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.

Sorry Proggy - I misread obviously.

If they are independent schools, why not phone them and ask them? They are likely to have a better idea how they will react than a LA college will, at this point.

@proggymat I handed in our notice to dd's school today, as she's now got two good offers elsewhere. Then this happened and dd started saying she might not want to leave as she won't have a proper leaving experience and she'll miss her friends!

One of her offers, from the grammar school, is dependant on quite high GCSE grades as it's very oversubscribed (over 800 applicants for 80 places!) - so I guess now she's not taking the exams that offer is unconditional. But I wonder if the school has over-offered? I hope not!

This is all a real problem for home educators - two of my friends have girls doing a few GCSEs early this year (year 10). Thankfully they can just defer to next year. But home educated year 11s will have no data or predicted grades. They're hardly going to accept a parent's marks are they?! Nightmare.

Post we're not in Wales but I presume it would be the same all over the UK. I still think it's early days and no one knows how long this will go on for. She's also gutted for no leavers hoodie, year book and end of exam parties - basically the right of passage all 16 yr olds live for.

Redcrayon DD also doing a science homework booklet as it's due in Friday. I think she's wanting continuity as it's all she knows at the moment.

We were supposed to have parents evening next week and results of last mocks too. I wanted to discuss 6th form at her current school as no one has said anything about it so feel a bit in limbo.

Proggy My DD is in the same position. I think we can give provisional notice to her current school, and hopefully there will be some leniency.

Oakmaiden
Some posters need to give notice from Independents to attend state grammar schools and other post 16 provision
Why would the ‘private sector’ know more than the state?
Many of DDs friendship circle hold offers from oversubscribed Comps/ LA colleges.
Once again, I’m not being arsey but neither sector knows what the fuck will happen.

seeline has your school said they will accept a provisional notice?

DS's year group have decided that they will do the traditional "end of year shirt signing" on Friday (after school, not that I think anyone would object in current climate). Pleased that they have "something". Of course it's slightly bitter sweet because many people in their year group are already off due to self isolation/health conditions.

Why would the ‘private sector’ know more than the state?

Because by this stage they have a better idea of how many students want places, the abilities of those students, etc. ANd they can make their own rules.

They won't know more about what is going on - but they will know if they are willing to take teacher's recommendations instead of grades or allow resits in the event of disappointing grades.

Or whether they will be happy to take notice from you but allow your daughter to stay if she needs to, in the case of her current school.

They get to make their own rules, to a certain extent.

(As it happens I used to work in an independent school, so not completely talking out of my bum. Oh, it is that bottom again...)

@RedskyAtnight - that is why my dd in bits. I have her off due to her asthma so she will miss all last day shirt signing. Its just all too much.

@redskyatnight Dd wants to go in on Friday i've said No

Her Asthma has been bad...it isn't usually she hasnt had an attack in months but it just makes her more vulnerable. There will be lots of kissing and hugging plus the train ride there. It is so anticlimatic for them

Snap @Wheresthebeach!

@Where'sthebeach @Redskyatnight I am not sure if my daughter's school friends are sorting something - she is currently upstairs taking a "remote" dance class with her dance teacher. She won't be able to take part even if they do, though, as she is in quarantine - for mumps, of all things...

@crazycrofter
Apologies I missed your post!
Has your DDs school mentioned if your notice will be treat as provisional?
DDs peers whom have applied at an outstanding comp have been told they have over offered.
Before recent events, this makes sense as many will have used it as a ‘safety net’.
But given the unprecedented circumstances we are now in, would that Comp now ‘down grade’ it’s own Yr11 students if this years GCSEs are to be decided on ‘predicted’ grades?

Ds got 100% in one of his subjects in y10 and y11 mocks. He would be gutted if he wasn’t given the 9 he’s been predicted.

@OrangeCinnamon I feel such a complete bitch as this is so hard for her. But I’m asthmatic too and get chest infections every year....

Out of interest, my daughter emailed her music teacher to ask if he wanted her to finish up the coursework she hasn't finished. He emailed back to say that he was asked today to submit projected grades for all Year 11s, so not to bother until they heard more.

(He also told her he had predicted her an A*)

@Oakmaiden that's great !
I feel sad that she won't get to say goodbye to some teachers and other support staff. She has had the same tutor for most of secondary and lots of lovely other tutors

*teachers

Yes, I think it is good news that teachers are being asked to make a current prediction, rather than relying on mocks/ earlier predictions.

Of course they may use mocks to justify that prediction, but that will probably be in the context of comparison with the marks of the rest of the cohort and more recent classwork.

So sorry to all those who are missing last day "celebrations" such as they are .
Hopefully there might be reunions to attend when all this is over ...

Just watching sky news and a head teacher (I think) was saying maybe a mix between predicted and online assessments. Did anyone else see the interview?

My heart is breaking for DD. Her eyes keep filling and her bottom lip keeps wobbling. There have been a lot of angry tears. I know it isn’t the end of the world (mind it might be the way the world is going) but when you’re 16 this is your whole life. GCSE’s are all consuming. You plan this summer for years and I’m just gutted for this whole ‘Corona Cohort’.

@wrongdissection
Feel devastated for them all. Things are so much bigger for them at this age

Ds has good predicted grades and did well in mocks. We were as sure as we could be that he would get back into sixth form to do what he wants next year so our lives have been relatively easy in comparison to lots of others on this thread. However, this announcement was a great relief to him as he has hated the uncertainty of the current situation. This week there has been a palpable sense of unease amongst the teachers with many of them missing due to having to self isolate. Tonight he looks like a huge weight has been lifted from his shoulders and for that small mercy, I am grateful.

I wish everyone and their children all the best for the days ahead and hope those who feel disadvantaged by this situation will be given every opportunity to move forward to the next stage of their lives and education.