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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.

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FoolsAssassin · 05/08/2020 14:31

I think the deflated feeling on this thread is my fault with my wobble yesterday. We are trying to move as well and i think stress of that got to me.

I feel responsible to try and get us more upbeat now !! The waiting is the worst bit, nothing we can do for now and I know I personally need to get a grip or will waste the holidays, strange though they may be. There is absolutely sod all we can do and it will be in the past soon enough and then the summer is gone so am going to try and enjoy the next couple of weeks as best I can and leave worrying until.the 19th.

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Piggywaspushed · 05/08/2020 15:00

sarah , I teach sociology too!

I am not sure you need business to run a business!

Physio is phenomenally competitive and most physios seem to be sporty. I looked up a few physio courses at theuniguide.co.uk and the most common A Levels are maths, biology, PE and physics.

I'd imagine quite a lot have psychology/sociology too.

I'd say sociology is more directly useful, especially if her school does the Health option.

Piggywaspushed · 05/08/2020 15:01

I think we all need to start chanting that serenity prayer...

Sarahbeans · 05/08/2020 15:42

Thanks Piggy, Good advice. She's looking at Brookes because it's local and she already works as a sports coach (in the sport she used to compete in) and so she could continue her part time job.

The Sociology course is Eduqas. I teach AQA and there are two options either crime or international development. She'd look at the crime one.

Or it's a BTEC in Sport. Again, most units local to us accept it, except UWE. But she's not bothered about going there..

It's difficult making the decisions without having sat the exams. Ordinarily, I'd have said see how you perform in the exams, and that will give some idea. But without them, it makes subject choice so much harder. Eg, she did really well in year 10 PE, was definitely going to do that, had great grades etc... but then, the teacher changed for year 11, she didn't like the new teacher as much, struggled more, grades weren't as good etc. Impossible to know whether grades were better in year 10 because of the teacher or the work.... so cannot get an objective measurement of where she's at.

I think this is what we've found most difficult with not sitting GCSE exams.

Piggywaspushed · 05/08/2020 16:20

I do Eduqas too!! Yay!

so much better than AQA

OrangeCinnamon1 · 05/08/2020 16:31

Hi @sarahbeans and welcome!

With regard to Uni choice she may want to look at the types of placements on offer.

Did she enjoy any of the Biomechanics modules of her gcse? Either psychology or sociology would be good according to my friends in the know (we've just started running Physio undergrad at my institution) there should be elements of both in the Btec...more coaching side with regard to Psycholgy. If she does go down the Btec route the sciences based one is preferred I gather.

Sarahbeans · 05/08/2020 16:37

Thanks @OrangeCinnamon1

I will pass that on. Biology and Psychology are definites. It's just what to do for her third option... I will definitely tell her about the sociology.

@Piggywaspushed is the Eduqas course very different from the AQA one? I'm a non specialist teaching it (my first subject is RS, but there's no way she's taking that...) her thinking in doing the sociology was that I could help her, but I said I wasn't sure if there was too much overlap? Are the exam styles very different?

Piggywaspushed · 05/08/2020 16:50

Yes, there are quite big differences. AQA is the most popular because it is the biggest board and markets itself pretty aggressively. I have just introduced it to my school and spent ages choosing the board. Eduqas is the most approachable in terms of how they included the research topics and how they word exam questions (although OCR is even easier seeming). They essentially have nearly all the same core topics (family, education, stratification) but some have more emphasis on crime and youth (AQA) and OCR and Eduqas have slightly more options : so one has new technologies (OCR) and another has Global topics and Health (Eduqas). It's a shame they can't do all the topics really as they are all interesting.

I had originally planned to go with OCR but like working with Eduqas better. I never touch the media topics but AQA is the best for a school hat has media teachers who do sociology.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 05/08/2020 17:43

FoolsAssassin, you are not to blame for my wobble! It’s been a concern for me for a while, but I’d blocked it out until the Scottish results upset.
I know there’s nothing to be done about the results, but I guess I’m wondering whether we should have had a back-up plan for next steps; her school of choice had previously said they wouldn’t accept anything less than a 5 in maths, and they haven’t said anything since to suggest that they will be taking a more favourable approach in light of the situation.
We can’t afford for her to stay at her current school, and the local state school just isn’t an option.

I have a pretty strong idea of what her CAGs might be (ball park, all at what she needs, if not higher); it’s just the potential of algorithms and moderation that is causing me to have anxiety dreams!

OrangeCinnamon1 · 05/08/2020 18:14

Interesting stuff @sarahbeans @piggywaspushed Dd doing Eduqas Sociology...I wanted her to do RS as that was her 2nd fave at GCSE and no Sociology experience really. But she has always been interested in the subject and points out is a good compliment to Music ...she hopes to do an academic music degree. I feel a bit less worried about it now after reading your thoughts thanks !

@FoolsAssassin please don't worry we are all going through peaks and troughs at the moment really. Current pandemic doesn't help, nor does moving house !

I've resolved today to try and make 'hay whilst the sun shines' appreciate what we have in the here and now a bit..especially with talks of a second wave. Dd did not have to juggle anxiety and exams, my olive tree is doing well and am not commuting as much anymore.

Also really looking forward to starting 2litres of Blackberry Vodka at weekend! As in making not drinking ConfusedGrin

OrangeCinnamon1 · 05/08/2020 18:17

@Alsoplayspiccolo are there other state school options you could have in your back pocket?

Alsoplayspiccolo · 05/08/2020 18:44

No, Orange, no other back ups. 😣
I’m trying to stay positive - her teacher was really positive about her progress at the last parents meeting and felt the one mock paper result wasn’t representative of her ability, but who knows what will have happened to the data since then?

ealingwestmum · 05/08/2020 19:19

Hang in there everyone!

We seemed to have ducked a lot of anxious build up here due to a combination of keeping VERY busy. Sport training, the odd work shift, work experience next week topped up with a very busy social life has all helped. If she is feeling nervous, she is masking well, and genuinely more looking forward to seeing some old faces; students and teachers on results day. It’s been made much easier knowing her 6th form place is not at risk though; and being happy with her choice of A levels. Must be hard for those who are still be undecided on their mix as it’s not that easy for a Y11 to have looked in detail at potential uni course requirements, when not so confident in what their GCSE results will look like due to a unknown outcome. At least sitting exams they would have had a good gut feel on how well/bad they’d performed. I think...

FoolsAssassin · 06/08/2020 14:25

Welcome Sarahbeans

Piccolo, that’s where I am at. Been trying to block it out, know the CAG but Scottish results concern me and I started to sorry about the algorithm. I do think panic is a bit infectious though !

If you can I think a plan B in back of mind is sensible. I would be surprised if they didn’t admit her if the worst did happen and get her to resit, they just aren’t advertising it at the moment.

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Piggywaspushed · 06/08/2020 17:00

Breaking news : Ofqual have now said schools can appeal results if they feel Ofqual's algorithms have disadvantaged students in their school. Will be back with a link...

ealingwestmum · 06/08/2020 17:04

That’s really good news Piggy, thanks for link.

Piggywaspushed · 06/08/2020 17:11

Hopefully it is for some schools and some students, yes.

It will depend on a very clued up SLT, of course.

FoolsAssassin · 06/08/2020 17:13

Oh that sounds a bit more like it, fingers crossed it will help some and none of our DC need it .

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PaddingtonPaddington · 06/08/2020 18:12

Thanks @Piggywaspushed

I thought students wouldn’t get to know CAG or rank order but this seems to say they can ask.

Accessing your centre assessment grade and / or rank order
Your school or college is not allowed to tell you your centre assessment grade(s) and position in the rank order(s) before results day. After results day, you can ask your school or college for this information if you want to. Each school and college will decide how and when students may receive centre assessment grade(s) so you should look for information from your school or college or discuss this with them directly

Piggywaspushed · 06/08/2020 19:07

Yes, they can find out after results day. I don't like the thought much of them knowing their rank order : that feels very potentially upsetting for some students.

Piggywaspushed · 06/08/2020 19:08

And also the thing they might argue with Mrs Piggy said I was seventh but I KNOW I came 3rd in the mock Hmm

OrangeCinnamon1 · 06/08/2020 19:47

Yes ...can't imagine it will be fun for the teachers @piggywaspushed. Thank you for the Newsflash though! Much appreciated.

I've been back to work today this time on the train ...it is going to take some time to get used to commuting again. I'm only saying for those of you with commuters for 6th form..you may have to consider gently getting them to introduce a bit more routine. It was a bit of a shock to my system but then again they are young Blush

Decorhate · 06/08/2020 20:21

It must be really hard for any teachers who have had to “fail” their pupils. If they don’t pass an exam that’s one thing, but feels more personal when it’s a teacher assessed grade.

Sarahbeans · 06/08/2020 20:35

@Decorhate

Yes, I think it is the hardest thing I've had to do in 20+ years of teaching. And I've been an examiner for 15 years, and I mark over 600 papers a year, so I'm used to the responsibility.