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

How are you doing today Oblomov? I really feel for all those affected by this, including the teachers 💐

@jamiejamiejamie - I'm so sorry to hear this, your poor son. Have the school responded? What are his plans for 6th form/college? I would imagine if he goes to a specialist school for students with the needs profile you describe for him he won't be the only one needing to re-sit English.

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore - mine is getting fairly bland clothes from Next/Gap for 6th form, he has zero interest in labels and normally lives in jogging bottoms and tee shirts.

Sorry to hear the situation is still ongoing @User120673

Echo the excellent advice of PPs

I think you have to keep reiterating, it's not as simple as "we're full so just stay on at school" - in his case the college is more than just a preference - his health and safety are at stake. I hope the GP can help. Try your MP also. There is still time to sort this out, keep going.

@User120673 I so hope you get some resoluion today. I think Oblomov's suggestion to play dumb is a good one ^"HoY, I am concerned that I'm asking too much of you, wink 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."^

How are you feeling @Oblomov20?

I haven’t been around for a couple of days, but it’s so disappointing to come back and find people are still having to fight to sort out the mess their DCs have been landed in.

Apologies for asking a completely unrelated and trite question, but what has everyone done / is everyone doing with all their DC’s year 10 and 11 work?
When lockdown started, DD and I separated the subjects she intended to carry on at A level from the ones she wasn’t.
Now that the grades have been given, I don’t know what to do with any of it - bin? sort? keep?
I’m having a wobble about chucking it outright, just because of the whole madness of the last few weeks, although DD assures me that, even in the event of some kind of bizarre enquiry that requires teachers to evidence CAGs, they will have everything they need, and the work she has at home is irrelevant.

So, do I even need to keep the work she’s done in the subjects she’s going on to study at A level, or can I bin the lot??

Thanks for the clothing advice: ds is definitely proudly in geek territory, but his lovely, supportive gang is going to be massively depleted next year, so I am just trying to make sure he isn't an obvious target (although his school is normally reasonably accepting, and he is utterly without fucks about what the cool kids think ;-))

Checking in for news from @User120673 and fingers crossed. @Oblomov20 any news on your side?

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore Safest is popping into JD sports and getting some adidas joggers and a couple of nike tshirts. Saying that the trainers are the thing they notice the most. DS wants a pair of black Nike Air Force 1s.

We also buy tshirts and hoodies in TK Maxx. He wont wear jeans unless we are going to a naice restaurant

Ds is only slightly interested in clothes but just wanted to give the London perspective.

Still waiting to hear from a couple of places.
I have just seen the email my DS has drafted to a couple of head masters and it’s breaking my heart
“ My only option at the moment is to return to , but the thought of that terrifies me as for the last two years I have been bullied there. On a few occasions I was physically assaulted so badly my parents had to involve the police. I am now on the councils criminal exploitation list and have been assessed as vulnerable. I have been told by not to return to under any conditions.
I would appreciate it very much if you would consider offering me a place at your Sixth Form. I promise you that if you put your faith in me and offer me a place, I will study hard and prove your faith in me was not misplaced. Please help me. “
I’ve removed the identifying school and the local council group that have been supporting him due to the bullying.

Sorry should have said that’s only one paragraph of the email he has also mentioned in the email his other achievements and his future aspirations.

User, the person at the council is at the place you can’t get to answer the phone ?

User, your boy sounds just amazing. Wishing you so much luck in getting a successful outcome. And to all of you still fighting...

oh @User120673

User that is absolutely heartbreaking. I’m praying that he gets a place somewhere else. X

@FoolsAssassin
Haven’t been able to contact the council admissions team as yet, calls keep going to voicemail. Have been told they only answer calls between 2pm and 4pm Tuesday and Thursday. Will try during that time today.

User do the College know about the fact you had to involve the police, is on the council’s criminal exploitation list and is assessed as vulnerable plus been told he must not return to current school?

User I would :

1. fire off an email to them now marked Urgent in the title . Explain what has happened and say that currently his only option if he wishes to continue his education is remain at current school. Say that obviously this would contravene what he has been told by and would be a breach in safeguarding of DS as he is now classed as vulnerable. Say you have had to make a GP appointment as DS’s mental health is declining rapidly and you now need immediate support from them to support you as they have a duty of care to a vulnerable person as DS is. Ask for am immediate call back which you won’t get but then call them at 2pm.

2. Meanwhile get the email address of the Head of College and head of Pastoral Care (ring switchboard and ask). Email them and outline what has happened and make sure they know he is classed as vulnerable and been told he is unable to return to the school by the council, ask if they can contact you urgently to discuss further.

3)Final email to the Head of the current school, similar email and again asking for urgent contact.

4)See if you can get telephone appointment with GP today , explain situation and ask if they will support you.

That is off the top of my head and again I’m sure others can add to this/suggest a different way. It’s going to need to be a case of trying a few people until you can get one person who gets on board and makes it happen .

@User120673 That is such a good letter by your DS, what an absolute star. If I were in admissions I would let him in immediately! I hope you have some good news today 🤞
 for everyone fighting for their DC at the moment

@Alsoplayspiccolo I would bin the lot!

@User120673
I’d have another go at current school via email to the Head and Examination Officer,
I’d include evidence of DS’ attainment/ working at grade, mocks etc over Yr10 and Yr11
Also, attach evidence of your correspondence with them over the bullying and include evidence of police and other agency’s involvement
Highlight that despite horrific and sustained bullying your DS was attaining grades that resulted in GCSE predictions of 6/7 which led to a conditional offer at X 6th Form.
Then formally ask if they could check to ensure that the CAGs submitted to the Exam Boards were correct and that no administrative error was made

User, your son’s letter is perfect. He’s said everything they need to know, in a calm, considered way.
If that doesn’t make them reconsider, I’d go to the press.

Just following up on what Proggy said, maybe also ask them how to contact the school governors as you feel you need to take this further. (I'm sure you could find this out without asking but you want them to know, in the hope that they want to avoid extra hassle.)

Yes agree with Proggy and singingstones and I would be attaching your lovely DS’s letter to everything too.

Some horrible stories on here.
The lack of standardisation across results has a lot to answer for.
For every student who got a possibly inflated result there is another (and these children aren't being talked about) who got a result that was unfair - either because their school used a mix of work across the 2 years rather than going for "good day" grade or because the school carried out internal moderation. And these students will doubly lose out because everyone thinks that their results are inflated.

Not remotely the same situation as User's - really hope you can find your DS a place somewhere - but my DS is still upset about a grade where he had consistently produced work at one level and does not understand why he's been marked down. He's taking the subject at A Level so I've told him it doesn't matter in the long run, but it matters now - for him.

Oh User, I so hope that he gets a place soon

Another one popping in to send all good wishes and positive vibes to you and your lovely DS @User120673 Can’t add anything to the excellent advice given already but I’m rooting for both of you.

@RedskyAtnight y y y re lack of standardisation. The ones who’ve done well feel they haven’t properly deserved it, the ones who haven’t quite rightly feel cheated.

Sending un-MN hugs to everyone whose DC are still to be sorted.

@Alsoplayspiccolo DS and I need to do that job too! His room is full of books and paperwork. Tempted to keep key pieces of work for posterity and sentimentality (I’ve bought some A4 cardboard storage boxes though have yet to assemble any ) as I tend to be a bit sentimental anyway. But I wouldn’t worry at all about keeping work examples as back up for grades etc. If we keep anything non A level study related it will be purely as memorabilia!

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore H&M are also favourites in this house for hoodies and t shirts especially.