GCSE Summer 2020 Thread 10: Carry on Corona Cohort ‘The Next Step''

[OrangeCinnamon1]

Welcome all to the 10th Thread for this year's GCSE cohort - the Corona Cohort!

This is a thread for supporting all young people ( and their parents) who were examined for GCSEs 2020 regardless of the institute they attended or the grades they needed. It is respectfully requested that we are all supportive and helpful to each other.
If you want to start a debate e.g state vs private - please do not within this thread.
Similarly it should be recognised that the grades our children needed/deserved/wanted will vary across the board- we wish to celebrate and comiserate with all. One same grade outcome can simultaneously cause joy and despair for different posters and their families. Please be sensitive when responding to threads about grade outcomes.

Some of us have been here since I started first thread back in yr10, 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 on the Secondary Education Board (at least until Mumsnet HQ chuck us out grin ) as from now on our DS/DD may go down various paths such employment, apprenticeships, higher ed etc so we decided not to be exclusionary.

Any new threads should have 'GCSE Summer 2020 Thread # : Carry on Corona Cohort' in title just to make it easier to find. There is no preciousness about who starts new threads!

At this precise moment in time it us 'results day ' most have GCSE results and some awaiting BTEC results .

We are all ALWAYS trying to protect our young people's mental health, which the government claims is their priority...when they talk about wanting students back in schools/college in September popping this here.

previous thread

That should say vary so!

Good to hear Proggy. And similar x post feedback too

[quote Monkey2001]@Hopeful201 have you managed to establish whether the guarantee that only the highest grade of summer awarded and autumn exams will count (refuse to call them re-sits!) still stands?[/quote]
I hadn't thought about that-I had better ask! He is quite keen to do well so maybe he might actually work....
@itsgettingweird the exam timetable on the school site has the exam board dates, first one is 12th Oct. So not long really! In some ways it is better for it to be done quickly and move on.

Glad to hear many DC are now getting settled and know where they're going and what they're doing next year. Fingers crossed for those still waiting for BTECs or for school / college admission decisions.

Like some of your DC, DS is dithering about subjects and has now signed up for four - maths, physics, chemistry and biology - with a view to dropping one fairly quickly, it will depend on who the teacher is I expect. He has his eye on two degree courses at the moment, one needs physics and maths, one needs either biology or chemistry (occasionally both). So the plan is to try and keep as many options open as late as possible, so will probably end up dropping biology or chemistry. I will be encouraging him to do that quickly if he can, as there's not much point in 4 (unless you are so clever that 3 don't stretch you I suppose) and they do Welsh Bacc as well.

Sorry to hear about DC missing out on social events - it's such a horrible, horrible feeling. Every time the DC start a new chapter, they will meet new people so it's a good opportunity to sidle away from friends who don't behave like friends imo.

Re the grades : you definitely keep the higher grade.

@Piggywaspushed

Re the grades : you definitely keep the higher grade.

Great. Somebody posted on here that their school said grades could go down.

orange it was announced way back that A levels would be in October and GCSES November

@itsgettingweird and @OrangeCinnamon1 pretty sure I'm from your neck of the woods too

It’s definitely 2nd November to 23 November for GCSE’s - the a level exams are in October.

Is anyone else doing IB? DS1 did A Levels so IB is new to me. DD is taking SL History and that seems to be 20th century (and -a revisit of GCSE topics) which DD thinks will make it easier. She's also doing HL Maths - which I'm told is really hard. Rather her than me.

She's booked onto a virtual open day for Edinburgh Med School next week so is definitely moving on to the next phase.

Sorry to hear of your 4am Ealing (at least I have some solace that another parent is dealing with the same hullabaloo and shenanigans that I have to!

That kid has lost a £150 Carrera bike and smashed an i phone 7. Now he can't go to boxing 3 times a week. DH says 'Good'. A costly mistake.

I have talked to Piggy about English Lit v Language before. And Sociology. Being 'dry'.

I now know not what to do.

I am all of a dither. And I'm still not happy with the 5 Ds got in RE (was predicted an 8, but got a 4 in the latest mock!) Or the 6 in English language. (Teacher said he could get a 9 if he pushed himself and showed his true capability). Which he wants to do at A'level. I think I'm just 'pride-pissed-off'.

School dismissed my grade anger, this morning, because we were discussing subject choices.

Ds was going to do :
English Language
Business
Sociology
I:media

He's completed all the bridging work for those 4.

The school have only just announced that due to applications, he can't do this because they are in the same block C, and he has to choose a subject from block A.

So the choices are maths, psychology, biology, chemistry, geography, history.

She persuaded him to choose psychology.

So now:
English Lit
Business
Sociology
Psychology

But I'm not happy. As ChristopherTracy said: I feel rushed, like we are all being forced to choose what subjects and which college, too quickly, in too tight a timeframe.

Ds1 is a difficult child. Autistic traits. Very bright, but lazy and bare minimum.
He is a party animal, class clown and attends innumerable parties and has close friends.

He Doesn't know what he wants to do, one minute he wants to be a lawyer, next minute he talks about working for a big company doing finance and data analysis. I am a failed accountant and just do book keeping now which I adore. I have no idea why he's suddenly announced he wants to do finance. I can't see it myself.

He preferred the sociology syllabus to the psychology. Plus, what about the I:media?

The technology side of things is what interests Ds1 most.

He likes tech, fixing things, predicting what tech will be created next, making Tiktok videos and quizzes and tech generally.

That kid really needs good career advice.
Seriously.

His school careers advisor suggested he run a prison. Or, Became a social worker. 🙄

I've tried the online careers advise for him. Useless.

I did try to find someone to advise him but I haven't found anyone yet. He needs a good careers advisor. Who will take into account his ASD qualities, his quirkiness, I need to find someone who will take the time to work out what job / direction might suit him.

I'm concerned if I don't make the right choices and help him now later in life doors will have already closed for him.

Because as we all know. He is 'difficult'.

I'm surprised I haven't had a nervous breakdown parenting him! Fortunately Ds2 is about to start at the same secondary. I'm hoping my ride with him is less of a rollercoaster.

Is it wine o'clock time yet?

[quote EasilyDelighted]**@itsgettingweird* and @OrangeCinnamon1* pretty sure I'm from your neck of the woods too [/quote]
Oh exciting

I'm sure if I type F that's a giveaway

Ealing be glad you got warning. It wasn't pleasant drive in wind this morning - not waiting in the car park!
Even worse it was kick set and due to ds disability he has weakness in his legs and even with fins on struggles to keep up.
So he came out not impressed after all that

Ob is his choices because he's staying on at 6th form in his school?

Only there's some really good BTEC and T level courses in computing and technology available if he loves doing this stuff and the advantage is it's continuous assessment too.

I had to step away from the thread yesterday after DD’s disappointment, well done to all of your ace kids. What a day! I think I still have a stress headache. DD has decided on applied business, ICT and sports studies BTEC, I have read so much and been sent so many helpful things on here that I can’t thank everyone enough for their kindness enough it made a tough 24 hours a little better.

We’re starting to see that BTECs really could be a great alternative way of working for DD and now my prejudices about them have had to be addressed I’m ashamed at the way I initially perceived them.

So anyway, I hope I can still follow the threads into 6th form and beyond!

I think what makes it worse is that feeling that some of the schools don't want our dc to stay on - they are saying that they can stay but making it really difficult to take any sensible choices. My ds is a science/maths child and yet his (now old) school phoned us yesterday to offer French and geography instead of physics and maths.

It is sometimes all about their A-level league table and not about the child. I can't help but be cynical about some of the super selectives sometimes. But then I suppose you know what you are getting into at the start.

Oblomov your DS could resit the Lang? It's really zero revision , just some practice papers really...

I know wierd. But it is his preference to stay at his school 6th form and I to think that they have actually dealt with him very well across the years and it's probably the best place for him.

He has a place at the nearest college, which has a racecourse and is near Hxmptxn Court, which is Henry VIII, but it's miles away, a pig of a journey. I drove past it today, because most of his mates from school live there, and I was on my way to the party site to look for the missing bike 🚲 !! But I don't think college is right for him.

Sounds like a great mix of subjects Iheart, Everyone needs thinking time

That's fair enough obl I wasn't sure so that's why I was asking.
We don't really have 6th form in my county so it's a learning curve for me because we all just went to college! But the colleges do vary a lot in what they offer!

sandybayley Have taught in a school offering IB and Alevel and have three older DC all at university (DC4 going into Year 12). History background but all my DC are scientists. You may find that HL Maths is not really necessary unless its a real strength- HL really is at the standard of FM, and that level of Maths is not needed for medicine in the UK, SL is enough. Also be aware that although IB students go into medicine in the UK, they have not covered the breadth of the chemistry/physics or biology that is covered in A level (by nature of the breadth of IB in itself) so there may be a lot of catch up first year of University. She will also need some extra prep for the BMAT because it is wide ranging. Not meaning to be negative but its good to go into this with your eyes open.

@Oblomov20 - I know the 6th Form you're taking about. It's huge but very well regarded. What's your reservation about it?

Should have also said that speaking from some experience as my eldest DC did Vet Med.

Great to hear things are more settled now @IHeartHarryStyles

@Oblomov20 I am hearing a lot of random anomalies results some DC who took RE had never passed in mocks or assessments predicted 4/5 and actually hate the subject getting 7/8s and think it's actually a joke that they have achieved this and others who had consistently performed well predicted 7/8/9s getting 5/6s obviously finding this hard to take.

@Oblomov20

Sorry to hear of your 4am Ealing (at least I have some solace that another parent is dealing with the same hullabaloo and shenanigans that I have to!

That kid has lost a £150 Carrera bike and smashed an i phone 7. Now he can't go to boxing 3 times a week. DH says 'Good'. A costly mistake.

I have talked to Piggy about English Lit v Language before. And Sociology. Being 'dry'.

I now know not what to do.

I am all of a dither. And I'm still not happy with the 5 Ds got in RE (was predicted an 8, but got a 4 in the latest mock!) Or the 6 in English language. (Teacher said he could get a 9 if he pushed himself and showed his true capability). Which he wants to do at A'level. I think I'm just 'pride-pissed-off'.

School dismissed my grade anger, this morning, because we were discussing subject choices.

Ds was going to do :
English Language
Business
Sociology
I:media

He's completed all the bridging work for those 4.

The school have only just announced that due to applications, he can't do this because they are in the same block C, and he has to choose a subject from block A.

So the choices are maths, psychology, biology, chemistry, geography, history.

She persuaded him to choose psychology.

So now:
English Lit
Business
Sociology
Psychology

But I'm not happy. As ChristopherTracy said: I feel rushed, like we are all being forced to choose what subjects and which college, too quickly, in too tight a timeframe.

Ds1 is a difficult child. Autistic traits. Very bright, but lazy and bare minimum.
He is a party animal, class clown and attends innumerable parties and has close friends.

He Doesn't know what he wants to do, one minute he wants to be a lawyer, next minute he talks about working for a big company doing finance and data analysis. I am a failed accountant and just do book keeping now which I adore. I have no idea why he's suddenly announced he wants to do finance. I can't see it myself.

He preferred the sociology syllabus to the psychology. Plus, what about the I:media?

The technology side of things is what interests Ds1 most.

He likes tech, fixing things, predicting what tech will be created next, making Tiktok videos and quizzes and tech generally.

That kid really needs good career advice.
Seriously.

His school careers advisor suggested he run a prison. Or, Became a social worker. 🙄

I've tried the online careers advise for him. Useless.

I did try to find someone to advise him but I haven't found anyone yet. He needs a good careers advisor. Who will take into account his ASD qualities, his quirkiness, I need to find someone who will take the time to work out what job / direction might suit him.

I'm concerned if I don't make the right choices and help him now later in life doors will have already closed for him.

Because as we all know. He is 'difficult'.

I'm surprised I haven't had a nervous breakdown parenting him! Fortunately Ds2 is about to start at the same secondary. I'm hoping my ride with him is less of a rollercoaster.

Is it wine o'clock time yet?

Extract from @Oblomov20 post

*

Ds was going to do :
English Language
Business
Sociology
I:media

So now:
English Lit
Business
Sociology
Psychology

He likes tech, fixing things, predicting what tech will be created next, making Tiktok videos and quizzes and tech generally.

*

Those subjects look very odd for his interests. Do they do Product Design or Computer Science? Product Design is all CAD and 3D printing now.

The finance thing may be because they know the crazy salaries available in banking!