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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Year 13/11 how do you feel about the 3 extra weeks...

85 replies

MrsAvocet · 12/10/2020 19:05

...to "catch up"?
Seriously? After all that has happened and is still to come, does anybody seriously think that delaying exams by three whole weeks is actually going to make a blind bit of difference?

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 12/10/2020 19:12

DS is not happy about it, the kids are in an out of school and he doesn’t believe they will all equally and fully cover the curriculum.

NotDonna · 12/10/2020 20:05

I’m not sure why 3 weeks. Where’s that number come from? There’s such a lot of content to cover that 3 weeks won’t make much difference. I wish schools had given them homework over summer. Not loads but some, just so they’d be on the front foot. It just feels hideous at the moment with personal statements, trying to choose uni course, kids & staff in & out, cover teachers. A lot of stress! And not being able to have fun & download with their mates. All a bit shit, isn’t it?
I don’t think teacher assessments are the way forward either. But we don’t know there won’t be so the kids are still having to give 110% in every lesson, homework and test, just incase. And being beside themselves if it goes a bit wrong. As I say, stressful. And a bit shit.

Sweetchillijam · 12/10/2020 20:08

3 weeks won’t make a fart of difference.

Its so stressful for the kids.

DonLewis · 12/10/2020 20:09

How do you sit your exams if you're self isolating? That's what I want to know.

Cheesecake53 · 12/10/2020 20:11

It's laughable.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 12/10/2020 20:15

I don’t actually believe this is going to happen - will be all change next month. Maybe once they’ve failed to employ enough exam markers or something.

But the GCSE exam schedule is brutal. 4 solid weeks of exams. It’s made bearable by having half-term in the middle. They’re not going to get that, are they?

TheLetterZ · 12/10/2020 20:17

I suspect the three weeks is the biggest delay they can feasibly do without delaying the results with all the knock-on effects that will bring.

There is no magic solution that will be fair to everyone, some students had better provision during lockdown, no changes made now will fully balance that.

PracticingPerson · 12/10/2020 20:21

@DonLewis

How do you sit your exams if you're self isolating? That's what I want to know.
I can't believe I hadn't thought about this!
Todaythiscouldbe · 12/10/2020 20:25

I think 3 weeks is to ease us in gently. They said on the news it's expected to be a longer delay but logistics are being 'worked out'

NotDonna · 12/10/2020 20:27

@DonLewis

How do you sit your exams if you're self isolating? That's what I want to know.
I guess they’re hoping by beginning of June cases will be super low (and herd immunity?).
NotDonna · 12/10/2020 20:29

Ouch, not having a break in between will be tough.

Original poster
MrsAvocet · 12/10/2020 20:29

My son is pretty down about it. He doesn't think it is enough to make any real difference in how he does in the exams (and at the moment he's not overly optimistic about his grades) but it is long enough to screw up the post exam holiday that he and his friends had been hoping to take before the prices shoot up for the scholl holidays.
I'm trying to pep him up, reminding him that there's still a long time to go, everything may yet change and they will still be finished a week or two before the main holidays etc but he is still very low. My DH's comment that we will probably still be in the pandemic and holidays won't be safe anyway went down like a lead balloon mind you. Hmm He may well be right, but there's a time and a place. I have advised him against a career change into motivational speaking.

OP posts:
Sweetchillijam · 12/10/2020 20:30

I read somewhere maths and English will be before half term the rest delayed for three weeks with GCSE results delayed by only a week. DD has mentioned about reduced content in some areas but its minimal and in no way reflects the time they lost out of school in year 10, lockdown stress and the uncertainty of will the exams happen or not happen etc.

MarshaBradyo · 12/10/2020 20:30

Oh no way I missed this

AChickenCalledDaal · 12/10/2020 20:33

Gutted that they will lose the half term break in the exam timetable. I'm far from convinced that DD will make it to the end of 20+ continuous exams without exhaustion setting in. So any benefit from the delay will be lost.

And also a bit sad for her that she will not get the normal ultra-long break between GCSEs and sixth form. Her older sister got so much enjoyment and refreshment from that holiday.

Madcats · 12/10/2020 20:37

I am too old to remember, and DC doesn't have to worry about A levels...yet, but what is the normal timetable?

The private schools round here WERE planning to finish on 2 July 2021, the day schools a few days later (so not much NORMALLY happens in the last fortnight-usually residential trips and sporty things).

DrMadelineMaxwell · 12/10/2020 20:37

They suspended the curriculum in lockdown, so our secondary sent out plenty of work, but all consolidation tasks not new work.
So the additional three weeks needs to address a while missed term of work. It doesn't add up.

kittycatss · 12/10/2020 20:42

My daughter is year 13 and she's missed so much she's conviced she's going to fail.
It took one of her teachers 3 months to reply to an email during lockdown and only one of her teachers did the online lessons that they were meant to do, the other 2 just emailed out texbook pages for them to read and answer the questions.
I just don't think that all students have had an equal standard education over lockdown and really can't see how three weeks extra is going to help.

leafeater · 12/10/2020 20:46

And it's not across all boards. IGSE haven't announced any change to curriculum or dates.

purpleboy · 12/10/2020 20:48

How do you sit your exams if you're self isolating? That's what I want to know.

I thought I heard them saying they will probably use mock results for anyone who can't take exams due to self isolation.

DD yr13 also not happy, she doesn't see the point in the extra 3 weeks, they are already behind. 3 weeks won't make a difference, plus her and friends were planning on going away on holiday after their exams finished, but now they won't be able to due to international students going home and the dates not working out.

ComplexNeeds · 12/10/2020 20:50

@AChickenCalledDaal

Gutted that they will lose the half term break in the exam timetable. I'm far from convinced that DD will make it to the end of 20+ continuous exams without exhaustion setting in. So any benefit from the delay will be lost.

And also a bit sad for her that she will not get the normal ultra-long break between GCSEs and sixth form. Her older sister got so much enjoyment and refreshment from that holiday.

They’ll be done by the 2nd Jujy Unless it goes into the contingency week. So they’ll still get a decent break. Unlike the poor teachers who are also examine markers. Hope they recruit some good experienced ones.
AChickenCalledDaal · 12/10/2020 20:57

When my eldest did GCSEs there were two weeks before half term and three weeks after. And even with the half term break, she was on her knees by the end. The dates they've announced today put all but two papers into a four week period. So 25% shorter, with no break.

Poor kids.

And yes, also poor teachers/markers who will be expected to turn the results round in a massively reduced time.

Just so the govt can show it's being "rigourous".

NotDonna · 12/10/2020 21:01

Williamson has no clue. None of them do.

Sweetchillijam · 12/10/2020 21:01

Things will probably change more than half a dozen times between now and easter. By March the kids will have been living and worrying about this for a whole year.

CurseryKinkajoo · 12/10/2020 21:04

Any mention of the IB?!

The last DC2 mentioned, Ofqual were still deliberating over accepting changes brought in internationally due to Covid so they’re still having to teach the unamended course at his 6th form.

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