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Secondary education

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Original poster

Exams cancelled

999 replies

noblegiraffe · 04/01/2021 20:13

Alternative arrangements will be made.

How stressful to announce that with no details about what will happen.

OP posts:
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16
Fortyfifty · 13/01/2021 17:38

My DD is certainly more stressed now after the 'exams cancelled' announcement than when she thought the usual exams with midifications were taking place.

These politicians don't have a clue how schools operate these days and how 'on it' motivated kids are from day one with regards to the prep they do towards final exams. Mark schemes, model answers, mind maps, continual practice papers, progress grades. These things were alien to my generation when we did A levels. I don't believe those making the decisions can comprehend the enormity of what they have taken away from this cohort.

HappySonHappyMum · 13/01/2021 18:35

Let's be honest in GCSE and A level years - education is basically teaching for test. There's no joy in 'learning', just making sure that the syllabus is covered, that kids know how to structure answers, the info needed for 3 mark, 6 mark and 12 mark questions and so on. The slew of end of topic testing and the knowledge of mark schemes and practice papers. From what I understand reading the letters from Williamson and Lebus the mini tests will be offered to schools as a way of helping them with their teacher assessments. It doesn't say that all schools should use them or have to use them. It does say that the consultation will be released this Friday and will last for two weeks and that the final arrangements will be released shortly after that.

Watermelon999 · 13/01/2021 19:30

@Fortyfifty

My DD is certainly more stressed now after the 'exams cancelled' announcement than when she thought the usual exams with midifications were taking place.

These politicians don't have a clue how schools operate these days and how 'on it' motivated kids are from day one with regards to the prep they do towards final exams. Mark schemes, model answers, mind maps, continual practice papers, progress grades. These things were alien to my generation when we did A levels. I don't believe those making the decisions can comprehend the enormity of what they have taken away from this cohort.

Exactly, they know what’s expected, have been diligently working all through lockdown and now have had the rug pulled from under them- but not replaced with anything.

My dd has revision notes and post it notes all over her room, and is still revising but doesn’t know if mocks will be on or not.

They deserve their chance to get a fair grade, based on their ability and their effort put in.

Ellmau · 13/01/2021 23:17

Honestly the way things are going I wouldn't be completely surprised if they didn't do yet another U turn and reinstate the exams.

NotDonna · 13/01/2021 23:30

I had been wondering this too!

portico · 14/01/2021 01:16

Ellmau
Honestly the way things are going I wouldn't be completely surprised if they didn't do yet another U turn and reinstate the exams.

I hope they do!

portico · 14/01/2021 02:37

I just wonder if Mumsnet has enough clout to voice parent ire about GCSEs and A levels arrangements in 2021. I for one want them reinstated as it is the least worst option for students. Using mock grades, in CAGs, after catching with their studies, will likely jeopardise progression in the next stages of their careers. Would be interesting to know if there is a groundswell of opinion in favour of/against reinstating exams in 2021.

UncomfortableSilence · 14/01/2021 06:12

@portico

I just wonder if Mumsnet has enough clout to voice parent ire about GCSEs and A levels arrangements in 2021. I for one want them reinstated as it is the least worst option for students. Using mock grades, in CAGs, after catching with their studies, will likely jeopardise progression in the next stages of their careers. Would be interesting to know if there is a groundswell of opinion in favour of/against reinstating exams in 2021.
DD would most definitely still prefer to sit the slightly adapted papers rather than this ever changing fiasco and I think I agree with her. Our DC are being so badly let down it's enough to make me weep.
NotDonna · 14/01/2021 07:12

I think MN is an odd demographic though and not very representative of the parenting population. My DDs for example have only had to isolate once and their online learning offering isn’t too bad. They’d be fine sitting the reformed exams, but we are told some kids have had a very different experience. It’d be very unfair to those kids for exams, even reformed ones, to go ahead. Despite exams being an easier process I would not want to throw those kids under the bus. Whether it’s a handful or large swathes of kids. I don’t know but either way, it doesn’t sit well.

portico · 14/01/2021 07:34

I’m resigned to resorting the year again as I have no Gaithersburg in teacher-based CAGs. But, who knows if they don’t sit exams in 2022. My best best is for my son to sit resits in and to start A Levels in 2022

portico · 14/01/2021 07:35

Typo, corrected in upper case

My best option is for my son to sit resits in NOVEMBER and to start A Levels in 2022

portico · 14/01/2021 07:37

Ignore above 2 posts as retyped below

I’m resigned to redoing the year again as I have no confidence in teacher-based CAGs. But, who knows if they don’t sit exams in 2022. My best bet is for my son to sit resits in November and to start A Levels in Sep 2022

ihearttc · 14/01/2021 07:54

@NotDonna
The thing is those kids are going to be thrown under the bus anyway as they still need to learn the content for these new “exams” so surely it’s best to sit an exam they know the format of with concessions etc rather than an unknown exam with who knows what content in? In this situation it’s definitely a case of better the devil you know!!
I had come round to the idea of actual teacher assessed grades but quite honestly I don’t trust the government to not mess up these “exams” and I don’t want my DS to take them.

Historygeek05 · 14/01/2021 08:21

Agree totally with PPs. I have DDs in Year 11 and Year 13 who would much rather go ahead and sit the exams. I have serious concerns about CAGs but the idea of these mini exams is ridiculous. If I had been asked to devise a plan which was even worse than CAGs then this would be it!

portico · 14/01/2021 08:39

I would not mind if they drew a line in any assessment done already. If they said, we will base on new assessments, say as if 1 Feb, as per new Ofqual guidance - only then would I feel comfortable

Watermelon999 · 14/01/2021 08:48

[quote ihearttc]@NotDonna
The thing is those kids are going to be thrown under the bus anyway as they still need to learn the content for these new “exams” so surely it’s best to sit an exam they know the format of with concessions etc rather than an unknown exam with who knows what content in? In this situation it’s definitely a case of better the devil you know!!
I had come round to the idea of actual teacher assessed grades but quite honestly I don’t trust the government to not mess up these “exams” and I don’t want my DS to take them.[/quote]
Exactly, and the other thing is that the teachers know the format of the gcses, what to teach, how to answer the questions etc.

To expect them to start learning a different format, at this short notice as well as still doing live lessons is a bit much.

It would be better to take the original exams but modify them so that for example there is choice to answer only so many questions based on the modules that have already been taught.

portico · 14/01/2021 08:53

Hi Watermelon999
I would add that it’s better for teachers to prepare for the adapted exams, those where we were scheduled to get some insight into topics to appear in exams - guess that won’t happen now that exams are cancelled

NotDonna · 14/01/2021 08:53

Yes, I totally agree with what you’re saying regarding these mini exams, if that’s what’s decided.
What I meant with my post is that I’m not sure posters here are representative of what’s happening. It’d be interesting to know how teachers, parents and kids who’ve missed a crazy amount actually feel/think about sitting the original modified exams. As opposed to teacher assessed grades : mini exams. I think it’d be hard to determine until we know precisely what’s planned. If it is as proposed, I think a good few would agree with us but I’m not sure as I wonder if there’s a bit of an echo chamber here. I think teachers, heads etc should be consulted as they are best placed to ‘know’ what’s fairest for the majority of children or at least their children in their schools.
I’m especially concerned that they’ve said grades should be awarded as late in the year as possible. So these mini exams could be ongoing until mid July. Who knows. In which case, perhaps the modified exams would be better for all. Would love to hear thoughts from parents & teachers where it’s been dire (and there’s obvious disparity).

Cuddling57 · 14/01/2021 08:59

Yes I'm now worried the government have found a new way to mess up this years exam grades too.
These poor children.

Cuddling57 · 14/01/2021 09:04

@portico

Ignore above 2 posts as retyped below

I’m resigned to redoing the year again as I have no confidence in teacher-based CAGs. But, who knows if they don’t sit exams in 2022. My best bet is for my son to sit resits in November and to start A Levels in Sep 2022

Obv don't say if you don't want to but what grade is your child working at? Are they expecting to fail with teacher assessed grades or not get their high grades?
portico · 14/01/2021 09:58

Hi Cuddling57
He has got some very high grades in some subjects and 6s in his A Level choice of subjects. It’s not his lack of ability, as he clearly lazed about and did no work. Teachers said the same. Interestingly, I heard this morning the Nov 2020 Eng/Maths gcse results were very good at the school. Kids must have scored highly compared to their CAGs. Makes you wonder at how the school will analyse the 2020 CAGs vs real grades to establish a narrowing of such a variation for the 2021 cohort. I’m resigned to going all out this year, but with a plan to do Nov resits, and start A Levels in 2022.

MaddieElla · 14/01/2021 10:11

The most worrying thing I’ve read is that results will look different to previous years. Why. How. Fairer? Or marked down to reflect lost learning (my DD has none).

This is far more stressful than sitting the original exams. Our poor kids.

portico · 14/01/2021 10:35

Our school stealthily uploaded their 2020 gcse and a Levels results. Vast discrepancies from 2919, and not for the better. I’ve poring over it this morning

NotDonna · 14/01/2021 10:38

I’d like to understand @portico - have his school or college already said they won’t let him into their 6th form unless he gets the high grades?
I’m not so concerned for yr11 DD2 as her 6th form know her and will let her continue regardless really. They usually want 7/8’s. But I’m pretty sure they’ll me reasonable given the circumstances. However, unlike your DS she’s been working her backside off. Over Xmas was doing 8 hours a day revision. School will be aware of their efforts, potential and likely success at A level. So even if CAGs, mini exams etc do her no favours I think 6th form will be understanding. I think it’s trickier for those children who are borderline or have had a much worse experience or are moving to college.
I’m more concerned about my Yr13 DD1 whose university options are entirely dependant on grades - who knows how universities will deal with this.

portico · 14/01/2021 10:50

No they haven’t said anything NotDonna, I will find out at parents evening tonight. I am pretty sure DS will do well in future assessment as he has been if working his socks off and scoring highly in topical exam qns at home. Sadly, no recent opportunity at school to showcase uplift. I am more concerned at universities, top, if his GCSEs are low. My plan b of Nov resits and 2022 a levels start dates should be fine