Do you think A levels will go ahead as normal next year?

[ITonyah]

Given how much education some (note the use of SOME!) year 12s and possibly going into year 13s have missed?

[altmum]

In an ideal world, the grade boundaries would be adjusted per school to reflect the quantity /quality of teaching during lockdown.
I know this will never happen but the current system will lead to huge inequalies in qualifications.

[altmum]

Hablar * I hadn't heard about that, a reduced number of available uni places is a worry...

[NoHardSell]

Well let's just hope they aren't cancelled again

Anyone with an iota of sense would have already started a sudden plan for mini assessments or coursework for next year's exams. I don't expect that has happened.

[ITonyah]

Well, EVERY student has been off school this term, so they have to take that into account

But they haven't. That's my point.

[NoHardSell]

By anyone ...I mean the Dept. Of Education downwards, not teachers!

[ITonyah]

Yes already worked out that she'll be applying along with a lot of what would have been the 2020 cohort. I expect she'll take a gap year anyway.

[hablar]

The problem is, where the home environment has become the school environment, it’s wouldn’t even be fair to adjust boundaries according to some weighting as to how much online provision a school has offered. There would have been some students for whom the provision has been very good, but their family has been ill; they live in cramped, inner city conditions; maybe with both parents working or lots of young children running around constantly. It’s impossible to assess the overall situation for everyone.

[Bathroom12345]

This will make the divide between state and private schools even wider.
I don’t hear of any private schools being pulled up the way some state schools have with regard to online learning. Some of the stories are very sad. Teachers blaming the HOD, SLT or the government.

[ITonyah]

Yes impossible to judge by individual school surely as as hablar says the home environment has to be almost as important as amount and quality of work set.

[brakethree]

In an idea world there would be consistency in the provision for education within the state sector. The education of our children is paid through our taxes. I think we all knew there were good and bad schools, heads and teachers but wow this situation has really shown just how much difference there is.

I hope after all this is 'over' there is a good look at how the education did or didn't function and what needs to change so that it can offer, as mush as possible, a consistent approach across age groups.

I would also point out that this time next year, the current year 12s will be doing their exams, they will then be off to university where they will need to be motivated, self disciplined and be able to ask for support when needed. This is an opportunity to develop those skills.

As a matter of interest if your child isn't getting much contact with their teacher and not receiving support - have you asked the school, what has their feedback been?

[brakethree]

Sorry I didn't answer the question. Yes I think the exams will go ahead next year but there will be a right hoo ha if, when the results come out, there is an even larger gap between state and private (which given most private schools are continuing with education through on-line lessons, there probably will be).

[ITonyah]

but there will be a right hoo ha if, when the results come out, there is an even larger gap between state and private (which given most private schools are continuing with education through on-line lessons, there probably will be)

I don't see how there can't be.

[hablar]

I wonder if they could do teacher assessment again? Schools that have provided next to nothing this term could take this into account, but say something like “in normal circumstances, this profile of student would have been on the trajectory for a x grade.” I don’t know if that would be possible? It has been certainly the case this year, that some schools have had more “evidence” to assess grades on because they snuck in some online exams after Easter to support their grade assessments and rankings, whereas most schools wouldn’t consider anything handed in after March 23rd.

[Daffodil101]

What will they do about actual gaps in learning though, given that they will transfer to A levels and there will be an assumed level of knowledge or competency to allow them to proceed?

[brakethree]

Surely schools will have to do grade assessments because they will be needed for university applications. I wonder how many schools are doing end of year exams to support this data? There seems to be a lot of on-going assessement for A levels so I wonder if it is easier to predict grades than it is for GCSEs.

[MadameMinimes]

I think they will go ahead, with perhaps some changes to paper formats to give more question choice. I’m on charge of Sixth Form in a state school and am trying not to worry too much.
Our teachers are teaching a full timetable online, we’ve managed to get laptops (and, if needed, WiFi dongles) out to all of the year 12s that didn’t have access to a computer during the school day, and they have been brilliant so far in terms of engagement with the work. We’re doing all we can to minimise any disadvantage, but I know we can’t eliminate it entirely. Still, I could not be prouder of our students (or their teachers) right now.

[ZombieFan]

If state school children have been lying in bed rather than studying then its their own fault if they dont do well in 2021.

[Hagisonthehill]

DD in yr 12 is doing an extended diploma in art.Shes been working hard but her final project needed the facilities in college.
She doesn't mind being at home but is realising that she is less energised and her project has stalled as she is trying a lot of ways to achieve what she wants.
She's already decided to do a foundation coarse hopefully she'll be able to see how the land lies when that starts.

[MadameMinimes]

[ITonyah]

ZombieFan I really hope you aren't being serious?

[brakethree]

Goodness Zombie that's a bit harsh. At 17/18 these young adults need support and guidance which schools should be providing. Yes they can do a certain amoun themselves but if was that easy they wouldn't need to go to school in the first place!

[hablar]

My DS would have been due to have a formal exam week straight after Easter which would have been a significant part the assessment process for his predicted grades. Instead, they did online assessments in that week and they were required in some cases to enable the cameras on their laptops. They were told that the actual exams would take place “as soon as school reopens” but, seeing as that’s likely to be Sept, I don’t know about this now. So they’re going to be given “working predicted grades” in June. This is an independent school. I can’t complain about the online provision though as it’s been excellent.

[NotABeliever]

DS is in YR 12 at Hills Road Sixth Form which is supposed to be one of the best Sixth Forms in England. Honestly? He's virtually self-teaching three hard A Level subjects. Up until a couple.of weeks ago he had 10% of his lessons as live teaching with Microsoft Teams. The rest just assign work and ask him to watch videos and learn what he needs.
There have been no plans to replace the tests that were supposed to take place around this time. There are no plans to reopen in June for Yr 12 even though that was mentioned specifically by the Prime Minister.
I have enquired as to why teachers are not doing all the lessons via Teams and been told.that not all teachers were able to because of childcare commitments or lack of technology.
It's very disappointing considering how private Sixth Forms are getting 100% online tuition.
I despair at this situation which clearly means that children attending state schools will be disadvantaged unless something is sorted out NOW. Not in September, the time is now for the government to take action and come up.with a solution that address the unfairness of this situation.
Adjusting grade boundaries won't help the children who have had less tuition. To the contrary it'd make it easier for private school children to achieve the top grades.

[ITonyah]

Adjusting grade boundaries won't help the children who have had less tuition. To the contrary it'd make it easier for private school children to achieve the top grades exactly! I think its really unfair (and i have a privately educated teen getting full online school)

[ZombieFan]

these young adults need support and guidance which schools should be providing

Of course they should but this is an exceptional year, its not really possible this year.

Its always been the case that rich parents can afford tuition over and above normal state schooling. That is what is happening now. If you want to end inequality then you will need to end wealth.