To be scared at what will happen with next years GCSE

[Lemons1571]

My DC is due to take GCSE’s next year and the uncertainty of what’s ahead is starting to make me anxious. Most of the work set by the secondary school since March was holding activities and consolidation, very little new content was taught as the teachers weren’t allowed to teach via zoom etc (safeguarding).

Yet the recent consultation by Ofqual basically proposed keeping all the content in the course and removing some practical work (replaced by teach demo or YouTube). I can’t see how that’s going to make up for 14 missed weeks of new teaching material. Not to mention if there are further fortnight-length periods of isolation.

I feel quite removed from schools at the moment anyway as haven’t been near any of them since March. It feels like the school run was a different long ago era that we’ve left behind (also have a child in primary). So I wouldn’t know who to approach in the schools to ask them how this is going to work. But then they’re probably run off their feet with stress trying to work it all out themselves, last thing they need is parents on their case?

Anyone else getting (perhaps irrationally) worried about this?

My DD goes into year 11 in September and I too am worried.
We’ve had tutors for a couple of subjects over lockdown and we will look to get a tutor for the sciences too should school not work out in September.
I am especially concerned about those subjects such as languages, maths and sciences which require a deep understanding at GCSE to then take them and do well in the at A level.
It’s one thing normalising the results and making sure that there’s the same range of grades, but if the student has missed parts of the curriculum and then wants to take that subject at A level then it’s going to be tough. At some point there will have to be a catch up.

I'm a secondary teacher, and I absolutely agree that the year groups that are most disadvantaged will be Years 10 and 12. The disappointment for Years 11&13 was huge, but they will be starting something fresh from September.
Teachers responded to the consultation regarding next year's exams in their droves to say that it was unacceptable that the majority of exams will not change. Our only hope is that they listen and introduce more optional questions in the exams next year so that we can opt to drop some content.

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime - That’s fantastic of your school. I’ll tell you what DD’s school will do - nothing! They’ll just pile the pressure on, but offer no additional classes.

It's not just the set of results either...

A lot of A level subjects (particularly maths and science) require a strong grounding at GCSE to cope with the jump to A level.

If they achieve a strong grade due to the overall cohort underperforming (which understandably this cohort almost certainly will due to the impact of Covid-19) but don't have that foundation of knowledge that would typically reflect that grade in normal times, is it not just storing up problems for the future? Uni etc?

There does need to be an opportunity to catch up at some point - or are there bits of the syllabus that can be easily skipped? I would have thought this might be the case in some subjects more than others.

Mine seems to be managing Ok with some subjects such as Geography, Enlish, Science and Maths which are more easily done from home but less in ones like Product Design / DT and Music so wondering if may be able to drop one..not sure, grades have dropped in the latter two

Considering he has extra time and already pre covid offered a flexible pathway for subject choice (basically not having to study a language) it might be an option.

I agree about being worried about future studies. If they moderate next years GCSEs and A levels so that it looks like lockdown had zero impact on grades (which let’s be honest why wouldn’t they do that....) then if the student goes on to do A levels or degree at some stage they will suffer. At what stage do you stop moderating the lockdown cohorts grades? My understanding is that there is a huge jump from GCSE to A levels in maths and the sciences. Without having studied the syllabus how will these kids catch up? It is such a mess and so worrying.

@gumbucket really relieved to hear teachers are thinking the same as me. The math just doesn’t add up - making up for “14 weeks + future isolations” of missed content, by skipping a few practicals and adding in a couple of after school lessons . Really hope that ofqual intentionally started from a position of very little change, just to see how much push back they get.

Yes, if it's of any consolation, teachers are very much keeping years 10 and 12 at the forefront of their minds right now.

Before the Summer out school got the ones not engaging in year 10 / 12 into school, on laptops to do the work, as well as having sessions part time for the rest

I would prefer blended learning for coming back with some consolidation at home and sessions at school and to know it would continue that all back for a few weeks to close again

Less stress and disruption for the pupils as well. I think this should have been the plan, with going ahead to full time with time and if cases allowed. With primaries being different and possibly full time from the start.

Maybe join the home ed groups. My children are small but the parents with older children have had it figured out since they take the responsibility of the education anyway. If you don't want to rely on the school, talk to home educating families and what they're doing. They will have a lot of helpful tips for getting through GCSEs. When you have your children at home, the education is one on one whereas school hours are very spread out with distractions in class etc. You will be able to achieve your goal, just need to know how and I think the older home ed kids have the right info.