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.

DS2 went for his 'guidance' meeting at the vocational college this afternoon with DH and I've just rung to find out how it went (I am on holiday!) He's planning to do a plumbing course and if he can get an apprenticeship it will be one day a week at college and four 'on the job'. College happy with him and his application and future plans, but stress that he has to find the apprenticeship himself. But he's so idle that nothing is happening When he gets on with it, it will be fine but he's like a brick wall sometimes!!

Interesting hearing about all those who have to apply, and meet stringent requirements, to stay at the same school. Here, nearly all the state schools are 11-16 only so everyone has to go somewhere new after GCSEs (and there is a LOT of choice of post-16 places). It can feel a bit stressful but the positive side is that everyone's in the same boat. Swings and roundabouts on both sides I suppose.

That’s sad news Also 😢

Dd is in the middle of mocks, only results so far are for English, out of the 3 papers she got 8,8,9 (the 8’s were only one mark of a 9), she’s not feeling confident about science as she found the biology paper really hard, she’s feeling more hopeful on her German speaking exam, she felt it went better than her last mock which she got a 5.

Dd has been interviewed twice for 6 form, she’s staying at the same school, she’s been offered a place.

Because I’m in Scotland we don’t have 6th form colleges. Just out of interest, why is the norm for state schools to only go to GCSE level and not continue straight through to A level? I would have thought it was more cost effective to have kids in 1 school throughout Secondary? I would think it also adds a level of unnecessary stress looking for other options when they should be concentrating on their exams then they’ve got it all again to go through for university applications the following year! I feel so sorry for your DC (and parents).

I'm in a county with virtually no 6th forms, so pretty well everyone goes to college, it's just normal here. Most DCs will have done the rounds of open days and made applications by the Christmas of year 11 so its out of the way by now. There is a vast choice of subjects available at colleges compared to 6th forms, BTECs in all sorts of vocational subjects as well as A levels. We are fairly rural but there are about 8 colleges DC from our town could reasonably go to, some are specialist, some are technical (mostly vocational) some are mainly A levels. I left school at 16 to go to college for my A levels and absolutely loved it.

There’s a whole variety of sixth form settings here - we’re in a city which has a mixture of 11-16 and 11-18 schools and one sixth form college on our side of the city. Then there are grammar schools that attract new students at sixth form. Plus the neighbouring borough has a very popular sixth form college which dd has applied to.

@ProggyMat and @Alsoplayspiccolo we are also giving notice and giving up a bursary so there’s no going back! We couldn’t afford the other 75% of the fees that it covers. She’s going to a state school/college though so if she doesn’t make the grammar offer (assuming she gets one) there’s the college or the comp as back up thankfully.

It’s a bigger decision to move when not everyone else is doing. I think in her year of 85, around 5/6 are moving. I would quite like it if everyone moved as it would take away the anxiety Of wondering if it’s the right thing!

Indeed, lots of places have only 11-18 schools or 13-18. I live in an area with 13-18 schools , which was meant to provide specialised education for older students and has resulted in very large sixth forms, but lack of choice of school to an extent because of distance between schools.

This has all been very confused recently by a move towards 11- 16 and 11-18 education in urban centres nearby and the growth of two half baked sixth form college : one of which is, in reality, the sixth form of DS's school in a separate building. terrible public transport, and the associated costs, also reduces choice.

DD’s school have had a 6 form for 22 years (when I left), most school where have a 6 form including DD’s sn school which is 3-18. You would have thought it would make sense for all state schools to have 6 forms now they have to stay in education until 18?

All our state schools have a sixth form - medium size northern town. Five comprehensives and two independents.

Got exam timetable yesterday and second lot of mock results trickling in. DS had good confidence boost in maths challenge with gold award and through to next round. He hates maths and got nothing last year so took us all by surprise!

We have a mix locally in terms of (state) sixth form provision - a few decent large sixth form colleges (which cover a mix of more vocational and academic) most schools also have a sixth form, but not all. @AnneofClevage DS has an offer in from his own school, which is likely to be where he'll stay, but it was the last of his offers to come through - it's the highest in terms of offers, but pending a disaster he should hit the grades. He has a back up from a local school and a local college.

I worked with ds on his English Lit yesterday - it's 'my' subject, and one of his weaker ones. I'm utterly confused by what output he has from class - he's pretty good on the detail of texts and fires quotes around, but doesn't seem to have a real sense of the overview in quite the same way, and there's not much in his textbook...

Just out of interest, why is the norm for state schools to only go to GCSE level and not continue straight through to A level?

It predates the introduction of compulsory education to 18 so numbers were lower making class sizes/range of A levels offered less viable. Geography is a key determinant.

On one side we have a city where only a couple of school have a sixth form. Everyone else goes sixth form colleges (pupil numbers at each >1500), a higher education college or apprenticeship etc. On the other side a rural county where most schools have an integral sixth form.

One consequence is that teachers in the 11-16 schools therefore teach a narrower curriculum year in year out. Possibly less attractive to some?

It really isn't the norm at all, anyway : the majority of state schools have sixth forms , except in towns with large , established sixth from colleges, which is the way some counties chose to go when comprehensives were introduced (Cambs/ Luton are local examples) and then a few outliers chose to go to a middle/upper school system.

Anything I can help with andwhen ?

DS has PE practical final assessment today. Then there is moderation in a couple of weeks. He seems determined to do well in PE so hopefully will go well.

@crazycrofter I think there’s quite a few of DDs peers holding conditional offers for other schools. After Easter the numbers leaving will be clearer as they will have given notice.
Having said that, some may well be in the position to ‘stand a terms fees’ and may wait until GCSE results day before making their decisions.
@Alsoplayspiccolo DDs entrance grades are high but not ,I’d like to think, unachievable given her performance to date.
Should there be a ‘blip’ Im sure DDs and your DDs new school would give some leeway- mit circs-if an A level choice was out of kilter with their suite of grades.
It’s an emotionally draining experience on top of GCSE year...

I think you're probably right, Proggy, especially given that DD has been consistent in her grades this year for her A level choices ( 2 of them, anyway; the 3rd will be a new subject) and taking into account her SEN. The biggest worry is maths - they've made it absolutely clear they will not accept below a 5, and whilst DD is managing a high 5 currently and might even make a 6, it would only take a bad paper to bring down her marks.

@alsoplayspiccolo are there any state school/colleges that you could consider at this stage or are they particularly bad by you? It does take the pressure off a bit to have a lower offer option that you're happy with.

Dd's school seems to be on the up in the league tables and is now top 10 nationally, which is probably why most of her friends who talked about leaving are thinking it's too much of a risk! Dd is convinced she'll be fine wherever she goes, as it's her that has to put in the work after all. I think she's probably right as she's pretty independent.

crazy, we have an "excellent" state school down the road, which is where DD went for year 7, but part of them attaining an excellent rating is by refusing to acknowledge SEN unless you have a statement, and then off rolling anyone who they think won't make the grade.r
DD spent a miserable year there, being punished and ridiculed for her difficulties, so there's no way she'd contemplate going back.

Not good news that Italy have closed all schools and unis due to Coronavirus, we are possibly days/weeks away of being in a similar position to Italy so will the uk be closing schools in the coming weeks? Would like to know what’s being put in place for GCSE and A level students with exams coming up?

According to coronavirus thread section the examining boards are working out a plan @Lovemusic33. I cant keep up at present! Number of cases has jumped!

Dd has her theory retake tonight ...right after 5 mock exams this week her school are very good at producing 'revision booklets' for them all. She reckons they are now really thick ...
Just in case of Corona 🙈

My DD has been told by school to keep any past papers that she has done/ will do to give evidence of ability. I can't really see how that would work - especially if done with the cgp book next to her.....

BBC says schools being told to carry on as normal.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-51707144

They will make a plan if CV becomes widespread.

Personally I think they'd be better off closing schools now, for two weeks, with deep cleaning to slow it down rather than waiting til the numbers get high.

It has genuinely not even been discussed at my school...

@Alsoplayspiccolo so sorry to hear that, that's terrible! I hope she gets the grades to get into her preferred school then. I'm sure she will!

Thanks to all for explaining a bit about the 6th form colleges etc. Very interesting.

I started reading the Coronavirus thread about school closures and decided it was just stressing me out, lol. 3 cases now in Scotland.