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

People appealing, interesting advice from Mr Salles here about how to word it.

@NotAKaren that is a really powerful article. Such a mess!

Interesting also to hear of students being offered alternative A levels because the timetables don't fit. It seems to make a complete mockery of all the deliberations and decisions taken over many months about which courses to take to then get told at the last minute eh no you cannot do that but you can do this subject you've never considered instead. Then faced with having to make a decision in a very short time or look at other colleges instead. There must be a better way

@NotAKaren, I do hope they don't keep you waiting too long. Good luck.

We heard back about our appeal today. Obviously nothing doing but they did admit that it had all been a nightmare and that it could have been handled better.

And to be fair the evidence for the grade we were disputing was pretty damning. It wasnt what DS would have got in the exam but their hands were tied.

Completely agree about the limitations some people are facing when it comes to choosing A level subjects.

Have you had any luck today @User120673?

I agree @Monkey2001 and @NotAKaren

The whole thing is awful. These are just a few grades I've seen over the past few days...

One student who was working at a 6/7 solidly all year, predicted the student to get a 7 (a good day / fair paper prediction) but because of the algorithm got a 9. There is no way that this student was a 9. Never produced any work to ever suggest a 9 or even an 8, yet sure enough has got it. Yet best friend who was similar, gained similar grades all year but not quite as solid (a bit more variable) has only got the predicted 7 because we ranked her lower. Yet with the right paper, she could have outperformed her mate.

Another student predicted 4s all the way through, got a 4 in the year 10 exam and mocks, suddenly got a 6. They're really going to struggle on the A level.

Meanwhile a third student, predicted 5/6s, achieved that in the mocks but given a 4 in the exam and now no longer allowed to do A level.

Because they come from different schools, no idea which of the last two is the stronger student for A level, and everyone is being let down... from the GCSE student who can't get onto courses because their grades are not good enough, to those who are being admitted but will probably drop out in a few weeks / months when they can't keep up with the work load.

All the children have been let down by this mess and I feel so angry about it, and yes as the teacher said, ashamed to have been part of that system.

Hi All,
Absolutely no help whatsoever from Ds present school. They explained how they allocated grades. Sounds like they put predicted grades into the computer and used their own algorithm before sending the grades to the exam boards. We have spoken to other sixth forms but the English grades are always the deal breaker. Have tried to contact the admissions team at the council to explain the situation but call keeps going to voicemail. Have made an appointment with the GP, as I’m worried about DS mental health. He is sitting in his room now writing a letter to the headteachers of a couple of local sixth forms explaining his situation and asking for a chance. Every time we approached a sixth form today I could see the hope in his face, once he got the refusals I could see the despair in his face. I feel so helpless. He begged his head of year to speak to other sixth forms on his behalf and explain the situation. Teacher told him it wouldn’t work this year due to over subscription because some schools had inflated their results. So sorry for the long rambling message, I’m just completely stumped.

Oh @User120673 I’m sorry that must be so hard. For you and him. He sounds a lovely lad too. I hope you are able to come up with some kind of plan, even if there is no option other than to retake the English.

@NotAKaren @Monkey2001 @Sarahbeansmore Have to say the more I read the more I’m wondering why they opted to use the higher of algorithm or CAG at all. If the algorithm was producing as many bonkers results as it appears to have done, why not just go with CAG and abandon the algorithm altogether? Maybe I’m missing something. Such a mess. But even so there does seem to be a lot of differences between schools. Sorry to everyone who is hitting a brick wall with grade appeals.

Feeling slightly in limbo here. DS finalising sixth form choices tomorrow. He seems so utterly detached from the whole situation (despite being lucky re grades). I think he desperately needs some face to face teacher input, ideas and inspiration, having had nothing since March. DH and I have done our best to help and talk and encourage but obviously we don’t count!!

@Sarahbeans for you and all the school and college staff having to deal with this awful mess.

Can I ask how students were ranked? It seems wrong to me that one student would be ranked lower than another student if they achieved higher in mocks and had higher predicted grades. Is it the rank that mattered most?

Apologies if this was explained earlier in this saga I have lost track.

This is absolutely awful. Your son’s situation is heartbreaking, @User120673. He shouldn’t be having to beg for a sixth form place - the system is so wrong. I am so sorry that this is happening to you.

I have no idea why they elected to go with the algorithm either. It has created ridiculous outcomes - surely the CAGs alone would have been more reliable? Not perfect - nothing is - but to inflate a teacher’s prediction beyond that which a candidate could ever hope to achieve just devalues everyone’s grades!

Hi there I need advice please. My DS is autistic, dyslexic and ADD speech disorder the lot. He attends a specialist school he did well in his GCSEs all 6's bar English a 3. He had a panic attack in his mocks scored a 1+ he completed one question then had to stop he panicked when told his reader couldn't read the text and he had to use a reader pen which was reading too fast. His teacher told us not to worry he could easily achieve a 4 and was working at 3+ In November with extra help he would get a 4 they would work on anxiety etc. He scored a 4 in March for his last paper. Now in fairness he couldn't engage in online learning from March to July he is a boarder and is unable to work at home. He told his teacher this and she said fine it's not mandatory.

He received his 3 last week and has had a huge meltdown life is miserable it had been horrendous. He vented to the school I have asked the school to check.

What on Earth do I do suck it up. I'm cross and disappointed. Any advice please? Thank you

Heartbreaking posts. I feel so angry, my son was predicted 4's, but has got all 3's and a 2?! in English. So failed them all. We're putting in an appeal tomorrow, but reading experiences on here I don't feel hopeful.

@User120673 - that is just heartbreaking - although how impressive of your ds to be working so hard to get things sorted. Everything crossed for you, and everyone with their appeals :-(

@jamiejamiejamie: can you talk to the school and see if there is grounds for appealing? That does sound like one of those situations where the mock needs to be ignored - although well done to your ds on his clutch of 6s despite the anxiety, just so gutting he can't enjoy those :-(

A totally non-exam question, if I may? Ds is also autistic, and going into non-uniform 6th form. He has zero interest in clothes, and will happy carry on wearing clothes that are too small for him, and I'm just starting to engage with the fact that he is really going to need more clothes ... He'd be perfectly happy for me to go to Asda and bulk buy tracksuit bottoms, but any guidance on shops/brands that are 'safe' and mainstream but acceptable for teens (& comfortable - he won't wear style over comfort clothes)? I know this varies hugely by location/'gang' but I don't really have a starting point at the mo. Dd is utterly horrified that he is even considering letting me buy clothes for him ;-)

Anyone else's teens still not decided what to do next? Mine got really good grades....8,7,6,6,6,5,5 and waiting for btec confirmation but should be level 2 merit or distinction. So she is being pushed to do a levels by several family members (not me) but she kind of wants to do travel and tourism. She's worried it's only for students who arent clever enough to do a levels.(sorry if that sounds mean) I don't think it is but whenever I try and get further advice it is suggested she should do a levels as they are the better option. She only has days to make up her mind....help!!

What does she envisage doing with travel and tourism afterwards? Someone told me that the majority of students doing it at their college were planning a career as cabin crew. Which is fine in normal times but probably not a great prospect at the moment indeed the whole travel sector is facing a lot of uncertainty.

@BetterCallSaul99 - DS just got all 8/9 and decided to do PE as one of his A levels. People may laugh at a subject, but if it helps them to get where they want to go, they need to be given the freedom to make their own decisions. All sorts of careers are having seismic changes at the moment, travel and tourism may change, but it may get bigger as people have more leisure because more processes are automated and everybody wants to get away more because they are all working from home too much! DC are entitled to 3 years of 6th form, so if she decides she has made the wrong decision she can start A levels next year.

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore - I still buy Asda jeans for my 2 DSs (aged 16 and 19) but they get cooler t-shirts, maybe band ones or from TK Maxx - you could look at the TK Maxx website with DS and DD. My kids are not particularly cool, generally do not want to dress to stand out, but are not geeks either.

@BetterCallSaul99 I don't know why there is so much snobbery about BTecs, it is really sad. As Monkey said it really depends on what your DD eventually wants to do and which qualifications will help her get there. BTecs are not always the easier option, or the only option for those with lower grades. My DS also did well in his exams, his school have a state of the art engineering workshop so he has decided to do a BTec Extended Diploma as have two of his friends. They are all 9/8/7 students and they will supplement it with A Level equivalents (IB) in Maths and Physics. It will be hard work. Could your DD possibly also supplement with some separate A Levels? If your DD has a passion for T&T it's possible that the thought of taking A'Levels may seem rather dry in comparison.

Thanks. She has no idea what she wants to do. Just that eventually to travel and go abroad. Cabin crew may suit her but will there be any jobs?! She can't do an a level alongside the level 3 as they said it would be too difficult.

Is there one for Travel and Tourism that is the extended one so she could so maybe a double with one A level or single with 2 A Levels so she gets to do it but has something else as well?

User I am so sorry for you both, this is absolutely rubbish. I would keep trying the council and I think I might be tempted to have another go at the Head of Year but you do it. It is not uncommon for people to be accepted onto Level 3 courses and resit Maths or English alongside it, DD’s college did this. I was told they have to resit as part of the funding requirements but not having it is not a bar to entrance.

Say to HOY you have had to make GP appointment because it quite clear mental health is suffering as a result of this. If says that won’t work this year say that no way of knowing that unless try it. Point out that DS is in this position because of what happened at the school, they have all been through a lot with lockdown and and unusual times call for creative suggestions so what do they suggest to resolve this difficult situation for DS as him continuing is clearly untenable. Try as hard as you can not to let call end without commitment to to ringing the college , then follow up what ever agreed on writing immediately 💐

Others may like to add to this and suggest something different ?

And you must be feeling knackered User, hang in there.

I too I have been thinking about you User. I agree with everything Fools wrote.

This is delicate. You don't want to storming in accusing HoY of being useless. But I would be firmer. Take DS out of the equation and deal with all phone calls and emails yourself. It's harder for teachers to fob the parent off.

I too have a rule that I don't get off the phone until I've got somewhere/ achieved something.

"This needs to be resolved. Today."

I'm just wondering if you cleverly insinuate to HoY that if they don't do something today, ie agree to ring other college, that your'll go above their head, to the next level, whoever that is? Deputy Head? That could be dangerous, because then it's difficult to go back to HoY if you hack them off?

I often find playing dumb can work in this situation:

"HoY, I am concerned that I'm asking too much of you, and you're inundated with other GCSE issues, are you the best person to deal with this, or do you suggest someone else?"

"I need resolution. By the end of play today."

And follow up with an email. "Thank you for agreeing to contact x college before lunch.
Please advise by email " whom ..... (you spoke to, so I know you didn't speak to some idiot in the wrong dept"

Actually maybe we are focusing too much on the old school here and realistically to them you are dead old /wood!

Redirect focus? How are you getting on with the new college ? who are you speaking to there? have you built any rapport with their head of year there or whoever is in charge of admissions?

make sure you phone them at least twice a day. And email them. Do it first thing this morning.

ask them categorically what needs to happen here ?
What exactly, do I need to do and what can you do to help me, to resolve this? or are you telling me there is zero chance ?

then at least you'll know where you stand.