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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSEs 2018

998 replies

DoNotBringLulu · 12/08/2017 16:19

Hi all, I am sure many of us with dc going into year 11 this year are trepidatious about teachers and pupils thrown in at the deep end due to the new GCSEs.

There is one thing I can do which I hope will help my ds (even though he thinks I'm mad!), which is to get hold of this year's GCSE English Language and English Literature papers, read the books and work through the paper myself - I studied English Lit at university over 20 years ago. I will know for myself after I've done this how difficult the exam papers are at least - I'm not sure who I can ask to mark it for me though!

Can anybody tell me how challenging the Maths and English papers were for their dc? I understand these were the two subjects introduced with the new format.

OP posts:
mmzz · 08/11/2017 21:35

School reports today but just the traffic light system again without any words. A few teachers have put DS down as on track to get 9s, but DS thinks that this is a bit unfounded.

Does anyone know how the English literature and language exams are combined so that can say what they got for theirs English GCSE? Do people just tend to quote their best one and omit to mention the other one?

BlueBelle123 · 08/11/2017 21:41

They get two GCSE's in English so two results, presumably people say I got X for Lang and Y for Lit.

In relation to the actual exams the questions and answers are all in the same booklet, ie the questions are not on a separate piece of paper, so yes the invigilators would have picked up all the booklets, pupils never leave the exam hall with the questions.

TheDrsDocMartens · 09/11/2017 02:21

Yes question papers are kept in the exam room , students don’t take them. They are held back from teachers for 24(?) hours and last years English /maths are held back to be this years mock.

charlmum60 · 09/11/2017 05:15

First visit to possible 6th form for us last night ...I was quite shocked at the size of the college and just how many pupils were there ... Its not going to be an option for us if DD takes one route because they dont cover DT - DD got a little teary because she's keen to do Physics - which she is really strong at but was told that it wasnt a subject you could take further into Uni without Maths (she doesnt want to do Maths) - yet her HT stated that her combination of subjects works well (Physics/DT and Business Studies). On the plus side she did look at the potential of Media Studies with English Lit but I am not sure what other subject would go with these two - would Business Studies still be an option ...Its a soft option for a child that is quite academic but she is adamant she doesnt want to allot of subjects at A level and has ruled out IB now - and I guess its better for her to go down a route she has interest in even though I worry that she maybe closing the door on other routes by not taking two facilitating subjects ...finding process stressful ..especially when we are considering moving her from Indie with classes of 8 ish to state with classes of 24 ...

mmzz · 09/11/2017 05:38

I thought people say "I got an A in English"?
Cherry picking results?

mmzz · 09/11/2017 06:53

A level physics is 50% maths, so it's hard to enjoy doing physics without enjoying maths too.
Vectors, rate of change (aka differentiation), manipulating formula etc.

BlueBelle123 · 09/11/2017 07:29

Charlmum60 does your daughter have any idea what she wants to do for a career?

What I did with my DD was after GCSE's we went to a local Uni open day, so she could get a better idea about courses but more importantly what A levels were required. We are in a very fluid situation in education at the moment so I would always check your information, personally I doubt think teachers are always the most up to date.

I would also agree that physics without maths my be a tall order. You could look at the A level spec it may well say what aspects of maths are needed.

TheSecondOfHerName · 09/11/2017 08:20

Physics at A-level:
Some sixth forms offer 'Core Maths' as an option for students doing three A-levels. If they are doing Physics A-level without Maths A-level, they should do Core Maths.

Physics at university:
Every course DS2 has looked at requires Maths A-level as well as Physics A-level.

BlueBelle123 · 09/11/2017 08:23

mmzz I've found that most people tend to say number of GCSE's and how many at each grade, not say each subject and grade. If someone said to me they got an A in English I would be that annoying person who says Language or LiteratureWink

LooseAtTheSeams · 09/11/2017 08:41

For any form you fill in that asks for GCSEs you have to put both down - interesting idea to combine the grades for one English result but it’s never been done. Probably too complicated because of different grade boundaries and several papers!

mmzz · 09/11/2017 09:34

(I'm Scottish). Over the years, whenever its come up, people have always said to me "I got x in English at O'level / GCSE". I didn't know until DS was making his GCSE choices that there were two English GCSEs because in scotland there is only one. I wonder what they meant when they said that?

I used to recruit people so i've seen a lot of CVs but I never really looked at the GCSEs, just the experience, the degree, the gaps and maybe the A levels. Come to think of it, i don't think most people even put their GCSE result down on their CVs (or at least they didn't).

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 09/11/2017 10:29

At A Level it is possible to do combined English Language and Literature

OP posts:
charlmum60 · 09/11/2017 12:15

DD woke up feeling a little better ...she enjoys Physics but doesnt want to go into engineering etc - her forecast Maths grade is OK borderline 7/8 ...the tutor we spoke to yesterday said she would probably get away with A Level Physics with the maths she has if she was strong on algebra....her initial thoughts were product design/interior design...so the grouping was fine ...

Thank you Bluebelle - we spent a little time last night talking about what she enjoys and I think Eng Lit/Media Studies and maybe DT (Graphics)/Business Studies maybe an alternative - there are two open nights tonight (one at home school - strictly academic) and one at 6th form college so at least hopefully I can get her to engage with tutors - we looked at Unis and there are courses that she would like at Leeds...dare I say I think in some ways she's wasting opportunities in science because projected grades are all A* but she's not wishing to open any doors in this area apart from Physics ...

mmzz · 09/11/2017 19:03

Have you and what exactly she likes about physics? It sorry if suits in the middle heavily overlapping with chemistry and maths, so if she likes physics but not maths or chemistry, then maybe it's actually a specific topic on physics that she likes??

Littledrummergirl · 09/11/2017 20:41

For years ds2 has wanted a military career(army)-yesterday we went to a careers fair and he came away very excited about the Navy.
Today I've sent him off to the sixth form grammar open evening with ds1 as I had to work. I'm waiting to see him for feedback.

LooseAtTheSeams · 10/11/2017 10:47

Open evening for sixth form at DS1’s school is on Thursday - will be interesting to see if he decides to stay on as he really doesn’t want to at the moment!
I was slightly heartened talking to friends last night as their dcs are constantly changing their minds over A level options.
Apparently we’re getting school reports today before the mocks are even held. This seems a bit odd to me.

BlueBelle123 · 10/11/2017 14:18

We also got DS's school report before mocks, once we get all his results back we can see how accurate it wasSmile

I shall be taking dragging DS to a 6th form on Thursday, as its not his school it will be interesting to see what he thinks. Around here most people tend to just stay at their own school, no big 6th form colleges.

Lulu looking at one prospectus you can do A level English lit and Language combined - really surprised don't know if its a new, certainly couldn't do it in my day!

Stickerrocks · 10/11/2017 16:01

We had a progress check a few weeks ago, the first week if mocks is out of the way and we'll hear the results in a few weeks. Another batch of mocks are held at the end of February. I told DD to tone down a couple of her predicted grades for 6th form applications, as Spanish in particular seems very optimistic.

LooseAtTheSeams · 10/11/2017 18:48

Yes, will be interesting to see what happens after the mocks! At the moment his best subjects seem to be ones he’s not picking for A level!

charlmum60 · 10/11/2017 20:11
  • not Physics this time !

After lots and lots of thoughts and consideration (not just recently but since probably year 9). I wrote to the school asking if DD could give up French .. she didnt want to take the subject but pursued it to keep IB option open which we have now ruled out. Its a very weak subject for DD and she gets quite demoralised and really doesnt enjoy it partly because her relationship with the teacher has always been poor (not pointing fingers either way given I only get a one sided view).

I think DD has given it her best shot - she did a French exchange recently and she doesnt need French going forward...I have informed the school that in the first exam week *May - she has four other exams and plus at least 2 French exams and I will be instructing DD( if we get to the exam stage) to concentrate on the subjects that matter (eg NOT French) but I would like to think that we could resolve this now rather than DD ending up with a (D-U) on her results - likewise for the school.

Schools initial reaction is they do not want to set a precedent at this stage - they have not said Yes or NO but will refer to head of MFL. Its an Indie - I know in the state system the school will make this decision but is it the same with an Indie?

I'm not looking for people to question the decision - just guidance on how we could take this further if needs be.

She's doing 10 GCSE/iGCSE's - she is Hypermobile so struggles with writing - but has rest periods within exams- so copes as well as she can.

mmzz · 10/11/2017 21:19

You want us to suggest arguments in favour of not giving up French?

If I read you right, then here goes (don't shoot the messenger!):

  1. Your DD may not be nearly as weak as she thinks. Moreover students often get a lot better between now and June. So, its shame to walk away after having done so much work.
  1. Perseverance is a valuable life lesson. Teaching your DD that she can walk away from things she finds difficult without seeing them through will do her no favours.
  1. Lots of students - some with dyslexia -type SEN manage with that many exams in a single week. It doesn't have to be a reason to give up.
  1. Its against school policy.
  1. I can't think of a fifth.
charlmum60 · 10/11/2017 21:28

No MMzz - sorry I said we had made the decision already (I'm not going back into the reasons why although the one thing I agree with is teaching your child that its not easy to walk away and I think after 18months she has shown perseverance and even endured a week with a French family recently which she found daunting) ....I just wanted advice from anyone on how I could take this further with the school if they say NO....although to be honest I dont think they have argument to go forward because at the end of the day why should the head of MFL make a decision about my DD's future when I can clearly demonstrate that its in both the school and my DD's interest for her to drop the subject - they cannot give me a good reason for her to carry on other than they do not want to set a precedent (because flood gates may open with this French set this year).

mmzz · 10/11/2017 22:08

In your shoes, I'd just speak as if the decision was already made, rather than giving them space to pass judgement.
What do you want your DD to do when she would otherwise be in French lessons? That might be the real reason that the school would be reluctant.

TheSecondOfHerName · 10/11/2017 22:12

Is there a plan for what she will do whilst the French lessons are happening?
Where will she be? Who will supervise her? What work will she be doing, who will set it and mark it?

If a plan for all of this can easily be put into place, then your argument will be stronger.

BlueBelle123 · 10/11/2017 22:19

I'm afraid I can't give you any constructive advice as I have no experience of this, out of interest what will she do instead of her french lessons, would she be able to self study in the library. If she is struggling in a core subject then you could argue dropping french would give her more time to concentrate on the weaker subject.

As its an indie do you sign any thing before they start, if so is there anything in the contract you could use to support your argument?
Good luck hope your successfulSmile