Starting Year 11 GCSE 2021 Thread 2

[indy69]

Just continuing on from thread one. Let's support each other through these difficult times. Here is the earlier thread. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3653238-Starting-Year-11-GCSE2021-title-edited-by-MNHQ

I don't understand how it will all work. Have they addressed the fact that surely every student is disadvantaged and underachieving by the sheer fact of not being taught in a classroom setting as the kids have been used to their whole lives?
Are we just going to have a year of low grades for most of the year group? Are they going to address this problem?

I'm also hoping for some kind of announcement as to when this year group will finish school.

@Toobuktim

Our school does 1:1’s every year with every year group (150 pupils) and they share them out during the week between the head, 3 deputies and the head of year. So a 5 min chat per pupil, 30 pupils per teacher and it seems to work ok. They’ve done it for my my children this year online with Microsoft Teams, so think it would go ok really. Maybe they’d up it to a ten min conversation and add in Form tutors as well if required.

I’d assumed they meant each subject teacher @Toobuktim Our form teachers have 1:1’s with each child every term but when that teacher only has 30 in a form that’s slightly more doable than a maths teacher, for example, who may teach several yr11 classes plus yr13’s. That’s a LOT of 1:1’s. If it’s going to be someone else totally unrelated to their subjects then there really is no point. Their usual reports would suffice - at least each subject is written by the relevant teacher.

@NotDonna I suppose you’re right, I just assumed a 5 min chat about all subjects. We’ve had two parents’ evenings and DS one 5 min chat with head master, plus two written term reports - from our perspective I don’t think DS needs further input from his teachers as he’s on track with target grades and did well in mocks.
Maybe the best way would be another term report, if kids on track then no need for more interventions, just let the teachers speak to those that may need it.

I agree toobuktim
Mine haven’t had mocks but have had reports and on track. I don’t think they need 1:1’s either tbh. I’m sure there’s plenty of borderline kids that do though. Unless they’ve had honest informative feedback all along. Geez I’d hate to be a teacher.

Just seen more in the news about return to school on 8th.
Not sure why it can't be a staggered start? Seems all or nothing.

What is the timeline for ending the school year? Without exams to conclude it will there be a set day for CAGs submissions and that’s it?
If so do we know when that is going to be?

I think they’ll announce all that on Thursday @Barewithasorehead
I’m a bit worried about the lateral flow tests being done twice a week. Their accuracy (false positives) is notorious. So they’ll be missing lessons to get these done, then if positive PCR testing and/or isolating. If teachers are busy teaching face to face they can’t do online. If students are in/out it’ll be hugely disruptive. Again. And how on Earth are they going to get this evidence of students are still playing hokey cokey. I wish they’d done a phased return. My DDs aren’t happy. They’d much rather carry on with home learning. They know school isn’t safe. If it’s not safe for them to have one mate over in the garden how’s it safe to sit in a class with 30 others? They’re not enamoured with wearing masks all day either (all 3 wear glasses & steam up). 7am (as on the train) til 5pm when they get home. Ten hours. Maybe an hour for lunch without it, so 9. They’ll do it of course but it won’t be nice will it? Neither will the throat/nose swabs every 3 days. They’d definitely prefer to stay home. They don’t think it’s worth it.

Copying this from ‘exams cancelled’ thread courtesy of noble
twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1364702555184517127?s=21

So DD gets to go into school next week briefly for her first Covid test. Apparently there are 17,000 tests piled up under the stairs for this school with just over 1000 pupils, 60 teachers, TA, admin staff. The school are going to get all of Y10-13 tested before 8 March.

DD would much prefer two jabs than all this kerfuffle but I suppose this is how it needs to be for now and she knows it is all slightly odd to be so excited to be seeing girls her own age for the first time in months in a queue for virus testing.

Reposting this here if you want or ask a question courtesy of nobelgiraffe

If you’ve got a question about how exam results will be approached, please ask the children’s minister by midday tomorrow www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/4181807-Q-A-with-Vicky-Ford-MP-Childrens-Minister-about-return-to-school-for-all-children

We have had our PTC today. Our school is doing a summer assessment to give pupils one last chance to better their grades. We were to,da TAGS have to be submitted by 15th of June. Does anybody have a date for this? Will our children still need to attend after that?

Submission date is 18 June.

Schools can make their own decision as to whether they require pupils to attend still.

Some schools are asking students to come in to cover gaps in learning /to do some preparation for the A levels they intend to take. However, my undertanding is it will be up to the schools to decide.

We've finally been given dates for study leave, assessments over two weeks and then it's all over by half term. It's all so much earlier than normal and after a year when there has been so much disruption.

They have to be 'available' for the two weeks after half term to discuss or redo assessments, then one week of pre A level learning later in June.

Obviously each school does it their own way but at least we have some dates.

@onyourway are the assessments happening in May? Have they been given topics?

@onyourway

We've finally been given dates for study leave, assessments over two weeks and then it's all over by half term. It's all so much earlier than normal and after a year when there has been so much disruption.

They have to be 'available' for the two weeks after half term to discuss or redo assessments, then one week of pre A level learning later in June.

Obviously each school does it their own way but at least we have some dates.

My DD was told today that they are doing an assessment before Easter then another just before half term. She worked really hard on a revision timetable for the May exams they were supposed to be sitting. Now she is being told loads of topics are not going to be tested and she has very little time to revise for the ones in 2 weeks. All very stressful for them. I'm glad she did mocks in November as it helped her confidence and exam technique. She was also told they will be fully done by half term.

Yes, the middle two weeks of May for the assessments.
But there will be random assessments between now and then which 'could' count.
It won't be on the whole syllabus but I'm not sure if they will be told specific topics. Presume so

Today we got timetables of assessments. The first is a week of exams from 19th April and the second is two weeks from 10th May. They are giving the topics which will be covered to the kids tomorrow. Dd said for French they are being tested on only 5 of the 12 units (the French teacher told them that early). The final week before half term will be a practical week so they can make sure all coursework and other practical work is done (hoping that includes art). They haven't yet decided what will happen after that and what date they will finish year 11.

@Titsywoo that sounds a very sensible approach. Are you all feeling happy with that?

We've had the timetable through, a week either side of half term and then a programme of catch up for those staying on in sixth form.

My dc has week of “assessments” in mid May as well as being told that every piece of work could count too. It puts a lot of stress on them.

[quote Cuddling57]@Titsywoo that sounds a very sensible approach. Are you all feeling happy with that?[/quote]
Yes pretty happy considering the situation. The classwork and end of unit tests they do from now will count as well. I wish they could have counted previous stuff as it feels a bit full on but I guess that is the case every year. DD is best at exams so she is pleased she still has the opportunity to do that.

I think it is very interesting that they aren't including in the exams anything that was taught during lockdown.

We now have a lot more info. Lots being cut out including Romeo and Juliet for English, 2 topics for each science, not so much on maths but they started maths in year 9.

Just come across this thread, looking for info.

DD's Yr 11, school has still given no information whatsoever as to how this is going to work for her exam assessments, but hope to be able to do so before the end of this term! We're going to email and complain as this is ridiculous as the clock is running down and we can't understand what's taken them so long to give us some details.

So right now, we've no idea exactly what and how much she needs to revise. Can anyone let me know what info/advice you've had?

TheHouseElf don't write to complain.

The phrase "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" springs to mind.

The school have a difficult situation to navigate and will be trying their best. They will let the children know as soon as they can.

Please just reassure your child rather than vilify the teachers who are already stretched and stressed