AIBU to make my DS (16) do schoolwork with no GCSEs?

[Frinton38]

His school have been sending out work to do online during the lockdown and my DS is refusing to do it. Saying things such as "They won't check it" and "I won't have to come back after anyway so there's nothing they can do". I still have made him do it so he can continue his education from home. AIBU?

Punxsutawney we had a nighmare getting DS to revise for mocks, we were expecting to have to use the results as a bit of a stick to beat him with to put more effort in for the actual exams, so I think he's going to be disappointed with the grades he'll be given. However, as long as they're good enough to get him in to college to do the A Levels he wants to do then they won't matter after that.

itsgettingweird DS has a scribe as well, but this has only been provided since the end of Year 10, before that he was getting low grades because he couldn't demonstrate his knowledge and has been gradually raising his grades since. We're gutted for him that he won't get the chance now to do himself justice.

We have had an email today to say that there is a possibility that the school exams will still take place this year and they will know more after easter. Which ever way it goes it seems foolish to stop studying which ever year they are in as it can only help to continue.

Muddling it's a shame they left it so late. Ds has always had one for exams and also usually for at least English since year 5. He's had an ehcp since year 8. It definitely makes a difference because he has the knowledge just cannot do the thinking, writing and making sense all at the same time

The government cancelled exams.

They really cannot suddenly decide after Easter that in 3 weeks time students are expected to sit them.

They should have left it open if they were going to back track.

lostguider
An email from who?
The only exams year 11 will be doing are resits but I suspect resits will be allowed in all subjects not just English and Maths.
And I agree with most other teachers posting- work done now will in most cases not be used for GCSEs. I have already given my projected grades.

'24. Might the exams be reinstated if the coronavirus (COVID-19) is not as bad as expected?
No, the decision has been taken to cancel all exams this summer.'

This is from gov.uk. The exams are not going to happen.

My DS is doing nothing now at all at the moment. He was revising so diligently for his GCSE's, on track for good results, better than his mocks (they were a bit of a wake up call). But now he's just saying what's the point of doing anything. I am hoping he might keep up with some maths and he's also suggested he might do a language online, but at the moment it's a lot of computer games.

My DS' school is setting lots of work. It is being marked and they are told it will definitely count towards exam grades (Y11 and Y13). DS 2 even had a technology fail where he submitted as assignment but the teacher didnt receive it. When the teacher contacted him to ask where it was, his version on Google drive was blank. The teacher said he had to redo it and it would be marked down as handed in late. They are having to share a PC as it is, and I have found DS2 still working at 3am as he hasn't been able to complete work during the day (partly due to distractions as well as sharing a PC). He doesn't want me to complain to school though, as he doesn't want the teachers to hold it against him given that they will be the ones deciding his GCSE grades.

This is bonkers. If your child is going to do A levels it's a good idea to keep up some reading/studying in the subjects they wish to do. If they want to do maths it's pretty much essential. If they want to do English Literature, let the loose on the reading. But no reason to do standard school work at all.
It would be outrageous to judge children on the work they are able to access when not at school as so many have no space, no computer and no space to study. We live in a pretty nice area, but the school still has a significant numbers of kids from very deprived backgrounds. Some are homeless, some have no wifi and only a phone (and not always a phone) and no chance of studying at home. Many have additional needs and can only access education fairly with the support they get through their EHCP. Government advice was unequivocal. There would be spaces for kids with EHCP but if your child is safe at home, keep them there.
My year 11 is investigating stuff that will be useful for next year, not practising past papers for exams he will now not sit.

My DD was told her grade will be based on her mocks/coursework/practicals and teacher’s prediction NOT work given now as it’s not even being marked.

GCSEs are cancelled. They will not be reinstated. Only retakes in Autumn.

My DD school have set a lot of work and have set a number of tests after easter to allow the DC every opportunity to improve there grades following mocks which were in November. So she is working hard to do everything they set...

My DS is not being set any work. The school only goes to Y11 and they’re trying to concentrate on Y10s.

I’ve tried to encourage keeping on top of things but he’s not intending to do maths or English as A level so 🤷‍♀️

His favourite subject is DT so I’ve set him a list of DIY jobs and repair jobs. So far he’s fixed the trampoline and the washing machine and he’s got a few woodworking jobs to do.

My DD sat mocks in December and March so they have plenty. Plus she’d completed all her coursework and had done her drama and food practicals. Teachers are using that information plus their own assessment to put forward a grade. Only those who are likely to fail a subject have been strongly advised to keep up revision.

Schools cannot use work that has been set after they closed to go towards assessing their grades. This would put those who do not have access to the right facilities and /or learning environment at a disadvantage.

Schools cannot use work that has been set after they closed to go towards assessing their grades. This would put those who do not have access to the right facilities and /or learning environment at a disadvantage.

But some schools are doing this. I have teacher friends who have told me.

There will always be people at a disadvantage. Those without the facilities, now would have been without them even.if school was in session.

My DD was due to do her A levels this year. She's very self motivated and I leave her to it.

She has been doing some work, but was quite ill with covid 19 symptoms for a while.

She's predicted top grades, so she isn't too bothered about doing all the work.

But some schools are doing this.

No. Some schools are setting work for Y11 and telling them it will count.

The exam boards have not yet issued guidance about what sort of evidence can be used to inform the predicted grades that schools will provide. It is highly likely that they will say that work done at home that cannot be authenticated as done unaided will not count.

Bridging work suggestions for kids considering various subjects at A-level here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3863982-Bridging-the-gap-to-A-level-work-for-current-Y11

DS is doing the grand total of nothing, and he's normally a terribly diligent child which he did not get from his mother
School have said that they already have the information they need to give a reasonable approximation of their GCSE grade, and he already had the mock grades to go on to a A-level.
He's already done a couple bits for his chosen A-levels so I can't find the mental reserves in me to insist he does work which we both know (in his case) is utterly pointless.

schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-dont-seek-further-work-to-support-gcse-and-a-level-grades-union-tells-leaders/

Glad it's not just my dd refusing to do any work set!

She did submit her speaking and listening stuff the teacher needed for English and she has some Health and Social Care coursework to complete which she will do.

But it's her science teacher setting work and she hates the subject, not bothered if she fails it and has no intention of retaking it if she does.

She is off to do courses in drama, dance and musical theatre in September so her prep for that is watching Disney plus and singing along to all the songs and being on TikTok.

Those who might need to do resits need to be studying hard.

Those who want to do A Levels should be making sure they covered the whole syllabus for GCSE and then embarking on bridging work.

Those who want to do apprenticeship or college would benefit from doing careers related exploration or study, doing short courses on useful skills such as job interviews or applications, and any study related to college.

can't what they are doing now count towards their result.

It wouldn't be fair to do so really.

Inequality regards to access to home learning, parent support (or doing it for them sometimes), no Wi-Fi or ICT, not all schools setting same stuff, etc.

Dd is year 13 and the only thing they were asked to do was to complete coursework that was already done outside of school lessons. But they were also told that this work would no longer be returned to them with feedback when submitted - beforehand they could hand sections in, get feedback and resubmit etc.

It's Easter holidays now for us now this week and next.