Thread 19 - Corona Cohort, Enrolling on Year 13, hopefully NOT unlucky for some

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

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The Education Commons Select Committee sat this morning to discuss the 2021 exam results and planning for 2022 exams (plus a bit of random covid stuff). In a nutshell - the decision on exam adaptions and grading for next year (summer 2022) will be published "very shortly this autumn". They are also about to launch a consultation on a contingency plan if exams are cancelled again - it is clear they are worried that this will be picked up by the papers with headlines like "GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CANCEL EXAMS AGAIN". Ofqual chaps and education ministers stressed these are just contingencies and they fully expect exams to go ahead. Hmmm, heard that before!

As a teacher, let alone a parent, this level of procrastination is appalling. We cannot plan the year ahead. Heads ought to roll but they are too stuck in the sand.

That's given me an amusing mental picture of Gavin W, Piggywaspushed, so thanks for that. I need all the laughs I can get.

I've had a fairly productive afternoon and managed to get meetings booked in with the school's safeguarding lead and the CAMHS nurse DD was seeing before. Maybe it'll help, maybe it won't...thanks for good wishes and thoughts .

Totally agree @Piggywaspushed - my hamster could do a better job. So glad my DS is doing IB (who managed to publish final plans for 2022 exams at the beginning of this year). Doesn't help my DD though who is doing GCSE in 2022. Actually considering snogging Gavin Williamson on camera so he has to resign.

Ewwwwww....

I think Gavin isn't long for the job. Be careful what you wish for though as there are others who could be far far worse...

What makes me most cross about Gavin Williamson is he is so ineffective. I can deal with different opinions; I think there is no excuse for ineptitude at that level. It is a disgrace that the A level and GCSE students are still in the dark about the plan for next year. Gggrrr. I knew watching the Select Committee was a mistake as it's just wound me up. And now I have to watch the recording of the committee I was supposed to be watching!

@Piggywaspushed

As a teacher, let alone a parent, this level of procrastination is appalling. We cannot plan the year ahead. Heads ought to roll but they are too stuck in the sand.

Absolutely!!!

On the bbc lunchtime news they showed the headline of having another firebreak lockdown in October for 4 weeks. But apparently it was denied by someone. So who knows?

A couple of DH's friends (in their early 60's, no health problems) have been called in for flu vaccines with a third covid booster at the same time. I didn't know they were doing this for "healthy" people. I know they said cancer patients and others with serious underlying health problems.

Terrifyingly true sandy.

A four week break in the first term - after many will be missing weeks before that due to catching covid? Just great. Arrrrrgggh!!!!

firebreak lockdown!!?? There are no words.

My stepsister is deputy head in local primary. Loads of staff already positive and talking about extending half term.

Oh Horace what imagery!

I don't know how the schools/colleges can plan anything with this level of ineptitude.

I've looked at Dd provisional exam timetable...it is not too bad, Mon 23rd May, Mon 6th June, Tues 7th June, Mon 13th June, Tues 14th June, Mon 20th June. All mornings, I think she gets study leave so a big chunk Weds to Sunday for any cramming. I won't tell her I know just yet....

Any idea when the provisional 'standby' date might be?

Don't want to think about our terrible leaders, Horace that would be a tiger mum escaped and over the edge!!!

Just seen that Newcastle have real open days 25/9 and 9/10. Of course they may be lost in the firebreak lock down.😢

A firebreak lockdown would be to acknowledge that Covid spreads in schools, and there has always been a distancing from that. Will have to wait and see but if it's just 'go home and be good with no other measures, it won't achieve much. It is worrying they think it might be necessary.

Do you think they will cancel exams again?

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn

A four week break in the first term - after many will be missing weeks before that due to catching covid? Just great. Arrrrrgggh!!!!

Bloody nightmare isn't it

Honestly I’ve really had enough of this messing around. Not for me, I can carry on doing what I’m doing just fine, but these children whose formative years are just being wrecked by ineptitude.

@Horace123 There’s ‘taking one for the team’ and there’s…
For those that have cautioned about being careful about what you wish for, and indeed to spare Horace the ordeal, who do you think Gav’s successor would be?

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail provisional / standby date might be the extra date they usually specify as being one to keep free in case it is needed. From memory when our lot were due to do GCSEs there was a date which was a reserve date in case something went wrong with an exam on a scale which affected lots of students. So you were supposed to make sure you didn’t leave to go holiday before then. Of course, that was in the days before we considered the fact that it was possible to cancel exams!

I thought Sajid Javid would take over. But that was before he replaced Matt Hancock.

Whispers: beware Kemi Badenoch.....

@Piggywaspushed

Whispers: beware Kemi Badenoch.....

Oh please, no !

I've just googled who could be next education secretary... Kemis name is mentioned a lot....

4:weeks 😯 Are they leaking this to make putting an extra week on half term more palatable ?