GCSE Summer 2020 Thread 7 : Carry on Corona Cohort, Cruising or Crawling to The Final Countdown

[OrangeCinnamon1]

Welcome all to the 7th Thread for this year's GCSE cohort ...or the Corona Cohort as has been termed by @FoolsAssassin.

Some of us have been here since I started first thread back in 2010, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. It is hoped this will continue. Going forward we intend to stay in secondary so any new threads should have 'GCSE Summer 2020 Thread # : Carry on Corona Cohort' in title just to make it easier to find.

From now on our DS/DD may go down various paths so we decided not to be exclusionary and stay right here in Secondary

Thread 1 The first GCSE yr 10

Thread 6 last thread

kingscote - but did they looove Bristol?

DS has just arrived back from playing card games with friends in the park. Luckily he left before the thunderstorm started. He is supposed to be doing prep work for a Maths test in 3 weeks (requirement for starting Maths A-level) but I have seen little evidence of actual studying.

Signing back in, thanks for the new thread.

Thanks for the new thread.

9 days to go. Still swinging with it’ll all be fine to what if it’s not.

Glad to have this thread for info and support.

DD had her first string group ensemble since lockdown at the weekend and came out absolutely buzzing. She’s so missed playing with others.

@Shimy. Yes, exactly - what is the point of hard work if some computer system (with people operating it) downgrade marks simply because too many people have good grades or it might look bad if pupils who didn't take the exam get the grade they were predicted.
We already had problems with sets because I led him to believe that if he worked hard and got better marks than those in set 1 he would be moved up - no, it is not a meritocracy in set allocation, apparently.
Nevertheless, I said it won't matter what set you are in or what your teacher thinks when you take the exam and then you can prove that you are worthy of those 9s. But now those might be taken away too. How on earth can we expect these children to study for A'levels when the reward for hard work is disappointment.
I am glad to hear your DS is getting CBT. My Ds and many like him have been discharged now to make room for all the new adolescents with mental health problems they are expecting when schools go back in September and it will look bad if there are waiting lists, so the mental health services have been told to discharge all existing customers who are actively standing on a ledge right now.

'NOT actively standing on a ledge' obviously. Not a joking matter, but really that is what has happened - anyone who is not considered an active suicide risk has been discharged from adolescent mental health services so there is no waiting list when schools go back in September.

@PaddingtonPaddington - I hope you're not swinging! This isn't that kind of thread 😂

Found you!
Thanks for the new (last?) thread, Orange. Has the original one really been going since 2010?! Or did you mean year 10? 🧐🤣

On a lighter note than worrying about what BJ/Ofqual might do in the light of the news from Scotland today, is anyone else a bit disappointed that they’re not going to be able to watch the “Opening my GCSE results live” on YouTube this year?? 🤣
It’s become a bit of a dirty pleasure of mine the last couple of summers, and I had tried to make DD agree that she’d let me film her opening hers...but that doesn’t seem appropriate now.

Oh that's an idea. I could do a funny DIY version of DD jumping into the swimming pool on holiday. I'd find that funny, she wouldn't and round call me a boomer.

I'm sorry to hear about the youngsters struggling with mental health issues. I really hope they get what they deserve next week.

Dd has also had some issues in year 11, but lockdown has really helped her, thankfully. We're taking a trip to Cardiff next Wednesday where some of her best friends live - she'd usually see them on her annual summer camp, which she's missed this year, so she can't wait to meet up. Hopefully this will distract from Thursday...

@neutralintelligence CBT is being paid for privately (and costing a pretty fortune). We are on the waiting list (that's a whole other story!) shocking MH provision for youngsters.I didn't know they were discharging people to make way for the new wave.

The more you talk about your DS the more I'm going, "Yes,Yes". Re: sets, I told him it doesn't matter which set. 'Just keep on working like you are, it won't stop you accessing the top grades', (hollow laugh) and he believed it.

Sets - Stuffed
Grades -Stuffed.

Thanks for new thread Orange. Can't deny that I'm feeling more than a little twitchy but all will be revealed soon.

Wish we could have a thunderstorm to clear this heat. I think another disrupted night is on the cards despite a bedroom fan.

@Shimy My DS is exactly the same he got nearly all 9’s in his mocks and was predicted 9’s across the board. I want to prepare him for the fact that this might not happen but he seems adamant that this is what he will get as his teachers have predicted this. I’m just not sure what is going to happen now.

@sandybayley should have added the word ‘between’ in that sentence!

@Alsoplayspiccolo just had to look at some YouTube videos of people opening results from last year too...

Can I ask a delicate question? We should agree a protocol for how we post results. I'm a bit of an old timer on this having been through DS1's GCSEs and Oxbridge application. It can get a bit heated on these threads (to say the last) as people experience delight and despair in equal measures.

Best to agree what everyone wants to do and collectively stick to it.

@Nard75 They just can't imagine that the adults who preach reward for hard work and fairness would do this to them, they believe totally in the system. Even DH has said to stop being silly, of course, they won't get lower than their mocks or predicted .

I know this will be met with lots of on here, BUT.....is anyone going to peek at their dc's results online before they wake up [runs].

I don't have the password for DD's school email address, so no sneak previews here. I'm slightly worried that she may get anxious, metaphorically put her head in the sand and refuse to log in...

Thanks for the new thread @OrangeCinnamon1

I don’t think I’m able to look online for DS results.
He has to be at school at 9am for his slot and then straight to enrol for the 6th form, I’m not allowed in so no idea when I’ll find out what he’s got. Taken the day off work too

I can access DS's via the school's parent portal.
I'll be up anyway......so I'll have a look, if it's good, I'll go screaming to wake him up, if not, I'll leave him to wake up and check himself, at least I'll be prepared.

My mum opened my A level results while I was at work, and it still makes me 😖 to this day, so I definitely wouldn’t look at DD’s, even if I was able to ( I’m not - they will be sent to her school email account).
That said, I’ll be setting the alarm for 7.45am to make sure she opens them as soon as they arrive!

Paddington, those YouTube videos are a bit addictive...

Forgot to say, I’m so pleased your DD is able to rehearse with friends again. DS was meant to be going to Tuscany with his Y.O on results day ( DH was also going, as a tutor) and I had been stressing (before COVID) about how I was going to get DD to school to collect her results, and DH and DS to the coach meeting point all within an hour, and then have to deal with any 6th form issues.
So sad that all DS’s live musical activities have stopped, although he did manage to do an unexpected video audition for a music college junior department and has been offered a place for September, so a silver lining.

I'm here too! I think i'll be joining you all on the evening of the19th so can I reserve a seat?
My DD has a college place but needs grade 4 or above in 4 subjects to do the course.
Maths is her worry but they told her at her interview back in January that if she doesn't get the required level that she can take it at college.
I'm more worried than she is as this is the only time we will be going through this but I don't want her to see how worried I am so thank goodness I found you all

I can’t peak as DD has to go into school to get them. No online access here bloody ridiculous!!!

I doubt I’ll get much sleep on the 19th either, so I’m sure I’ll be joining you too. DD is understandably anxious and today’s developments with Scotland haven’t really helped one way or the other.

I just don’t know what to think or feel anymore. I’m just so tired of all the uncertainty. Hopefully things will feel brighter in the morning.

Oh @alsoplayspiccolo I thought I was doing so well
Yes yr 10 it was so hot this afternoon I had to stop work because my brain had stopped !