GCSE’s summer 2020 thread 5 - And then there were none..

[FoolsAssassin]

Once upon a time there was a group of year 11 students who had spent the last few years preparing to sit their GCSE exams in the summer of 2020. Then one day they woke up and found themselves as characters in a real life disaster movie and as if by magic the exams disappeared.

What lies next for the Corona Cohort?!

Thread 4
Thread 3
Thread 2
Thread 1 (Year 10)

Anyone lurking please feel free to jump on in .

[FoolsAssassin]

New Thread

[OrangeCinnamon]

Sounds great @christophertracy it all helps .

I miss lazing in london parks

[sandybayley]

@ChristopherTracy - that sounds good. Over the last couple of weeks I've felt the need to 'parent' DS1 more than I have done in a long time (he is 18). He's inclined to be quite solitary and I felt it was becoming an issue, perhaps tipping into depression. DH and I have been engaging with him much more than we would normally do (dog walks, tennis, board games etc) to encourage him to leave his room.

DS1 has commented on the fact that we're up to something but he seems to enjoy it. He's gone to our local landscaped park with DH, the dog and 2 bottles of beer to enjoy the evening sunshine. We're also in London!

[ealingwestmum]

So lovely to hear of the trip today ChristopherTracy. May seem like small things, but big impact. Even if for just a day.

This situation is enough to zap the mojo out of any young person who is not that well supported by their school.

[ChristopherTracy]

We have just had a good trip to the park with football and him, dd and dh are doing the RAF entry fitness requirements so today they needed to do the run to see how far off they were. That he found interesting.

Its a beautiful evening in London.

[Monkey2001]

@FoolsAssassin - we need a new thread please!

[EwwSprouts]

Sorry should have phrased that better I saw he does not want to engage with the pastoral team but form tutors have been key pastoral contact at this rocky time at DS's school so maybe that route?

[EwwSprouts]

I would contact the school again ChristoperTracy they do still have a responsibility for pastoral care and it's in their best interest to keep channels of communication open especially with those who wish to return.

Dos he not have friends who want to play football nearby? Can't a couple meet for a kick around at a distance? I strongly feel that teens do need exercise to balance morose hormones & online gaming.
DS plays tennis and new lessons/squads have just started this week if that would appeal?

[FoolsAssassin]

Really sorry to hear that ChristopherTracy Reading that has just given me the boot up backside to talk to DS as he has been looking flatter and flatter. He struggled a month or two ago but had seemed to perk up but slipped again.

He’s admitted he is struggling but not sure what it is, the whole situation I think .

[ChristopherTracy]

He would like to stay as he doesnt cope well with change. The school have asked parents not to contact them about GCSEs or 6th form etc and the pastoral care is a bit meh - even if DS would engage with it - which he won't.

I will try and think of a project though - thanks for the ideas everyone.

[Confusedbutheyho]

She’s upset as she was looking forward to having some kind of closure and seeing friends albeit from 2m.

[Confusedbutheyho]

DD’s school has already let us know they’ll be sent via email

[Wheresthebeach]

@ChristopherTracy Just echoing everyone else. Maybe the school could help with some pastoral care? I know they can't tell him the grades, but they might be able to encourage/motivate/reassure him about the future a bit.

[sandybayley]

@ChristopherTracy - really sorry to hear your DS is finding things difficult. I do think a conversation with the school would be useful. I know they can't share grades but they can help manage your understanding of what options are available. I believe most schools have the capacity for this kind if pastoral support even the Year 11s won't be in again.

[Monkey2001]

@ChristopherTracy does he want to stay at his school or move? His school can't tell you or him what his results were, but they may be able to tell you whether he can stay at the school as they should use their assessment rather than moderated results. I suppose the problem is that they have to tell everybody or nobody, and telling him he could stay would imply he got the grades they require. Can he get stuck into any kind of project related to what he wants to do? I think boys need some focus so DS1 has been teaching DS2 maths and DS2 has been given a project for product design which could help keep him focused.

[ChristopherTracy]

I think he is above borderline but to be perfectly honest I dont know. I haven't been talking about it recently to him but in July he will have online tasters for the alternative school so I did have to mention that.

I think exercise would really help but we then all have to go out and do the exact thing that he wants to do - i.e. play football. DD doesnt always want to do that but there is very little compromise between them.

Sorry - just tired this week.

[crazycrofter]

@ChristopherTracy I'm sorry to hear that, it's such a difficult time for them isn't it. Was he likely to be borderline to stay on based on his mocks/predicted grades? You'd think the school could just make a decision based on the grades they've submitted.

My ds who's in year 9 is also very lethargic at the moment, sleeping in later and later and not showing any desire to go out or exercise. It's so hard isn't it. Dd is starting to socialise with friends in gardens/ parks but boys don't tend to sit having picnics and chatting so much. The gaming is at least sociable, but it feels too much.

[ChristopherTracy]

His school have been good with the bridging work but rubbish with the rest of the comms - I did reach out and they said that they understand the anxiety but that they hope to take the vast majority back in September.

I think it is 75% likely he will get the grades to stay on.

He just needs to be able to go back to school tbh. Or to work at his Saturday job (also closed). He isnt a very communicative teen at the best of times.

[Monkey2001]

@ChristopherTracy how awful for you both. Can you/he talk to his tutor at school? Most schools have someone to support worried students. Is he marginal for getting the grades where he wants to go? Do you think it is a rational worry or a bit paranoid?

[ChristopherTracy]

DS mental health is now poor and I'm actually quite worried about him. He is worried about the results and which school he will be at in September, he has no motivation for the bridging work or exercise.

He says he isnt dreaming anymore and 'doesnt have any thoughts' he is still messaging his mates and gaming with them but it just seems so lethargic.

[Monkey2001]

Interesting article - most subjects calculated grades half a grade up on last year. Not surprising IMHO as I would expect most teachers to predict the higher grade if a student is near a grade boundary, and some grade boundaries are very close together. If your student is hi=overing round pass/fail you are not really going to fail them.

www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-teacher-assessed-grades-higher-grades-2019

[Northumberlandlass]

DS’s last exam would’ve been last Friday & last weekend would’ve been ‘Big’ Durham Regatta which he would’ve rowed quad & double. They had agreed not to race during exams but continue to train & then ‘celebrate’ the end of exams racing at ‘Big’ Durham.

Such a shame.

He’s now cracking on with bridging work & it looks like he’ll be able to get out in a single over the next few weeks, so all good news!

The School have announced they hope to do face to face results day in August! I have taken the day off, but DS asked ‘Why?’ 🙄

[crazycrofter]

@20NewNames it says 'download data 1991-2019'. It's fascinating as I took my GCSEs in 1992!

We had a parents meeting on zoom last night but they didn't commit to anything re results day - it was wait and see. A lot could change between now and August 20th. I really hope they get to go in.

[FoolsAssassin]

New college have said they have organised different building where can social distance by appointment for the day after results to enrol.

[20NewNames]

We haven’t been told anything about results day yet.