Do we still think GCSE’s & A Levels will go ahead?

[Lemons1571]

We’ve been lucky. DS hasn’t had to isolate, and completed a full set of mocks in December. But so many millions of year 11 haven’t been as lucky, and have missed months of in-person schooling. Now there are rumours of lockdown and schools closing. And possibly not feasible to put them all in exam halls in June (it’s less than 6 months away and none of them will have been vaccinated). Is it even remotely feasible for kids en masse to be examined in a few months time?

Nope. I don’t. They need to cancel them and make alternative arrangements now instead of pissing about at the last minute again

No and don’t think it would be fair for them to.

No

How would they grade them? The poor kids have missed so much time in school it would be impossible to gather enough information wouldn't it?

Mock grades possibly I know my niece managed to do her mocks.

No but don’t expect Gav to do anything about it in any sort of sensible time scale.

I can't see how they can - but I suspect they will inform parents, teachers and head teachers about 2 days before they are supposed to take place.

My DC (Y11) has had 4 weeks SI - my niece has had 6 weeks last term. In addition DN (Y13) has had a supply teacher in for 10 weeks now for one of his A level choices because his teacher caught Covid and is still ill. His year group have also been out of school for 4 weeks isolating.

How can it be fair to take an exam? He doesn't think they will get through the course now.

DS hasn't even done mocks yet, was due to do them in January.

I said on another thread a while back they should blanket pass everyone last year, this year and next, and focus instead on sensible and appropriate progression. Any grades kids get through this time will always be looked as made up. Spare them the agony.

Like every other major education announcement this year, the government will wait until the last possible moment and tell the nation before informing the teachers themselves.

No way, and I've got one in each year

I have DD due to take her IB exams in May. Even more uncertainty for us as its down to the IB whether they run the exams or not. I'm thinking not but who knows!

No. There are some year 11’s in my school who have self isolated 3 times. It’s just not fair for them to sit exams against pupils who haven’t.

They shouldn't.
Whether they will or not, who knows.
My son is year 11 - he has done mocks but they did most of them from home as year group isolating, so they won't count for anything.

The mocks he did do at school first, he came home and said "mum they just had the whole of year 11 in one room for 2 hours do you think that was a good idea?"
Turns out possibly not (see previous paragraph).

He's only had to isolate once though, I know another year 11 who has done 4 x 2 weeks.

Exams officer here... we could have easily sat the students for exams last summer, as with no or barely any students in, we'd have both gyms, the canteen, the hall, plus our pick of classrooms. We could double-space the seats then.

I don't think they SHOULD run, or that it's fair, but logistically it's possible.

What about those who have done their mocks as home, unregulated, tad unfair if they then cancel exams and take the grades into consideration.

We were intending to have y11 and 13 taught remotely for a week at the start of term so we could try to make mocks run safely in case we need "valid mocks". We're not allowed to do that.
Whatever is decided will be ill thought out and happen at the last minute. That's how this has "worked" so far.

Nope. I predict a U-turn.

I hope they don’t go ahead, it will be really unfair for so many young people. My dd would prefer it if they didn’t as the stress/uncertainty of school/no school, exams/no exams is too much for her. She just wants a decision made so they know where they stand. Knowing this government though, it’ll probably be a U turn the week before!

I think that exams should be cancelled, education has been sketchy for most of this year, teachers and students have spent time out of school at separate times so there has been no consistency.

I think the government will insist they go ahead right up to a few days before and then cancel them.

We talk a lot about mental health and well-being but this government seems determined to destroy our young people.

All those kids isolating could be doing some work, following the syllabus, with input from the schools (shame on them if not helping those who miss school). Not ideal but 15-18 year olds can help themselves.
Last year there was no sensible reason for cancelling the exams. Syllabus was over, schools were empty and you sit some distance apart during exams. This year there is definitely more justification for cancelling but my daughter really hopes they don't.

No and I never did.

No.

Mock grades possibly I know my niece managed to do her mocks.

My daughter has gotten herself in a right state worrying that mock grades wii be what matters.

She starts her mocks in 5th January and will be doing them every day for the first two weeks back. Her school never opened to y10s like some did, and then y11 has been constant disruptions with many kids being sent home to isolate for six and seven times.

I know last years y11 had disruptions too but at least the ones who sat mocks in January did so without missing loads of the previous year. If they go on mocks results then it's not a level playing field either because some schools online access differed so much for the previous y10s.

I don't know what the answer is though.

Who knows

Maybe

Very glad Ds had done his mocks

No, but I’m hoping the announcement isn’t made until much later in term. Our students have just done mocks, if they were told exams aren’t happening behaviour between now and June would plummet as they wouldn’t have anything to work towards.