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Original poster

GCSE summer 2020 thread 6 - Carry on Corona Cohort, Further adventures aboard the Corona Charabanc.

961 replies

FoolsAssassin · 16/06/2020 21:06

The summer of discovidtent for the Corona Cohort trudging on towards results day.
Ofqual have done them a little video to explain their results:

Please feel free to join us to see what twists the next bit has in store for us all.

Thread 5
Thread 4
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Thread 1 year 10

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PaddingtonPaddington · 14/07/2020 21:29

DD got an email from school about results today too. Option to either go in to school and maintain social distancing or to have an email sent to school email address. DD wants to go in, so I’ll be sitting in the car waiting impatiently.

sandybayley · 15/07/2020 07:40

@Wheresthebeach - maybe it would help if you shared your particular worries here? I've also found that saying it out loud (or writing it down) helps. Either it's a worry everyone else has or it's a worry we can help with.

I think my worrying about DD is overshadowed by worrying about DS1 and his A Levels and university entrance. My main worry is that she doesn't meet her high expectations as she is prone to perfectionism. I really don't want her to be seduced into sitting Autumn exams in the search for perfect grades. I just want her to get stuck into A Levels and her new school.

The thing which is preoccupying her at the moment (a welcome distraction) is the search for a Sixth Form suit. We have bought and returned 2 jackets and 3 trousers in search of perfection (recurring theme). I have come to realise that fitting rooms are key when buying a suit!

RedskyAtnight · 15/07/2020 08:58

DC's school have advised that students can come into school to collect results in a semblance of usual. They will operate a one way system and enforce social distancing. So pleased DS has at least this small crumb of "almost" normality to cling to. I expect he'll now plan a "post results socially distanced gathering" with his closest friends; but that won't be organised until the day before - they prefer "spontaneous!"

MirandaWest · 15/07/2020 09:04

We had a text from school yesterday telling us to look at our emails - the email said a letter was sent out yesterday.

But I found the instructions on the website...basically they’re split into 4 groups alphabetically with the first two groups at 8am split between hall and sixth form common room and last 2 at 9am.

Luckily for DSs ability to get up he’s a 9am one!

crazycrofter · 15/07/2020 09:27

Dd has to go in at 10, being later in the alphabet! It will be annoying hearing others' results and having to wait ...

Dd is making heavy weather of the A Level transition work for her new school. It does seem quite substantial but she's getting quite stressed about it and asking me for help a lot - something that has never happened before! She's also feeling anxious about starting a new school on her own. I wish there were a few more things happening over the summer to distract her! She's meeting up with friends a bit now, but it's still a long stretch without the camps and D of E expedition she would have otherwise been doing.

She has to wear uniform so we're shopping for that on Saturday. It's a bit of a pain that you can't use the changing rooms. I'm actually glad not to be buying business wear though, which is what they wear at one of her other sixth form options. She takes ages making decisions at the best of times, so I can just imagine lots of back and forth to shops returning items! At least there are limited options with school skirts..

KingscoteStaff · 15/07/2020 09:32

DD’s school is just doing online results. No jumping photos for them.

She says the CGP Bio and Chem bridging books are good, plus she has some ‘Maths for Chemists’ books - not sure where they’re from.

English is just a monster reading list, so my Amazon account is getting a battering.

ChristopherTracy · 15/07/2020 09:46

I havent even started to think about 6th form clothes. DS has one suit already but it is a bit weddingey iyswim.

sandybayley · 15/07/2020 09:52

The lack of changing rooms is a nightmare. DD tried a jacket on in the shop floor in a couple of shops and got shouted at!

MirandaWest · 15/07/2020 10:02

DSs school (and all other local sixth forms) can wear anything although this does mean he needs some more clothes Grin

ealingwestmum · 15/07/2020 10:05

Similar thoughts to Sandy here Wheresthebeach; do not suffer alone. We are here to listen, even if we cannot help. All the alarming reports on mark downs don’t help matters either but journalists do like to use education as major click bait.

MarchingFrogs · 15/07/2020 12:48

I'm actually glad not to be buying business wear though

Oh good, I thought I was all alone (apart from our DC) in my feelings about schools insisting on the kind of stuff they wouldn't be seen dead in normally (so having to get a whole new wardrobe from scratch) and which, let's face it, most university students will get precious little wear out of for at least another 3 years. I've been to at least 15 university open days and offer holder days over the past few years and at none of the did we see an undergraduate in 'smart business dress' - and precious few academics or admin staff for that matter...

Zandathepanda · 15/07/2020 13:05

Really glad there’s no uniform for 6th form here too. That way I can wash clothes everyday. The regulation skirt (with it’s hundreds of pleats to re-iron) and blazer probably held onto loads of germs I would rather not think about now!

crazycrofter · 15/07/2020 13:13

@MarchingFrogs I think the business wear thing is a bit dated now actually. I remember my school introducing it in around 1991 ish. Nowadays, a lot of 'professionals' don't have to wear business wear anyway.

Uniform in sixth form is a bit 'young' but at least it's easy - which for dd who's prone to getting anxious and taking ages to get ready, is helpful.

crazycrofter · 15/07/2020 13:14

I'm wondering if I'll have to buy two blazers though if we need to wash clothes every day!

Monkey2001 · 15/07/2020 13:22

Quite glad DS has chosen 6th form where the "uniform" is jeans

Monkey2001 · 15/07/2020 13:24

Surely can't wash blazer (or dry clean suit!) Every day? People will not be washing coats every day.

RedskyAtnight · 15/07/2020 13:29

DC's school suggested washing uniform every day and then backtracked to " as often as is feasible; we realise it's not possible to get blazers washed and dried on a daily basis". They are emphasising the frequent washing of ties, however!

DS's sixth form dress is "smart casual". He owns one pair of smart trousers and one shirt. I keep pointing him online or offering to take him shopping and he keeps mumbling back. Though as he's just reminded me (I was stupidly pointing out that it might be an idea to at least look at his bridging work) there is still 7 weeks left before they go back to school!

crazycrofter · 15/07/2020 14:01

Ds' school have temporarily suspended the wearing of blazers. They mentioned something about them brushing against door handles, which I thought was weird, but I've just realised it's because they're a pain to wash! I wish dd's new school would do the same.

@RedskyAtnight dd is finally getting to the end of her bridging work! It's taken her about 3 weeks on and off. But I can guarantee when ds' time comes, he will be rushing through it on 1st September....

Rhubardandcustard · 15/07/2020 14:43

Online only results for my dd. Which she is happy about but I was looking forward to the anxious wait in the car while she went in to pick up her results 😂.

Still waiting to hear about delayed prom but I’m guessing it might not happen now.

Dd progressing v slowly with bridging work.

No uniform or suits for dd sixth form just normal everyday wear just nothing offensive or impractical. Still think we are going to have to spend a bit to expand her wardrobe but luckily she’s not a big brands girl - although that might change I guess.

Original poster
FoolsAssassin · 15/07/2020 15:29

No uniform or suits here and DS won’t be here during the week for me to wash anything, that’s a bit strange writing it down.

New College asked for results to be emailed for 12 then realised some schools doing systems where won’t know by then is said email and let them know if will be after 12. Had to email current school which obviously gave them a nudge to get the letter out as appeared about 2 mins after.

Split into 3 groups, each allocated different place and parking, one way system ad socially distanced queue with emails at 12 for those who can’t get in.

OP posts:
stoneysongs · 15/07/2020 16:05

DS's results are arriving by email at 8am and he can go into school if he wants, they are split into three groups alphabetically by surname so he would be in at 9am. He can't see any reason to be bothered going in though Hmm
We have an appointment at the uniform shop next week to try on blazers. Hoping we can get away with just one but might be difficult if it can only be dry cleaned?

20NewNames · 15/07/2020 18:09

DS has the choice of going in or email. There are time slots by alphabet. I think he plans to go in as I have no idea what time the results would get emailed (the exams officer is not the best from past experience so when she gets round to it who knows?!)

He is not in the same alphabet slot as any of his friends though which is a shame. I am glad they get a chance to go in though.

No uniform or business dress at sixth forms here.

ProggyMat · 15/07/2020 18:46

DDs school is 10am on a ‘socially distanced first come first served’ basis with a one way system in and out of school.
New school’s Sixth Form dress code is smart office wear.
DD has bagged quite a few bits in the online sales and several of her blouses/ shirts she would wear at weekends, with jeans, when out shopping and/or lunch with friends.
She’s even found, in my wardrobe, a couple of long forgotten jackets from a former life of mine which have been added to her ‘capsule’ Grin

sandybayley · 15/07/2020 19:07

I don't actually mind the business suit requirement. DD has been in uniform throughout and us looking forward to a change without having to think too much about what to wear. The girls do look very smart and the rules are relaxed enough to let them do it their way with coloured blouses and nice shoes.

Northumberlandlass · 16/07/2020 10:27

DS’s 6th form doesn’t have uniform, which is a relief.

I had a call from DS’s form tutor yesterday, checking how he’d been & said that he’d be his tutor until Sept & if we needed anything over the summer to email. He then spoke to DS. Nice touch & i’ve been really impressed how the school has stayed in contact & dealt with uncertainties.

He knows he can do his A-Levels, the in person & email plans for results day, plus has line of contact to school. They’ve also issued ‘Pastoral’ letters every week signposting to various types of support.