Page 10 | Will IGCSEs go ahead

Summertime2 · 2021-01-08T12:44:10+00:00

Anyone on here with a child taking international GCSEs in the uk and have any info as to whether they will go ahead in June? We have been told by the school that they are not cancelled. Rather worried about this as it will very much disadvantage these uk kids who've missed so much teaching when they are lumped in with all the many more international students who have been taught as normal - and then examined as if the same...

RubixCubix · 04/02/2021 15:24

I have heard unofficially (friend of a friend who is a teacher) that Cambridge will be cancelling exams in countries, such as UK and Mexico, where there governments have decided that exams cannot go ahead this summer.

HasaDigaEebowai · 04/02/2021 15:30

There was a Cambridge statement today saying igcses will go ahead except for countries like the uk (and Mexico) where local arrangements prevent it. They are considering teacher assessment for the uk and are confirming next week.

goldendog · 04/02/2021 15:35

Hasa could you link the statement please? I can’t see anything on the CIE website about cancelling the 2021 exams in the UK. Thanks

HasaDigaEebowai · 04/02/2021 15:36

They haven’t released it on their website. It’s gone as a letter directly to their subscribing schools. It says they will make a public announcement next week about the arrangements (but strongly indicates teacher assessment)

Frodont · 04/02/2021 15:55

@HasaDigaEebowai

There was a Cambridge statement today saying igcses will go ahead except for countries like the uk (and Mexico) where local arrangements prevent it. They are considering teacher assessment for the uk and are confirming next week.

Yes that's probably what dds friend was alluding to. Not everything goes on the website first.

goldendog · 04/02/2021 15:58

Thanks for clarifying. Just makes you wonder why it has taken them so long to come to this decision! More weeks of unnecessary stress that could have been avoided.

HasaDigaEebowai · 04/02/2021 16:33

Yes that's probably what dds friend was alluding to. Not everything goes on the website first.

Possibly but the letter only went out today. Anyway, it doesn't matter.

Frodont · 04/02/2021 17:02

@HasaDigaEebowai

Yes that's probably what dds friend was alluding to. Not everything goes on the website first.

Possibly but the letter only went out today. Anyway, it doesn't matter.

Well she/her mum (deputy head) knew about it so perhaps some schools knew earlier?!

Honestly fgs.

SeasonFinale · 04/02/2021 17:06

@goldendog

Hasa could you link the statement please? I can’t see anything on the CIE website about cancelling the 2021 exams in the UK. Thanks

If you look at the website it says that an email went to schools today and that there will be a post on the website tomorrow at 10am

goldendog · 05/02/2021 10:34

Cambridge Assessment has now published an announcement. They have fudged the issue. It says for UK schools:-
“We are looking at switching from exams to an approach based on teacher assessment”
A further announcement will be made next week.
A literal reading of the statement means no decision has yet been made. But why else make a statement unless the exams will be cancelled? Why can’t they just make a final decision and then let people know rather than making a noncommittal announcement?

SeasonFinale · 05/02/2021 10:41

Goldendog : I suspect because they are awaiting the results of the consultation in relation to the exams that the other boards governed by JCQ will have to follow and will do similarly. Those results aren't out. It is merely a holding statement. They say they are looking at it as there is no format yet but to me it suggest that it will be similar to other UK boards.

feistymumma · 05/02/2021 10:42

@goldendog

Cambridge Assessment has now published an announcement. They have fudged the issue. It says for UK schools:- “We are looking at switching from exams to an approach based on teacher assessment” A further announcement will be made next week. A literal reading of the statement means no decision has yet been made. But why else make a statement unless the exams will be cancelled? Why can’t they just make a final decision and then let people know rather than making a noncommittal announcement?

My son's school (UK)has confirmed that there will be centre assessed mocks or something to that effect for Cambridge

Homegirl1 · 11/02/2021 18:56

Yes my sons school has sent an email saying CIE exams cancelled too. But I called CIE this morning and they said they haven't made a final decision yet, waiting for consultation results on 22nd February. They need to make a decision before the results! Surely they cant go ahead with exams?!

feistymumma · 11/02/2021 23:15

@Homegirl1

Yes my sons school has sent an email saying CIE exams cancelled too. But I called CIE this morning and they said they haven't made a final decision yet, waiting for consultation results on 22nd February. They need to make a decision before the results! Surely they cant go ahead with exams?!

They are most definitely cancelled, the consultation is more about how the teacher assessment etc will look like - UK and Mexico.

feistymumma · 12/02/2021 13:01

@Homegirl1 the message from CIE is very wishy washy. Last week our school's head informed us there would be teacher assessments. The letter CIE have sent today is along what you said in your post that they might not go ahead in places like Mexico and UK because if directives. I wish they would just put us out of our misery and be decisive. This we are monitoring the situation isn't helpful.

Homegirl1 · 12/02/2021 14:58

I know, they will inevitably have the cancel UK exams, I cant see them going ahead when all other exam boards and government have cancelled them! We will have to wait until 22nd to get a proper answer. Our poor kids! I haven't told my son anything different that they are cancelled, I'm going to wait for the final decision.

Homegirl1 · 12/02/2021 14:59

Is your school on online school? I wonder if our kids are the same school?!

feistymumma · 12/02/2021 18:36

@Homegirl1

Is your school on online school? I wonder if our kids are the same school?!

@Homegirl1 yes, it's an online school CHS.

Homegirl1 · 12/02/2021 22:42

Same school as us! I emailed the headmaster today asking for clarification and he didnt reply, someone from admin replied instead (usually he replies personally). She didnt answer my questions and I got the feeling they were trying to distance themselves from it all, saying the donr hold exams.and its parents responsibly to arrange exams. Maybe try emailing him yourself, you may get better luck.

feistymumma · 13/02/2021 06:53

@Homegirl1

Same school as us! I emailed the headmaster today asking for clarification and he didnt reply, someone from admin replied instead (usually he replies personally). She didnt answer my questions and I got the feeling they were trying to distance themselves from it all, saying the donr hold exams.and its parents responsibly to arrange exams. Maybe try emailing him yourself, you may get better luck.

Same here, I emailed them asking them to confirm with the exam centre that they would be sending teacher assessments etc but nothing. I emailed both the head and deputy head and left a message but no reply so far. I really hope they are not distancing themselves otherwise the other route of CAGs is really expensive and this is on top of paying for exam entries. We can't have been paying for tuition for nothing. My son is really stressed as it is not knowing if there are exams or not.

Homegirl1 · 13/02/2021 17:05

I received below last night, he seems convinced exams are cancelled but I'm not...

I've registered my son at Exams and Tutors at a cost £1,380. I would advise toj do so as deadline is 14th then they apply late fees, the lady at the centre said they works be charging the same if it came to CAGS.

Thank you for your enquiry. Yes, I have just emailed xxxx. I've sent parents a hyperlink to the official statement from Cambridge Examinations where it clearly states that Cambridge is 'switching from exams to an approach of teacher assessments'

My reading of this is that exams are effectively cancelled, do you read it otherwise?

I think Mr. xxx was merely pointing out that the word cancelled was not used in the statement from Cambridge. But it is clear that exams are not expected to run from the official statement.

The world is a very unpredictable place at the moment and I would advise parents and pupils to expect the unexpected and to prepare for all eventualities. This means that xxx must ensure that his coursework folders and HW assignments are up to date as this is all that your exam centre can use to award centre assessed grades (CAGS). I would also advise xxxx to revise for exams if he believes they will happen - who knows, Cambridge may reverse their decision again and run exams.

What xxx needs to consider is what happens if exams don't happen? What grades will he receive from his coursework if he doesn't ensure all coursework is in them?

feistymumma · 13/02/2021 20:17

@Homegirl1

I received below last night, he seems convinced exams are cancelled but I'm not...

I've registered my son at Exams and Tutors at a cost £1,380. I would advise toj do so as deadline is 14th then they apply late fees, the lady at the centre said they works be charging the same if it came to CAGS.

Thank you for your enquiry. Yes, I have just emailed xxxx. I've sent parents a hyperlink to the official statement from Cambridge Examinations where it clearly states that Cambridge is 'switching from exams to an approach of teacher assessments'

My reading of this is that exams are effectively cancelled, do you read it otherwise?

I think Mr. xxx was merely pointing out that the word cancelled was not used in the statement from Cambridge. But it is clear that exams are not expected to run from the official statement.

The world is a very unpredictable place at the moment and I would advise parents and pupils to expect the unexpected and to prepare for all eventualities. This means that xxx must ensure that his coursework folders and HW assignments are up to date as this is all that your exam centre can use to award centre assessed grades (CAGS). I would also advise xxxx to revise for exams if he believes they will happen - who knows, Cambridge may reverse their decision again and run exams.

What xxx needs to consider is what happens if exams don't happen? What grades will he receive from his coursework if he doesn't ensure all coursework is in them?

Thank you @Homegirl1, all very confusing. They more or less confirmed cancellation but are being cautious. I used AEC tutors and they said as long as the school confirm that they are sending coursework through then there is no difference in pricing but if the school don't then the centre have their own CAG process which will be chargeable on top of the exam fee. I was slightly peeved with some of the teachers as well as they gave me wrong exam codes and I only realised when the exam centre sent me through the official exam and unit codes fro CIE.

I still haven't received a reply from either the DH or H. I am also thinking there are no exams as the DH sent by that email about the children's coursework folders being up to scratch. It's all so stressful.