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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
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 16/01/2021 10:17

I know that practical subjects mark their own exams and controlled assessments are marked by teachers and moderated but that feels different to a job that teachers were expecting to do and be paid for being removed and that work being expected to be done for free during the course. I mean, it’s going to save the exam boards money, and the impact on them was discussed in the consultation saying they’d need to put in extra work preparing exam materials instead, but the impact on teachers who are not having their workload removed in any way, only added to, isn’t mentioned.

I know we did CAGs last year and that was a massive workload, but we gained time in not continuing to prepare the kids for exams.

All for something that, for maths in particular, feels not as good as them sitting the exam as planned with grade boundary adjustments.

OP posts:
Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 16/01/2021 10:19

But if cancelling exams is supposed to account for those who weren't able to continue studying - for whatever reason - then I don't see how this solution addresses that.

Students who missed a lot of schooling through illness, bereavement etc. Pre-Covid applied for exceptional circumstances and their grades were altered in their favour.
I imagine that this will still happen.

Those solely lacking self discipline to work independently will not do so well. Same as always.

It is an unfair system anyway. The amount of support, guidance and tuition a child gets varies from family to family, school to school. Always has done.

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 16/01/2021 10:21

I mean, it’s going to save the exam boards money, and the impact on them was discussed in the consultation saying they’d need to put in extra work preparing exam materials instead, but the impact on teachers who are not having their workload removed in any way, only added to, isn’t mentioned.

Obviously they will dump it on the teachers. What else do you expect from Big Gav and his chums?

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 16/01/2021 10:24

Workyticket
Pass every single one to the college principal.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 16/01/2021 10:29

Obviously they will dump it on the teachers.

I know, which is why I asked if the unions would push back.

It feels particularly unfair on those teachers who would have been paid extra to do the work and who rely on that money now being expected to do it for free.

OP posts:
Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 16/01/2021 10:35

I know, which is why I asked if the unions would push back.

Possibly but I doubt they will get anywhere.

It feels particularly unfair on those teachers who would have been paid extra to do the work and who rely on that money now being expected to do it for free.

Many of my colleagues mark for exam boards - a second job if you like.
They will certainly miss out if the marking has been already been done internally but some may apply for moderation roles instead.
The extra work load for teachers in school is inevitable.

fortyfifty · 16/01/2021 10:51

Is there a shared consensus among teachers over what would be the best way to assess students and award grades for these qualifications?

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 16/01/2021 10:56

Is there a shared consensus among teachers over what would be the best way to assess students and award grades for these qualifications?
The current consultation is under way but ultimately it is up to the exam boards, OFQUAL and the DFE. They decide.

I would go for in class controlled assessment of externally set tasks, teacher marking and external moderation.

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 16/01/2021 10:58

Put it a better way...

I would go for:
In class controlled assessment
Externally set tasks
Teacher assessment/ marking
External ‘sample’ moderation.

TheFallenMadonna · 16/01/2021 11:02

There isn't a shared consensus among teachers, no. I think school context and pandemic experience vary so considerably, that something you can see working really well in your situation can be seen as unworkable in another. And that's on top of strong opinions on assessment generally.

sleepwouldbenice · 16/01/2021 11:02

I am struggling to think what would be best approach for my A level Daughter

She struggled in year 12 with remote A level learning by PowerPoint. There were no live lessons and the school didn’t bring anyone back for face to face. Turns out she had undiagnosed dyslexia so the year 12 teaching just didn’t work for her. The school also didn’t do any end of year assessment in year 12 but has done 2 set of assessment in year 13 but no mocks yet. NEA work done for one subject but not the other as tier restrictions prevented the work. Might not to able to do the NEA work now as human geography based and everything is shut down
No idea how to tackle any learning approach to ensure all this background is taken into account.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 16/01/2021 11:02

@fortyfifty

Is there a shared consensus among teachers over what would be the best way to assess students and award grades for these qualifications?
For maths, I think the exams should go ahead.

What is proposed by Ofqual in the consultation is just nonsense for maths and I think that would be a widespread view.

OP posts:
fortyfifty · 16/01/2021 11:06

@Goodbye2020Hello2021

Is there a shared consensus among teachers over what would be the best way to assess students and award grades for these qualifications? The current consultation is under way but ultimately it is up to the exam boards, OFQUAL and the DFE. They decide.

I would go for in class controlled assessment of externally set tasks, teacher marking and external moderation.

Sure - I know it is not up to teachers. Just that they are the experts who know how different scenarios could play out.

DH is a teacher but hasn't given much away, he's just poised for the fallout remembering last year.

Watermelon999 · 16/01/2021 11:06

@Workyticket

I'm already getting begging emails from my GCSE adult students - last year was hell with the emotional blackmail.

I've posted on all of my Teams clearly stating that I won't be discussing predicted grades until we have more guidance

Some used the Target Grades (we have to say grade 4 or 5 is target) to batter teachers during the process last year

Wow 😮 I cant believe that!

Is it the same with parents of children taking them too? It wouldn’t occur to me to do this.

Workyticket · 16/01/2021 11:08

I'm also maths @Noblegiraffe and agree with you

Mine do a weekly assignment on Teams for me and, since exams were cancelled, their marks have gone through the roof.
Students previously scoring 50% a week are now up at 90% plus.

Google / friends / Facebook maths groups are obviously helping (don't get me wrong - I know from live lessons that some are stepping up and are genuinely working harder)

Grading based in work they do at home isn't fair and I'd like to see at least a non calculator exam happen. Ideally a calculator and a non calculator

There's been talk if studenta doing exams online - downloading POP software which blocks search engines. Doesn't stop them having a mobile in their hand / a tutor or cleverer sibling sat next to them

TheFallenMadonna · 16/01/2021 11:11

If my students had to take an exam online, they'd have to do it on a phone, unless the DfE really ups its game re laptops and data.

Workyticket · 16/01/2021 11:13

god yes. Worse in some cases - "my child is self harming because you don't like him and will purposely give him a low grade"

Also threats of court cases, solicitors letters... not just the odd one. I'm talking dozens and dozens.

Our managers stepped in and 'queries' had to be directed through them in the end.

I make candles and have a Facebook page (not linked to my job, never mentioned in class) and a student found me there and continued the begging.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 16/01/2021 11:14

I’d be surprised if restrictions were still in place by June which meant kids couldn’t sit exams in school.

Are these mini assessments expected to be sat at home?

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 16/01/2021 11:15

I'm an examiner and used to be a moderator when that was a thing in my subject.
We have additional training and supervision during the marking period.
Moving examiners into moderation roles is not as simple as you might think. The skills are very different and problems will come from teachers in centre not being adequately trained to do the internal assessment. I have some colleagues who have never had to produce work for external scrutiny - they'll need support to do it.

Workyticket · 16/01/2021 11:16

our December mocks were mostly done via Forms assignment. You can set them so some questions require a picture taken of their method and uploaded.

portico · 16/01/2021 11:43

I don’t see why Y11/Y12/Y13 can’t be allowed to sit the exams at school if kids from Y7-10 wfh. There is a template in place as exams were sat in November, albeit in much smaller numbers.

Watermelon999 · 16/01/2021 11:44

@Workyticket

god yes. Worse in some cases - "my child is self harming because you don't like him and will purposely give him a low grade"

Also threats of court cases, solicitors letters... not just the odd one. I'm talking dozens and dozens.

Our managers stepped in and 'queries' had to be directed through them in the end.

I make candles and have a Facebook page (not linked to my job, never mentioned in class) and a student found me there and continued the begging.

I’m shocked.

Are you a private school? I can’t believe many of the cohort of my dd’s school resorting to solicitors and court threats, but perhaps I’m naive!

I can understand the frustration though of parents about feeling that things are not seen to be fair especially between different schools. I have many teacher friends and they are very dedicated, and marked honestly last year, but they reported their frustration at other schools trying it on and getting away with marking up.

That sort of thing is why I’ve consistently said I’d prefer my dd to take the exams (she would too).

Workyticket · 16/01/2021 11:49

God no - inner city college. Students are re-sit (failed at school) or adults returning to education

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 16/01/2021 12:44

@noblegiraffe

I’d be surprised if restrictions were still in place by June which meant kids couldn’t sit exams in school.

Are these mini assessments expected to be sat at home?

I doubt it. In class controlled assessment I'm guessing.
Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 16/01/2021 12:47

@Workyticket

god yes. Worse in some cases - "my child is self harming because you don't like him and will purposely give him a low grade"

Also threats of court cases, solicitors letters... not just the odd one. I'm talking dozens and dozens.

Our managers stepped in and 'queries' had to be directed through them in the end.

I make candles and have a Facebook page (not linked to my job, never mentioned in class) and a student found me there and continued the begging.

I can well believe it sadly.