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Original poster

To be struggling to take this years GCSE grades seriously

387 replies

awaywiththecircus · 20/08/2020 20:08

It’s no the dcs fault but I do think the GCSE results this year will be taken with a pinch of salt. I do feel sorry the the students who would have actually got a bunch of 8 and 9s if they’d sat the actual tests as it seems more than ever are getting those grades this year and it does make you wonder. We’re they not meant to be for the very top percentage of students? I’ve spoken to a parent who is pleased the marks were centre assessed as he thinks his ds probably wouldn’t have passed his maths and English if he’d actually sat them,

OP posts:
beachysandy81 · 21/08/2020 14:28

My son got pretty much what he was expecting. He is a hard worker and got all 8 and 9s in his mocks, in his work in general, and all 8s and 9s in the CAG. Pisses me off that people will think he didn't get it though his own merit. He has literally been working for this moment his whole school life!! He loves learning and was gutted not to be able to take the exams.

itsgettingweird · 21/08/2020 14:29

I don't get this obsession with comparing this year with previous years.

It's not like it's anyway comparable - what with a pandemic and all that!

The same way 2021 cohort shouldn't and won't be compared to this year or the following year because they have had different challenges and will likely continue to do so the next academic year.

For the most part people I speak to say their child's results weren't a surprise and what they'd expect knowing what they were working at. But occasionally they have heard from someone else about another kid elsewhere who was inflated.

Instead of judging a system on anecdata I'd be concerned about that child being set up to fail and would hope the people around them are managing their expectations and guiding them to success in the future.

Because in 2 years time those are the results these students will use for their next step.

Branleuse · 21/08/2020 16:12

The only kids i know whove done very well have been consistently excellent students. Everyone i know has got the grades i would have expected.
I wish people would stop pissing on kids fires.
Every year that kids do well we get people saying exams are getting easier etc etc. Always excuses to insult the younger generation

Kidneybingo · 21/08/2020 16:21

@Branleuse

The only kids i know whove done very well have been consistently excellent students. Everyone i know has got the grades i would have expected. I wish people would stop pissing on kids fires. Every year that kids do well we get people saying exams are getting easier etc etc. Always excuses to insult the younger generation
Agree with this. Plus, the % getting the top three grades, 7-9 is still only just over a quarter, not very much different to normal. They still aren't the majority grade, no matter what reading MN may have you think. Just over 20% still are not "pass" grades. When you imply that the grades are worthless, you diminish the work and learning of many, and simultaneously make the kids who struggle with these courses, feel like shit because you know, if they're just giving away grades, why haven't they got them?And that is just not nice. Remember, they have still done the learning, in courses far more content heavy and difficult than the ones done on the past 20 years or so.
bigchris · 21/08/2020 17:29

What have they been through? They have got to lie in bed for 3 months, playing on their phones/computers and avoiding any studying/exams. Its been absolute heaven for them

Really? This comment almost made me cry

Best friends son has lost 2 grandparents to covid, his mum is on the brink of a nervous breakdown as a result, oh and his dad has just been made redundant
He has gone from being a happy socialable 16 year old to one who can't leave the house without having panic attacks

Sound fun to you ? Lucky ?

Rainbowsparkle · 21/08/2020 17:37

My son was predicted 8’s and 9’s pre covid. He got 7’s in his mocks. He got grade 7 and 8’s and one 9. So some kids have been marked down. There are no league tables this year so no need for teachers to inflate the grades.

Branleuse · 21/08/2020 17:40

yep, my son didnt pass his. he got the same grade as last year. Please dont act like they were just giving out passes for no reason

ZombieFan · 21/08/2020 18:09

Maybe all universities should start doing aptitude tests, so they can determine themselves who to make offers to.

WhatamessIgotinto · 21/08/2020 18:27

@bigchris some of the comments on this thread are really shit, especially from parents. I would bet that the ones making comments about how it's been 'heaven' for these young people, or it's not the 'drama' people are making it out to be, don't actually have children who were due to sit exams this year. So really, they don't give a shit about them. Some posters I'll admit I'm surprised at and some, not so much.

Kidneybingo · 21/08/2020 18:35

And if people are thinking about their older, now adult children, and their rafts of A*, remember, exams were more straightforward, sometimes modular and with coursework then.

bigchris · 21/08/2020 19:43

@WhatamessIgotinto thank you , i know it shouldnt get to me but this time it has xx

mrpumblechook · 21/08/2020 19:59

@Kidneybingo

And if people are thinking about their older, now adult children, and their rafts of A*, remember, exams were more straightforward, sometimes modular and with coursework then.
Yes, OP may have done teacher assessed coursework!
WillowKnicks · 21/08/2020 20:00

My twins got pretty much what we expected, if they'd sat their exams. I think one on my DDs might have got a couple of higher grades but who knows?

One of my DDs failed a couple...which is fair & what we'd have expected.

Shame on the pp who said it's been heaven for them! YOUR child might have spent their time laying in bed, playing on computer games but mine certainly haven't!!! 🙄

HPFA · 21/08/2020 20:29

Now some schools want to appeal because they played by the rules:

schoolsweek.co.uk/government-facing-exams-challenge-over-schools-advised-to-deflate-grades/

I can see why they're annoyed but I'm not sure them saying "please let us inflate grades too" is going to work out too well.

NotMeNoNo · 21/08/2020 20:45

It sounds about right that most kids will have got their "if nothing goes wrong on The day" grade, the alternative was worse. I'm sure DS has scraped a pass or two more but then he lost most of a year due to being bullied in KS3 so I don't feel too bad.

With all the upheaval and problems, sniping about GCSE grades is a bit mean. In future people will see 2020 and may be think, that was the high year, let's double check X's other criteria but that's not the same as writing them off.

Kidneybingo · 21/08/2020 21:45

@NotMeNoNo

It sounds about right that most kids will have got their "if nothing goes wrong on The day" grade, the alternative was worse. I'm sure DS has scraped a pass or two more but then he lost most of a year due to being bullied in KS3 so I don't feel too bad.

With all the upheaval and problems, sniping about GCSE grades is a bit mean. In future people will see 2020 and may be think, that was the high year, let's double check X's other criteria but that's not the same as writing them off.

Exactly. GCSEs are just one piece of evidence that they will offer up as an adult seeking work. Even in a normal year, the person with a grade 4 is not magically more capable and employable than the one with a 3. There could have been 1 little mark different!
Dorisdaydream2 · 21/08/2020 21:49

This is what really worries me. DD got grades in line with her mocks, one was lower and she got nearly all 4s. So if this is what people think they will look at her grades and think she would have failed. Her grades were not optimistic at all, she was awarded what she got in her mocks for all but one which was lower.

Some schools may have inflated grades, I’m pretty sure ours didn’t!

OP I’m sure many people will feel your way and I’m angry on my dd’s behalf about that. Not all schools inflated grades. Please take the grades at face value, these children deserve that much.

Irelate · 21/08/2020 22:10

There's also the fact that they didn't do the work - of course it's not their fault, but they didn't. They didn't actually earn the GCSEs. I know there will be howls of anguish from lots of you, but unless you've seen a child actually go through the hell of GCSE exams, you won't realise how easy this lot got off. I remember children of friends of mine celebrating when they heard they weren't going to have to take exams. And 95% of them did literally nothing from March through July. In my opinion, all GCSE grades awarded this year should have a mark next to them eg CV to mark them as awarded in Covid year.

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 21/08/2020 22:11

I know there will be howls of anguish from lots of you, but unless you've seen a child actually go through the hell of GCSE exams

Oh for gods sake

Irelate · 21/08/2020 22:12

@Dorisdaydream2

This is what really worries me. DD got grades in line with her mocks, one was lower and she got nearly all 4s. So if this is what people think they will look at her grades and think she would have failed. Her grades were not optimistic at all, she was awarded what she got in her mocks for all but one which was lower.

Some schools may have inflated grades, I’m pretty sure ours didn’t!

OP I’m sure many people will feel your way and I’m angry on my dd’s behalf about that. Not all schools inflated grades. Please take the grades at face value, these children deserve that much.

I agree, it works both ways. Some kids got lower marks than they would have done if they'd sat the exams. So, again, I think this year's grades should have a mark next to them (CV) showing they were awarded in 2020 and are a load of shite. They should serve to get them into sixth form or whatever they're doing 16-18 but that's it.
RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 21/08/2020 22:13

See thats the problem with gcse

Its all a do or die exam...when in reality children have been working towards them for two years

itsgettingweird · 21/08/2020 22:15

@Irelate

There's also the fact that they didn't do the work - of course it's not their fault, but they didn't. They didn't actually earn the GCSEs. I know there will be howls of anguish from lots of you, but unless you've seen a child actually go through the hell of GCSE exams, you won't realise how easy this lot got off. I remember children of friends of mine celebrating when they heard they weren't going to have to take exams. And 95% of them did literally nothing from March through July. In my opinion, all GCSE grades awarded this year should have a mark next to them eg CV to mark them as awarded in Covid year.
Seriously 🤣🤣

You don't think the year 2020 on the reins sheet will be a clue 🤦🏼‍♀️

itsgettingweird · 21/08/2020 22:16

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer

See thats the problem with gcse

Its all a do or die exam...when in reality children have been working towards them for two years

Agree 100%.

They changed the system to work this way. Government can't then blame the system that has to grade this way due to their decisions.

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 21/08/2020 22:17

And howls of anguish 😀

Talk about hyperbole

duletty · 21/08/2020 22:18

Imagine giving CHILDREN results based on mocks and teacher assessment...as though they haven’t worked towards these marks for several years GCSE students this year have not been able to go through the exam process (22 if I remember for my son) and are going to have a tough 2 years until a levels, my son got the marks he earned