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Original poster

Do you think GCSE’s will really go ahead?

78 replies

Lemons1571 · 16/10/2020 21:11

Gavin Williamson says they will. Apparently though there will also be “contingency plans” Hmm

I can’t see how they can possibly make GCSE’s remotely fair, with some year 11’s getting far more time in school, than others who are constantly isolating repeatedly. I don’t think schools will have any legal requirement to provide a proper provision until 22nd October, so that’s 7 months since March of wildly variable opportunity to learn.

What scares me most is the thought of my year 11 sitting an exam where he doesn’t recognise a lot of the content. He works hard but his school have been limited in what they’ve provided to date. And across the country, year 11 are running out of time.

Someone tell me it’ll be alright ConfusedSad

OP posts:
DazzlingDaisy · 17/10/2020 17:33

I don't think it can happen. My friend's daughter's year group have all had to isolate twice, so that's 4 weeks of interrupted schooling, compared to other children who have been in school the whole time. They have had online lessons, but it isn't quite the same.

MintyCedric · 17/10/2020 19:17

It's heart breaking watching her work so hard when the bunch of fuckwits in charge could render it futile

It must be even more worrying when your DC has the challenge of dyslexia or similar to contend with.

I have no idea how our school has managed to afford TeachStream if that's expensive, we're just a state school, albeit with church affiliation so perhaps the diocese has chipped in Confused

Original poster
Lemons1571 · 17/10/2020 19:42

How sad that the government are not funding teachstream or similar technology. They really don’t prioritise education in any meaningful way (unless it’s “keep schools open (we’re paying for them anyway) and sod the teacher illness that’s just collateral damage”).

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 17/10/2020 19:55

I note you mentioned school ipads as well minty so it sounds like your school invests heavily in tech.

I don't even have access tot he computers required to teach my subject in school!

These predicted grades some posters are talking about... are they target grades set based on KS2 or CATs? if so, that's not the same as predicted grades which would reflect real progress made and the hard work . if students are achieving above target grades at the moment, any CAG type thing would reflect that.

My DS had target grades (called MEGs in his place) of all 6s and got all 9s, 8s and 7s for his GCSE CAGs except music which we try not to mention

Belladonna12 · 17/10/2020 20:00

I think they will go ahead as doing the exam would be better than the predicted grades fiasco. They will probably stop doing them in a year or two so won't count for much in future anyway.

Fruitloopcowabunga · 17/10/2020 20:10

Surely now is the time to ditch the Gove-led 'exams only' way of doing things and include more course work. DS has had 2 2-week spells of isolation already. Ironically, he quite likes exams (he is autistic so likes the certainty and has a terrible memory so prefers cramming at the last minute) but I don't think it is fair to have an all or nothing system, especially now.

SusannaSpider · 17/10/2020 20:25

It's heart breaking watching her work so hard when the bunch of fuckwits in charge could render it futile

Whilst I agree about the fuckwits, I don't agree that it's futile, she'll be setting the groundwork for moving on to A-levels.
My DD had her English GCSE this week (it went badly 😥) and has science and maths over the next few weeks. She has to take them due to the way her school move on to more GCSEs, she's so stressed, but is just ploughing on, because what else can you do 🤷 Behaviour in yr11 is at an all time low, as the kids are furious and anxious. Lots are drinking, someone really needs to pay attention to teen mental health.

KitKatastrophe · 17/10/2020 21:43

They can't announce it any time soon
What would they do with the year 11s for the next 7 months if they know there are no exams at the end of it? Also they need to give the teachers time to get to know the students well enough to do accurate teacher assessments. Some people may only have been in a room with their teacher for a few hours so far due to self isolating or similar.

SusannaSpider · 17/10/2020 22:04

What would they do with the year 11s for the next 7 months if they know there are no exams at the end of it?

The same as they do any other year - teach them. All their work will count, so it's not as if the kids will be slacking off (or not the ones that care anyway).

Coffeeandbeans · 17/10/2020 22:06

My child’s school has done a video for the kids. Exams are planned but made clear that they will only go ahead if it is fair across England. Otherwise plan B will be centre assessment grades. However these will be based on two sets of mocks. First set Nov. 2nd set Jan/Feb. Kids have been told to treat the mocks as CAG exams and to revise for them.

MoreW1ne · 17/10/2020 22:14

@SusannaSpider

What would they do with the year 11s for the next 7 months if they know there are no exams at the end of it?

The same as they do any other year - teach them. All their work will count, so it's not as if the kids will be slacking off (or not the ones that care anyway).

Maybe in the school you teach at but that's unlikely in mine, or many of the inner city ones I've worked in.

Without the exams many year 11s will give up, either physically not attending or just losing interest.

They'll assume they'll get a grade from their teacher especially given the inflation of CAS this year and the while time teachers will be under pressure from parents about what grade theyll give their DCs.

SusannaSpider · 17/10/2020 22:22

Maybe in the school you teach at but that's unlikely in mine, or many of the inner city ones I've worked in.

I don't teach😱 respect to anyone that does though.
Our yr11 is imploding already, hence my comment above about needing to pay attention to the mental health of teens, especially the yr11s and yr13s. Alcohol abuse is beyond belief with my DDs year (yr11). I've no idea if I'm old and it is normal, but lots of incidents of being drunk on school premises and parties always have alcohol. They are all so stressed and fucked off.

Hercwasonaroll · 17/10/2020 22:22

Agreed that saying CAGs now would be the death toll on mine working. They'd demand a GCSE for no work and can you imagine the parents once grades were awarded. It would be a disaster.

Hercwasonaroll · 17/10/2020 22:23

Death knell not toll. (it's late)

onedayinthefuture · 17/10/2020 22:31

Contingency plans have always been in place. Schools are currently holding large scale mock exams, GCSE's will go ahead.

Hercwasonaroll · 17/10/2020 22:32

Contingency plans have always been in place.

This year proved they haven't.

I'd love to know these plans.... Because the ones the government are running with at the moment are terrible.

Apple40 · 17/10/2020 22:59

I think they will go ahead after the embarrassment of this years grades. My local high school have already told the kids you need to really apply yourself for the mocks and treat them like the real thing as these will be your grades if you can’t not take them for what ever reason.

Mancala57 · 18/10/2020 23:26

How come some are doing English, Maths and Science GCSEs now? I thought they were as linear ie exams in summer? What boards do them at this time of year?

noblegiraffe · 18/10/2020 23:29

There are always English and maths resits in November for those that narrowly fail in the summer to have another chance.

This year they are offering exams in all subjects for students who weren’t happy with their CAG grade assigned in the summer and think they can improve in an exam.

Coffeeandcocopops · 18/10/2020 23:29

“Resits” from the summer - not really resits as they never sat them in the first place but I’m not sure what else to call them. This was the govts answer to those that were not happy with their CAGs.

SusannaSpider · 18/10/2020 23:49

How come some are doing English, Maths and Science GCSEs now?

Some schools put yr 11 pupils in for the October exams. They are not resits. My DD is one of them having her first attempt at Maths, English and science this month and next month. I'm not happy about it, she's missed so much schooling and is so stressed. It's just the way some schools do it.

SeasonFinale · 19/10/2020 20:35

@SusannaSpider

How come some are doing English, Maths and Science GCSEs now?

Some schools put yr 11 pupils in for the October exams. They are not resits. My DD is one of them having her first attempt at Maths, English and science this month and next month. I'm not happy about it, she's missed so much schooling and is so stressed. It's just the way some schools do it.

Maths and English maybe but I am unaware of any exam board that has an Autumn exam sitting for science (other than for those who were entered into Summer 2020 exams) unless you are not in England maybe?
pinkyboots1 · 19/10/2020 20:38

I don't think they'll go ahead, daughter has changed her plans from seeking an apprenticeship with on course learning to going to Sixth Form College so that she can catch up on the exams she hoped to do.. it's not ideal but it's a better idea than doing nothing

SusannaSpider · 19/10/2020 23:19

@SeasonFinale
Maths and English maybe but I am unaware of any exam board that has an Autumn exam sitting for science (other than for those who were entered into Summer 2020 exams) unless you are not in England maybe?

Funnily enough, I know what exams my daughter is sitting and whenHmm
Cambridge iGCSE have autumn sittings for science.

SansaSnark · 19/10/2020 23:35

Maths and English maybe but I am unaware of any exam board that has an Autumn exam sitting for science (other than for those who were entered into Summer 2020 exams) unless you are not in England maybe?

I thought it was decided in the end that even those not entered for summer exams could be entered for autumn exams- so in theory people could be entered early for two bites at the cherry, even if they weren't entered for summer 2020.