Another Path - part IV

[321zyx]

Apologies if I've done this wrong! I seemed to have filled up the last thread, hopefully the abbreviated title is ok!

3000 !

I hope you've got shares in McVities/manufacturer of other preferred biscuits.

DS has his final assessment today The feedback has been they were all “fine.” That’s about as much as I get.

Thanks for the tips on Durham and that cafe looks good. He’s agreed to come up with me towards the end of next week. I’m quite excited - haven’t been anywhere in ages!

Yes there seem to be inconsistencies between subjects at his school too because teachers have been allowed to decide on the best format for that particular subject. Some seem to be going for a more holistic approach than others. I think there’s about 230 in his year. The most popular subject at A-level is Maths and I think about half the year do that. In DS’ MFL there are only about 8 of them. In his Economics cohort, there’s maybe 50? In a normal year, about 75% of all A-level grades are at A*/A. Last year, it was 80% with CAGs, so some inflation, but not massively so.

I know there is one board (Cambridge International) that has stated that grades must be based purely on three formal exams per subject. At DS school, a few subjects are through this board, but not any of his. It seems like some inconsistencies may be because different exam boards are stipulating different things?

@fairisledog year 11 and 13 and a smattering of year 12s doing AS as dropping one. Buy shares in Hob Nobs 😊

@mumsneedwine appreciate all the hard work you and the other teachers are doing.

WRT results and appeals - I don't think OFQUAL will investigate individual results unless there is a pattern in the school. Certainly not an A star where is should have been an A

@chopc true. But if lots of A/A* then it will ring alarm bells. And if a student knows they were doing better than another yet got a lower grade they'd be entitled to see all the evidence their grade was based on. Going to be interesting!

This is all very Groundhog Day. Same issues as last year but with more effort required from schools and students. I wonder how different the outcome will be.

Late to the party as always. @quest1on glad you are getting to go to Durham. As *Long8 says the guided tours are for those who have firmed Durham, Ds is booked onto one and even though it is an easy day trip for us we are also staying overnight. The tour is strictly outside only, they are not entering any buildings but are touring around where the Billy B library is etc then walking up to the bailey area.

However they are doing "self guided tours" www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/visit/selfguided/ and you download the app. Not sure what is on that.

Ds's assessments seem to be going well, the maths/FM though are easy to check with questions such as "prove this = this" and a past paper question he had walked a friend through the day before came up just with different values but Ds's friend was very pleased as was Ds. Just 3 more to go, he finishes Tuesday morning. Where the hell has all the time gone?

@mumsneedwine we do appreciate all the work teachers are doing and it must be incredibly stressful for everything to land with you instead of sitting an exam. I hope McVities hears of your plight and delivers you some lovely biscuits.

DD's last day proper school day today - hoo, bloody, ray. Like most of our DC's, assessments been going on since before the Easter hols, and she is exhausted. Nice day planned (other than the last assessment), once that is over they are going out for lunch, back into school for Colin the Caterpillar cake with the History Dept, and last train journey in and out of that part of town.

End of an era.

@OnTheBenchOfDoom 😂 thank you. Tonight we are contributing to the profits of Domino's while marking.

@mumsneedwine sounds like a very good plan.

I have only ever marked primary school tests, not exactly hard for me to work out if a child has drawn 5.20 on the analogue clock . We usually have biscuits for marking or at break time or any time where the children aren't with us. I am a volunteer so I always bring something lovely in whether home made cake or biscuits or anything considered a bit special rather than the usual chocolate digestives. No nuts of course.

I also enjoy filling out those matrix things where I highlight which questions a child got right or wrong. So pretty at the end. I miss school but I shall be back in come September. I actually prefer intervention work with the children rather than admin.

@goodbyestranger

This is all very Groundhog Day. Same issues as last year but with more effort required from schools and students. I wonder how different the outcome will be.

This really sums it up. Extraordinary pressure on students and teachers, plus moving goalposts and unclear rules. Unsettling and so difficult.

It seems to me to be a cynical exercise in shifting responsibility for the inevitable shambles and debasing of grades, away from the authorities - at the cost of bucket loads more stress for the students in particular.

I agree @goodbyestranger- thats exactly what it feels like

Last day of school for DS today and last assessment. I looked back at his first day of school picture earlier- oh my goodness, where have those years gone?!

Glad he was able to hang with his friends afterwards anyway. They went to the golf driving range of all things, but at least they were together and had fun. He said he feels he couldn't have done anymore to get the grades he needs, so it's fingers crossed now until results day.

@chopc totally agree, would be lovely to see how all the dc on this thread get on at uni and beyond!

DD had her last day in school today.
She will be back in June to do her exams which are still going ahead here.

Our vaccine roll out here is much slower than the U.K. and we are only just about to move to people in their 40s. DD is getting vaccinated early for medical reasons and has been given a date in the middle of the exams. If she doesn’t take it she has to wait until they get to her age group in August/Sept or whenever.
She doesn’t have a paper that day or the day after but has a very intense Maths paper 2 days later.

Hoping she isn’t hit with bad side effects.

Oh @ChimneyPot that's a worry. What a thing to have to weigh up. Didn't realise your exams were still going ahead either - how is she feeling about them?

It's such a nice feeling to feel as though you have given it your best shot @Pumpkintopf

She is fairly calm about it. Just says she will get the jab in her left arm as she is right handed.
They have had assessments for CAG as well so if feels like they have done the exams a few times over.
The CAG here are subject to some government algorithm though so you can never be sure what will happen.
In August they will be awarded the better of their exam result or their CAG as adjusted by the algorithm

Absolutely chopc

@ChimneyPot that's a lot - so all the ongoing assessments might count and the exams might count and there's an algorithm- sounds like the worst of all worlds?

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/may/22/top-pupils-rejected-by-universities-in-a-levels-fiasco-fallout?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I saw that Guardian article too. It's a load of rubbish. You would think their education correspondent would be able to do better than print off some Facebook style nonsense.

We had a great trip to Bristol. Dd loved it and is really excited to start. It's a good thing we went because the hall of residence she was planning to put down for second choice she didn't like much at all. We couldn't really see inside much but got a good idea.

The new Humanities building was amazing. They've kept all the original frontage which are beautiful old buildings. But inside it's very modern, airy and spacious with lots of little green courtyards.

The Wills Memorial building was stunning!

She just needs the grades now, I hope she won't fall at the final hurdle.

That's brilliant bend really glad it delivered!

@bendmeoverbackwards which halls does she like ? Could ask DD to do a video tour if it's hers.
And Wills is beautiful- DD face-timed from the library and it is stunning. All oak and statues.
As a city it's been fantastic even during COVID. Lots of space and places to go.

Thank you @mumsneedwine she wants Clifton Hill House first choice, then Wills second choice. Completely agree about Wills, so beautiful. The weather was atrocious yesterday but I bet that view is wonderful on a sunny day. She'd prefer to be in Clifton ideally so really hoping for CHH!