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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:
paddyclampitt · 21/08/2020 22:18

Some disgusting comments on here.

My DS had finished the syllabus for every subject so he had completed the courses. The odd bit of content that hadn't been done was covered in online lessons. The school then sent bridging work for them to do in preparation for their A'levels.

It's not their fault the exams were cancelled. FWIW the grades my DS got were exactly in line with his academic monitoring over the past 5 years and his results for mock and prelims. I have no doubt that some subject in some schools have been generous but not all. Many young people I know were devastated that they didn't get to prove themselves in the exams.

Thankfully, this cohort still have A'levels to prove themselves.

HPFA · 21/08/2020 22:23

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.

So you'd punish kids for something they had absolutely no control over? Seems like you failed your GCSE in Fairness and Kindness.

Dorisdaydream2 · 21/08/2020 22:24

Irelate. to be honest I think that’s often how GCSEs are viewed, stepping stones to the next level of education. If children have had their grades inflated they may well struggle with their next steps, be that apprenticeship, A levels, B Tec etc and their next set of grades will reflect this.

Oblomov20 · 21/08/2020 22:27

This thread is disgusting. Makes for very hard reading for those of us who have dc who have just received grades.

My Ds1 would have done better had he had the chance to actually sit the exams, because he always performs extremely well in exam conditions.

Irelate · 21/08/2020 22:28

FWIW the grades my DS got were exactly in line with his academic monitoring over the past 5 years and his results for mock and prelims

What on earth? Have had 3 children go through GCSEs and never had a clear idea of how they would get on until results day. Wtf are prelims? Academic monitoring?

There's no real way to predict these things in advance with any real accuracy. Some do better than expected, some do worse. Some have the syllabus down pat but choke on the day, others do the opposite. There's always an element of luck involved.

This year's results should have a special mark next to them, it's fairer to the kids.

Wotsitsarecheesy · 21/08/2020 22:29

My DS feels a bit like some others on here. He is disappointed with his marks - particularly not to have got 9s in his 2 best subjects (maths and music). Maths he got a 9 in the mock, and often has scored 9s throughout the year. Music he had already got max and very high marks for his performances and compositions, and he thinks needed less than 50% in the exam to get a 9. But his school was one of those who assessed conservatively, so he got 8s in those subjects. He is sure his subject teachers would have given him a 9, so I guess it has been moderated down by the SLT.

So whereas some pupils are lucky to have been marked up, DS is disappointed that he seems to have been marked down, but will still be considered to have been marked up, along with everyone else. I suppose A levels in 2 years will sort that out though, so I have tried to get him to not worry about it.

itsgettingweird · 21/08/2020 22:29

My da results weren't a shock at all - luck of going to a good school who informs students directly and honestly the whole way through.

He only surprise was a 5 in language. Even he laughed and said it was probably a Gav upgrade because the school has good pass rate.

Either way he knows what his ability is in this area and won't take on anything that requires a 5 at English when he knows he more comfortably a 4.

Again - that comes from a good school and good raising of the children to know their strengths and weaknesses.

FlyingPandas · 21/08/2020 22:35

They don't need a 'special mark'. They will have 2020 as the year of results. Do you really, really think anyone is going to forget this year in a hurry?

FFS.

And once they move on to the next stage of education it will be all the more important for this exam cohort to prove themselves - at A level, BTEC, university degree etc.

In time the whole GCSE debacle of this year will fade. Some DC will excel. Some will drop out. All will find their way. But sadly there will always be mean-spirited, spiteful adults (several of them evident on this thread!) who just want to sneer, denigrate and despise any achievement when the students themselves have had NO CHOICE about what has happened. Which probably says a lot more about said adults than the students to be fair.

Dorisdaydream2 · 21/08/2020 22:36

Wotsitsarecheesy

I’m sorry your dc feels they were downgraded. It’s a shame isn’t it when people seem to think grades have been inflated. I think my dd was downgraded in one subject probably by the subject head. They will get a chance to prove themselves at the next level. Congratulations to your dc in what sounds like excellent results.

paddyclampitt · 21/08/2020 22:37

@Irelate

Academic monitoring - every half term you get given grades that tell you what grade you are working towards. I have worked at 3 schools and my kids go to 2 different ones. All 5 schools have academic monitoring but it may be called other things at other schools.

Prelims are done in December, mocks in March. Like 2 sets of mocks I guess.

Irelate · 21/08/2020 22:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kidneybingo · 21/08/2020 22:40

I don't see any of these people who either did coursework themselves, or have children who did coursework, and modules, thinking they didn't deserve a grade.

itsgettingweird · 21/08/2020 22:46

@Irelate

*They don't need a 'special mark'. They will have 2020 as the year of results. Do you really, really think anyone is going to forget this year in a hurry?

FFS*

Well, I was once asked for my O level results on a job application when I was age 40 and had two degrees and 18 years of work experience Grin

Every application I've completed asks for GCSEs but also has a column for years.

The 2020 will still be the biggest clue Grin

LunaFortuna · 21/08/2020 22:47

Grades very much in line with previous attainment here. School closed about 6 weeks before GCSEs started so almost all of the work and a lot of revision, assessments etc already done. DD hates exams but really wanted to do them as she'd worked hard.

However, OP hasn't been back. Just started a spiteful thread knocking kids and buggered off. Don't some people just make you want to turn the internet off.

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 21/08/2020 22:49

@LunaFortuna

Grades very much in line with previous attainment here. School closed about 6 weeks before GCSEs started so almost all of the work and a lot of revision, assessments etc already done. DD hates exams but really wanted to do them as she'd worked hard.

However, OP hasn't been back. Just started a spiteful thread knocking kids and buggered off. Don't some people just make you want to turn the internet off.

Sometimes im very pleased i only do mumsnet

I think twitter and facebook would finish me off

paddyclampitt · 21/08/2020 22:50

@LunaFortuna

Yes they do! Wonder what makes them so salty?

GravityFalls · 21/08/2020 23:01

I’ve met about 20 y11 students from all ends of the academic spectrum and a variety of schools over the last two days in a professional context - my first question to them was “how were your grades? What you expected?” and they all said yes, except for one or two that were a grade higher or lower. So on that I’d say there’s not massive grade inflation. I saw one grade 9 across them all, and about 2 8s. Lots of 4s and 5s though...

HPFA · 21/08/2020 23:02

@Kidneybingo

I don't see any of these people who either did coursework themselves, or have children who did coursework, and modules, thinking they didn't deserve a grade.
Excatly. Why don't we asterisk all the GCSEs of those who did coursework? What about all those years when GCSEs were supposedly easy and Gove and Cummings "saved" us from that - let's dump on those kids (now adults) too. And how on earth did employers cope before 2017 when the highest marks were A star and non-one even knew who was an 8 or a 9?
RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 21/08/2020 23:05

And how on earth did employers cope before 2017 when the highest marks were A star and non-one even knew who was an 8 or a 9?

We could go back further

All those children whose highest grade was just,.,......an A 😱

Wotsitsarecheesy · 21/08/2020 23:39

Thanks Dorisdaydream2 :) Although he is disappointed, we are thrilled. After the A level debacle (we had another DS involved with those) we were very worried with what the algorithm might throw his way. So we were extremely relieved when it was announced that they would get centre assessed grades, as those would at least be close to what he would have got had he sat the exam. And they pretty much are for most subjects. He worked hard for his mocks as he was really keen to do well, which is why he is a bit disappointed that his final grades are lower. Also DS1 got mostly 9s, so DS2 was looking forward to the competition! But as far as we are concerned, it should get him into the sixth form to do the A levels he wants, and that's what is important.

Mammyloveswine · 21/08/2020 23:43
Daffodil

God forbid we actually trust teachers...

caringcarer · 21/08/2020 23:46

This year is a total fiasco. My nephew got A,B,D at A level. He wanted to redo the year as he was.unhappy with these grades but his college just told him no, you can sit in autumn but not do another year as we have to give places to extra year 11 now as more have good GCSE results.

GravityFalls · 22/08/2020 07:21

It would be very unusual for a student with A, B, D to resit y13 at any time, let alone this year. I’ve never worked anywhere that would allow it.

itsgettingweird · 22/08/2020 07:56

@caringcarer

This year is a total fiasco. My nephew got A,B,D at A level. He wanted to redo the year as he was.unhappy with these grades but his college just told him no, you can sit in autumn but not do another year as we have to give places to extra year 11 now as more have good GCSE results.
Could he look at evening classes? You may find a college willing to let him join as 2nd year student as hell have done the content.

He could work during day and study in evenings.

itsgettingweird · 22/08/2020 07:56

I meant for the one he got a D in. The others are fine!

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