Mock gcse exams undertaken by students at home

[somethingonthecarpet]

I understand that one of the south London private schools is going to be doing mock gcse's but the students will do them from home.

Surely this is massively open to cheating?

We have been told they will be giving assessed work to do at home. State school. Also something about doing mocks too - but thought the latter was when / if they go back.

I think we’ve seen with 11+ exams online this year that it is possible to invigilate online and do it properly. We had pre exam room checks, on camera the whole time etc.

11+ exams are only undertaken by children hoping to attend selective schools though, surely? It doesn't affect other students' futures in terms of university places necessarily. However, if mock exams are done at home, and not properly invigilated, and the grades from those mocks are used by the centre to estimate their final grade, then that does affect every other student in the country because the grade boundaries are set based on percentages, and then those students whose final grades have been based on something rather mendacious will soak up the better college/university places thus pushing others out.

Yes some schools are going ahead with home based assessments - the kids have been revising over the holidays in preparation for mocks as it is

They won't form the basis of the summer exam grades
We still have to wait for the Gov to decide how they will be assessed

There are online invigilation apps available - I had to do an exam before Christmas, and before the actual exam, there's the invigilation set-up. I had to show my working area (desk) to show it was clear of anything but exam materials, then show all four corners of the room, the ceiling, under the desk, and any other requested angle, then set up the camera (my phone) so I could be watched all through the exam. I couldn't have the camera as far from the desk as the instructions wanted, as it kept disconnecting but that was the only problem I had. I wasn't allowed to start the exam till the invigilator was happy with the set-up.

However, I live alone, so don't have any issues with people sharing the space or devices. I suppose that private school pupils are more likely to have that, but many won't. Also, it's one thing doing it for exams with small numbers of candidates, but as it basically means 1 invigilator per candidate (does it? Apart from set-up, you could have more on a screen, but it's still far fewer candidates per invigilator than in school exam hall,) I don't know how the logistics would really work.

DDs school did Mocks in December but were told yesterday that when they go back they will have to do some more

I work in a law firm that advises a large number of independent schools on matters of educational law. Although i'm not involved in education law, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes at the moment on this.

Critically the integrity of the exams has to be rock-solid, and there needs to be a uniform method of invigilation, processing, etc. Without this, the cries of "unfair!" will certainly arise quickly and in their droves. I don't speak for anyone advising the schools, however the professional school of thought (ignore the pun) is that mock exams shouldn't go ahead until further guidance is release by the government. The risk of opening a school up to litigation claims of either malpractice, unfair treatment, cheating, etc. will otherwise besiege independent schools for years to come.

Until the government publishes a rock solid plan, which can be applied to all schools (not just those who can afford / believe in, fancy home invigilation software systems, of differing quality), which also comes with a robust defence mechanism to protect from parental law suits (when Jimmy doesn't get the 4 A*s that his parents thought they'd paid for) then doing mocks is pointless.

Until the plan is clear, simple and one that can be used across the board (perhaps that will be mocks!) then the advise will likely be to hold fire.

ds is at a S London independent and they are doing their mocks online

but in the same breath they have been told the marks will not be used to calculate CAGs.

they're using software which has been designed for this purpose - so no other tabs or docs can be open at the same time and spellcheck etc will be disabled. Cameras and microphones have to be left on and it will be invigilated. Not perfect but pretty close.

The thing is, the government themselves were saying materials could be taken into the exams this year, so it could be different. Also topics given in advance. They need to clarify this further really

*more generous grading than usual, in line with results from summer 2020, so that this year's cohort is not disadvantaged

students getting advance notice - at the end of January - of some topic areas covered in exams to focus revision

exam aids - such as formula sheets - provided in some exams to cut down on the memorising required

additional "backup" exams - to be held in July - to give students a second chance to sit a paper if they have to miss main exams or assessments due to illness or self-isolation*

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55160374

This was what was promised...

We have been given details of certain topics to revise for mocks on one subject already.

no other tabs or docs can be open at the same time and spellcheck etc will be disabled. Cameras and microphones have to be left on and it will be invigilated

But you're talking about just the one computer. Children often have access to more than one device at home. They could have a tablet under the desk which they use to google answers - if they're clever at hiding one hand or they could even have it at their feet if they're dextrous enough with their toes! There are just so many ways that this is open to abuse.

PP is right, if we're asking legitimate questions here, any decent lawyer acting for a parent will tear the home invigilation system apart in minutes... More guidance and rules are needed from the government so schools can plan, and then act accordingly, without worrying about come-back. In my mind, doing mocks now, is pointless, as the grades wont be used to make calculations.

Not only is is stressful for the students, it also deploys the school's bank of questions for this year.... what happens if they need them later down the line... more hassle.

The main problem is schools last year prior to lockdown had mocks done and no disruption previous to that whereas this time huge disruption and for many, no mocks. So there does need to be some way of assessing the pupils

Surely after the vaccines the pupils could get back into school for the summer term and do the exams then. The teachers could be vaccinated by then

More here on private schools IGCSEs going ahead

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55581576