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.

There is a Y9 boy who took his life too, our children are under so much pressure, not just from education and exams but conforming to what is expected of them at a time when they are struggling to find themselves.
Mine is home tonight and everything else can wait, I'm going to hold her tight and tell her how much I love her.
My sincerest sympathy for parents having to go through this. And may those poor children RIP.

We have friends whose younger daughter would have been 18 today. She took her own life a week after she turned 16.
Too many young lives lost. There but for the grace of god.

@Alsoplayspiccolo that is such sad news. It really puts things into perspective.

It absolutely does, doesn't it?
I remember after last summer's speech day, seeing a year 11 girl deep in conversation with the deputy head of academics, clearly distraught at the prospect that she wouldn't get a good enough grade in maths to allow her to return in 6th form.

We've had terrible flooding here today, to the extent that the schools closed early, for fear of the school buses not being able to make it back. We've got the log burner lit tonight and DD is sat next to me on the sofa, doing a maths past paper. I've gone on and on about the need to get a 5 in maths, but honestly, if we make it through the exams with our mental health and relationships intact, that will be enough.

Long time lurker. Hoping to join in for support over these last few months.

Piccolo - how incredibly sad. Poor child and poor family dealing with the aftermath. Suicide at any age is a horrific thing to deal with but so much worse when young and so much promise is cut short.

With regards CV my DD has just informed me tonight that her school have not as yet cancelled the ski trip to Northern Italy that is scheduled. I’m incredulous! We are in Scotland and so far no CV cases but I can’t see it remaining like that for long.

piccolo that’s awful. Utterly devastating for everyone.

That is dreadful news Piccolo. There is so much pressure on young people now.

Thanks for new thread.

Horrible news for your school piccolo. It's sadly all too common. We have had several children in the village die by suicide under 18 and still the chronic underfunding and lack of interest in MH goes on. It's particularly bad from 16-18 as they fall through the gap between children and adult care and when this is combined with the huge life changes (sixth form, A levels, working, etc) it's no wonder so many children are in crisis

We are virus-free so far and the school ski trip over half term is feeling glad for the first time ever that they do a hellish coach trip to Austria rather than fly to Italy as so many other schools do! DS2 and I will both not cope well if exams are extended into July.

The latest CV case is quite close to us, there are children (and quite likely teachers) from the town at both my DCs schools.

Thank you for the new thread Post.

Here's to everyone keeping their families healthy (mentally and physically), and as drama free as possible over the challenging coming months

I have to say DD's school has been absolutely outstanding on their comms. Pro-active, sensible with a really direct strategy on the dos and dont's re containment and risk. It serves a diverse multi cultural mix of students/parents in an urban location setting, and is sensitive to not offending its community that includes many from the higher infected regions.

Welcome Motherstongue

Terf we have lost 3 here too very sadly, it’s the one thing that really scares me. The latest one had finally told his Mum he was struggling, appointment was the next day so close to getting help. There is so much pressure on them and resources cut to the bone.

Refusing to contemplate exams being delayed this morning or any other scenario, it will all be fine.....

I really can't see how they can delay the exams - the longer term implications would last for years.

Assuming they treat GCSEs and As the same, the gap between results day and new term starting is very short. Any delay would cause chaos. Schools wouldn't have enough space (or teaching capacity) to keep old students on until November and start a while new Y7 cohort - especially those with 6th forms. Those starting A levels would never fit whole courses in if they didn't start them until Christmas. Unis would not have any students this September, and possibly similar in 2 year's time if this year's Y11s started A levels late.

I don't see how they can delay exams either. However I am very concerned about school closures in the coming months, my DS works far better at school than at home.

I’m with you on that seeline
It would not surprise me if plans were already in place to ensure the examinations are held.
Yesterday, one of DDs teachers said that they can’t see the exams being cancelled.

Agree Seeline . I think the announcement about 2 months closure for worst case scenario does make you think and even the mention of it at an already stressful time is another stress. If it gets bad something will have to be worked out because as you said , too many knock on effects.

Let’s not go there unless we absolutely have to and focus on keeping everything as calm for them as possible (even if we don’t feel it!) as they are under enough stress at the moment. Feel really sorry for those doing A levels.

Expletive my DD is the opposite and much prefers study leave.
Having said that, she had said she would not want from now to May off either.

Its such a difficult situation to navigate. In some ways I’d feel more relaxed if there was some sort of plan announced.

At the moment staying on track, washing hands and assuming the best is probably a good plan. Teachers discussing it at school doesn’t help, or maybe it does give the kids a sense of ‘this is under control’. I dunno anymore. Just want it to all be okayl

Thank you for the welcome PostNotInHaste.

As I said before, we are in Scotland so my DD school will finish up on 27th June (it is a boarding school following the English Curriculum). If the CV causes disruption to the exam dates then I can’t see how the dates can be pushed back into July. I appreciate that many English/Welsh schools will still be in session in July but not up here in Scotland. My DS boarded in England though and his school also finished up at the end of June every year so it won’t just affect a little handful of schools outside England/Wales.

Proggy - mine had a two week half term in October and got stressed about being off for so long, he stays at homework club every night, he's not intending to take any study leave as they will be running the normal timetable as optional revision classes at his school. Anyway, hoping for the best.

Thank you @postnotinhaste. For some reason I have it in my head 50 pages is post limit (makes no sense when you think about it).
So sad to hear about the teens with mental health problems it is all too much pressure. Life is so different for them now , image and info overload at every turn.

Im trying not to think about CV. I work in a Uni and it is a hotbed of germs and viruses anyhow 🙈🙄

Dd has her next set of mocks next week plus her theory exam retake then audition for the A level music. She says she feels 85% prepped for it all. She had a couple of overwhelm wobbly moments last week but nowhere near as much as previous.

I can tell she is getting a bit bored with revision...anyone elses?

All she can see ahead is months of revision. I keep telling her it is like a dense forest..we have to hack our way through to the other side. It is a shame really as she is not really appreciating these last few months with her lovely teachers and some of her friends. No sixth form as I said before

Orange my DD ‘cannot see the wood for the trees’ at the moment.
Her school only have one set of mocks which she sat in January.
She has said she can’t get on with revision because of homework.
Yet homework is end of topic tests and revision for mock papers not sat in January- which I’ve explained is actually revision!

Proggy, it's me that struggles with the idea of homework actually being revision, not DD! Every night she says she's got homework to do, I panic and wonder how all the revision is going to get fitted in. I'm reassured by your post, thanks.

We're struggling to keep a decent, steady pace going here. Slightly easier during the week, when time is limited anyway, but weekends started well and have slowed off to less work being done over the same length of time.
School doesn't seem to be doing anything to keep the impetus up - no tests to work towards, no extra revision sessions, very much business as usual.

No revision happening here yet either, just homework and the dreaded Spanish oral prep. And nothing extra although she has had tests this week - which she didn’t revise for! I feel she’s lost the impetus she had before Christmas - I hope it returns!

Oh Piccolo that's tragic. The poor family & friends.

My theory is that exams will go ahead. If school closures are ordered nearer the time I think the point will be made that 15-18 year olds can be educated to wash their hands & yr 11& 13 can be managed on reduced staff. For pupils that are actually unwell who knows?

Lovely new thread - thank you!

Having thought all A levels were firmly chosen here, DD's godmother has given her a book on medical ethics which has made her think that she might like to do Philosophy. As a fourth...