Another path to greatness - part III

[chopc]

Here is the new thread

@maggiethecat, my daughter got an offer for Chemical Physics on Tuesday am from Edinburgh, very relieved here.

@Meery
congratulations! beginning to wonder if DD has heard but not saying

We had a fair few Edinburgh offers yesterday (possibly all out outstanding ones from them - I haven't had time to check yet).

Yes, bendmeoverbackwards, there's feedback and feedback I guess.

I agree too that if student A has aced it and the others are given another shot student A should be able to bank it. I guess it will be because the guidance is that where possible the evidence for each subject ahould be the same across the class or cohort and the school is wanting to be able to give better grades over a wider group. Hopefully the work your DD has already done will stand her in good stead BigWoollyJumpers.

I guess it will be because the guidance is that where possible the evidence for each subject ahould be the same across the class or cohort and the school is wanting to be able to give better grades over a wider group

Thanks SeasonFinale. Yes, we received a long letter from the Head yesterday on grading, following an apparent update from boards. I understand the rationale, but DD still feels a bit pissed off "taking one for the team", as her teacher so nicely observed!

That update was the one that came out before the Easter holidays so they have taken a while to relay that info.

I am sure they will bear in mind that she has performed consistently.

I see we are coming towards the end of the thread and wondered whether part 4 (if it is happening) could be renamed "A new path" or "A different path". The "greatness" thing doesn't really work grammatically as it reflects a quality rather than a goal. What do others think?

I’d be happy to shift over to the ‘applying for uni in 2021’ thread tbh. We are all in the same boat

This thread has been so supportive and some posters have been on it since the beginning and I feel we are truly sharing a journey. So I personally hope the thread continues but don't mind what it is called.

As people do change their username etc it may be easier to find if the same is kept the same but I don't mind

So in BWJ’s school, the DC didn’t meet teacher assessed levels so get another go? So that’s why there’s grade inflation. It doesn’t help the universities distinguish between students does it? We know predictions are often wrong but now they are not allowed to be. Seems all wrong to me.

I'm not a regular poster on this thread but feel really strongly about this. When people talk about grade inflation, I look at how it's all being approached in my DC's schools (one doing A levels and another GCSEs) and think it's probably a lot of hot air. My DC (different schools) are getting one go at a mock and one go at a final assessment per subject and they are being done in strict exam conditions just like the public exams would have been. They are the main basis of the grades alongside a much less significant element of coursework but even that has to have been done in class rather than outside where they may have had help. When I read about other schools' approaches including elements such as multiple goes at assessments, it makes me feel so disheartened and conclude that this year's grades actually mean nothing at all. It really devalues the A levels of the DC who would have got a clean sweep of A stars in normal circumstances. Others will have 'lucked out' of course. BWJ I know your DD will fall into the former category. Why oh why didn't the Government give more specific guidelines. I am so glad my DS is going on to study Medicine where no one will ever care about his A Levels but the finish line of school should feel more rewarding than this debacle.

@SeasonFinale

That update was the one that came out before the Easter holidays so they have taken a while to relay that info.

My feeling was that as much of the narrative was in BOLD, they were making a very clear point on the specifics now, rather than the general, which we had already had. I assume they have been getting a lot of grief from some parents (of which we have quite a few of "those" parents ).

@PresentingPercy

So in BWJ’s school, the DC didn’t meet teacher assessed levels so get another go? So that’s why there’s grade inflation. It doesn’t help the universities distinguish between students does it? We know predictions are often wrong but now they are not allowed to be. Seems all wrong to me.

DD was the only one to finish the paper!

My DC (different schools) are getting one go at a mock and one go at a final assessment per subject and they are being done in strict exam conditions just like the public exams would have been. They are the main basis of the grades alongside a much less significant element of coursework but even that has to have been done in class rather than outside where they may have had help

Opoponax. That is very strict, and actually does fit in with the guidance. We have all noted on here that these are "additional assessment opportunites" and not exams, and that is what they should be. However, you are right, in that different schools are approaching these assessments differently. Certainly, of the schools I know, the NEA's are being taken into consideration for the final grade, and all of the work will have been done at home. How could it have been otherwise? all the students were AT home.

BWJ: speed and accuracy are great attributes and do sort out the very best in normal times. It just all sounds unsatisfactory when there are varying interpretations and DC who didn’t match teacher assessments get another go because they could not finish in time. What happens if dc do that again? Do more until they can finish?

@SeasonFinale
Dd seems very patient but I am thoroughly fed up that she's still waiting to hear from Edinburgh. This is just not good enough.

does not fit in with the guidance....... sorry.

Typing here whilst DD1 (eldest BWJ child) is packing all her belongings to go back to London. New flat, new flat mate, back to work on Tuesday. I am sad (for me), happy (for her). She is so looking forward to re-starting her life again.

Hugs BWJ ?

Sorry don't know why there is a question mark there. Meant to be !

BigWoollyJumpers we have been told that any evidence used in addition to the mocks (just before Easter) and final assessments (now) will be taken wherever possible from work completed (I understand in classroom time) March until May i.e. when the DC were back AT school as this is considered to be of higher integrity than work done at home. However, the bulk of the grade will be made up from the two sets of assessments with a heavier weighting on the final one. The exception to this timeframe is for subjects with NEA components in the final grade as some of that evidence could come from earlier in the year. The final grade is a holistic view but rests on this approach. I believe that, although strict, this is entirely within the guidance. Indeed both schools are following a very similar approach. It seems to me that your DD's school is at the opposite end of the strictness spectrum i.e. let them keep taking the same assessments until they come up with the right answer. Is that really in line with the guidance? If the guidance covers both scenarios, in my opinion, it is flawed.

@chopc and all, on the thread keeping going and title, personally I'd much prefer we keep the thread and title so people can find it and also I feel very connected to the regulars here as we've been through a lot together - would be lovely to keep going and 'see' all the dc settled at uni. There's my two penn'orth

Oh good luck to her @maggiethecat.. keeping everything crossed. It’s SUCH a long wait . Is it her first choice?
Happy to go with the majority re thread btw.. tend to post on this and general 2021 thread anyway

@maggiethecat fingers crossed your DD hears soon, DS received an offer from Edinburgh yesterday but is really waiting to hear from St A - they seem to be taking ages