to be already fretting about how I am going to get my Y11 to do any academic work now, and what he should be doing?!

[turkeyontheplate]

He's in shock, obviously, but I know once that wears off I'm going to have to deal with "What's the point in doing any school work now?"

I'm going to struggle to answer that...but I don't want him vegetating for months on end either, and I'm worried that we haven't been given any real insight into what lies ahead, just that the exams are cancelled

Anyone else with a less-than-squeaky-clean teen who didn't burst into tears when the exams were cancelled and is going to be swinging the lead all over the place once the surprise wears off?

Honestly I feel absolutely gutted for my year 11s and 13s. As everyone is saying, most of them have pulled their finger out and we’re aiming to peak for their GCSEs and now the rug has been pulled from under them. www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care/ Might have some ideas to help. Maybe try growing some things? I know it sounds trite but it’s something to want to see progress in.

Although it’s not perfect I do think predicted grades or teachers deciding grades is the best way forward, DD’s just worried they will hold them in September when most year 11’ won’t have been keeping up with learning/revision

Haggishfish, totally agree with growing things, I’ve already said we’ll go out this weekend to get soil and plants etc, I think it will make a real difference. I’ll also look at the link, thank you

Tears here too DS did not do well in his mocks due to general apathy but really turned a corner lately. He's stressed more now that he was yesterday

Teachers will be providing learning packages and links to curriculum resources. Teacher’s assessments will contribute towards final grades.
If your child refuses to engage with the online teaching then it might affect their final grades. You need to stress that it’s up to your child if they want good grades.

I am a teacher and I feel so, so sorry for the students in Y11 and Y13. There is now so much uncertainty and everything they have worked towards is up in the air.

I literally don't know what I am going to say to my Y13 class tomorrow or my Y11 on Friday

@Malvinaa81 they only need to isolate if they have symptoms or share a household with someone who is in one of the vulnerable groups.

It's not sunk in fir my ds that he's not going to do his gcses. I've told him he needs to go to school until Friday if only to say goodbye to his teachers and get his shirt signed - a rite of passage seeing as it looks like prom, photos, leavers assembly and events will likely be cancelled.

He can go get a job - supermarkets are crying out for temp jobs, or volunteer whilst he is fit and well.

My son's been given work by email which he has to do then send back to teacher, which I'm pleased about.
But please god don't use grades from the mocks, he got 2's and 3's and we were hoping he could stretch to a few 4's. This is terrible. Surely will just postpone them?

We're really lucky, DS1 (Year 13) has an unconditional place at uni so grades not an issue and DS2 (Year 11) wants to stay on a the school's Sixth Form and will get in although he is a bit gutted he can't sit the exams.

Such a bizarre situation.

DH has said to them they need to split their days doing gaming / physical activities / helping round the house to stop a 24hr 7 days a week gaming scenario

I feel so sad for our Year 11 pupils. What an earth are they meant to do now? Dreadful
Situation x

DD (year 11) has been in floods of tears all night. She’s devastated. She’s worked so hard and did really well in her mocks. All for nothing.
No prom. Nothing.
One thing I’m wondering, if all this is going on for months here, our way of life is being totally restricted etc, how come this doesn’t seem to be the case in China?

China's cases were predominately confined in one region - and the Chinese Govt were (eventually) ruthless in finding and quarantining every case. They built 3 extra hospitals in weeks, and drafted Health Care Workers from other parts of the country.

But almost certainly, even though they have contained the initial outbreak for now, it is not the end of the story. There will almost certainly be outbreaks in other parts of China.

Also - even if we manage to contain it in the 2 or 3 months China has so far - it would be totally unfair to ask children to sit exams in May having just had 2 months out of school. Yes, some children have parents who can help them keep going with their revision, but others wouldn't have a chance.

And May/June is expected to be our peak.

I have a yr 11 and yr 10, both in shock. They have to use predicted surely, I will sue someone if they attempt to use the mocks. She took a strategic decision to concentrate her effort and revision for the real things.

My son got 2s and 3s in his mocks but has totally ramped it up. The uncertainty is awful. We have all been so upset for him x

What are they all meant to do now?

I expect they will get more clarity when they talk to teachers tomorrow.

practicallyperfectwithprosecco

Pretty much exactly the same here.

So sad for them, that they're missing all the rites of passage that goes with GCSE'S & leaving school.

I really hope it doesn't just go on mocks, as one of my DT's really underachieved but we were told not to worry, it was just a blip & she has worked her socks off since, also got her a tutor...do we carry on with that?

Soo many questions!

@Drpeppered it is very in likely we are going to go into “lockdown.” In every press conference, the PM reiterated that we are a liberal democracy.

Even countries that have locked down for a few weeks are coming out of it now. New CV cases in China have dropped to 1. One!

Yes the schools will close for the two weeks before Easter and maybe one week after, but that will be the extent of it.

Unlikely, FGS

Aveino, did you actually see the Prime Minister speak today? Did you hear him say that the GCSE and A Levels exams in the summer would not happen? They are cancelled.

Or do you think he was lying? Wouldn't be the first time, I suppose.

My 15 year old DS isn't 16 until August and already has the vocational college place he wants for September. He has no incentive to stick his head in a book now and is sadly chronically asthmatic so can't go out volunteering or shelf stacking.

An incredibly stupid head of an academy chain is recommending that the children take the whole year again.

So difficult. Dd worked so hard. I havr no idea whether she will be expected to continue studying or whether this will stop. If it stopped I said she can be my Teaching Assistant for the younger two. Cant wait till Easter.

If it is lnly 3 weeks I cant understand why the exams can't take place as Surely they could do online tuition/ skype etc and space out students more. Makes me think the closure will be much longer.
No activities no prom etc. Very sad.