Going into Year 13 - Uni entry 2021 - have they been forgotten?

[albicocca]

Is anyone else concerned about the children just about to start Year 13 and their opportunities for university entry in 2021? I have seen virtually no discussion about how this A level shambles might effect them. It seems to me there will inevitably be fewer university places for next year. Many of those who planned to go to uni this year will be deferring their places to 2021 (indeed some universities are offering money for them to do so now!) resulting in far fewer places. The current group will also have (on average) higher grades than next years cohort. So those taking A levels in 2021 will be competing for fewer places with lower grades. Have they been forgotten? What is the government doing to protect their opportunities too?

Where your DC have full timetables, are you referring to schools or sixth forms? I didnt realise how much it varies!

Sewingbeefan Sixth Form of a school, same site.

@Baaaahhhhh Sounds very well organised!

The only thing that has changed in DS’ school is that they Aldo have to do an “elective” course (double session)alongside three A-levels and the EPQ double session every week. Some of the electives were open to L6 and U6 but some have had to change choices so that year groups are not mixed. I think the EPQ finishes by half term and they have to do the presentation on it before then, but not entirely sure. Do they will free up s couple of hours in the timetable.

I see the govt have made another Fri evening announcement.....

The DfE is a nightmare! Issuing a new set of guidelines at 6pm on a Fri of a BH when schools due in on the Tuesday is a shocker. But to then change it again at midnight?!! They don’t even highlight the changes or ‘track changes’. Head teachers must be tearing their hair out.
I guess we’ll see what it’s looking like next week. Are any of yours back yet?

Exams 50:50 (stolen from yr11 thread)
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8678705/Tory-MP-warns-50-50-chance-school-exams-scrapped-summer.html

Thanks for the link NotDonna. I fear the dopey GW wont grasp the need to plan ahead though, or acknowledge the differences in provision between schools.

He needs sacking!!

BBC have an article this morning about possibility of exams being moved back to Mid-July. There goes our holidays.........

Yes I saw that the headline news this morning was about Labour recommending exams get pushed back, but I think this is equally pointless. It won’t address the inequality. Schools that have managed full curriculum provision throughout will use the extra time to consolidate and give their students the extra advantage during that extra half-term, while others will be playing catch up, just to get through the curriculum. Waste of time.

I agree question and how will they turn the marking around so quickly. They won’t find extra examiners! They’ll be wanting a summer holiday too, and rightly so!
I’m not convinced this is a good solution. If they can find enough examiners (which I doubt) it’ll be a massive rush to get them marked in time for Uni, apprenticeships etc. Will that be an extra 6 weeks teaching? Enough to make up for lost time now, maybe, but only without further lockdowns. What if there’s local lockdowns & remote teaching patchy again? All seems very unfair.
I’m not understanding why they can’t do CAGs. Assess like degrees are assessed. Lots of internal then external moderation. Maybe I’m missing something.
My DD would prefer exams. I think she could pull a better grade in an exam. But a CAG would be fairer for all on the proviso of evidence & moderation.
BUT the evidence could be an issue couldn’t it? And lead to teachers constantly having to test, test, test. Our educational system is too much of an exam culture already.
Oh I don’t know but the solution is not delayed exams.

I have a feeling that they may ultimately have to fall back on CAGs again, or maybe something like 50% weighting on CAGs and 50% on exams. If it were 100% CAGs again, unis might kick up a stink if they fear it will lead time inflated grades again. They might make less conditional offers in anticipation of this.

But probably what will actually happen is .... absolutely nothing. Then GW will have a massive flap in about March when students start demonstrations / petitions.

It’ll be too little and most definitely too late.

I'm thinking no one will be calling them Mickey Mouse grades again 😊.
As a teacher I hope plans are made now. Before half term. Easy to have a few solutions - reduces content, later exams (although I won't be marking them if after July), CAGs (but ones with guidelines so each school uses the same formula).
Plan now. Let staff and students know what to expect and then we can plan.
But I doubt they will.

Mumsneedwine definitely not, as Govey's own children will be sitting/not sitting them next summer!

I agree mums there needs to be a few solutions put forward, at this point I would like to hope (but doubt) that they are thinking of contingency for different scenarios.

I am surprised about the talk of pushing exams back, ok to June but most private schools finish at the beginning of July and holidays will be booked already etc.

I guess it's just about finding the fairest solution that fits the majority.

MG’s daughter is quite er, known on Tik Tok. DD says some of her videos were taken down.

Surely CAGS will be out, as it’ll be the same situation with kids besieging Oxbridge, Durham etc with grades which under exam conditions they would (probably) not have achieved. Or else in this round of university applications the institutions will ensure they change their system and barely over-offer. Complicated, though, if you are an insurance choice and relying on a grade drop. Perhaps a student should only be allowed a “firm” if everyone’s going to get into their first choice.

Surely CAGS will be out, as it’ll be the same situation with kids besieging Oxbridge, Durham etc with grades which under exam conditions they would (probably) not have achieved. Although obviously the DC of all posters on this thread will be the exception and will happily accept their worthless 4 x A*s as long as they get them into the university of their choice!

I'm not quite clear why Michael Gove's daughter keeps being mentioned. You don't choose your parents.

Not that everyone has an issue with Michael Gove anyhow, obviously.

I'mnot quite clear why Michael Gove's daughter keeps being mentioned. You don't choose your parents. No, but he's bound to whip GW or his successors into shape to avoid this year's fiasco. His son will be taking his GCSEs.

“Although obviously the DC of all posters on this thread will be the exception and will happily accept their worthless 4 x A*s as long as they get them into the university of their choice!”

I’ve never suggested the grades for students this year were “worthless.” What on earth were they supposed to do? Hardly their fault this whole shambles has come about is it?

If it’s CAGs again next year, well, we’ll just have to take our chances with that. DS doing A-levels will probably be ok either way, despite the face that his school (independent) seems to be one if the few that has not over-inflated grades at all and there are quite a few with Durham offers etc that were predicted at least A*AA, yet have missed their offers due to CAGs. They are not happy and now retaking independently from the school.

I have another one in a less academic independent where a good handful of teachers can only be described as complete loons to the extent I wonder if they know the names of half their classes. I have had reports talking about a different child on several occasions and I’m not the only one. So it’s anyone’s guess what could happen there.

I quite agree quest1on, you haven't.

No, but he's bound to whip GW or his successors into shape to avoid this year's fiasco. His son will be taking his GCSEs.

I disagree that he's 'bound to'. Not all politicians are purely self-interested and petty.