GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

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thread 14
The next step of the all new GCSE journey.

I'm resisting the urge to predict DD1's results. But I have at least got her to promise that she won't disappear to the park and switch her phone to silent like she did when she got her RS GCSE result last year. (It was an A*, but all I got was "it was OK" followed by three hours of radio silence!!)

She's just started a week at Gift Summer School and is currently taking part in an archaeological dig. Just thought I'd mention that, on the off-chance that anyone else's offspring are currently at the same event! It's the first time she's been and she knows no-one, but was remarkably chilled about it when I dropped her off yesterday. Hope it lives up to expectations.

I daren't predict! If she achieves at least as well as her predicted grades it should be enough for 6th Form and I hope she manages a few subjects where the grade exceeds the prediction.
We shall find out soon enough says breezily to cover up the growing sense of dread

It is the Scottish results day tomorrow. I think that's the first one.
Then iGCSE on 14th, A levels on the 16th. Then finally, the GCSEs.

I have a piece of paper which I scribbled some down on shortly after Add Maths. I refuse to publish them, but I will compare on 23rd.

In theory DS should do well but in reality......who knows I daren't predict or say what he is expecting for fear of jinxing his results.....that's how paranoid I have become .......here's hoping on the 24th we'll all be wondering what all the fuss was about

Line and Stickerrocks DN all the very best of luck!

I do wish all the best of luck and really hope your DC all get the results that they need for the next step they want to take.

I too like others daren't try to predict. I am sure I will jinx it.

Oratory I would also like to know if a decent literature grade will do. Dd has said she'll retake if she doesn't get a 5 but I don't really want her to.

I think if she doesn't get it this year she won't get it next year either. She did so much work for eng Lang and I don't want her (and me) to have to go through it all again

We'll be out of our misery soon

Diplomacy question: what do you do if you know 2 DC, both getting their results on the same day. They know each other. One does well, apparently without much effort, and the other doesn't despite lower targets and a fair bit of effort. In fact, there isn't a lot of positives to take from the second DC's grades at all? Do you ignore both? Congratulate both?
I think there's a fair chance I'll be in this situation tomorrow.

Congratulate both, DD was in this situation she went round to her friends who had a load of well done cards etc and she just had the one from us...........working hard should be rewarded not everyone can do well, that's what I find so frustrating everyone seems to think that everyone gets all A's and A* of course they don't and those that don't shouldn't be made to feel ashamed of their results.

Congratulate everyone!

BlueBelle I agree but also those who do well shouldn't be made to feel bad or have their results minimized either, which can quite often happen.

I agree that's why I said congratulate them both.....plus I don't believe that a child will get excellent results across the board with having done no work, despite what they might like you to believe!

Definitely congratulate both, I think. The 'don't need to try' students do quite a bit, really, I think. They're not just born knowing stuff - though they're lucky how they absorb knowledge and technique easily!

I broke up with OH in April but I still feel like 'part of the family' so I'm hoping to be able to congratulate or commiserate with his DD whatever happens over the Maths #5 business. She needs maths to be able to study nursing. @Stickerrocks I'm with you in spirit!

My dad always said, God loves a trier.

I'm not risking any guesses for grades but I don't think there'll be an issue with the sixth form, since the bar is set really very low. Certainly two of DD4's subjects are likely to be lower than she'd like but I genuinely don't have a clue about the grades overall. It's exceptionally hard to know this year. Under the old system I'd have been able to guess pretty accurately (in that I'd have guessed what the teachers predicted with a blip here or there for a bad exam, because almost all my DC have been bang on their predictions). This year the jury is well and truly out.

Yes absolutely. I don't think it was possible even in the old system to get As and A*s across the board with no work. And luck, with no illness etc.

I'd love to know how the teachers came up with their grade boundaries.

The geography department at DS's school thought that 97% was likely to be the grade boundary for a 9. One of the teachers told me that all the local secondary schools' geography departments had met up and this was the outcome from pooling all their knowledge together.

it doesn't sound right to me - geography is not an elite-only subject and its not that easy either. I can't help but wonder if there was one forceful personality in the room who managed to get the others to follow his/her thinking ( which must surely be flawed?).

Thank you for keeping me in the loop. Not expecting great things on results day but DS is at least now signed up for college. He has also had his first formal interview, for a part time job, and he was successful.

Bluebelle, Linerunner and "goodbyestranger* it sounds like the advice to congratulate both is unanimous then! I really hope they both do well, but only passing a couple is a distinct possibility for one of them - unless the system has changed in Scotland and a D is no longer a fail?
I just looked on Studentroom and the Scottish results are out now. One DC is saying that at the equivalent of the end of year 12, they've got 192 UCAS points! That would be 3xA* and D at A level in England when everyone else is just doing AS levels! There are some seriously bright pupils out there!

Agree with congratulate everyone. Effort is what matters!
On English resits, there's a difference between meeting govt conditions for funding a student post-16 and what you need in reality. So you can theoretically pass literature and get a 3 in language and not have to retake. However, the entry requirement for further/higher ed courses and many jobs will be Language, not literature. So if you get a 3 in language you should retake even though technically you could progress to a post-gcse course.
However, if you get a 4 but want to re-sit to get a higher grade, this isn't funded, so you'll be asked to pay the exam fees.

I sent my DN who failed every single GCSE 3 years ago a congratulations on all your hard work card. I also send a card to my other DN who is still struggling to get his maths. Recognise the effort, not the grade! It's heartbreaking if everyone around you is getting praise, as you feel like an even greater failure.

I've been lurking on here but it finally seems real - and close! now with results coming in. My dd was predicted very good grades then suffered a serious injury before Christmas that meant she missed a lot of school. She didn't go back full time until after Easter. I've been trying really hard to manage her expectations and to focus her on what she needs not what they predicted for her. I just hope as many kids as possible end up happy with what they have achieved because there seems to be a lot more pressure than when I did mine back in the dark ages!

Thanks so much for that loose that confirms what i thought. So even after a levels it may be necessary to have the 4 in language as this could be an entry requirement for an apprenticeship type job after a level. He improved so much in exam technique I think he would be ok in a retake it would just take so much time out of year 12 and he would hate it x I won’t worry about that til the 23 rs but useful to have the facts before hand.

On a more positive note DS has also got his first job 😀 20 hours a week til he goes back to school. The days of spending all week in his pyjamas on his lap top are gone. It was his choice though and he seems excited about it. and will be able to go back in other holidays if he doesn’t mess it up too much. So glad the till works out the change etc too !!!!

The DC's parent can be a given to taking offence. It is a sensitive subject for them. That's what's making me nervous to say the right thing. I have to strike the right, positive tone. Not say anything that comes across as patronising.

Families... they are a minefield sometimes!

For the DC that isn't expected to do well, can you not congratulate them on their next step, ie getting on the course or into college?

Don't talk to me about families I also have a DN expecting GCSE results as well!!

I will congratulate him whatever happens.I was so pleased that he did well in his first adult interview because he used to suffer with a real lack of confidence. College have confirmed he can resit maths and English with them if necessary.