GCSE 2019 support thread 6

[DeRigueurMortis]

Hello All,

Welcome to thread 6 - results...

Last thread here:

Gcses 2019 support thread 5 http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3610608-gcses-2019-support-thread-5

It's been a fantastically supportive set of threads to date with a diverse set of expectations and challenges (for both parents and children).

I expect this thread may be the most emotive for us all (crikey how did the time fly!!)

Good luck everyone

I think the grading for combined science is really confusing!
More info here
ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2018/03/23/grading-the-new-gcse-science-qualifications/

sososour, Ive read this but I cant see where they say that a 4-4 is a pass and a 4-3 is a fail?

That's because a 3 isn't technically a fail i think. It's just a 3!

I think for school performance measures, the 44 would count in the data, but don't know myself and am a teacher (not science, I hasten to add!) . I have a DS doing combined science and his school has never told us this.

I think a 4.3 is a 'fail' yes. Its a 3.5 basically.

Sososour thanks for the link. I didn't understand the grading at all before but now it makes a bit more sense. AGirlHasNoCake with regards to a 4-3 grade there are some questions in the comments and the answers explain a bit more about a 4-3 grade.

Ligressa yes!

There seem to be lots of posts about mixed numbers in science. It seems really unfair that kids either pass or fail 2 GCSEs. I preferred it when only single subjects were available to not very good at science kids. I got a C in biology, but if I'd had to do chemistry and physics as well I wouldn't have passed.

Sorry to the poster who keeps saying a 3 is a pass..I did GCSEs in their first year and we were firmly told a D was fail.

agirl also a thread from last year which has been resurrected with more info
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3344279-GCSE-double-science-grade-43-what-does-this-mean

Regarding the science grading my DS got 4-3. I checked with his school examinations officer and she confirmed he has one science GCSE pass (the 4). The other is below a pass. So for the purpose of counting entry requirements to further education it is one GCSE science pass. She said a 4-4 and above is two GCSE science passes.

I agree Lynette - it does seem unfair. On the first link I linked to, the is more information in the question and answer/ comments sections which suggests that for post 16 requirements a 4-3 should be ok

LynetteScavo a 3 is below the grades 4-9 required to get onto many sixth form / college courses but for many other courses a 3 is still a mark so hasn’t been a waste of time.

But apparently a 4-3 counts as the required 4/C grade for teacher training courses. To add to the confusion (not in science I presume!)

It's OK lynette. I have been saying D is not a fail / 3 is not a fail for my whole teaching career, to no avail

Feels to me like a 4:3 should be a 4 and a 3 otherwise why don’t they just say it’s s 3.5 for both. My kids did double science, I think it’s a nonsense - let the kids choose a science - they don’t need to do all three, not like this, 4:3 is such a tease - it’s likely the science they didn’t enjoy pulled them down for no reason. Better to take triple and ignore the least favourite science?

Bloody 6th form transport!

Rang the local bus company to be told a pass for the year is £1200. Queried this with my friends to be told to go via the council and it’s £570. Got the email through to pay online and because of the amount I need to verify it only I have no mobile reception to get the verification code and as my phone is open via email I don’t get the emailed verification through without shutting down the payment screen......aarrghhh!!!!

And breathe........

Apologies to Foslady but I was just going to share how easy it was to get the 16/17 train pass.

Went on website, put in passport details, uploaded photo, paid £30, card arrived in the post the next day! So nice when things go smoothly.

@ArthurtheCatsHumanSlave thank God it’s worked ok for one of us😂😂😂

Love the user name btw!

Yes same here with the 16-17 card, very efficient indeed. Unlike the DVLA which has asked me to provide the same passport details on a piece of paper as I have already provided online for ds' provisional licence application. Sigh...

Anyway at least DS has finally sorted out his college and A level choices - enrolled today and is doing history, politics and Spanish.

Errrr- I can’t click on the 16-17 railcard? It just says ‘coming soon’ on the railcard website.
Am I looking in the wrong place?
Can someone post a link please.?

Here you go sososour

www.16-17saver.co.uk/?utm_source=NRE&utm_medium=carousel&utm_campaign=1617saver

It doesn't always work obviously for the 16-17 railcard. When my DD tried earlier it kept redirecting her to the 16-25 one - until we found the hidden link.

Thanks!

ArthurtheCatsHumanSlave
Thanks for the rail card link.
DS enrolled today and took the train which is cheaper and quicker then the bus. So I was just saying to him we'll look at getting him a student rail card.

I've sent him link so he can sort it out.

We had problems with the 16-17 link too, the web page was confusing.