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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Starting Year 11 GCSE 2021 Thread 2

481 replies

indy69 · 04/01/2021 15:19

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

OP posts:
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8
PettsWoodParadise · 12/03/2021 18:53

The schools are in an impossible situation as the mini-tests haven’t been released yet so they don’t know if they will work for them. DD’s school have said they will do something akin to a full exam schedule but can’t say if this will be past mock papers or the mini tests or a hybrid. They say that no one piece of information will inform a grade and the school will build up a picture based on past mocks, tests, essays and future tests. This however is a school where they’ve known all the girls for years and hardly any leave (grammar) so it is easier for them to do this. Some schools may not have the structure or luxury to do this, may not have done mocks before lockdown 3.0 etc.

Last thing I’d be doing right now is putting my head above the parapet as a parent either in a positive or negative way. I plan to after a middle course and be supportive of the school but not sucking up either. I wanted to get the teachers a selection of snacks as I have done in the past but felt that this time round it might be mis-construed as bribery!

Titsywoo · 12/03/2021 19:03

@TheHouseElf

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! Angry 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?

I agree it is best not to complain at this stage - it is very difficult for schools at the moment and they are doing their best with the information they are given. I told DD a long time ago just keep going as if nothing has changed and your exams are still happening. She has been revising for a while due to this and is ramping things up with a full revision timetable now (poor girl spent ages on one last week then found out she is not covering loads of that stuff now so is redoing it all).
Readybrekglow · 13/03/2021 08:07

We had our information sent out yesterday, 10 days of exams after the summer half term. Each exam about an hour and a half and it will count towards 40% of their gcse award. Another 40% from previous work/assessments during years 10 and 11 then 20% NEA input.
For subjects like maths though it will be 50% exam and 50% previous work/assessments.
My ds is quite happy, he’ll be given revision lists just before the Easter holidays.
His friends at another local high school aren’t doing any of the exams on offer and are giving all grades from evidence from the last two years.

Readybrekglow · 13/03/2021 08:08

They are also waiting for the government to announce when their school year will finish.

Lowther · 15/03/2021 20:49

Hi! It has been exhausting trying to be positive for DD. She is revising for one of the assessments but I can hear a lot of singing and laughter -chemistry revision?!
DD had online 'mocks' after half term but these don't count apparently but is now having a number of assessments/tests before the holidays. School is usually good with communicating with parents but we have had no detail regarding how/what/when assessments are taking place. Last day of school is end of May.
DD is flagging and I'm not sure how long she can keep going, but last week she came home and declared she had the best school day ever! Music songwriting/ composition. After all these years!!Shock
Keep going. I'm really looking forward to June Smile

EmmaStone · 15/03/2021 21:14

My DD has just started a week of exams. There will then be another week in May, and a final week in June (where they are likely to use the Ofqual questions), but the June exams are due to be shorter. Their mark will then be based on work done to date, plus the results from the 3 sets of assessments. After this week's assessments, they'll be able to give us an idea of marks, and they can use the May and June assessments to improve.

She's not had any mocks, so gone straight into tests that count. Having had the rug pulled out from under her by COVID over the last year, she's lost a lot of motivation, and I don't think has done enough work for this week's assessments (although they were only given a week's notice so...).

Cuddling57 · 16/03/2021 07:22

@EmmaStone my DS is the same with motivation. Surely so many children must be. How are they all going to maintain it for so long too especially after the year they have had. They are not having the opportunities to go out and have fun to let off some steam either.
Hopefully the schools lower their grade boundaries to accommodate this.

EmmaStone · 16/03/2021 12:28

@Cuddling57 agreed. My only 'comfort' is they're all part of the same cohort, and I'm hearing a lot of the same.

DD had her Maths exam yesterday - she's on track for an 8/9, and is planning to take it at A Level. She said she could barely get started on some of the questions on yesterday's paper and expects to fail. Brilliant. She woke herself up at 5am this morning to get more revision in for today's exams. I know they have to go through it, but gearing up for 2 years to a pinnacle of exams is quite different to having exams constantly with little preparation time, and remote learning.

Toobuktim · 16/03/2021 13:17

My ds is quite ok with the forthcoming exams, he says it’s not ideal, but it gives him some focus to keep on track. Otherwise it’s a long time till September and the start of 6th Form.

Original poster
indy69 · 14/04/2021 19:06

Hello how is everyone doing? We just got to know that the students in DD cohort can choose to bank their grade for some subjects and do on
Y a selection if they want to do better. My DD has banked maths eng lit and psychology as they are all above7. Looking to better her science and economics and eng language grades by doing the mini exams. Art is already a 9 as that is portfolio based but they will do a mock final piece for fun which she will do. The stress has reduced considerably and motivation seems to be back on track. Am really thankful to the teachers for keeping up the spirits of the kids and encouraging them positively.

OP posts:
Toobuktim · 14/04/2021 19:37

That sounds like a good plan by your school, DS has exams starting a week on Monday which will account for 40/50% of his final grade and I think he’d opt for your schools approach rather than his!
We did get their release date today, Friday 21st May, after which there will be a period of remote learning and they will definitely be having a prom at some point too before the summer.

ihearttc · 14/04/2021 20:23

DS is doing ok too. He is having lots of informal classroom assessments it looks like and no formal exams at all.

They leave 28th May but no prom or anything unfortunately.

Blubell46 · 15/04/2021 08:21

That is great if you can bank your grades- your school is very kind!

My ds school has full on exams from the 10th May in the hall with candidate numbers. We have been told all previous works will not be considered and all grades will be based on these exams.

I personally think that it is too much pressure considering the year they have had. I wish it was consistent between all schools.

TinyDancer78 · 15/04/2021 08:42

@Blubell46

That is great if you can bank your grades- your school is very kind!

My ds school has full on exams from the 10th May in the hall with candidate numbers. We have been told all previous works will not be considered and all grades will be based on these exams.

I personally think that it is too much pressure considering the year they have had. I wish it was consistent between all schools.

That seems like they’re pretty much doing GCSEs then? I agree that the disparity between schools is really strange. I was very much for GCSEs being cancelled as I felt that they simply hadn’t had enough schooling but the alternative of no real guidance is even worse. My DD did mocks before Xmas, mocks again prior to Easter and she thinks they’ll have more when back at school but we’ve heard nothing from school including when they’ll actually finish. My DD has worked extremely hard and puts a lot of pressure on herself and the uncertainty is making her ill. She was back in a week after lockdown and then back in isolation for 2 weeks. I’m dreading the same happening next week.
UncomfortableSilence · 15/04/2021 11:16

We have been told all previous works will not be considered and all grades will be based on these exams.
That goes against all the guidance Hmm

DD has had lots of short assessments before Easter then has two weeks of timetabled exams in the hall with candidate numbers etc

Shes been revising but her motivation is through the floor, she had a tough time with some issues the school are having in Y11 before she broke up and has been very low.

We've not had an end date yet but prom has been booked.

Tonylepony · 15/04/2021 13:24

@Blubell46 DS’s school is taking a similar approach to yours properly invigilated in the hall. They’re basically doing GCSES with 2 x 1hr 45min papers for sciences, 2hr maths and so on and these will be his marks. He wouldn’t mind if other schools we’re doing the same thing but they all seem to be doing mini ‘quizzes’ in the classroom or nothing at all in one caseConfused

Toobuktim · 15/04/2021 13:40

My friend’s DD basically knows her results already, she’s in another local school. They’ve been told they won’t get any less than what they achieved in their mocks. 2020 and 2021 students are just basically going to have whatever results they’ve got viewed with cynicism, it’s pretty unfair really, such disparity between schools.

saucermilk · 16/04/2021 21:36

The disparity between schools is baffling.
I think the banking of grades sounds wonderful but think it goes against the JCQ guidance!
I thought all the children had to have the same evidence and not be able to pick and choose different work to suit individuals?!

Tonylepony · 17/04/2021 09:23

Does anyone know if the exam boards have released the assessments? I don’t think DS’s school are using them but would like him to have a look if possible for revision.

Downriver · 17/04/2021 19:43

Has anyone a clue as to what happens once the drip drip of assessment is over? School have said nothing yet, but will year 11s basically be off school from end of May?

Tonylepony · 17/04/2021 19:54

@Downriver I believe so. I think DS finishes on the 21st May🙄They normally do a week of 6th form preparation in June but who knows whether that will be on this year.

Obakarama · 17/04/2021 20:05

Well blimey then. She'll be hanging around like a wet week..

ihearttc · 17/04/2021 20:05

DS is finishing 28th May. They are apparently doing 6th form bridging work and an online work experience (not sure how that will work)

Toobuktim · 17/04/2021 22:25

@ihearttc same for my ds. They have a week of fun stuff following the exams, then homeschool online learning with bridging work for A Levels. There is a prom in June to be held actually in the school as less chance of restrictions.
I’m working on encouraging him to get a part time job!

Toobuktim · 17/04/2021 22:26

Though he is resisting my encouragement curently!