Was cancelling exams the right thing to do ?

[happymummy2010]

If schools start opening in early June, do you think it was the right decision to cancel GCSEs and A-Levels ?

I think this decision was made as it was thought schools would be closed until September.

It would be nice for Year 11 to be able to do their 6th Form induction days,. My DS school has said they hope to run these, but I'm not sure this will be possible.

I really feel for the Year 11 and Year 13 kids.

I'd imagine most schools will do something in August to induct the new intake, give them a tour of the site etc or possibly have a staggered start in September. We already do similar for children with SEN to familiarise them (or refamiliarise them if they are already with us)

For my students cancelling exams was the absolutely right thing to do, they would have been massively disadvantaged otherwise as we cover one of the poorest areas in the UK with considerable socio-economic problems, high percentage of young carers and lack of robust (not phone dats) Internet access. We did our Yr 11 data the other day and I think we got it pretty much spot on for what the students deserve.

Yes, cancelling exams was the only decision they could make in the circumstances and I’m glad they were decisive. Schools are now putting a massive amount of work into looking at the evidence to grade students. It would be great if they can get back in for inductions though. My DD is choosing between two schools and we were really relying on those. What will be will be though, and while they have missed out on a lot, they have undoubtedly learnt some important things too.

*data

Yes, it was the right decision to cancel. The gulf between what different schools could & couodnt do to prepare their students for the exams during lockdown is too wide. The disruption would have made it not an even playing field.

Yes, I think it was the right decision. The alternative would have been Yr 11 and 13 being told to continue to revise hard for their exams at home because there's a chance they might get to take them, but then again probably not. This level of uncertainty would be extremely stressful for pupils. I wouldn't want to spend every day revising if I knew there was a high likelihood of not sitting the exam.

Some exams take place in May, I believe. When I sat my exams, practical exams such as science and language orals, took place a couple of weeks ahead of the written exams. Don't know if that's still the case?

Also, exams take a lot of preparation n the weeks before - printing and distributing papers, getting invigilators in place, arranging desks in the halls for pupils to sit at. A decision needed to be taken early about exams one way or the other because of the early preparation that's needed.

It was the only thing the could do.

CornishYarg Yes my DD first day of exam would have been on Thursday. But some her friends who are doing Art exams were on the 27th April.

She was doing okay, but we were going through my diary yesterday do the weekly meal plan when she noticed her exams should be starting this week and it really knocked her for six and she broke down. Luckily I hadn't transferred to our main calendar.

I don’t like exams in general. They test you a lot on how much you remember stuff and can get it down on paper in a timed condition. I remember for my a levels just remembering quotes of a text and critics word for word. Exams cause such a huge amount of stress and anxiety and I think this impacts the results of a lot of young people.

Formative assessment is better in my opinion. Assessing coursework etc throughout the year - even if it’s done by an independent body.

How many people do exams and then immediately forget what they learned now they don’t have to “remember” it? That was definitely the case for my GCSEs!

So I’m glad they cancelled exams because I don’t feel they are beneficial anyway. I also think it was the only thing they could have done in the situation.

I am glad exams were cancelled. If they had been going ahead, the gap between students would have widen even more. Some schools are doing live lessons, some are teaching remotely, some (very few I'm sure) are doing very little.

The difference in home circumstances amongst my 90 Yr 11s is huge. Some are only children, with one well educated parent at home. Some are looking after several younger siblings all day whilst parents work. Some would have time, space and resources to work, some won't.

This is the least unfair way of doing it IMO.

Yes, the entire scottish exam diet is in may. It couldnt possibly go ahead.

I have 2 DS who would have taken A levels this year, I really feel for them. I am pleased the decision was decisive and final - rather than "will they won't they" but I am not sure it was the right one from an educational point of view. In the last few months of a course and during the final exams you consolidate and learn so much - not just the subject but how to study. Now they are going to Uni I really hope provision will be made to help them as I think they will not have such a good foundation as previous years of students.

Yes. Exam season starts next week so even if schools open June 1st it wouldn’t have been possible to run the exam season as weeks of exams would have been missed.

You're all right, it does made sense to cancel the exams, but I do feel sorry for the students as they probably won't get to go back into school to say a proper goodbye to their teachers and friends When schools closed in March things were very rushed and stressful in school.

It's such a shame the students aren't going to have the usual post exam summer of fun, because even with some lockdown restrictions lifted it is very unlikely they will be able to spend the summer hanging out with their friends, having parties and going on holiday etc . I understand this is necessary for the safety of others and helping contain the virus, but I do feel sad for these kinds ☹️

Yes I don't see how exams could have carried on at all. I feel for year 11s and year 13s also but hopefully they will receive fair grades and luckily would have covered most of the content of their courses.

I feel that year 10s and year 12s will also be disadvantaged for the reasons @Greenandcabbagelooking mentioned. Also how much further disruption is likely from September onwards if schools do return? In the grand scheme of things could these exams also be cancelled as schools priority will be to maintain safety. It is going to be a very different set up when they open. My year 10 dd was due to be taking a language exam this year but instead of getting confirmation that it has been cancelled her school are saying to be prepared for the exam taking place in November. She was looking forward to this one being finished to have additional time for another subject and has lost all motivation to carry on.