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.

@oblomov20 you might be surprised. My brother was totally disorganised, unmotivated etc at school and got very mediocre GCSEs ( including a couple of Ds). He went to the local FE college, despite my parents’ concerns. Most of the other A Level students were either much older (60 plus!) or fairly low ability. He came out with 3 x B, which 22 years ago was even better than it is now.

I think he had a confidence boost being the high achiever in his groups. However that wouldn’t be for everyone!

DD finally bought home her timetable yesterday.
Week 1 5
Week 2 5
H/T
Week 3 7
Week 4 3
Week 5 2

Only has 3 days with more than 1 exam, so not too bad (assuming things go ahead as planned).

On another note, she had a whole period yesterday devoted to how the school were going to run a normal timetable via Google Classroom - in that lessons would be set as per the timetable with either videos, worksheets or video conferencing for discussions etc, if school was forced to close.

@seeline That time table seems quite evenly spread apart from the week with 7!!

Your post just made me realise that we only have one computer at home but two secondary age kids so I’ve no idea how that would work if our school did lessons through google classroom!!

I think it could cause problems for many. Both my DCs have laptops as a lot is done online/on computers at their school. Our actual PC is pretty old, doesn't have wifi or a web cam etc so would be useless! I suppose some of it could be done on phones, but not all.

Some of the guidelines the school set were quite funny - they should be working in a communal space (that will be fine with 2 children and 2 adults all working from home!!), ideally they should have a blank wall behind them ( ), and they needn't wear school uniform but should be dressed smartly (ie no pj's or underwear )

Haha could you imagine them sat in underwear 😂

That is hilarious, i can imagine Dd trying to do lessons in her Harry Potter onsie and Insta ready wall behind her (Boho wall hanging & fairy lights)

Interesting as my ds has been told no video lessons etc for safeguarding reasons - i.e. in case they all record eachother and/or the teacher.

They were specifically told that they could not record or photograph anything. I guess they just have to trust the kids.

A case of Coronavirus confirmed in DS's school, so he was sent home at lunch so they could do a deep clean. Just feels like a waiting game until DS gets it

Name

Or maybe

I'm teetotal, so probably more

Definitely .

Hope all will be well for you.

Thanks Piggy

Name .

Seeline I think our DDs are at the same school! Her Art GCSE has just been brought forward by a week so she is now in a panic!

We've had email from school saying they've tested online classes and good to go even if only have phone at home. School currently open but all trips & sports fixtures off. As of yesterday there were no reported cases in our county so hoping we can get another week of school in.

@namechangenumber2
Hope all is ok

DD interview and audition at local college went well. She was offered a place straight away ...even has a student number. The audition was just to check she was right level for Music A level. She then had a chat with admissions guy about her other choices and , because she had disclosed mental health issues, their wellbeing services, nurses counsellors etc. She us happy ...so am I. We are very lucky to have the sixth form college (few sixth forms attached to schools in Hants) for the area on our doorstep and they are even doing a 10am start from September.
Impressed by the comms so far she has a 'what happens next' pack they don't have to enrol to confirm choices until September which is nice

That sounds brilliant @orangecinnamon - especially the 10am start! Very sensible and progressive, dd would benefit so much from that.

She had her first offer this week from a sixth form college but it’s a long winded journey by public transport - or an expensive (and not flexible) one by college minibus.

Good point about mental health services. Dd has been having counselling at school, we should probably ask about this when she has all her offers in.

DD's school also prepared for lessons via Google Classroom...Seems they are stepping up the planning with the expectation of closure.

@Schmedz Can I ask which exam board? On the face of it bringing exams forward might be a way to avoid the kids taking the exams during the peak of the curve. Mind you...can you imagine the reaction...the grade boundaries would be rock bottom!

OrangeC that sounds a super college really focused on the student.

Hello, just spotted this thread on "Active and thought I would pop in. My dd is taking her GCSEs this summer - she has done her numeracy and one paper each of triple sciences and english lit. She chose GCSEs with quite a lot of coursework, and that has been going reasonably well (though I think she still hasn't finished her music compositions). Unfortunately her drama performance was to be done next week - and her teacher has just been isolated due to CV, so it has been cancelled. They have no idea what will happen next with it - possibly it will be videoed and sent to the exam board instead of being marked by an examiner in real life.

She also does a lot of performing outside school, and has had one production she is involved in cancelled already, and is very anxious that the other production and more importantly her dance and acting exams will be impacted. All we can do is wait and see.

Orange - I could a guess about which college you are talking about - has it recently merged? If so I know both it and its partner, which has already started the 10am starts.

DS has just announced that someone in his form is self isolating .