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Original poster

University 2020 :8: Use the CAGs, don’t use the CAGs...

999 replies

MillicentMartha · 16/08/2020 10:26

...if you can use the mocks, then use the mocks but not if they're higher than the CAGs.

And hopefully on to university!

Old thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3993327-University-2020-7-Results-tombola-roll-up-roll-up-pick-a-prize?pg=39

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
LaureBerthaud · 17/08/2020 12:34

@thesunwillout - you're very rude ! My comments had nothing to do with results.

Aragog · 17/08/2020 12:35

Won't affect DD in terms of university now. She has accepted her insurance and moved on already, albeit following devastation on Thursday.

One (poss 2) grades may go up slightly but the other (and possibly one fo the others) wouldn't change.

Her school were strict with the CAGs and would only include moderated mock grades, and didn't take into account uncompleted and therefore unmoderated NEA and coursework, or year 12 mocks and assignments. To be fair, the school hasn't helped some of their students regarding this either. For some of her friends their CAGs - based on just the Y13 January mock - were 2-3 grades lower than their predicated grades anyway. Luckily DD's weren't as far out as that.

seashellssand · 17/08/2020 12:37

will it apply to GCSES? statement only mentions a level

mushroom3 · 17/08/2020 12:37

My DD is having to take a forced year out due to the downgrade from both CAGs and Mocks. Checked on websites and no jobs available. Even if this is sorted out, her Firm is full and second choice starts lectures on 1st September(freshers is next week). Only one of her friendship group got into their firm and that is with downgrades. Everyone got downgraded well below the last couple of years results. Something has gone very wrong with the algorithm, it certainly has not been fair for the 200 sixth formers in her school, it's odd how some schools have done as per usual and others have had their results decimated. I know of parents who due to their child's poor results who are now insisting their child goes out to work rather than study, their lives are being affected permanently by this government's failure. No-one has mentioned that child tax credits and child benefit will not be extended to cover children taking their GCSEs and A levels in the Autumn. Many young people and their families can't financially afford the mess!

Aragog · 17/08/2020 12:45

For a lot of students this will come too late for their university choices. It may be good for their grades for the future, but not for their plans in September.

For example, we know that DD's firm is full - so even if her grades went up enough for what they now are asking, its too late. She took her insurance under Thursday's grades. I know many 18y in that position. Not many I know, if any, are holding a firm choice awaiting appeal.

Omelette9 · 17/08/2020 13:10

As a PP said, the timing may be designed such that the universities don't have to take all the children who had an offer because of UCAS predictions. There simply wouldn't be room for them all, either in the courses or in halls.

If CAGs are used as of today, courses will already be full, so unis may say that students need to apply for places to start in 2021. Which gives the new Y13 students a big disadvantage for their uni chances next year.

LimitIsUp · 17/08/2020 13:19

Let's deal with next years Y13's next year. The immediate problem is outgoing Y13

ShaunaTheSheep · 17/08/2020 13:41

Except that it is an immediate problem where you have a Y12 in the house, as well as a Y13 and a Y11. Appreciate most people were not crazy enough to have kids in consecutive school years Grin

Aragog · 17/08/2020 13:43

Let's deal with next years Y13's next year. The immediate problem is outgoing Y13

Whilst I agree this year's Y13 grades do need sorting out - that needs to be done ASAP.

But next year is too late to be sorting out the new Y13s and their exams too. They need to be working on this, this year. They need to be sorting out ahead of time and figuring out how to help those kids who have missed several week's of work time but who will be expected to sit full exams. But the exam boards could be set that task perhaps - or at least for them to put some proposals forward which would help reduce the disadvantage students may well be facing.

Same with the GCSEs. Year 11s need to sorted ASAP - and again we are talking within days as weeks and months is no use to these children.
And then the new Year 11s and the exams asap after that, but again next year is too late.

stoneysongs · 17/08/2020 13:44

According to S Times Ed correspondent...

University 2020 :8: Use the CAGs, don’t use the CAGs...
LimitIsUp · 17/08/2020 13:44

I don't mean to be unsympathetic, just to say that there is a very time sensitive issue right now. I do acknowledge that their could be knock on effects for next years A level students, but there is a 12 month lead in time to address it

ShaunaTheSheep · 17/08/2020 13:48

12 month lead in time? No there is not. UCAS forms will be drafted soon, and will need predicted grades. At the moment there is NO proposed changes to the exams, despite DC missing one-fifth of teaching.

But let’s park this for the time being, because it doesn’t need to be sorted out in the next 2 weeks.

LimitIsUp · 17/08/2020 13:50

I think we are on the same page actually - I accept that there are issues for next years cohort and that these need attention

LimitIsUp · 17/08/2020 13:51

And yes UCAS applications are a pressing issue

LimitIsUp · 17/08/2020 13:52

Clumsily worded your Sau 'next year' (phew! Grin)

LimitIsUp · 17/08/2020 13:53

'To say'

Omg! Blush

Badbadbunny · 17/08/2020 13:53

@Omelette9

As a PP said, the timing may be designed such that the universities don't have to take all the children who had an offer because of UCAS predictions. There simply wouldn't be room for them all, either in the courses or in halls.

If CAGs are used as of today, courses will already be full, so unis may say that students need to apply for places to start in 2021. Which gives the new Y13 students a big disadvantage for their uni chances next year.

There may be "wriggle room" in Unis that usually get a lot of overseas students who won't be coming due to covid etc. From what I understand, at the moment, Unis are being permitted to take on slightly more UK students to go towards filling the courses, but there'll still be fewer students overall. Perhaps they should now be allowed to increase their UK intake to fill their course spaces (especially as they should know by now how many overseas students they're short of) - perhaps more places could be created in the clearing system? My understanding is that it's up to the Govt to increase UK places due to provision of funding via student loans etc and of course, Unis would need more funding too as they get less funding for UK students compared with how much overseas students will pay. So, if the right decisions are made at Governmental level, there could be a new wave of course places coming available through clearing for the affected students who are going to get higher grades awarded a week or two after the first wave of results. (Cynics may suggest that was the plan all along!).
ShaunaTheSheep · 17/08/2020 13:55

Thanks, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. Sorry if I was a bit tetchy, but I’ve had 5 months of the middle child working diligently and moaning while his siblings had the rug pulled out from under them.

Badbadbunny · 17/08/2020 13:55

@LimitIsUp

I think we are on the same page actually - I accept that there are issues for next years cohort and that these need attention
Not just potentially higher numbers of applicants for uni places from 2021 leavers but also 2020 leavers who've taken a gap year (due to covid) or taken a year out to resit or whatever, but also maybe more overseas students too (the same two years' worth) who may be given more priority for 2021 places given they pay more!
LimitIsUp · 17/08/2020 13:59

Too optimistic to expect a planned expansion in uni places, like the French? (who used teacher assessed grades for the baccalaureate www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-europe-
france-2020-7-online-admission-goes-ahead-amid-university-expansion-plans/

specialted · 17/08/2020 14:05

Ds got allocated accommodation today , v happy he has first choice which we weren't expecting. @choirmumoftwo has your dc heard yet?

JacobReesMogadishu · 17/08/2020 14:05

I'm a uni lecturer - we can't take everyone on CAGS scores. We over offer by 2x what we can take. Knowing some won't accept us as we won't be first choice and then a proportion won't make their grades. We have no wiggle room. I can't go over by a single student, though I accept not all courses are this strict.

HesMyLobster · 17/08/2020 14:10

My DD is still holding out for her firm - they said they'd hold her place until appeal.
It's frustrating, still being in limbo when so many are moving forward with lists and packing etc.
I'm trying not to worry about accommodation. .

Monkey2001 · 17/08/2020 14:27

Really good article on HEPI about using CAGs

www.hepi.ac.uk/2020/08/16/a-levels-2020-a-system-without-much-appeal/