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AIBU?

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Original poster

Aaargh! Chemistry fuck up - what to do?

163 replies

UsedtobeFeckless · 06/05/2017 23:50

Right - long story short ... DS has his GCSEs in a couple of weeks and apparently 25% of the Chemistry marks ride on three practical assessments which they are supposed to have done already. DS missed one of his due to being part of the band in the school musical extravaganza thing - he told his teacher he couldn't be there and she said no problem, she'd reschedule it ...

He found out on Friday the tests have already been sent of for marking. He's panicking and I'm well pissed off with the school.

Is there anything we can do at this stage or is it just a case of resigning himself to a worse mark. I want to take it up with the school - she told him she'd let him know when he could do it then posted the fucking things off without giving him a chance. It's really unfair!

OP posts:
Original poster
UsedtobeFeckless · 08/05/2017 21:35

I haven't had an actual conversation with the woman involved yet. When I have I'll see where to take things next. I'm conscious that the overwhelming weight of opinion on here was that a teacher wouldn't send off a poor result lightly so I want to get the other side of the story from her first before I escalate things.

OP posts:
Dixiestamp · 09/05/2017 00:54

Music/performing arts teacher here. Nobody in their right mind would schedule a school show for this time of year; July or December, maybe, and even March at a push. I can honestly say that in every production I've been involved in (20 years' worth) we've consulted and negotiated with other departments to make sure assessments, tests etc aren't missed by kids participating in the show- it's the only way things can work. NB all music performing marks will have been submitted by now (I'm am examiner too) so I'd be surprised if the performance was for an assessment. Bad planning all round!

Morphene · 09/05/2017 01:46

interesting....I hope you get to clarify with the chemistry teacher asap.

Peaches77 · 09/05/2017 01:50

Maybe his wasn't requested to be sent off and so she put him down for the A anyway...

Chemicalrainbow · 09/05/2017 06:43

As above. I suggest that you just ask what mark and grade was submitted - the exams officer can tell you that (call the school and ask to speak to them) and if it's good, leave it there and don't ask which one it was or for anymore details. If it's not good, complain away!

PollyCazaletWannabe · 09/05/2017 06:49

As a teacher, this seems extremely unlikely to me. Interested to see the outcome.

SnapJack68 · 09/05/2017 07:10

Make sure you cm get a response tofay. From head of science if need be

NearlyEaster · 09/05/2017 07:42

It would have been the HOD or Head of Science that sent off the results not the class teacher.

There is NO way I'd allow a student to achieve a D in an ISA when predicted an A without getting them to do all of the available papers.

If it's AQA I can work out the impact this could have for you.

TheFallenMadonna · 09/05/2017 08:46

I'm slightly bothered that there have been two suggestions of malpractice. The marks (not grades, because we don't know them) are sent off, and then the sample is requested for moderation. There really isn't anything that can be done about it now the deadline has passed, in terms of his marks. Emailing the Head of Science should get you clarification on what has actually been sent off though.

TheGentleMoose · 09/05/2017 08:50

"I'm slightly bothered that there have been two suggestions of malpractice"

And a DS who is now slightly less adamant about what was actually said [with is skeptical face].

muckypup73 · 09/05/2017 10:30

I am wondering what has happened over this.

Original poster
UsedtobeFeckless · 09/05/2017 10:45

Emailed his class teacher and head of Chemistry - still waiting ...

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 09/05/2017 10:46

Checking back regularly. I hope you get it sorted.

DementedO1 · 09/05/2017 10:59

I'd ring the school rather than wait for a reply... And ask to speak to head of science not chemistry teacher. Perhaps she sent another piece in for his controlled assessment? Either way you need to know.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 09/05/2017 11:12

Yes, I'd try ringing but at lunchtime. They're probably teaching at the moment. I think it's important you get to the bottom of this.

TheGentleMoose · 09/05/2017 11:20

Does he have a form teacher? They should know what has been sent.

Original poster
UsedtobeFeckless · 09/05/2017 11:56

Still no response from either of the teachers ( I expect they're in class) but I got through to the exam department and the mark submitted for DS was 33 out of a possible 50 ... Not sure what that translates as grade wise - anyone know?

OP posts:
tinytemper66 · 09/05/2017 12:24

The form teacher would probably not know, unless she/he was the Science teacher or Head of Science.

AmeliaLion · 09/05/2017 12:30

What exam board is it? For AQA I would expect 33 to be (just about) a C, though precise grade boundaries won't be available for exams sat this year until the summer. That isn't great of the school to submit that for a student targeted a A unless they have tried all three and this is the best mark.

virtualinsanity · 09/05/2017 13:03

Same as Amelia. I just checked our system and we have 33/50 as the bottom cut off for a C in this year's Chem ISAs (AQA).

Yes, they have left it a bit late to offer the chance to improve which wasn't the best practice but on the positive side he does have a mark rather than zero which your OP suggested so with a good exam can still achieve his target. It's entirely possible a new classroom teacher didn't know the deadline was last week if the Head of Science was dealing with it all.

Also, they won't have sent the papers away, just submitted the grades but the deadline is past so this won't be changing.

Original poster
UsedtobeFeckless · 09/05/2017 16:52

It is AQA although the head of science seemed to think tha 33/50 was a D rather than a just-about C ... I like your version best!

The gist of things seems to be that the class teacher taking DSs test session misunderstood what he was asking / DS misunderstood her reply - they both went away with a different idea of what had been said. The original communication from the head of science was definite that this was to be the last official session unless the students arranged another privately with their teachers -DS seems to have thought Miss was doing that and Miss thought DS was going to sort it out himself.

I've contacted the head to complain about the timing of the musical but haven't had a reply yet.

So there we are ... Not great but could be worse. Next time I'll phone to check for myself!

Thanks for all the advice ...

OP posts:
honeyroar · 09/05/2017 16:58

Id still be annoyed about this. For a A student to get a D/C in something that counts for 25% of his exam, that's going to pull down his grade. And universities look at GCSE grades nowadays. I'd be pretty cross with all of them. Who lets a good student miss out on 25% of a good grade to play in a concert!!

TheHobbitMum · 09/05/2017 17:02

Hmm, I'd be seriously unimpressed 😒 Not sure if or what could be done to change things now though

Original poster
UsedtobeFeckless · 09/05/2017 17:14

It is a shame and I am annoyed but it seems to be a series of bad decisions from several people, DS included, rather than one single fuck-up I can go and shout about.

I know Unis look at GCSEs but I'm hoping he'll still pass and the rest of his results will be good enough to pass muster. He hopes to study music combined with history or german so he's going to drop all three sciences at the end of Y11 anyway. So onward and upward!

OP posts:
Fragglez · 09/05/2017 17:30

I'm confused - head of science was definite that this was to be the last official session unless the students arranged another privately with their teachers -DS seems to have thought Miss was doing that and Miss thought DS was going to sort it out himself.

Who did his teacher think he was going to arrange it with if not her?