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 .

I pity the teachers too. That’s rough on DS’s school where his year have many of the children who would have usually gone to the Grammar school but decided to stay within local pyramid. They should have had a really good year.

@sowerehere that’s awful! Do they record the work in any way before it’s submitted, just in case of loss?

I can’t understand the reasoning behind number of pupils achieving certain grades has to be in line with the school’s previous year’s results. By all means look at the last 3yrs results or the progress 8(not sure how that works), but just one yrs results? That’s a rubbish system.
Last yrs cohort at ds’s school had the lowest results they’ve had in 5yrs. This yrs cohort are very strong and expecting terrific results, the teachers have put in so much work.

If this year’s cohort are stronger than the previous year in terms of KS2 results, that will be taken into account.

Thanks Noble . I as hoping that the references to KS2 SATs meant they would be.

Noble It’s an Indy and at least half of them joined in yr 9, so I’m not sure how the system will work for them.

justhere I’m not sure whether the course work is recorded. Most of the assignments were handwritten under supervised conditions in the case of History, Chemistry & Physics and the two 1000 word English essays were mostly written up in class. I can’t see them photocopying or scanning every pupils assignment but I could be wrong?

Someone asked about whether achievement would be based on just the previous year and I have to fess up to not really understanding that part (my powers of concentration had waned by then) However they do it, it will come down to statistics I guess to prevent teachers being over-generous and suddenly having a cohort of over-achieving students. As someone noted this might add complications if this year’s cohort DID happen to be exceptionally good or bad. I think some may worry that it will adversely affect the schools who are in areas of deprivation rather than any high achieving school in the more prosperous postcodes. I guess any system is going to be like this but I feel it’s harsh not taking into account any of the course work. I believe it is the SQA that mark the exams/coursework but am prepared to stand corrected as this is my first time going through the Scottish exam process.

Is there please room for one more? I have an extremely anxious DD who hasn't slept very well ever since the GCSEs were cancelled. I keep trying to assure her all will be fine. She's predicted all 8 & 9s in her 10 GCSEs, which I know are only predictions but her mocks echoed this. Personally I am not worried as she's been offered an unconditional sixth form place already so there really is no need for her to be anxious but the unknown (and possibly unfair grading formula) is getting to her.

DD's year is also the first intake in Y7, where her school turned into an academic selective school. There are 5 others girls in her class like her. If they would take in account number pupils achieving certain grades in line with the school’s previous year’s results, it's going to have a huge impact on their particular class. She's also taking 2 GCSEs the school never offered before so that's also different. She's made her mind up to take all the Sept/Oct exams if her scores feel unfair. Would it really matter if she gets 6s/7s I ask myself? It's so difficult and I was she wasn't so hard on herself.

I really feel for every Y11 student and parents at the moment!!

The Ofqual guidance has landed.

It all makes sense and is a bit of a relief. It will be a logistical nightmare for large cohorts and core subjects mind!

Not sure how much I should say now but your school should be sending apparent/carer version out.

t.co/CFc9EjZksc?amp=1 Nothing about work post school closure.

“Where additional work has been completed after schools and colleges were closed on 20 March, Heads of Centre should exercise caution where that evidence suggests a change in performance. In many cases this is likely to reflect the circumstances and context in which the work is done.”

If you sit the exam, then both grades will stand (I.e. if you do worse in the exam you can use the calculated result on CVs).

Argh Piggy, I need to know!!

Not apparent carer obviously!

"We’re working hard to get results out as soon as is possible – results won’t be delayed after the dates they were expected in August and ideally will be released a little earlier, so students can have the certainty they need."

Does suggest grades won't be out by the end of July, no?

I don't like the rating thing. The DCs at the low end of that list are going to get marks dropped, how do you do that with meaning in a school full of 'high achievers'?

Yes, I'm reading that as potentially not till 20th August and earlier is a bonus.
Which is very late for students to discover they didn't get the grades they wanted/needed and to start revising for an autumn exam.
And it's not really practical to keep revising every subject until the end of August - just in case.

I'd really like more clarity from sixth forms about what they are expecting/want to do. Hopefully we may see it now this guidance is out.

And having no idea of what teachers are proposing is going to make it difficult to know what subjects your DC might need to keep revising for - especially if the results don't come out until August as normal.

The DC ranked lowest within a grade will only be moderated downwards if the exam boards feel that based on other data the school has been too generous.

cross post with @RedskyAtnight

I hope you're right noble, I feel like they will think they need to be seen to be moderating all the schools. I am a natural born pessimist though.

I don't think they will have time, and, also, they will want to convey a message of trust in the profession. When I say they, thank God Gove has gone.

I am probably being stupid but it doesn't make clear does it when the cut off for assessing pupil's work is does it? So, my DC has been told to carry on working and stuff will be assessed after easter holidays - do you think this is correct?

The date for submitting grades is 29 May at the earliest . Not sure what that means in terms of timescales at their end but it seems tight for nay sort of extensive investigations of grades unless it is really glaring.

I think that is deliberately vague mrs but they do shoot a warning across schools' bows about being able to verify it is student work if it is suddenly a lot better.