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!

So if each school is doing it differently, how on earth can it be a level playing field? I don't blame the schools or teachers, it's been a nightmare for them....just another bloody cock up by our alleged Government.

@bendmeoverbackwards there is no level playing field. It's a complete mess, so Gav can blame schools and nothing to do with him. Every school has had moderation from JCQ but it's meaningless as the evidence produced could be done by anyone or produced by proper exams or just copying off a mark scheme. I get v v v angry when I think about it !!
Be reassured that your kids teaches will have done their best for their students. That's all we could do.

Thank you @mumsneedwine I hope everyone gets the results they want on Tuesday, they so deserve them!

I have been pretty confident that DD will get her predictions on Tuesday, till now.... and now I'm suddenly scared! The new normal is that nothing is certain anymore 🙄

That’s exactly right! It’s not a level playing field and so I just don’t think we can be complacent that our DC will get the grades they deserve or might have got in a normal year. I’m getting more nervy as I type this.

Has there been standardisation across the cohort? So if school A has been hugely generous in their grade allocations, will that impact school B’s results? Or do they just stand alone?

@Tenpastseven they stand alone. So you just need to know that your school have given fair results.

Ah ok. Thanks @mumsneedwine. That is a little better I guess 🤷‍♀️

Can you request a re-mark as in a 'normal' year?

@bendmeoverbackwards you can appeal to the school in the first instance. Then to exam board.

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/JCQAppeals-Guidancee_Summer-2021.pdf

This might have clearer (other one is schools guidance)

www.tes.com/news/gcses-and-levels-2021-guide-appealing-grades

Hi all! Just back from a week in Devon with my folks which was lovely- now feel like we're properly in countdown mode, so glad to see everyone checking in and definitely 'solidarity sisters!'

We get an email at 8.30 on Tuesday...

We'll know whether Cambridge has anything in adjustment late tomorrow afternoon apparently. Tbh not sure whether DS would want it now or not, he's very excited about imperial and seems quite chilled about results unlike me who is a bag of nerves. I so hope everyone's dcs get the results they want and have worked so hard for 🤞

Glad you had a good holiday @Pumpkintopf Is ds' offer for Imperial unconditional?

We also get an email at 8.30am tomorrow morning. Does anyone know when UCAS track is updated? Before or after this time?

@bendmeoverbackwards , no, he needs A stars in physics and maths plus an A in either his chemistry or biology.

I can't believe results day is nearly here. I'm hopeful my DD has done enough for Exeter but just want to know now.

Our house is full of driving lessons as test is imminent, a few weeks paid work, lots of eating out with cheap cocktails and a couple of UK breaks with friends. My DD is trying to make the most of the summer break. Although once I know where my DD is heading we need to hit the shops for things for university!

Good luck to everyone and ignore the media as our children have worked blooming hard for their grades this year.

Best of luck to him @Pumpkintopf

Re the grade inflation thing - isn't this a good thing as it means (if it's true) that our dc are more likely to get their university places? Or am I missing something?

Dobby - same here, haven't bought/packed anything as it seems too much like tempting fate!

Re grade inflation- the best explanation I heard for this last year during the shitshow that cohort had, was from Ed Balls who said in any given year if you have say ten students who could on their day achieve an A*, in 'normal' times with exams maybe one will have fallen off their bike on the way to school that morning, one will perhaps feel ill and not do their best - you get the idea. What teachers can't and shouldn't be expected to do is predict which of those potential A star students would have been affected and missed their grades, hence all ten get their a star and we get grade inflation. In a way it's fairer to the students, the issue comes in if unis / employers feel they can no longer trust the A levels or need another test to differentiate the increased number of students with top grades - as we already have with eg medicine applicants.

Thank you @Pumpkintopf If unis find they have over-offered and can't fit everyone in, could offers be withdrawn?

@bendmeoverbackwards

Glad you had a good holiday *@Pumpkintopf* Is ds' offer for Imperial unconditional?

We also get an email at 8.30am tomorrow morning. Does anyone know when UCAS track is updated? Before or after this time?

I believe UCAS track is updated at 8.30 too 😊

@bendmeoverbackwards I don't think they can as if the grades are achieved, contractually the uni is obliged to offer the place - which is why we had the debate over Cambridge suggesting that if they had too many achieving offers students would be asked to defer, and whether that was enforceable. In practice I guess for courses like medicine that are necessarily limited due to lab space/training places we'll see situations like Exeter offering students £10k plus a years free accommodation to 'volunteer' to defer.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/education/2021/may/15/uk-top-universities-fearful-of-extra-student-numbers-if-grades-stay-high

Vice-chancellors say they have to take everyone who meets the conditions of their offer, unless they can persuade them – or pay them – to defer their place to next year, when there should be less pressure on accommodation and facilities.
The head of a university in the elite Russell Group, who asked not to be named, said: “Private accommodation providers here are already saying bookings are full. We are worried about over-recruitment. Once students have made the grade, there is nothing much you can do. Last year, some places were paying students to defer. Some universities will want to grab extra students but we just don’t want to take them.”

@Pumpkintopf

Dobby - same here, haven't bought/packed anything as it seems too much like tempting fate!

Re grade inflation- the best explanation I heard for this last year during the shitshow that cohort had, was from Ed Balls who said in any given year if you have say ten students who could on their day achieve an A*, in 'normal' times with exams maybe one will have fallen off their bike on the way to school that morning, one will perhaps feel ill and not do their best - you get the idea. What teachers can't and shouldn't be expected to do is predict which of those potential A star students would have been affected and missed their grades, hence all ten get their a star and we get grade inflation. In a way it's fairer to the students, the issue comes in if unis / employers feel they can no longer trust the A levels or need another test to differentiate the increased number of students with top grades - as we already have with eg medicine applicants.

Thank you so much @Pumpkintopf I THINK I feel a little reassured by your post. Do you think then that most students will get their predicted grades?

@Tenpastseven

That’s exactly right! It’s not a level playing field and so I just don’t think we can be complacent that our DC will get the grades they deserve or might have got in a normal year. I’m getting more nervy as I type this.

Has there been standardisation across the cohort? So if school A has been hugely generous in their grade allocations, will that impact school B’s results? Or do they just stand alone?

Although they in effect stand alone there has been moderation done by all exam boards and requests were made by the boards of the schools to forward evidence to enable moderation to take place. If the schools were deemed to be marking correctly their grades stand. If they had been over or under generous in their marking more samples were requested.

I very much suspect that most students who have parents on a thread because they were not accepted by Oxbridge will meet their grades.

@Pumpkintopf has your DS already received an email saying he would be considered for Cambridge adjustment then? It is only those who have already told they would be considered that will be.

@bendmeoverbackwards your school whilst they weren't permitted to tell the students the grades they were putting forward, should have told them which pieces of evidence would go towards the submitted final grade. So the students should have a reasonably good idea if they're on track for their grades. Fingers crossed for all the dcs on this thread.

@SeasonFinale indeed he did.