Year 11s shouldn’t have finished school early

[solarlights]

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/03/schools-should-not-send-exam-year-pupils-home-early-says-ofsted-head

My DD went on exam leave on April 31st only attending school for the exams that were supposedly cancelled —but not—
They finished completely on 24th May despite missing months and months of school over their GCSE course, so what’s all this about? Our year 11s have been totally let down.

That's amazing for your son.

@Eaumyword that's brilliant good for him

I did volunteer working during my summer after GCSEs. I really enjoyed it, learn a lot and it looked great on my CV. I know that food banks often appreciate help, or local churches.

Foodbanks are not taking volunteers atm. I am not sure many posters appreciate that covid has shut down a lot of opportunities for enrichment.

I've also stated that I wouldn't expect the teachers to do any more.

Who is doing it then? I am a bit flummoxed by that. Your plans sound a little bit like the pie in the sky 'oh no , but we don't mean teachers work more' stuff from DfE/ Sir Kevan Collins etc.

My mum recently started volunteering at a food bank which is why I suggested it. Sounds like different ones are doing different things. Definitely worth a go.

I haven't read the full thread, but DS is hoping to do Maths, Physics and History or Geography at college.

He is well aware that he needs to do work over the summer considering the subjects he's doing.

The teachers will do some sessions through June but after that they are on their own. And so it should be, he knows he can't have 3 months of no maths and walk into an A Level class. If he doesn't do anything, that's on him, not the teachers.

Many of DS's have gone above and beyond and even if something was offered, I'd refuse... They need a bloody break.

Certainly not round by me sherry.

Your area is a bit covidy though, piggy

That's fair enough @Piggywaspushed, as I stated they are around me.

It's worth a go for a student at a loose end as there may be opportunities that people write off as a 'not because of covid' without actually investigating properly.

I will encourage DS2 to have another look but as noble says we are covidy! Which also does make me think it is stupid to still have year 11 and 13ss in/get them back in and add 450 more potential contacts to trace.

One of the bonuses of not being in school is that they won't be having to isolate for ten days due to a close contact testing positive!

Exactly!

local primaries here that we have approached for work experience are not taking anyone (due to covid). But thank you for the other links which we will check out.

It’s not primaries who are doing the summer school for the year 6s into year 7s prep. It’s the secondaries. I’d ask those @Foosterin

@motherrunner thank you I’ve just had a read. It doesn’t sound like my dds school are doing what has been described at all. They have done one set of exams in the same format as a GCSE and been told theses are basically the grade. No idea what else they are using if anything. Definitely not had multiple chances to show what level they’re at. I’m feeling really worried/annoyed at the disparity now but too late to change anything. Just spoken to a friend who’s ds is the same age as my dd and her ds was mainly taught a topic then given a half hour test straight after. Is that allowed?

Definitely not had multiple chances to show what level they’re at

Did they do mocks last Nov/Dec? Have they had topic tests in class since last September?

Just spoken to a friend who’s ds is the same age as my dd and her ds was mainly taught a topic then given a half hour test straight after. Is that allowed?

Yes, technically allowed. You need to be aware (as do others on this thread including some teachers) that it largely does not matter what other schools have done. What matters is that within a school, all pupils have been treated consistently with each other.

@ChloeDecker yes mocks last December but not topic tests. She’s has had regular tests in maths but not other subjects. Don’t know what to think.

@Eaumyword

My Yr11 DS has been despondent because he's tried to get a job and can't and has slipped into that routine of bed in the early hours and afternoon waking with gaming since finishing school on 21st May. His mates have girlfriends and he doesn't yet, so has not had his usual crew to hang out with. We have a community shop in our village and I encouraged him to go and see the lady in charge. He's just got back from an hour's trial and been accepted for volunteer shifts for the summer. Although at 16, he's all trying to be cool about life and all that, I'm so excited for him to learn new skills and get a bit of routine back. He won't admit it, but he's happy about it too! He told me he's already learned the till! It would have been nice to earn some money, but he'll get a reference, new skills and a confidence boost which will hopefully help him for the future. We're suddenly more optimistic that this summer will be a good one now- I must admit I was worrying that 3 months+ of him doing nothing would drive us all nuts!

I’d like Ds to do some work too. Not d dry day but maybe a couple a week.

Not sure what yet, he’s sort of keen but maybe it’s the idea more than reality. Not sure where to look either

Not sure where to look either

I’ve posted lots of links on this thread Marsha, to start off with. I hope your DS finds something.

@ChloeDecker

Not sure where to look either

I’ve posted lots of links on this thread Marsha, to start off with. I hope your DS finds something.

Ok thanks I didn’t rtft but will scroll back

yes mocks last December but not topic tests.

Mocks unseen (without the exam boards making public all the questions) are given a high level rating (meaning under exam conditions with invigilators etc) would be the best indicator anyway and if the results were already indicative, then multiple more assessments would not be needed.
Besides, schools only needed between 3-5 pieces of evidence and that can come from NEA, homework, class topic tests, 1 hour assessments or mocks.

I am sure many parents would have been desperate for their children not to have to sit multiple 1 hour assessments within a two week period just gone because their own schools didn’t have the opportunity to sit mocks because a lot plan for them to be in January.
I really would try not to compare with other schools and what they have done.

@ChloeDecker thank you for the reassurance. Yes mocks and most recent exams both unseen (exam conditions, invigilators etc.) I’ve got over my panic now, she’ll hopefully move onto A’levels and GCSES will be a distant memory.

[quote solarlights]@ChloeDecker thank you for the reassurance. Yes mocks and most recent exams both unseen (exam conditions, invigilators etc.) I’ve got over my panic now, she’ll hopefully move onto A’levels and GCSES will be a distant memory.[/quote]
It would have helped if your school Head had informed parents of their process but I guess they are swamped! As a parent I can imagine the worry about getting the best for your child. I’m glad that you feel a little better.