time to cancel England exams?

[winechateauxjoy]

I see that Scotland have followed the lead of Wales and cancelled next summer's exams. Isn't it about time they did the same in England to make it fair for those children who have been in and onut of school like yo yos in some schools?

What a horrible mess.

It’s just too much time to make up isn’t it. If they’d missed a month, maybe 6 weeks, then with a huge push it could’ve been done. But March-Sept off, (no live lessons from our secondary) and then since Sept repeated 2 week isolations, again and again and again? A lot of schools completely closed as too many teachers have covid. Theres going to be kids that haven’t managed to cover the whole syllabus. Are we really suggesting that state school GCSE children should be self teaching from textbooks, and then compared via examination with private school kids that had live lessons in March then full time socially distanced classes since June?

I do agree with the concept of exams in a normal year, and my year 11 child has got off lightly as our area has low rates. But the huge variations in the sheer amount of time missed across the country, I just think it’s too big to solve with a 3 week delay and a crib sheet.

@Lemons1571 yes I completely agree.

"Are we really suggesting that state school GCSE children should be self teaching from textbooks, and then compared via examination with private school kids that had live lessons in March then full time socially distanced classes since June"

That's quite the generalisation. State and private in my town were all doing different things. I was highly impressed with DDs state 6th form. She didn't get to return to school until September though. I don't know any year 11s who had full time school from June.

Cancelled exams last year favoured those whose teachers over predicted their grades, these were mostly at higher achieving schools - the kids predicted excellent grades at low achieving schools git moderated down. The only fair thing is to hold exams, allowance should be made for those who have missed more than 2 weeks of school (so isolated more than once) and non examined but compulsory summer schools should be put on to cover the missed curriculum for those entering university in September/October so they are not disadvantaged when commencing their degrees

@Lemons1571
Schools are providing work. No one is suggesting that students teach themselves from a textbook. They should be independently studying by gcse level though and actually the guides are pretty comprehensive. You seem to be very focused on the advantages that private schools have had. They have also had students sent home and year groups isolated. The reality though is that they will generally not be massively affected by cancellations in the same way that others will be. Neither will certain state school cohorts.
All evidence and experience points to disadvantaged areas and pupils losing out in predicted grade scenarios. The government themselves have acknowledged this and do seem to be trying to do the right thing.
I will say it again, cancellations would embed inequality.

“Cancelled exams last year favoured those whose teachers over predicted their grades, these were mostly at higher achieving schools - the kids predicted excellent grades at low achieving schools git moderated down”

This was our experience last summer, which we don’t want repeated this year because our school is a very mixed ability state school. It in no way helps the more disadvantaged.