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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSEs 2018 (16) - The Final Countdown

999 replies

mmzz · 09/08/2018 18:34

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3304925-gcses-2018-15-the-reckoning?

OP posts:
farangatang · 17/08/2018 17:28

Delighted to hear about the A-Level successes - its encouraging for all our DC who are just about to embark on their 6th-Form journey...

Despite DDs success in achieving as expected in 5/6 subjects, I'm starting to dread next Thursday in case there are any more 'surprises'!

Trying to take the advice of more experienced parents that GCSEs aren't that important in the scheme of things....

AChickenCalledKorma · 17/08/2018 18:05

TheThird DD1 had a great time at her summer school and says she spent a lot of time with another very quiet girl who loves Physics and reading. But she looked completely blank when I asked whether they had exchanged contact details. She lives in the moment and doesn't really see the point of other people.

So I suspect my DD and your DS would get along if they met ... but probably not bother keeping in touch afterwards!

TheThirdOfHerName · 17/08/2018 18:16

AChickenCalledKorma I think they would. Smile

brainmelt · 17/08/2018 18:21

mmzz no try no gain. That's what we've always told our DS when he has been too cautious or shy. Why do I think he's going to find life long friends.

Going away tomorrow. Wifi available buy no solitude whatsoever which means not much MN. However I will try on Thursday!

Capetownmum · 17/08/2018 18:27

Hi guys
Sorry to jump onto your thread but how do i start a new one?

PeggySchuylar · 17/08/2018 18:36

Cape go to the topic that you want to post in, so this thread is on the Secondary Education board.
At the top of the list of threads you should see a link

start a new thread in this topic

Click on that and first fill in title and then just fill in the message

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 17/08/2018 19:42

Korma and TheThird that reminds me of arranging play dates for DS2 with other DC with ASD so they could not play together. Grin

AChickenCalledKorma · 17/08/2018 20:15

EllenJane Grin

sandybayley · 17/08/2018 21:45

@TheThirdOfHerName - so good that your DS1 enjoyed the physics course. I don't think DS1's group did anything as outrageous as dressing up on the last day though.

DS1 has work experience next week. Only 3 days as I forgot we don't get back until Monday and he's taking Thursday off for obvious reasons. Unfortunately the stitches in his head have ruled out the possibility of a haircut so we will have to rely on the new 6th Form Suit for smartness.

mmmz · 18/08/2018 07:45

Have the grade boundaries been leaked? The Daily Mail has a story about the maths-4 being 17% this year (was 18%) last year.
It could be true, or they could just be making the whole thing up.

I'm thinking that it is credible that it's 17% because I think a lot of people thought it was worth a punt to do the Higher maths paper, and maybe get lucky and get a 5 or 6, when they saw that you only needed 18% for a 4 last year. If that happened in large enough numbers then it would pull the lower grade boundaries down.

Not sure if the DM story isn't pure fiction though.

Oneteen · 18/08/2018 08:19

The C pass mark could well stay low if lots of DC's entered the exam (there are probably other facts for Maths and English were DC';s cannot progress without getting a 4 and I dare say it would not be the Gov's interest to have lots of children not progressing with their education).

Oneteen · 18/08/2018 08:20

That should have read 4 - I am still working on old money!

eaglefly · 18/08/2018 08:29

Just read the article and apart from the sensational heading there doesn't seem to be much in the article to imply actual grade boundary. It's all results 'may' be this etc. Not sure where they have got 17% from.

mmmz · 18/08/2018 08:31

I think the foundation level goes up to 5. Maybe though it appears that it's easier to get a 4+ on the higher paper instead?
Or maybe not and it's only the DM being the DM!

mmmz · 18/08/2018 08:38

I did a Twitter search before I posted here to try to verify a leak (because, in my mind, if it's not even made it onto Twitter then it is even less likely to be true).
It wasn't there. But a 2 second search did uncover someone (a teacher?) promising to leak the GCSE boundaries on Wednesday, when they released to schools.
There's probably a good reason why grade boundaries don't get released publicly until results day any more. It may well be because they increase the stress levels. So, even though it will be possible to get hold of them, it might be better to abstain (if you can)? I will be tempted to peek, but will try not to.

Cherryburn · 18/08/2018 08:39

I had a look and agree with eaglefly, it’s pretty much speculation on their part.

Having said that, I think all the boundaries on the 9-1 GCSEs will be low this year.

eaglefly · 18/08/2018 08:48

The a level boundaries were leaked the day before by someone on Twitter. They did turn out to be real ones. He/She was apparently asked by the board to remove them.

I guess you always have an element of are they right or not - but it definitely causes stress. If they are too low you think paper was really difficult and I won't have done as well. Or if it's too high you think oh no there's no way I have done well enough.

For what's it worth I too will be checking the boundaries first thing in the morning even if DD doesn't want to check her results straight away.

Thank god we are away for a few days as I am going to go out of my mind counting down the days.

Oneteen · 18/08/2018 08:58

Eaglefly - Is your DD's place at sixth form dependent on grades ?

eaglefly · 18/08/2018 09:09

No they are not - unless things go really wrong. I imagine they want a minimum 7 in the a level subjects but they haven't explicitly told us so. I guess we were a little bit shaken up by the history result especially given the grade boundaries were so low. It would imply that DD got about 20% less in the real exam than she did in the mocks. And this wasn't one of those that she thought went badly. So I feel like anything could happen.

She has high hopes of applying to the top unis and potentially some very competitive courses and believes that gcse results will be taken into account. Plus I think for her it is a bit of a matter of pride. So far she has had one result one grade less than predicted and one result higher than prediction.

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/08/2018 09:09

I agree, I think the boundaries will be low - there's not been enough time for everyone to have suddenly got better at higher maths, for example! It goes up to 5 on foundation maths and more candidates take it than the higher one.

eaglefly · 18/08/2018 09:09

I think I am an overinvested parent

TheThirdOfHerName · 18/08/2018 09:20

I posted on here before about a fake Instagram account that has been set up with DS2's full name.

It makes fun of the fact that DS2 posts photos of his interests (animals and science) rather than selfies holding a beer at parties.

DH sent them a direct message to ask them to delete the account. DS1 knows the only boy who has commented on a post on the account (the younger brother of one of DS1's good friends) and has messaged him to tell him to desist.

The account has stayed active and yesterday posted a second photo. DH reported the photo. I reported the account, filled in Instagram's online form to report impersonation and followed their instructions, uploading a photo of DS2 holding his passport open at the photo page. I explained why the account was malicious in intent.

This morning I received an email from them:
"We're not able to remove the account you reported. We remove impersonation accounts that are meant to mislead, confuse or deceive others."

The fake account (unlike his real account) has his full name on it! How is that not intended to mislead, confuse or deceive?!

The only thing that's stopping me from being really quite angry is that DS2 isn't bothered or distressed by it.

eaglefly · 18/08/2018 09:28

Third that really is terrible. That just can't be allowed. I wonder whether there is a data privacy angle here especially with the sharing of the full name.

Is it worth recontacting then to say about the full name.

www.childnet.com/blog/reporting-impersonation-on-social-media

I am sure you have read the above but i wonder if organisations such as childnet could help further.

Sorry to hear this really.

mmmz · 18/08/2018 09:38

TheThird how about trying out the GDPR legislation on the problem. All for Erasure of your DS's data including his name and any photos of him.
It would be interesting to see how Instagram perceive the account after that. Maybe they'd be willing to go to the ICO adjudicator and explain why an account that merely names and pokes fun at a disabled boy does not violate his right to be forgotten. But if I were Instagram, I would not choose this hill to die on.

hmcAsWas · 18/08/2018 09:39

Dreadful response from Instagram Angry. A friend had this happen to her dd right back in year 6 and it took a lot of persistence to get it deleted as I recall