University 2020 :4: The wait for grades and better days ahead

[MillicentMartha]

New thread for us. Interesting times.

Old thread here

It seems utterly fair Peaseblossom, on this incredibly small sample. The independents are all sending work and I think only one and a third FE (but I haven't checked thoroughly :)). If the independents are the only schools levering in work done after the exam announcement then let's hope the exam boards take full note of that fact. It can't be treated in the same way as work submitted ahead, if the exam boards are attempting to be fair. (That said, I do think quite a bit of this enthusiasm for setting work will be about fees, rather than gaming).

Not all indies are sending work! Ours hasnt, exorting U6 to have a rest, sharing some ideas for enrichment, TED talks etc but certainly no work. Fees for A levels waived.

That's good to hear hobbema! Impressed by their lack of work! :)

PBLR I hope your son isn’t too disappointed by the rejections. I work in a supermarket and there were over 200 applications in about 3 days. There are only about 40 jobs available.

Thank you. Yes it's been a series of rejections for him unfortunately and he had just been selected for a job at an exam board for the summer, having missed out last year so I am trying to keep his spirits up as that has definitely gone now too

Could he tutor Y10s online in his subject area? Keep trying that supermarkets or little corner shops/post offices that are busy. Off licenses?

Goodbye I counted up since you asked and it’s so far 5 state providing work and 3 indie so fairly equal. I accept it’s about fees and that on balance more independents will provide work but it’s certainly not exclusive . Local state schools here seem anecdotally to be split roughly 50:50.

I am worried that indies would be penalised , after all the guidance has not yet been published and the published guidance that there is does specifically refer to exams , why would schools not help them to prepare .? Also ds coursework is not officially due by the board until 15 May just because your school has a very early deadline for submission why should other pupils who were sticking to the official deadline be penalised. The local state school deadline for submission was even later here. My ds has spent a year working on his coursework , I don’t think he should be penalised because the final deadline happened to be after 20 March when 99% of the work was completed ( just references and bibliography to be checked)

Just had an email from ds school saying we will still be charged school fees for next term. They pointed out teachers were still doing on line lessons and setting work and preparing for a level grade assessments etc. Ds still finishing off history coursework, has been dragging on for weeks but think he's now hoping it will count for something more so is putting max effort in . He's had lots of work set, but not a bad thing as needs to keep up spanish skills for uni course

Any ideas when the autumn exams might take place? I’d been assuming Sept but a friend has mentioned November. If so they wouldn’t help for this year’s university admissions.

The Times on Monday said that the September (re)sits would be for October 2021, but I haven't seen that anywhere else.

Thank you aibu. Yes we are looking at online tutoring and stuff and will keep trying with the retail outlets as well. Thanks so much for your support, really appreciated

@pblr If your DS is 18 maybe ask him to register with an agency called Redwigwam
... They are advertising lots of positions with Morrisons at the moment.

Thanks Oneteen, I've just let him know. Fingers xd

Yes our school (state) is setting on line work

Totally agree with @Hugo....

@HugoSpritzvery I agree , this is a very difficult time for all our dc and we should try to help each other support them and not cause difference where there is none , this thread is sofast moving has your ds decided where to firm ?

Hi all

My Dds state school has set some work but said it’s optional and recommended if you are studying that area at uni or think you might sit autumn exams. As long as courses has been taught a student could decide after July whether to do loads of revision etc?

V good points about low birth year, lower international students etc though I agree for some unis I am sure wealthy keen students will still travel. Cost might be an issue for some now sadly?

Such strange times...

Oh come on Hugo, it's always quite funny to see what the indies are up to - and my comments are pretty light. I've no quarrel at all with indies, why would I? I went to one myself, albeit on a direct grant. But give an inch and they'll (or some will) take a mile, and the parents wouldn't have it any other way. I'm not wrapped up about it and I don't think any attempt to lever in generously marked mocks or essays will do any good, I'm just always interested and amused by antics. We've now been told next week is when the formal guidance will be issued, but lots of informal steers have already been given.

And Hugo all schools have completed mocks before the end of the Spring Term. Most schools have their coursework in I'd have thought - as I've said, ours asks for all coursework in the Autumn Term. Essays written/ assignments completed between the start of Y13 and now, with the addition of mocks and coursework should be ample for current working grades. There is absolutely no need for further essays squeezed in at the last minute - students are always on the home strait by this stage in Y13, not doing new essays, in the normal course of events. Exam boards know this.

Ds coursework for design technology is due on 1st May, History is due to the tutor on 21st April, so very different to some. He's also been told they are finishing the syllabus for the next 3-4 weeks and are expected to submit weekly essays

DS’s English coursework (25% of mark) was due in yesterday.

Goodbye I am sure your school is amazing but it does seem to have very different internal submission dates from any other school. In all the years we have been on these threads together your dc school has always been different. The vast majority of schools have coursework deadlines about now , many schools have the day they come back after Easter .

My dc have always been doing new essays in the Easter before exams in fact new essays all the way up until the day study leave starts and after as the teachers carry on marking practice essays up until the exam is done .

I think we just have to accept that all schools are different , from the evidence on this thread the divide is not a state and independent one as there appear to be both types of school in both camps .

Amazing is a bit steep Peaseblossom, and of course schools vary in quality and ethos with changes in leadership. So: your adjective not mine.

True, none of mine have had essays in at this stage of the academic year.

Nevertheless, in this very odd year, the bulk of the weight is bound to be placed on what came before the announcement that exams were cancelled and very little on what came after. It's just common sense. I don't even see why that's going to be a problem. Schools track all the time. All half way competent teachers should know exactly what grades their students are currently working at right now. If they don't, then maybe they're in the wrong profession.

Well all the work for dc coursework was done before the 20th, just because it wasn’t submitted I don't see why it should be excluded .