Year 13 A-levels 2021 - general support thread?

[CeaseAndDesist]

I can't find a general support thread for parents of brand-new year 13s who will be taking A-levels next year - is there one?

If not, would anyone like to join this one?

I don’t usually watch ITV but lots of discussion on This Morning re exams. Wales saying they will do their own thing. Mixed mode being discussed - exams plus teacher assessment. But it really seems too little too late. How on earth can teachers plan for all this?

article in the Sunday Times today re next Summer's exams - conclusion seems to be that any number of options still might happen. Conceivably they can't end up more of a car crash that this Summers...............can they?

boys3 I do wonder if Gav is even thinking about options or just scratching his backside. They should have plan A, B & C and have discussed those plans over summer with the major players. But we all know there’s zero plan. It all feels very head in the sand.

I'd like to join in this discussion please.
My DS is in year 13- he missed the first 2 weeks of term in September as he had covid and is now off again as someone in his bubble has tested positive. he's missing out on loads of teaching and I just wondered what everyones thoughts were on how the exam boards are going to take this into account. will they even do the exams? seems quite likely now that there is a vaccine but seems so unfair as they've missed so much teaching.

Looking for support here too. Ds in year 11 has now isolated in total 7 weeks since Sept. He's missed loads, online learning is only powerpoints and as my year 13 has also has to isolate it means they're sharing a laptop. With the best will in the world they're struggling to teach themselves gcse and a levels. I wish the government would hurry up and decide what is happening so teachers and students can mentally and physically prepare themselves.

@Cleanmean

Looking for support here too. Ds in year 11 has now isolated in total 7 weeks since Sept. He's missed loads, online learning is only powerpoints and as my year 13 has also has to isolate it means they're sharing a laptop. With the best will in the world they're struggling to teach themselves gcse and a levels. I wish the government would hurry up and decide what is happening so teachers and students can mentally and physically prepare themselves.

Hi That is a totally rubbish situation. How are your kids possibly on a level playing field as those kids who've had face to face teaching over the same period?? My eldest son did a levels last year but looking back I think it wasn't that bad as most of the teaching had taken place. My middle son is now in year 13 and he's missed 3 weeks of school in total- currently self isolating. I've kept a note of the dates he's been off school and have emailed the school asking what they will do with this information- we're a long way away from the end of the year. My son goes to a state school and quite frankly they've been rubbish over lockdown. Sending a few emails and work but no teaching in real time or even recorded lessons. And these kids are going to be judged alongside private school kids who've had real time zoom lessons since March. It's unfair and it's unrealistic to expect the kids to achieve their potential and the government needs to make a decision asap!!!! I would log your kids absences , keep a track of the actual teaching they are getting and at some point down the line ask for a concession based on those facts. Rant over!!!