GCSE Summer 2020 - Thread 11 Carry on Corona Cohort - Starting New Terms and Settings

[OrangeCinnamon1]

Welcome all to the 11th Thread for this year's GCSE cohort - The Corona Cohort!

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs regardless of the institute they attend 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 don't within this thread.

Similarly it should be recognised that the grades our children need/deserve/want will vary across the board. One same grade outcome can simultaneously cause Joy and Despair for different posters. Please be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

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 any new threads should have 'GCSE Summer 2020 Thread # : Carry on Corona Cohort' in title just to make it easier to find. Not fussy about who starts those !

From now on our DS/DD may go down various paths such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed, so we decided not to be exclusionary and stay right here in Secondary - at least until Mumsnet HQ chuck us out .

At this precise moment in time we have had GCSE results . It has been decided that the higher of Centre Assesd Grades and Calculated Grades will be awarded - the algorithim seems to have been applied a schol level to the detriment of some students. Lots of our young people have already started on the next stage of their journey with some still to start.

We are all STILL trying to protect our young people's mental health, which the government claimed was their priority...when they talk about wanting students back in schools/college in September...now we have their physical health to consider too as the mingling at various settings starts up again. Hopefully a positive experience this term!

First Thread

previous thread

@ChristopherTracy

Thank you all, that’s helpful and when the next time crops up I can make some suggestions, my mind went blank last time in a slight panic as wasn’t expecting it ! He does get help so not too bad hopefully.

DS is doing computer science without the GCSE with a view to dropping it if it’s too much. Not sure how it’s going, might be brave and ask this weekend.

Am off to look up t shirt folder!

@ealingwestmum thanks for the info on Spanish! I know dd would enjoy it but she's not really a linguist, so that bit would be hard. She did get an 8 at GCSE but that was with a lot of work. Who knows, she'll probably be talking about Biology or English tonight! Geography would be the obvious fourth subject, she was always planning to take it then switched to RS in about Feb. She got a 9 at GCSE with very little effort. But she says it would be too many case studies, with Psych too.

It’s brilliant that she’s so psyched with so many potential new interests though Crazy!

I'm sure I would love a T-shirt folder and find it a really satisfying and enjoyable experience, I do like things to be ordered and neat. DS, however, uses his floor as a wardrobe and folderer (!) so it really would be lost on him!

I just had to call the helpline to see if they could help with dd's maths gcse. It is not even on her timetable and we need to book her in with her private tutor and don't want it to clash. They basically said oh these things take time, eventually all the systems tie in together and we realise that if the student hasn't contacted us we will be in touch with them Helpful when you're 16yo and stressing about everything anyway!

As it turns out, it is from 4-6pm on a Monday. She finishes lessons at 12.15pm on a Monday but she doesn't have to stay in college because it is all going to be online learning anyway! I just can't believe how online learning maths will be at all helpful to those students who quite clearly struggle with maths. She didn't even know the exam board so I can't let her tutor know yet what syllabus to follow.

OK, I need a link for the best T shirt folder now -spill ! ;-)

Definitely for me though - neither of my two are likely to become obsessive tidy freaks any time soon (neither am I, but I did go all Kondo on my draws a year or so back and my god, folding well makes a difference!)

DS is doing 4 and is expected to keep it going until next June unless he’s really struggling. The school, in reality informs parents way before that - indeed, by Christmas, if they have concerns about attainment.

Another CS here without the GCSE. The school didn’t offer it at GCSE So only the minority have the GCSE advantage and finding the start easy. DS, for reasons only known to him, delved into Java programming during the summer as opposed to Python which is what the A level is delivered in. Book on Python now ordered from Amazon. Otherwise, DS is taking Maths, Physics & DT. Slightly worried about DT which would be hard to deliver online should we have multiple school disruptions.

T shirt folder -

It really is that easy and that neat!

Yep Sheldon was first to mind. DS big fan of Big Bang.

Love Big Bang...

Love Bernadette in Big Bang...

Ds is doing 4 A levels up to AS next summer. Then they drop one. We have 2 secondaries in the area. The other secondary/6th form my friends son went to. He's the same age as my oldest (19) At that school they all take 4 A levels. Her ds needed 3 A levels at A* star to get into firm choice university.*
He got two A's and 2 A* star So had to go to his second choice. I couldn't help thinking had he only taken 3 A levels he may have got the 3 A** grades he needed.

No matter how many times I type this out it keep highlighting some of it. I give up now 🤷‍♀️

Ha ha. Ok so it didn't post with it highlighted. Just took my stars out and put the word instead.

DD went back again to the head to argue her case yesterday about dropping her 4th A level and was finally successful but under instructions not to advertise the facts to others as apparently “everyone will now want to drop one“. She is so pleased to be able to spend more time on the other 3 as it was already becoming too much.

Well done Paddington DD for speaking to the Head. I don't understand the need for 4 at all. At an open evening here for the Girls Grammar school 6th form, they made it clear to the parents that they won't allow 4. They even included Further Maths with Maths so it still counted as 3.

The boys school grammar said they don't encourage 4, but do ask them to pick something alongside (not sure what exactly, I think DoE, Core Maths etc).

My DD school will allow 4 Alevels if very high achieving. DD is doing 3 with a Core Maths over 2 years (2 hrs per week).

@Piggywaspushed - I hope the Spanish is going ok. Fingers crossed her work visa gets issued quickly.

@FoolsAssassin - good luck when you pick him up - hope he is ok (and you're journey home more enjoyable)

I think DD would LOVE that teeshirt folder!

She has a Biology test today so a little edgy.

I'm really pleased that people have kept posting how their child is getting on. It's really interesting. DD is my 1st (and only) so I've no experience of other schools or children coping at this age.

Hope all have a good weekend.

DD has taken a loaf of (white, Mothers’ Pride) bread in today, as apparently it’s her turn on the ‘toast rota ‘!

@PaddingtonPaddington That's good news. I imagine word will get out when she's not in class anymore..

DD is hoping to get permission today. The Head of Sixth Form announced that all must do 4, except for a few that have good reasons to drop. DD hoping that dyslexia plus doing a sport to a high level count as good reasons. We'll see.

I think 4 is madness. Clearly they are going to have reduced teaching time this year at some point and how they can't be focusing on getting through as much of the curriculum as possible is beyond me. I get it for those doing maths, as the leap is huge and some don't make it. I get it for those not sure of their path and who need time to decide. But for the rest its just wasted time and energy. Grrr...

DD also enjoying the food/tea/coffee rota. Feels very grown up and she's really enjoying the time in the common room.

DS's school only allows 3 A levels. Further maths is an extra but if doing that it's linear so A level maths end of yr12 and further maths end of yr13, so only 3 in an academic year. DS is starting off with that but all have been told that approx 50% each year are advised along the way not to sit the A level in yr12 & just do that at end of yr13. The pace is challenging.

DD has won her case for swapping her 4th subject! The head of 6th form seemed very impressed that she had already discussed the matter with both the departments involved. Said it was a bit late in the day (they've only been back 2 weeks!), but her online timetable has changed this morning so it must have been agreed 😁

DD would love that at shirt folder too Heifer

Kingscote love the bringing in bread rota idea. Is it just for her form as one loaf wouldn't go far for a whole year group as I know teens are gannets

DS said that several people in his school have already dropped their 4th. I think the school like them to start 4 in case they don't like one of the main 3, but the normal thing is to drop one by Christmas or do an AS if you want to keep going for the year (which is what DS1 did).

Glad she's got it sorted @seeline, that was quick work! And good that she's so independent and decisive.

Dd had moved on from Spanish by the time she got home yesterday thankfully! They have to do enrichment but the options are limited this year, so she's thinking she might do Mandarin! Again, the boy on the train is doing Mandarin.... there seems to be a pattern! But it's not a bad idea. I'm glad she's settled on three subjects instead of four, as I think she needs her frees.

Happy Friday afternoon everyone. I have a tiny bit of positive news, it looks like DS had a successful appeal on one of his GCSE marks. It still only gives him his mock grade but better than being given below his mock grade for sure!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn that is good news. Well done on appealing.

DD just texted - sense prevailed and she can drop her fourth A level.

I’m very relieved I must say! The school were not exactly enthusiastic but I’m glad I pushed it for him.

Good news on your DD. 👍🏻👍🏻