Exams cancelled

[noblegiraffe]

Alternative arrangements will be made.

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

@TheSunIsStillShining I know it’s massively worrying but I really wouldn’t worry about your year 10 - it’ll be fine. My dd is year 11 and I’m not worried- she’s predicted all 8’s & 9’s (these are realistic predictions having been through it all 2 years ago with ds) but even if the government managed to massively screw gcse grades up the school know her and I’m 100% sure they will let her do the A levels she wants to do. Year 10’a will be fine.

Year 13’s are my worry.

@NotDonna he’s not doing a geography degree it’s more it’s a massive amount of work (made doubly hard by the 5 days canx fieldwork) - he had originally planned a physical geography NEA - fieldwork was supposed to be first week of March lockdown. As they’re not allowed to do fieldwork replanned (and started) a human geography NEA. Some schools have done fieldwork some haven’t it’s very disparate.

@NotDonna yes they canx the gcse fieldwork. The problem is the a level NEA is 20% of A level so need clarity as to what’s happening with A levels.

It’s all v hard I’m trying to ignore it and watch French Police drama (Spiral)

Odd question, but when CAGs were awarded last year, did they have to go to their schools to collect grades? Or was it via mail/some other communication?

And did they release the results on the same day they would have done had exams gone ahead?

@MaddieElla

Odd question, but when CAGs were awarded last year, did they have to go to their schools to collect grades? Or was it via mail/some other communication?

And did they release the results on the same day they would have done had exams gone ahead?

Yes same day. Some schools emailed results some had people come in.

Thank you Kitty.

My DS may have had his A level exams cancelled in the summer but he’s still in school in the morning doing his BTEC exam.

Ooh kitty spiral! I only just cope understanding English. DD1 has just said that her friend who is doing A level geography is the only one who’s finished the ‘coursework’ and it’s taken a huge amount of time and effort. If this is disregarded she’ll be incredibly annoyed. I’m guessing that’s the same for your DS?
I’ve a year 11 and year 13 DDs. Like you I’m not concerned about yr11 DD, she’s always worked hard, will continue to do so and is lucky that she gets results that match her effort. She’s staying on at the same school so even if things went pear shaped I’m pretty sure she’d be allowed to continue her chosen A levels. DD1 yr13 on the other hand has a lot more at stake. I’d like to know if there’ll be an option to sit exams in June if they absolutely want to. I fear her CAGs would be lower than what she ‘could’ achieve in exams. One of her subjects is constantly predicted low, despite her test results being better than some other students who are predicted higher. In another subject her and a number of other students are predicted A*s but for the last few years only a couple of students have scraped C’s; so she (along with the others) could be massively downgraded. It just feels more up in the air as it’s quite a small 6th form.

Yes I did read it and have been telling him this constantly and i nagged him about his mock exams but it’s like pulling teeth he will do it in a minute or he has revised enough which is basically just ready over his book the night before despite doing revision cards He wants to do well but seems to put minimal effort in he works well in the classroom hence me doing the revision timetable to give him structure homework is usually left until the night before despite me nagging all week. It’s difficult I work full time customer services dh works permanent night so isn’t up til 10 pm and I just feel I spend every evening nagging him. Dd is the complete opposite she is organised and works really hard to achieve good grades ds puts minimal effort in and just scraps a pass

@Thunderblunder good luck to your DS tomorrow. Hope he absolutely nails it!

Donna I should stress I’m watching with subtitles 😂 although occasionally I forget to read them and am suddenly v confused about what’s going on.

Yes geography NEA is a massive amount of work (much more then 20%) plus there are 3 written exams. Has yr dd had mocks? Our yr 13 mocks we’re supposed to start tomorrow and are now after Feb half term. Year 11’s were before Christmas.

I’m also worrying about how all this will affect Uni offers - ds has 2 and is waiting for Bristol x2 & Manchester- it’s just awful for the year 13’s! Dd is merrily bumbling along (all lessons are live) without a care in the world in comparison- apparently they’re doing the Eng Lang speaking tomorrow over Google Meet- should be fun!

@Thunderblunder good luck for your ds!

I'm not worried about my year 10 - I think there's still plenty of time for them to consolidate things and they will be a high priority on return to school I imagine. The only subject I am a bit worried about is PE as it is going to be impossible to collect the usual evidence for the practical. But I guess everyone will be in the same position.
But I am very worried about my year 13. His school's provision has been so -so and whilst he is putting long hours in, home learning doesn't really suit him and I don't think he is anywhere near where he would be under normal circumstances. I'd found tutors for 2 of his subjects but now one of them is ill so things aren't looking great. He has good GCSE results at least, so I hope those mean something whatever comes next.

@KittyMcKitty
Not worried about my son specifically. he is fine, on track for full 9s in every subject but biology. And he'll do A levels so not that fussed anyway.

What is bugging me is more generalized. No strategy, no planning from the only organization in the country who have the power to do so: gov/dfe.

Last year's cohort got screwed over by the algorithm. This year's kids have no idea what the eff is going to happen and I can see why a lot would just shrug their shoulders. And next year's kids will be at a disadvantage and I'm slightly afraid that dfe will want to make an example of them of "back to normal".

The more all participants (teachers, unions, parents, staff) are vocal and very loud about how this/next year's kids need to know what will happen on all levels from A to T, the better it is for everyone.

I really would like to hear ideas on what we can do? How can we put pressure on them? Sending emails to MPs doesn't work. Any other ideas (bar striking/gathering in masses)?

Sorry I sound really negative and an awful parent I am just really tired have worked full time throughout no annual leave as chopped and changed jobs a few times after being made redundant at the start of that first lockdown always managed to get a new position straight away despite hoping to take a week off in between not really enjoying my new job but it’s permanent so i realise I am fortunate and have been positive throughout but this news just made me anxious and sent me over the edge today juggling work that is horrendously busy and numerous school emails have sent me over the edge

@Alfiemoon1 you’re doing your best (and it sounds like you’re doing a fantastic job) and that’s all anyone can do.

It is horrible. It is stressful. It’s just shit. We just need to hang in until we get to the other side.

This is something I’ve not told anyone in real life but I’ve woken up in the night convinced my year 13’s future is over - he’ll be awarded rubbish grades - no university will take him - he’ll never be able to take his bloody driving test - and he won’t ever get a job. But we just put our cheerleader face on and get on with it. Which is what it sounds like you’re doing. Do we hug on MN? If so have a hug - it will be alright x

Aw alfie bloody kids eh? Hug from me too. Times are hard! You are working your backside off. No doubt exhausted. Give yourself a break. Leave off nagging him this month. He may pull his socks up on his own.
You’re right @TheSunIsStillShining we need to be lobbying someone somewhere to do this ‘right’ this time & next time!! And any other time. But it’s hard to know what needs to happen & how. What we precisely need to demand. I’m not a teacher and didn’t understand fully how the CAGs worked last time or fully how they can be improved for future ‘no exam’ years.

What would people like to happen?

@NotDonna

Aw alfie bloody kids eh? Hug from me too. Times are hard! You are working your backside off. No doubt exhausted. Give yourself a break. Leave off nagging him this month. He may pull his socks up on his own. You’re right *@TheSunIsStillShining* we need to be lobbying someone somewhere to do this ‘right’ this time & next time!! And any other time. But it’s hard to know what needs to happen & how. What we precisely need to demand. I’m not a teacher and didn’t understand fully how the CAGs worked last time or fully how they can be improved for future ‘no exam’ years.

@noblegiraffe has put together many-many threads which yielded loads of very practical demands. I'm happy to use her list as it all makes sense.

@noblegiraffenoble
Do you actually have it compiled somewhere? I don't want to go and dig.

Thanks everyone after being sent god knows how many emails from school with new zoom links as there was a problem with previous ones while trying to work in a busy call centre environment numerous school updates and then messages 1 minute passed lesson start time that my son hadn’t logged on I was ready to quit everything until my manager posted on the chat she had received a phone call from school her son also year 11 and similar laid back attitude to my son had been posting meme and gfi throughout the zoom lessons his excuse was it’s tough times people need cheering up she apparently went mental took his phone gaming pc off him posted it on the work chat and calmed down after half an hour. So at least my manager understands and Is going through a similar situation

Dd year 2 at university studying psychology mental health is in bits also which is down to her getting into a controlling abusive relationship in the last lockdown. She’s now on meds I am paying £40 per week counselling her counsellor days she’s in an abusive relationship she knows she is they finished 2 months ago but she can’t won’t go contact with him as he has threats to kill himself they were only together 4 months ffs she not eating and has regular meltdowns and to top it off she accidentally reversed into a brand new Range Rover in a car park no damage to her car but apparently thousands to the other one

• ihearttc How is that fair? So because my son has chosen to do a levels he shouldn’t get any GCSE’s? What's the point of it if he will have a higher qualification anyway?*

@TheSunIsStillShining because for jobs like teaching you need GCSEs in English and Maths and I think also science. You can have a first class maths degree but with a maths gcse you won't be allowed to teach.

^ without

@cuddling57 what would people like to happen?

Fairness? Transparency? That’d be a huge start. The fear is it still don’t be fair across the country or for certain individuals. We don’t want what happened last time.

Last November many year 13s were faced with prioritising preparing for important University interview or the end of topic test. Had they known the test would be part of their A level assessment, would their priorities have been different? Would others have put in more effort if the message from government had not been that A levels were going ahead?

I do not think it fair that schools should retrospectively include test grades where students were thinking that A levels were still going ahead.

If there are to be no A levels, students should be given in writing what tests are coming up, what topics will be covered, a fair amount of time to prepare and importantly, a clear statement that this test will form part of their final grade.

What is stressful is the lack of clear information, both from the government and the school, as to how grades will be determined. Will every school do what they feel is right and how much will go on teacher's opinion of who they feel are better students?