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.

I'm staying strong for ds and hoping that they will find a way that feels fair. I'm personally hoping that they don't use predicted grades alone - ds' haven't been updated (to us and him at least) since his SATs, so are in no way realistic - I think he has been consistently working 2 grades above all of them over the last 2 years. I'm really hoping that all the data schools gather now should allow the school to do suitable tweaks. He (& I) are feeling a bit discombobulated - he's worked so hard and solidly, and suddenly .... a gaping void! I'm just glad we are the GCSE year and not the A level year....

@Oakmaiden thanks for posting the AQA statement. I don't know why but I feel a bit uneasy with it, as if it isn't as clear cut as the children think in that exams have been cancelled and that's it. Only time will tell but I hope the Government and exam boards tell us soon before the kids switch off. They are riding an emotional rollercoaster at the moment and we need to ensure none of them fall off.

@mumoftwodc

I'm not sure how much clearer the government can be. The Education Secretary said "I want to be clear. No exams will be taking place this year."

Kids are free to switch off- exams will not be happening. Not in May, not in June, not ever.

I think they are going have to go off predicted results or the latest teachers assessments. As when the DC did their first lot of mock in October/November but had not finished the whole of their courses and if your schools are doing a second lot of mocks they would be doing them around now.

The school my DD is at is right in the middle of hers, where as my friend child the school he's at should be doing them next week.

So how can they use Mock results, the more accurate result would be teacher assessment.

Thanks @Oakmaiden I found a similar confirmation on Edexcel website and Ofqual but still no details, it’s the unknown that’s difficult to deal with.

Teacher assessment isn’t fair and neither are mocks. They vary hugely.

Do they still revise? School still sending work to be done remotely.

Another article here about what might be done. I've linked from the tweet as some of the replies are interesting. For people still wondering if the exams are postponed - how could they be? You don't know when that might be - you're going to say September and then "oh sorry, postponed again!!"

twitter.com/Samfr/status/1240413035245850635

OK confirmed now

Gavin Williamson on Sky News

twitter.com/tamcohen/status/1240538263800229888

@StormyClouds they've said no exams will take place this year and exams will be cancelled but have yet to clarify the way forward. Until that clarity is given we really don't know what is going on. There has been talk of exams taking place in September and talk of all years repeating this current academic year. With schools being closed indefinitely the knock on effect through each school year will be hard felt. The clearest indication so far has been given by the Welsh Education Minister on Twitter. Let's hope that applies for the rest of the UK.

Let’s hope they’ve got a hefty appeals system

If it’s teacher evaluation- presumably there will be extra weighting given there was weeks left of study

Like PP have said- crazy times.

I hope everyone is well and healthy

I must have the only kid in the land who feels they won’t earn their results

Definitely no exams it says on sky news.

My son is sad too. He feels he has worked towards them and wanted to do them

DS is going into school today (and tomorrow but am wondering if that will actually happen). Those in his year who are in are planning to sign shirts sooner rather than later.

Ok we have the start of knowing what will happen then. We are waiting for school email and have had one from DS’s new 6th form.

DD’s last day today - tomorrow all staff in to plan their strategy.

DD was making wild plans last night to start her A level English reading and begin looking at the simpler units for Bio and Chem - do we think that schools will provide summer term online learning for Yr 11, or cut them loose as they’d have been on study leave anyway?

I think they will cut them loose unfortunately. Hope I'm wrong.

Gavin Williamson on the bbc news said they will provide details tomorrow on how grades would be awarded, plus an appeals process and probably result in August if they can

Sounds like definitely no exams. I have a year 13 mentee who is distraught. Deprived background, carer for a parent, awful mocks and predicted but spent the last 3 months working his socks off.

DS in for two more days. Shirt signing etc planned post school Friday. They always have year 12 transition work on website so he is going to start that if definitely no exams

Letter we have just had from school sounds as if they will still be having lessons and not cut loose.

@PushTheTrolley
You’re not alone I have one too despite having fabulous mocks and enough ‘evidence’

It is so difficult, I am gutted for my DS but think the predicted grades will probably be the best starting place for results. He is ok with them, I think he would've done better in the exams-he's worked so much harder. On the flip side he is relieved to be getting rid of the subjects he hates! Sad they don't get to celebrate and shine like they should be doing. But in the grand scheme of things going on right now it is minor.

DD's year have been asked to hand in their textbooks tomorrow. She can't go in as we're on family self-isolation.

I hope they are not cut loose. Fingers crossed
Worried.

@proggymat I don’t know what will happen with notice. I would guess the grammar wouldn’t over offer by much as they’re likely to be first choice. DD’s friend is on the waiting list and was hoping to smash her predicted grades and get a place - presume this might not be possible now!