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.

It seems bonkers to me. I’d love to know when the marks need to be in esp as they’ve said results in July. Wonder if it’s a misguided attempt to keep them engaged.

Email to us said due to uncertainty they are advising all of them to complete all the work set by all teachers. Which I understand but we would like DS to work on the further maths as was just about to start it at a lunchtime club, finish the physics syllabus and use code Academy to prepare for Computer science as hasn’t got GCSE.

Email to them said something a bit different so some confusion.

DS seems to have work coming out of his ears. Past papers, prep etc. He’s doing as he just doesn’t know wether it will all count.

The schools all have regular 'progress 8' measures etc.
They have KS2 data.
They will often have CATs.

They will be able to do checks and balances that a school's cohort aren't being over graded.

Then within a school, they will know that Tim has been lazy and disruptive whereas Fred has worked his socks off and really improved over time. So maybe Tim will get a 6 (but might have been formally targeted an 8 originally) and Fred will get a 6 (but might have been formally targeted a 4 originally).

Its the 3/4 borderlines I think will be hardest for the teachers.

DS has counted up and he has over 30 hours of work to do by next Monday. He is unimpressed...

Agree with all that. But really hope they don't use CATs!

Post You potentially know this already but Seneca is a very good resource for Computer Science GCSE if your DS wants to get up to speed. DS's Computer Science teacher has been very impressed by it, and he's not the sort of person that is impressed by much iyswim!

What happens if your child has changed schools in between key stages?
DD changed in year 8 and Welsh schools don’t do SATs, plus she’s in an indie, so they don’t do any standardised national tests either.

That’s really helpful RedSky, thank you.

That sounds fair (and reassuring) TeenPlusTwenties

I think CATs or MidYis and Yellis may be used to support grade 9s.

Oh, just to be clear, this is all just my personal beliefs as an interested parent, nothing else.

DD’s school have emailed and clarified there will be no work set for year 11’s or 13’s. They are basically free agents 🤷🏼‍♀️

I don’t understand how schools can be doing such different things and all following guidelines

They aren't. they are doing what they all think they should be doing. there are no guidelines or directives yet. They are all guessing!

Ah...well that makes sense I guess. Really wish they’d get it sorted as it’s ramping up DDs stress levels.

Nothing official from DS's school either. We've put together a vague timetable of a few half hour slots per day for him to keep up with the subjects he wants to do for A level plus English and maths, but haven't actually started anything yet. School have left all the original work on their online homework platform (eg prep notes for MFL tasks etc) but these were all uploaded last week before the exam cancellation announcement.

Hope we all get some clarification soon although can totally imagine that this must be a nightmare for schools and teachers.

I can't believe schools are expecting students to submit work that is supposed to be their best effort after they have been told they won't be sitting exams. My dd has disengaged already and always did her best work at school anyway. Anything she submits now is going to be halfhearted, they can't use this work to assign their grades surely?

Ours mentioned coursework. Son just said he cant do it. He has lost the heart for it.

We've had an email this afternoon just reassuring students/parents that every effort will be made to ensure GCSE results are fair, this includes factoring in how much they would have gained in the next few months with revision / exam practice etc

No work from now on though!

We had an email today saying they are to continue studying as there will be more assessments. My DS also still has online teaching going on. He has switched off to the exams, going to be a bit hard trying to learn more of the English Lit quotes etc. How are supposed to keep them revising just in case! Mad.

I also thought I heard the PM say in his speech there will be no exams and “assessments” (or maybe I read it here from DfE), yet here we are with assessments being loaded online almost daily.

We had similar @Hopeful201
I’m going to set a 2 hour study period every day for them, probably focusing on A level subjects they want to do.

I also told them they should pick something of MOOC to study.

They’re already bored and it’s only been 3 days.

Poor DS has just come almost in tears to say he can’t cope with the work anymore. After checking exactly what he had to do (I had thought it was one or two odd essays for History) it turns out he has 15 different assignments to do covering almost every subject. Essays, past questions, newly set questions etc. Even music he is supposed to do continue with his second music composition which was meant for his GCSE. I’m furious that they are being put into this situation.

How on earth do they expect students to give them best when they are all thoroughly deflated? I’ve written to the HOA and waiting to hear back.

No expectation from DDs school that anything is required, as far as they are concerned the year 11s have left. On a positive note DD got a confirmation place for sixth form today, reassuring that as long as she met minimum requirements 5 x grade 4 plus at least a grade 5 in A level subjects, she will be accepted.
The one thing niggling away is this question on the gov website:
‘17. What if have started my coursework but it is not finished?
Exam boards will provide advice on this to schools and colleges as soon as possible.’
DD didn’t finish textiles or do Drama performance.