Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

GCSEs Summer 2020 (thread 4) -the final countdown

999 replies

PostNotInHaste · 28/02/2020 12:23

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.

OP posts:
C3line · 18/03/2020 18:30

But Piggy kids are kids. Data isn’t the same as sitting exams they thought they were sitting. For some the journey can be arduous. My ds is one of those and will be screwed by his data.

C3line · 18/03/2020 18:32

So should they definitely stop the revision?

Hopeful201 · 18/03/2020 18:35

Mocks are fine, but when did they do them-how hard were they?! Predicted grades, our school is harsh as they want to push the child. My DS did his French oral exam and did massively better than his mock (he saw part of the grade). He has worked so much harder since the mocks and been complimented on how he is doing. He is gutted and I feel incredibly sad for them all. It must be even worse for A level students. What a crap thing to happen.

Heifer · 18/03/2020 18:36

I've told DD not to revise tonight (she was all set up to) and wait and see what's happening. I haven't let her think she won't have to sit any exams at all yet as we just don't know what is happening. I've been totally honest and have said it sounds as if no exams for you but I'm not completely sure what is happening so don't switch off completely yet. This was because she asked if I thought it would be her last day at her current school on Friday and I have no idea! (she isn't sure if she is staying for 6th form or not as cant' decide)...

PaddingtonPaddington · 18/03/2020 18:36

Thanks @Piggywaspushed something for DD to focus on tomorrow

Do you still think results will come on results day?

Original poster
PostNotInHaste · 18/03/2020 18:37

I am saying don’t stop until school tell you too as it provides a little stability for the next 24 hours so he can absorb it as he isn’t at school and doesn’t have others around. I don’t expect him to actually do any

OP posts:
TinyCheese · 18/03/2020 18:38

DS is distraught now, his data would not be great and may prevent him from studying the subject he loves for his A level. I am at a loss - should he continue revising or is this it now and Friday is going to be his last day ever at his school and there is absolutely nothing he can do now? It's a horrendous situation...

ealingwestmum · 18/03/2020 18:40

There are going to be winners and losers in which ever way it's done - the worst possible scenario would be to re-sit the year as per the ridiculous Guardian article, but hopefully (and of course, reading between the ambiguity), it sounded like 'cancelled' and that all Y11/Y13's would be fairly compensated.

Of course detail would be great, but equally it would be unfair to say school closures until who knows (at least Sept is reality), but keep working as if you are sitting. I am sure by close Fri we will have the detail. And sense would say a robust combination of mocks and predicted, based on subject teachers' assessment of overall prediction.

Nothing is fair for them right now. But we will all get through this.

Piggywaspushed · 18/03/2020 18:40

Just wait and see. I think keeping on with some schoolwork would be a good idea, especially in the A Level subjects.

ProggyMat · 18/03/2020 18:40

Is it just me But...
How can Yr11 and Yr13 be given the ‘qualifications they need and deserve’ if exams are not taking place?
If it is to be ‘predicted’ grades, how is this be done given at this point in time it is deemed that our communities will not be in the position to hold the exams?

Oakmaiden · 18/03/2020 18:41

The message to give your teens is - it will all be OK. This will not disadvantage them in life, it is just a blip, and everyone in the country will be in the same boat. Colleges and unis will know the score and WILL be understanding.

My daughter has just said to me "Well, if the grades they give me aren't what I want I can just resit them in November." It is not the end of the world.

Wheresthebeach · 18/03/2020 18:43

The realisation that Prom not happening is causing distress too...God what a mess xxx

Oakmaiden · 18/03/2020 18:43

@TinyCheese

When he actually gets his GCSE results, if they are not what the teacher thought he was going to get in the real exam then ask the teacher to write to the new college and say so. They want children to do well. They will really really try to help.

Oakmaiden · 18/03/2020 18:43

Yeah. Whereas Prom...

RippleEffects · 18/03/2020 18:44

@DingoDing I really hope its based on classroom evidence and mock results.

DS1 had lots of 4 predictions and got 9's in most of his mocks.

I know this is an extreme example but he's autistic and was refusing to mark make at school until year 5 when we got him into an Autism unit. He's very, very bright near top percentile IQ but its taken so much work to get this to show to the outside world. I feel like I've earned everyone of his achievements alongside him (living vicariously through my childs results because his needs to be able to reach his potential have become my life).

I wish there was more information. He's in bits. He's gone for an hour of quiet time then we're going to sit down and write out all our questions to ask at school tomorrow/ Friday.

Any factual links would help save my sanity right now.

Oakmaiden · 18/03/2020 18:44

@C3line

I don;t think it will hurt anyone to take a few days/week's rest from revision - and by the time that is over there is certain to be more clarity.

Scruffyoak · 18/03/2020 18:44

Wtf do they now do? Not revise as no point?

Have they now left school? No last day or prom. It's not the most important but it is sad. I worry for their mental health

ProggyMat · 18/03/2020 18:47

Oakmaiden as long as the 6th form that many Yr11 students would normally move to will accept them and allow them to resit in November

ZombieFan · 18/03/2020 18:47

Gavin Williamson the Education Secretary gave a statement in the House of Commons and said, "Let me make it very clear, their will be NO exams this year".

Oakmaiden · 18/03/2020 18:51

ProggyMat - They will know what has happened though. Nobody wants children to suffer because of this. And they will need bums on seats.

I know it is a shock, but it is important not to catastrophise - and to encourage your children to be positive about it. It WILL be OK. It might be different to what we expected, but it will be OK.

Original poster
PostNotInHaste · 18/03/2020 18:53

They will be assigned some kind of grade and accepted on the basis of that for 6th form as they usually are I would think.
We’re pretty much at the end now and they have covered the overwhelming majority of the syllabus now.

OP posts:
RippleEffects · 18/03/2020 18:57

{{ You tube educational statement it starts at 17:35]]

Original poster
PostNotInHaste · 18/03/2020 18:59

As said back in the thread with just a few exceptions once they have the next set of qualifications under their belts no one really looks at GCSE with the exception of English and Maths.

It’s a little trickier for those who are doing apprenticeships but will be ok.

As parents we should make sure their qualifications mark them out to be then Corona Cohort.

They will be talking to their Grandchildren about this one day ‘I remember the day we were told the exams were cancelled and we all went Shock’

OP posts:
ealingwestmum · 18/03/2020 19:04

mm. Not impressed at all with London Evening News just. Assad just commented on schools quoting "postponed; to be taken at a later date".

Either totally misinterpreted both Education Sec and PM, or knows something we don't.

People don't need misquoting right now.

Original poster
PostNotInHaste · 18/03/2020 19:04

DS and I have briefly discussed a blog as know this time will be studied in the future in History as they do WW2 now. They are used to technology and these coming months are when they can get creative,

We have to keep them calm as the next few months are going to be ones that will need some determination and creativity to get through and this is where forums like this will be invaluable support for us all,

OP posts: