GCSEs Summer 2020 (thread 4) -the final countdown

[PostNotInHaste]

Thread 3
Thread 2
Thread 1(year 10)

Hope OrangeCinnamon doesn’t mind me starting another in her absence , feel twitchy without ! Apologies in advance if I have messed the links up.

The last thread ended with discussion of possible school closures, not really what we want to hear at this point - let’s hope things sound more positive as thread progresses.

My DD has been told her Spanish oral will be during the week beginning 27/4! I have my doubts over that one happening.

Both mine are at indies, and there has been no indication of imminent closure. DDs have set up Google classroom for staff and pupils, but my DSs school is normally far more organised than hers, and we haven't had anything from his.

Both of mine (different Indies) have been told to take all text books and folders home and only bring in what they need each day. Both schools already use Google classroom, so that’s in place if necessary.

Our school isn't saying too much, more that the press speculation is not helpful. It is such a shame when you know your DC has put a lot of work in (finally!), to start feeling like they may not happen. We have not said this to DS as he needs to keep working hard :-) I think they are finishing the Biology syllabus this week, everything else is complete and just paper after paper.

I was wondering if a compromise for GCSEs would be to only set one paper per subject, to condense the exam period and start it later?

I presume all the papers are already set by now! They must go through months of checking and validation before they are put in front of students.

I did think about condensing as well though. The GCSEs could (potentially) be pushed back to start 3 weeks later than planned i.e. after half term and run over the four weeks already allocated to exam period,. They could be planned to run over a longer day so 3 exams a day, but with timetabling such that common subjects are intermingled with the less common ones (i.e. to minimise the number of students actually sitting 3 a day).

I guess there are some people that may have booked holidays because their individual child didn't have exams in the last week/2 weeks of the exam period but this will be fewer than if exams spill over into the actual summer holidays.

Still not ideal, but any change is not ideal!

@AnneOfCleavage what is the bread test please?

Contingency day is June 24. Candidates should be available until then but most will have expected to finish before that. Ds last exam is June 12

They can't run three exams a day, because then you have the issue of what happens to the students who qualify for extra time.
DD's school held a while school assembly yesterday to say that they had no plans to shut the school, but in any case, they always had a contingency plan in place for things like fire, flood etc and this is no different. No mention of bringing books/files home etc.

I had a hospital appointment yesterday and nowhere was there any notices up about CV, and the need to wash hands or use hand sanitizer wasn't highlighted anywhere either. I had the same experience at a spa at the weekend, which surprised me too.

They can't run three exams a day, because then you have the issue of what happens to the students who qualify for extra time.

It must be possible (now exam entries and extra time requests are in) to run some sort of algorithm that works out how to timetable the GCSE subjects so as to minimise the number of students
a) sitting 3 exams on one day and
b ) particularly focus on minimising this for those with extra time

.. potentially with the option of sitting one the following day if it looks too onerous.

There is a time limit for all students on the number of hours of exams students can sit in one day. So that can't happen.

Also, one contingency day is not going to cut the mustard!

Fiddlersgreen the bread test is literally just getting a slice of bread (I used white but any would work I guess) and wipe your hands on your tablet, phone, your hair whatever then place your hand print on the bread to make an indent. Then wash your hands and repeat using another piece of bread. Apparently after a week or so mould appears where you'd placed your hands proving that bacteria exists and why we wash our hands.

We both did it last weekend and nothing showing on either our slices as yet but it does take a while. I've placed the 4 slices inside a clear bag sealed with some pegs so I can see the progress. Not sure if I'm meant to leave it on the side open or even out of the bag. Time will tell.

Good point about time limit. I've just googled and seen 5.5 hours seems the max to include a comfort break in between. That's fine for 2 exams although only just but how can it work with 3. My DD's friend has Geography, Drama and German on May 18th and they can't just be over 1.5 hours each, lots are nearly 2 and doesn't take into consideration extra time. What a nightmare.

They might just squeeze in because otherwise that isn't allowed. the German could be an hour.

DS did go to science revision after school When I picked him up I think at least half the year was there for one revision class or other.

He also got his music mock listening paper back and comfortably got a 9. He was very pleased .

Geography field trip into local city tomorrow.

Feel like he’s just getting on board with this properly but worry it will get thwarted by corona virus

I've just had an awful email from HoY. I get the same regularly and have done bi-annually each year:

His attitude stinks, late to lessons.... they are considering if he's suitable for A levels.

No amount of talking to him or punishments or praise or trying to understand him makes any difference!!

@Oblomov20 sending sympathy your way! We have similar with ds (year 9) - I’m currently dreading tomorrow’s parents evening (although he’s only bothered getting us 3 appointments so how bad can it be?!). He assures me it will change in year 11 but I’m doubtful!

Maybe A Levels are not for him? I’m fairly convinced school as an institution doesn’t suit ds. He hates anything he sees as pointless (eg form time), he hates rules, he hates academic subjects which don’t seem to have a use etc etc. I’m thinking college to do a more practical BTEC or something. Would that be a possibility for your ds?

Possibly CC, I've got to take him to his college interview tomorrow. But why would they want him either?

He's so bright. Got so much potential.

His mock grades that we got yesterday and today, so far:
Grade 5 Biology (really struggling with physics particularly) ; 8 for maths, 8 for English lit.

Parenting him has bought me to my knees.
Thank God Ds2 is easy!

Oblomov my friend’s DS was a nightmare at school but things went much better at a college doing something he wanted to do and he emerged with D star, D star, D star in his BTEC. It wasn’t without incident but it was a lot better with a fresh start, environment where treated more like adult and doing subject he wanted to do.

@postnotinhaste that’s encouraging to hear! Although 8s in Maths and English are really good @Oblomov20, I’m not expecting grades anything like that from my ds when the time comes.

Oblomov20
There’s nowt wrong with those mock grades!
If his current school ‘are considering if he’s suitable for A levels’ then perhaps it’s not the ‘best fit for him’ for sixth form?
He is clearly capable and may want a change of environment?
What are his thoughts about post GCSEs?

On the plus side @Oblomov20 those are some great mocks. Maybe the school isn’t the right fit for him? He’s clearly capable

I’d make him own it at this point. You can hide behind the whole have to something until he’s 18 thing. I have found with DD saying as little as possible gives her less to rebel against. Totally get how frustrating it must be when you know how capable he is but at least he is which will be really useful at some point.

If he's getting those results even with his "bad attitude", I wouldn't worry too much Oblomov! Agree with a PP, it sounds like the school might not be a good fit for him.

Thank you everyone.
His school 6th form is what he wants. He says. I gave him the look Of : well that ain't gonna happen with this shite attitude, is it?

I fear, if he went to the college, with its relaxed attitude, he'd end up slipping through the net, and by the time they realised he was doing bugger all, it'd be too late.