Will IGCSEs go ahead

[Summertime2]

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...

UK students will have it easy as they sit back and relax with their biased teachers grades.

Wow, the wording of that petition is nasty. I agree with you there Frodont. My daughter is stressed to hell, with the constant thought that every piece of work she does might count towards her grade. Yet still having to revise for mocks, whilst their teachers overload them with work to catch up, but offer little support.

Ouch no idea how I missed that bit. Obviously written by an overseas student who has no idea of the reality in the U.K. The whole thing is very emotive.

Argh - what a shame the petition wasn't more thoughtfully drafted

This pandemic has had huge impact GLOBALLY- our children have been off school since March 2020 (in Middle East) and still no sign of reopening. Online learning is an oxymoron in some schools. Huge disparities both within England between IGCSE and GCSE students (are we suggesting the IGCSE students have had immunity from the virus, school closures and mental distress with this massive upheaval???). No reduction in content for these upcoming summer exams- our school in fact has doubled the content for mocks as well as doubled essays for homework etc (perhaps they are planning for the cancellation of exams and so will need evidence of student achievements?). In any case, students don’t know if exams will go ahead or not- my DS anxiety is absolutely through the roof at a time when educators should be reassuring young people, instead they are piling on the pressure. It is disgusting. The exam boards, namely Cambridge have ignored everything they are being told. Shocking and yes for the future will never go near them again! What is also shocking is that the media nor MP’s have even asked the questions as to why such huge inequalities between these students, despite many not having adequate online learning for nearly a year! While we know the government doesn’t regulate the IGCSES, they can ask the questions and put pressure. Students feel that no one cares! Very sad and tough times for them- mentally they are done for.

perhaps they are planning for the cancellation of exams and so will need evidence of student achievements?

This is obviously what our school is doing, the pressure is ridiculous. The school are just cutting themselves off from the pupils affected. We have phoned and said it is too much and they say the workload is manageable, after all they have all day whilst the school is closed.

Thank you @NotDonna. I did see another TES article about how foreign schools feel about the iGCSE. Seems split between those schools who want them to go ahead and those that don't.

@Waitaway1970

This pandemic has had huge impact GLOBALLY- our children have been off school since March 2020 (in Middle East) and still no sign of reopening. Online learning is an oxymoron in some schools. Huge disparities both within England between IGCSE and GCSE students (are we suggesting the IGCSE students have had immunity from the virus, school closures and mental distress with this massive upheaval???). No reduction in content for these upcoming summer exams- our school in fact has doubled the content for mocks as well as doubled essays for homework etc (perhaps they are planning for the cancellation of exams and so will need evidence of student achievements?). In any case, students don’t know if exams will go ahead or not- my DS anxiety is absolutely through the roof at a time when educators should be reassuring young people, instead they are piling on the pressure. It is disgusting. The exam boards, namely Cambridge have ignored everything they are being told. Shocking and yes for the future will never go near them again! What is also shocking is that the media nor MP’s have even asked the questions as to why such huge inequalities between these students, despite many not having adequate online learning for nearly a year! While we know the government doesn’t regulate the IGCSES, they can ask the questions and put pressure. Students feel that no one cares! Very sad and tough times for them- mentally they are done for.

I completely agree. My son is completely stressed out.

DS2 is at internet school. He took his CIE iGCSE maths 2 years early so last spring/summer. We still had to find an exam centre and his internet school had to provide evidence to support predicted grade. The exam centre then liaised with the board.

But CIE exams were cancelled and we relied on a relatively local exam centre that is a LA funded ss as he has an EHCP.

Things seem far more uncertain now - he is now at Interhigh so teaching is uninterrupted, evidence is being collected in case exams are cancelled so that predicted grades can be substantiated but iGCSEs exams look likely to go ahead despite there being massively reduced capacity for external candidates. Private schools in these parts do not accept external candidates at the best of times. Hopefully things will be sorted by next year but we said that last year.

Hi everyone. I’ve just started a thread not realising this one was here. Parent of a Y11 DD who is becoming very stressed as half her exams are GCSEs and half are IGCSEs. I’d like to see someone in government at least comment on this.

My DD is stressed to hell. We've just had screaming, shouting and crying because her desk drawer wouldn't shut! They have just been given just over a weeks notice of mocks, but are being given so much online work that they can't revise. At the same time they are being told these mocks could be part of your grades and they haven't anywhere near covered the whole course.
It's not a government issue though, Cambridge (in our case) is a private company. My worry is they will let the schools choose. Our school will choose exams, it is less work for them.

I'm not in England btw, so our rules are different. But we are covered by any decision that Cambridge makes for the UK.

Agh @GinaJaffacake I put your comment on the general ‘exams cancelled’ thread rather than here! I think it’s very concerning that your school has contacted Pearson Edexcel exam board and they’ve said no to teacher assessment and adamant it’s igcse exams.

@NotDonna, it’s fine, I answered on the other thread. Yes, I’m concerned too. I think School hoped they’d be allowed to opt for teacher assessment instead given how much their Y11s have lost but the board seem to be having none of it.

I’m surprised the schools concerned haven’t got together to discuss with the boards. I’m also surprised the boards aren’t negotiating like crazy with schools to ensure they’re happy and retained for future years. The schools can vote with their feet next year and choose regular GCSEs. Maybe they have to give refunds if exams don’t go ahead.

Maybe they have to give refunds if exams don’t go ahead.

DD cynically thinks they won't cancel until all payment is in, but I'm not sure when that is. I doubt they will have to refund if they are still awarding a grade.

Yes, DD’s HOY was suggesting things may change once the exam boards receive their final payment but I believe that isn’t until April/May time.

Just seen on the ISC (independent School Council) daily newsletter that AQA have cancelled the IGCSE for this year. I presume from that the other boards will full?
On the newsletter they were also talking about the fact that the boards were worried about "widely inflated teacher assessed grades".

@Daydreamer85, I didn’t know AQA did IGCSEs. That’s interesting, thanks

Exams 2021: Concern exam boards face "wildly inflated" teacher assessed grades

Examinations

Barnaby Lenon, a member of the Ofqual Standards Advisory Group, has warned exam boards could have difficulty restraining "wildly inflated" teacher assessed grades this year. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

OxfordAQA, one of the exam boards that sets IGCSE and International A-level exams, has confirmed its exams will be replaced with the same teacher assessed grading system being used in England. Tes.

@GinaJaffacake my DC is in year 11 and has a combination of igcse and gcse exams, but does not have any AQA igcse. I presumed from the ISC newsletter that AQA do igcse.

my earlier post was just a cut and paste from the ISC daily newsletter

@Daydreamer85, it does appear from your quote that they do but I always thought they didn’t. My DD is also Y11 and also has a mix. We just want to know what to expect.

@GinaJaffacake totally agree with you. Every politician from Scotland, Wales NI and England plus the teaching unions are playing stupid games for their own ends and not one of them is think about the impact on our children. Its all lip service. I have not had the DC melt down that some others are experiencing, but as this carries on we may all have to deal with an emotional moment.

My dd's school says a statement from Pearson is due next week with an expectation of following AQA.

@Singingrain1223

My dd's school says a statement from Pearson is due next week with an expectation of following AQA.

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