be considered is the last two years had more flexibility on grades due to exam distruption/distance learning learning. Yes our children sat actual exams but they have missed the most actual hours in terms of lessons.

Devo1818 · 24/08/2022 19:59

I'm an examiner- there was no harsh marking. The A Level grade boundaries were generous and I imagine the GCSE ones will be too. There was also advance release of content.

EnglishRose1320 · 24/08/2022 19:59

Sorry just read my post back and realised it's a bit of a rambling mess, hopefully it makes some sense, clearly feeling even more stressed than I thought I was.

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MouseTheDog · 24/08/2022 20:08

Just to back up a PP there will be options for your child even if they have no passes at all. My college is open till late tomorrow/Friday & Saturday for any school leavers to come and explore their options. I’m sure others will be similar.

HEPolicy · 24/08/2022 20:11

@LividLaVidaLoca @Cynderella I'm surprised by that given Ofquals announcement. Do you think the exam boards haven't followed instruction?

Original poster
Boxshibe · 24/08/2022 20:12

Dd has an appointment with the local college to enroll. I've told her there will be people she can talk to if she doesn't get the grades and there are btecs she can look at.

OP posts:
Cynderella · 24/08/2022 20:16

HEPolicy · 24/08/2022 20:11

@LividLaVidaLoca @Cynderella I'm surprised by that given Ofquals announcement. Do you think the exam boards haven't followed instruction?

Which announcement, @HEPolicy - they have consistently said that boundaries will be more generous (or at least no worse) than 2019, though less generous than those from the last two years of TAGs and CAGs.

HEPolicy · 24/08/2022 20:22

Well exactly. I thought exam boards were told to set their grade boundaries accordingly to achieve this. So higher than last year?

Bluetrews25 · 24/08/2022 20:24

Thinking of you all
DS flunked out when it was his turn. Went to college, resat literacy and did a BTEC, then AS, then A, then degree. Things do work out. Sometimes it's just a different/longer journey.
🍀

Cynderella · 24/08/2022 20:26

HEPolicy · 24/08/2022 20:22

Well exactly. I thought exam boards were told to set their grade boundaries accordingly to achieve this. So higher than last year?

Yes, higher than last year and 2020 because there were no exams and grades were higher than they had been for any exam year. We've always known that the boundaries would be set with 2019 as the benchmark. Well, always known ... from when they got round to making a decision.

HEPolicy · 24/08/2022 20:28

Yeah that's what I meant. But I think when pps up the thread refer to harsh marking in a levels, they're comparing to last year not the last set of properly assessed grades.

Crackercrazy · 24/08/2022 20:33

Me too. Though I’m resigned that DD hasn’t done well and she thinks so too.

What I found frustrating with all the sixth form applications is that nobody seemed prepared to talk about what to do if she didn’t get the required grades. There doesn’t seem to be the opportunity anymore to do resits (back in my day you could!).

The teachers were all ‘think positively’ etc which was ok to a point but I actually wanted proper practical advice about what DD could do if she didn’t get the over-inflated grades that they predicted her (her mock results weren’t great).

Cynderella · 24/08/2022 20:33

HEPolicy · 24/08/2022 20:28

Yeah that's what I meant. But I think when pps up the thread refer to harsh marking in a levels, they're comparing to last year not the last set of properly assessed grades.

Ah, right. I don't really know how it's been reported in the media, but maybe that's the way it's been explained.

And a lot of people still think that markers are told to be generous - or not!

lechatnoir · 24/08/2022 22:18

@Crackercrazy the lack of info from school about next steps for those not getting top grades has been really painful. It was only when I read the 'collecting gcse results' email a few weeks ago that I even knew my ds's school allowed maths & English retakes. We'd be working on no maths & English means leaving for college and it's completely throw his plans and now he's clueless about what to do for the best. I get they don't want to discourage students but like you, do think there comes a point when you need to realistic and schools should offer more support signposting or offering guidance to those who are at a risk/likely to fail

FrippEnos · 24/08/2022 22:24

Good luck to all your children, I hope that it goes well.

Crackercrazy · 24/08/2022 22:31

Exactly @lechatnoir. I only found out about maths and English resits recently and that other subject resits aren’t necessarily an option. I guess this is down to funding?

we have found a college that does an access type programme- basically you choose 3 GCSE subjects plus maths and English (if you need to do them). However, the choice is very limited and may mean starting over with a new subject. So the opportunity to resit History, for example, isn’t available.

I just wish this information had been more readily available, would’ve saved my stress levels!!

AnneElliott · 24/08/2022 22:41

I'm also worried about tomorrow. DS is in the reserve list for his first choice school and he needs 7s to be in with a chance of a place and preferably 8s. I just know he's going to be so disappointed if he doesn't get it.

Good luck to everyone on the thread.

YoSofi · 24/08/2022 22:42

Me!

I took Maths because I need it for a change of a career, I feel sick!

GreyCarpet · 24/08/2022 23:25

Familiar story here.

She revised but I worry it was too little, too late. Online learning provision during lockdown wasn't great, no work they submitted during lockdown was marked or returned. The attitude seemed to be, "Well sort it out when you all get back to school," but she had completely disengaged from learning.

No idea what to expect tbh.

BooksAndHooks · 24/08/2022 23:29

Yes dreading it. He did really well in his mocks but had a complete breakdown for the exams, ended up with A&E and crisis meetings so don’t think he will have got the grades he needs for sixth form or for his back up college place.

Not really sure where that will leave him. To make it worse it’s his 16th birthday tomorrow so going to ruin it if it doesn’t go his way.

PyongyangKipperbang · 24/08/2022 23:38

I have been told by DS (also no work and "its all fine") that I obviously want him to fail as I asked what his Plan B is if he doesnt get his required grades.
When I said it is just sensible in all things to plan for the worst and hope for the best, thats why things like insurance exist, just in case. The more you prepare for the worst the less you are likely to need it ime, but no that was just further proof I am actively looking forward to him failing.
He has arranged a weekend away leaving at lunchtime tomorrow, college's post GCSE drop in (AKA the Panic Party) doesnt start until two. When I suggested that he prioritise the drop in, in case he needs to do resits or go on another course/level, I was accused of a) expecting him to fail b) hating him having fun and c) not trusting him because he will "sort it as it will be fine". I was told I know nothing about how college works when I pointed out he cant just turn up on the first day and assume he has a place and can do the resits. I am currently applying at the same college myself as I am retraining for a new career......of course I know nothing!

AwfulTed · 24/08/2022 23:41

Wishing you all the best of luck for tomorrow, it’s been so hard. All the photos of kids with A*s are nice for them but not the whole picture… disengaged is a recurring word on this thread, hopefully it’ll work out in the end but it’s so very stressful for the parents!

spongedog · 24/08/2022 23:43

I am, but I am expecting fails for Maths and English (DC has spld and the school really fucked up big time the moves, or rather not, to functional skills) but hopefully 5 other passes so they are out of the way. College offer for a practical subject is fairly secure to due to low offer. But still fingers very crossed.

TeenDivided · 25/08/2022 05:44

Reading all the above makes me think how good the Hants system is. Because we don't have school 6th forms, everyone has to make an active choice about next steps, and schools don't have any vested interest in only pushing their own 6th form. Both the school & colleges gave clear information on options, starting at the end of y9 when all the colleges came to school, put up stands and you could go round talking to them, plus presentations on apprenticeships. (At which point DD unsurprisingly ruled out all bar the agricultural college).
(Of course there are down sides too, but the system on the whole is good I think.)

GreyCarpet · 25/08/2022 06:40

So many of these posts are so familiar!

I just really feel.for them. They've had a rough deal the last couple of years, have missed the same amount of schooling as the previous 2 years cohorts and I think they feel they've been thrown under a bus really which accounts for the lack of engagement.

Fortunately, my daughter has sorted out a plan B and, in reality, she'll be happy whether she goes to college to do A Levels or college to do a BTec in the subject she really wants to pursue, especially as college was originally her plan A, but I think she'll be disappointed if she doesn't get into 6th form.

Good luck to everyone this morning.