Page 2 | GCSE contingency day 15 June

holidaythoughts · 2023-05-31T14:34:24+00:00

Just wondering if anyone knows how far in advance we'd hear if GCSE students do need to resit an exam on 15th June. Contemplating booking a last minute holiday and wondering whether I can risk being abroad on 15th or not...for example was thinking of booking it on the 9th to leave on 10th and stay for a week. Anyone with any experience/knowledge I'd be very grateful to hear whether it would be too stupid (suspect it would be!)

mumonthehill · 31/05/2023 16:55

I must admit I am surprised he is finishing so early. Ds last exam on the 16th. The thing is the contingency days are there for a reason, so just be prepared. I think many people go away straight after the exams end as it is cheaper.

Loverofoxbowlakes · 31/05/2023 16:58

OP please call the school and double check with the exams Officer - my dc have English, maths and science after the 9th.

OutDamnedSpot · 31/05/2023 17:07

Loverofoxbowlakes · 31/05/2023 16:58

OP please call the school and double check with the exams Officer - my dc have English, maths and science after the 9th.

This. English, maths and science don’t finish until the following week.

GladysHeeler · 31/05/2023 17:09

holidaythoughts · 31/05/2023 16:41

I have checked and double checked his exam dates so that's not an issue. He absolutely finishes on 7th June.
I can't think that once they're over he will have to do it again, unless it comes out that somehow one of the papers he sat had been leaked and doing the rounds and a large group of people cheated or something like that. But I'm presuming that would have come out by then. I'm also presuming there would be some notice so they can freshen up on the subject they have to redo. But I simply don't know. It seems like a risk but a very minor one....

Go on holiday then. Like you say it's a risk but a small risk.

Willyoujustbequiet · 31/05/2023 17:12

How?

English and Maths are the following week. Is he not taking them?

mumsneedwine · 31/05/2023 17:27

If he's taking iGCSEs in a certain combination, and not taking English Language, then they may well have finished.

It's a small chance extra days will be needed, but have a plan in case they are.

StinkerTroll · 31/05/2023 17:34

We still have maths, English language biology, chemistry, Spanish, music and history and further maths exams all after that date, last exam is 21st June for us

Justanother123 · 31/05/2023 17:43

My daughter has maths, English and science papers the W/E 16th June. Are you missing a week of his exam timetable? I think there’s 6 science (if doing double award science) papers, 4 English papers and 3 maths papers in total. Are you absolutely certain that you’re not missing something? (We’re in England).

megletthesecond · 31/05/2023 17:46

My dc's english state school contingency day is 28th June.
I certainly wouldn't risk it.

GladysHeeler · 31/05/2023 17:51

megletthesecond · 31/05/2023 17:46

My dc's english state school contingency day is 28th June.
I certainly wouldn't risk it.

So is everyone's. It's National Contingency Day.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 31/05/2023 17:53

DDs last exam is 16th June but some have exams to 21st. The pan they have prom and school have advised they need to be available for contingency date 28th June and leavers assembly 29th June when they are given clearance paperwork and are officially allowed to leave school so advised holidays should be booked after then. Not sure they can enforce that but I wont be risking it.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 31/05/2023 17:56

I’m sure she knows her DS’s exam timetable - not sure why everyone is doubting that! IGCSEs could easily all have finished by that date. Pearson Edexcel Eng Lang IGCSE paper is on Monday 5th June, for example, for all of you confidently stating that English is the following week. YOUR child’s English papers might be…

AliMonkey · 31/05/2023 18:00

Contingency days are the same for all schools - this year they are half days on 8 and 15 June and a whole day on 28 June. They are there for if there's a significant disruption that means a GCSE (or A level) has to be postponed in order for everyone to get a fair chance - it was introduced in 2019 as a response to the Manchester bombing and the Grenfell fire, which meant that affected students did not get a fair and equal chance (either not being able to sit, or going from the incident, traumatised, straight to the exam). So once your DC has sat their last GCSE, you know that they won't be required for a contingency day and it is then safe to book something. If you book something sooner then you take the risk of either having to not go on holiday (and potentially still have to pay for it) or your DC not sitting their GCSEs.

Orbitsound · 31/05/2023 18:02

saoirse31 · 31/05/2023 15:44

That seems absolutely insane. Are you seriously saying everyone who's done GCSE should not go on holidays or whatever till after 15th June? When you think it's not even a leaving school exam for most students? And surely the risk of exam papers going missing, etc must be vanishingly small?

That seems to trivialise what was brought in response a terrorist event and a horrific disaster.

And no, we didn't go away until after it and didn't know many people who chanced it, just the odd few.

Original poster

holidaythoughts · 31/05/2023 18:03

I really promise he finishes on the 7th. He will have done all his papers by then, he does indeed do iGCSE.
But that's what I don't know...once he's completed all his papers does he still need to be around for a contingency day? What could cause him to need to do another paper? I obviously don't want him to miss doing an exam and would never put him in that position for the sake of a cheap holiday and I'm probably being stupid but I can't really think what could happen to cause it bar as I say it suddenly coming to light that one of his exams he's sat had been compromised in some way. And if that had happened surely it would come to light quite soon after the paper had been taken....

OP posts:

Original poster

holidaythoughts · 31/05/2023 19:42

AliMonkey · 31/05/2023 18:00

Contingency days are the same for all schools - this year they are half days on 8 and 15 June and a whole day on 28 June. They are there for if there's a significant disruption that means a GCSE (or A level) has to be postponed in order for everyone to get a fair chance - it was introduced in 2019 as a response to the Manchester bombing and the Grenfell fire, which meant that affected students did not get a fair and equal chance (either not being able to sit, or going from the incident, traumatised, straight to the exam). So once your DC has sat their last GCSE, you know that they won't be required for a contingency day and it is then safe to book something. If you book something sooner then you take the risk of either having to not go on holiday (and potentially still have to pay for it) or your DC not sitting their GCSEs.

Thank you! that's exactly what I needed to know....

OP posts:

Simonjt · 31/05/2023 20:31

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 31/05/2023 17:56

I’m sure she knows her DS’s exam timetable - not sure why everyone is doubting that! IGCSEs could easily all have finished by that date. Pearson Edexcel Eng Lang IGCSE paper is on Monday 5th June, for example, for all of you confidently stating that English is the following week. YOUR child’s English papers might be…

Everyones English language is on Monday for both GCSE and IGCSE.

RoseAndRose · 31/05/2023 20:33

saoirse31 · 31/05/2023 15:44

That seems absolutely insane. Are you seriously saying everyone who's done GCSE should not go on holidays or whatever till after 15th June? When you think it's not even a leaving school exam for most students? And surely the risk of exam papers going missing, etc must be vanishingly small?

It is however entirely correct. If there is some sort or major catastrophe that leads to a paper being withdrawn and the contingency day used, then you risk your DC getting zero for that paper.

It's never been used - but that doesn't mean it never will be.

Comefromaway · 31/05/2023 22:44

My friends son and his classmates did indeed have to sit their GCSE the day after Manchester Arena where one student was horrifically attacked injured snd another killed.

awful.

mumofthree22 · 01/06/2023 07:41

My DS final GCSE OCR Additional Maths is on 23/6/23 which seems to be the final GCSE paper for all boards.

x2boys · 01/06/2023 08:46

Comefromaway · 31/05/2023 22:44

My friends son and his classmates did indeed have to sit their GCSE the day after Manchester Arena where one student was horrifically attacked injured snd another killed.

awful.

How sad if it's the pupils I'm thinking of the school is local.to my parents ,very tragic.

Lonecatwithkitten · 01/06/2023 08:59

saoirse31 · 31/05/2023 15:44

That seems absolutely insane. Are you seriously saying everyone who's done GCSE should not go on holidays or whatever till after 15th June? When you think it's not even a leaving school exam for most students? And surely the risk of exam papers going missing, etc must be vanishingly small?

There are so many things that could cause this to be used, National Contingency Day is a very real thing and students have to be available until that day. Though technical they should be available till the last Friday in June which is the 30tj this year that is National School Leaving Day.
Despite the fact that he is brand new we still have an older King and we have seen that a National Day of Mourning would still be put in place - this would disrupt exams. But terrorist action, extreme weather and other such events could have an effect.

GrammarTeacher · 01/06/2023 09:37

There is indeed an English exam on the first day back. And on the 12th.
It's been a while since I taught IGCSE English Language. Does it not still have two papers?

Also, lost papers are more common than you think. AQA lost both English Language papers for two of my students last year. Was a total nightmare

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 01/06/2023 09:54

There is indeed an English exam on the first day back. And on the 12th.
It's been a while since I taught IGCSE English Language. Does it not still have two papers?

Not Pearson IGCSE if students take the coursework option.