To still feel angry about GCSEs 2021

[Stillfeelcross]

I’ll start by saying I know it’s not the teachers fault.
I’m so angry about the way GCSEs were graded this year and need to get over it. It’s the massive discrepancies between schools, some of who gave their pupils a much easier time than others. Some did mini assessments and then had the chance to take the test again if the pupils didn’t get the grades they wanted. In some schools the dc were told exactly what they were going to be tested on. Some schools did no assessments at all. Some poor dc did full on GCSE exams in exam conditions. It seems the JCQ basically agreed with whatever approach the school chose and exam boards barely moderated any work at all. In the future nobody will know which pupils went to a school with a tougher, more rigorous approach and all grades will be seen as equal even though they’re really not.

Yep. Without being too harsh you do need to get over it.

Did your DC get what they needed to carry on to their next stage of education?

YANBU. I'm still angry about the way GCSEs were awarded in 2020. My DCs' school moderated really hard, marked them all down, half the kids in the top Maths and English sets weren't even given a 5 - utterly appalling.

as someone whose dc has just got GCSE grades, think we all know that comparison between schools is going to be a tough one for this year (and last - and maybe next). BUT we have to move on.

The kids have got their grades and this is only one part of their education. We as parents have to focus on helping them to look to the next stage rather than looking backwards IMO.

Yes my DD got what she needed to move onto the next stage. She would have no doubt done better if her school had done half hour mini assessments though. All I keep hearing is friends talking about John who got a 9 for doing a test on one topic when my dd got a lower grade for sitting 2 whole papers etc. or poor Tom who only got an 8 (even though he knew what he was going to be tested on). I know I shouldn’t compare but in future universities, employers will so it’s hard not to.

@BenjiMcSchmenzie I really do get how you feel.

YABU to waste any more time stressing over this. Unless your child didn’t get whatever grades they need to move on to their next stage, then fair enough.

If they did get enough grades to move on though, why worry? There’s nothing that can be done and stressing over the mess the government made now it’s passed won’t change a thing.

Realistically, GCSE’s don’t matter much once you’ve got your level 3 quals.

@stillfeelcross maybe its easier as we have a boy and they really haven't compared their grades so I don't know what his mates got. Am pretty sure one school adopted a "give everyone an 8 or a 9 in everything" approach because it's a good strapline on their website.

It's not fair. I get that. Employers and UNiversities will get that. We just have to support them in achieving their full potential in whatever their next stage might be?

What's done is done though, you need to let it go as stressing will achieve nothing. I'm not from UK so I don't know if GCSEs can be retaken. If it proves a hindrance to your dd later on and she can retake, that option could be useful.

You need to let it go, and look forwards.

Provided your DC has what they need for their next step, that is the main thing.
If heading A levels & university bound they can blow poor GCSEs out of the water with good A levels - applying with grades in hand if needed. Vocational courses, again working hard and coming out with the best grades they can.

That's what I keep telling myself anyway.

I get you. The incompetence of our government makes peoples lives needlessly more difficult.

I'm currently furious at the Scottish Government who can't organise proof of vaccination status within nearly 3 weeks. Their digital app isn't available yet. It's still a piece of paper. Poor DS and I have made multiple phone calls to try to get something organised for him so he can prove his vaccination status and travel tomorrow to do an international week long course in Germany. I even offered to physically go and pick up his certificate from Edinburgh (he's in London) but that wasn't possible apparently so he's waiting on tenterhooks for this magical email to arrive before tomorrow lunchtime. The American guy is fine to travel.

I'm so grateful that my DC haven't been school age through this time. It sounds incredibly stressful. There was absolutely no reason for them not to do exams the usual way when they were all in at school. A different exam could have been set for children who were ill or isolating to do at the end of term or children unable to do the exam could have submitted other evidence. The UK govt apparently has no imagination and a no can do attitude unless they're lining their own or their friends pockets.

If it's any consolation, I've never been asked and not hear anyone be asked what they got in their GCSEs

It is hard to compare between schools this year. Hopefully future employers and further education will take into account circumstances abs take this years results with a positive ch of salt.

Dd1s school we’re pretty hard on them. Lots of quite full on assessments in exam conditions. No one got a whole string of 9s like lots of pupils did in some schools. All pupils who’s results I know seemed reasonable to their ability and more or less what they would have got if they had sat the exams. I do wonder if there are less able pupils with higher results from other schools and whether this could affect dd in the future. But mostly I’m pleased that I know her results were earned and not inflated. She can be proud that she has a great set of results that she earned. Hopefully you and your dd can look at it this way in the future.

• pinch of salt, sorry fat fingers.

@AngelPrint

Realistically, GCSE’s don’t matter much once you’ve got your level 3 quals.

THIS!!!!

@DrinkFeckArseBrick

If it's any consolation, I've never been asked and not hear anyone be asked what they got in their GCSEs

Exactly. At the most on job applications it asks for 5 GCSE’s including Maths and English. So as long as you have those it’s rarely going to be an issue. Even then, college or whatever can offer solutions.

@mibbelucieachwell that sounds awful hope you get it sorted.

I’ve no idea why they didn’t go ahead with exams with modifications as originally announced I really wish they’d had. It would have been so much fairer.

@AngelPrint

Realistically, GCSE’s don’t matter much once you’ve got your level 3 quals.

... provided of course you got the results needed to get on to the level 3 course of your choice.

DD wanted to go to Cambridge and these are the only set of exams she will sit before applying (aside from some maths or FM AS) and she feels she has been robbed of her chance to shine. All A*s means nothing!

[quote Stillfeelcross]@mibbelucieachwell that sounds awful hope you get it sorted.

I’ve no idea why they didn’t go ahead with exams with modifications as originally announced I really wish they’d had. It would have been so much fairer.[/quote]
It would have been fairer in some ways.

But different schools / pupils had totally different levels of disruption, plus disadvantaged pupils were less able to access education from home. So it still wouldn't have been 'fair'.

I've had DC doing A levels and GCSE's this year. Both have done very well despite not being given an easy ride compared to other schools I know. We calculated DS1 A level study over the two years was mostly done online due to the size of the college. Never did a full week again after March 2020. Lots of students disadvantaged in lots of ways.
Those that 'fell lucky' with grades will be found out soon enough.
Put the year behind you and move on.

Why do you think some schools took such a hard approach (full GCSEs instead of mini assessments?) Our school has had lots of complaints about this and practically admitted they’ve disadvantaged the pupils re grades compared with other schools.

@a8mint

DD wanted to go to Cambridge and these are the only set of exams she will sit before applying (aside from some maths or FM AS) and she feels she has been robbed of her chance to shine. All A*s means nothing!

Writing 'All A*s means nothing' is a tone deaf kind of comment imo.

@Stillfeelcross

Why do you think some schools took such a hard approach (full GCSEs instead of mini assessments?) Our school has had lots of complaints about this and practically admitted they’ve disadvantaged the pupils re grades compared with other schools.

• because it was a clear system and easy to administer
• because it was what the pupils had been being prepared for so less chopping and changing for them
• because it meant any progressing to A level were better prepared (and so advantaged over schools with softer approaches)

Yes op you are right. Same with A levels. Ds2 would imho have got a grade higher in one of his if he had done the exams...but you know what, he got the grades needed for his first choice uni so it's fine.

Your DC got what they needed, so, move on. Yes it wasn't equal, it wasn't really fair, but it never is anyway. Even with normal exams, there will be students at private schools with smaller classes, students anywhere with better teachers, more supportive parents, more money to spend on tutors or revision guides.... It's a life lesson if you choose to see it that way, that nothing is handed to you fir free.

In a way, students who had a tougher time this year are better prepared for A level. If other students were gifted undeserved high grades (not saying they were) then sixth form may be a big challenge.