Current Year 11 2021/2022 support thread pt II

[StColumbofNavron]

Thread for those with Y10s finishing July 2021 ready for Y11 in Sept 2021.

All welcome.

@SunflowersInTheShade, those are the proposed AQA dates.

Our school has given 16 May to 24 June as the provisional exam dates but said they are normally confirmed by now but aren't this year. They are planning a prom and leavers day first week of July but again both are tbc. Not been given a date for collecting results.

@sunflowersInTheShade here is the link to the Edexcel provisional timetable

qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/exam-timetables/provisional-timetables.html

As you can see, they are doing the various subjects at the same time as AQA - where they are the same subjects (obviously obscure ones offered only by one board, you have to go there for the details). It is likely if AQA and Edexcel have published, you can find the exam timetables for other boards on their websites if you hunt around.

When my DS did his GCSEs, a couple of dates shifted slightly between the provisional and final timetables. I think the provisional had Geography on a Wednesday afternoon and the final had Geography on a Thursday morning, for example. But it was only a couple of dates, they were pretty close to the final timetable. The one thing I can't find on this is the provisional date for "catch up", which they put in, in case something like the Manchester bombing happened and they need to move a day or two of exams. And it seems to be much more stretched out than when my DS did it (2019, ie last year that the GCSEs happened). He was finished by 18th June, if I recall, although those doing further maths were still going.

The dates are coordinated by Ofqual, so the same subject is examined on the same day by every exam board. The same way that every maths GCSE has 3 papers of 1.5 hours each whatever exam board has written the syllabus and exam.

Finally got all of our sixth form open evening dates. First one is end of October then a busy November. Everything seems to be swimming along not too bad at the moment.

I don't know why the sixth forms near here are doing their open evenings so early, apparently they are usually in the summer term of yr10 and have actually been postponed this year! School have also got them to do a first draft of their personal statements so feels like things are moving forwards.

We have another open evening booked for next Tuesday evening, he doesn't really want to go but I have insisted as he will need to put more than one option down. There is also an open evening for the (smaller) specialist technical college next door the same evening but he's not keen. He's not keen on the other smaller option either as they do further maths as an afterschool extra with only two lessons a week after the end of the usual school day. So I guess he'll put down the two huge sixth forms and end up at one of them.

We have started working through some GCSE statistics stuff with him at home (school don't offer it) even if he doesn't end up taking the exam it's useful background for doing double maths at A level. I've emailed school about the possibility of him taking the exam in the summer so we shall see what they say (I've also requested that he be allowed to drop French again but I expect the answer will still be no on that one.)

I think he will look at 5, 3 walking distance local (one being the school Sixth Form) and then two a bus ride away. Honestly, I think he is just going through the motions because he cannot quite see the need to travel if he can just walk 20 mins up the road - and he is lucky because they are all pretty decent so doesn't have to really. I just feel like this is an exercise he should complete even if just to rule certain options out.

Our school has just implemented 'Show My Homework' and I always thought he got barely any as he is pretty self sufficient but actually it is a decent amount. Even DS2 yr 9 seems to actually have more than I thought - he was terrible for writing it down etc so this new system is great for him.

We have our precious last born looking at secondary schools next week. I'm not ready for all these changes!!!

Hey everyone, just checking in haven’t posted here for a while! 👋

Really useful that someone posted the exam dates and explaining that all the different exam boards use the same dates. I wouldn’t have known that.

Our school’s sixth form open day is next Wednesday. We haven’t booked in any others as DD is pretty sure that she will go there. Although the facilities leave a lot to be desired (it’s actually smaller and a much older building than the school!) academically it gets some of the best results in the area as well as it being the closest option for DD. So it’s a bit of a no-brainer for her really. Some of her friends are considering other options as there are bigger colleges closer to where they live that are better catered for Sports and Arts.

We got a call from DD’s English lit teacher at 6pm last night asking if she was interested in going to see Hamlet (played by Ian McKellen) at Royal Theatre Windsor with a load of English lit a-level students. Someone had dropped out. So we rushed her there for 7pm and she had an amazing time and got to speak to some Year 12 and 13’s about English lit which is what she wants to take. I was so proud of her as even last week I think she would have been too anxious to be thrown in at the deep end like that and probably would have reluctantly said no. Hoping she continues to gain in strength and confidence. 🤞

Been quite a difficult start to term. Came back from holiday where had a lovely time, DH was immediately very ill and 2 weeks later still isn't great. DD did masses of socialising, kept turning up late for school, got in isolation for her hair (telling me they had said it was fine), 2 of her friends have tested positive and now DD and I have been really ill for a week and are awaiting covid test results. DH's PCR was negative and DDs lateral flows are negative but we have bad colds, coughs, breathlessness, loss of taste and smell, vomiting. DD shared a drink with the 2 boys who tested positive.

DS (ASD y10) is back but EHCP still not finalised after 3 years though funding is agreed. He has just become ill tonight. I have been spending ages e-mailing LA and schools and battling science department to have him put back in triple where he should be by ability. Head ruled in my favour but still have lots of issues as he went mute in lockdown 3 and also stopped writing and going out. We have him going out again and he is starting to speak again. He is still avoiding some lessons.

DD has been offered 1 covid vaccine, not sure what use 1 is, doesn't help with travel and DHs relatives are all in France.

Oh dear, that sounds rough! Here, all is quite calm. No open eves yet, no info from school on anything. Wondering when English oral will be, anyone know how it works? Ds is doing a smidgeon more work than usual but nothing that's not set and I have heard no talk of revision. School very much lets them get on with it which makes me anxious.

Ours do English speaking in y9 though as DD has moved will need to do it again imminently. She is preparing it. DS refused his but they have 2 more years to try.

Positive pcr for DD and dh, dd and I have same symptoms. DD said I will make everyone banana bread then oh no-one will want my covid banana bread. Fairly sure I already have covid but I can't taste or smell a thing so may as well eat healthily instead!

Oh no sorry to hear you have been hit with the covid @Silkiescatz, hope you all recover swiftly.

DS did his English speaking thing last term, he thinks there might be an opportunity to have another go this year but he says he thinks he did quite well. Does anybody have any idea when they will confirm the changes for next year's exams?

What is this English speaking? I've never heard of it. Do all exam boards do it?

My DS is hoping to stay at his school sixth form but we are planning on checking out two sixth form colleges in October as back ups.

Sorry to hear about you all having COVID @Silkiescatz Hope you all feel better soon.

Thanks Its and Zig English speaking is part of English language GCSE, its where you do a speech in front of an audience who ask questions or similar. It was part of the GCSE in my day, think its in all of them, its just a mark which goes alongside main exam one. So in my day it was A1 or A2 where the 1,2 etc was the speaking mark but no-one ever cared about it. Think you need to pass to pass the GCSE though. Not an expert though.

Thanks @Silkiescatz
I definitely didn't do this in my English GCSE in 1992 and I've just asked DS and he's not been told anything about it either. Will see if I can find any info out once I remember what exam board his English exam is with.

Its like this:

www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/gcse/english-language-8700/non-exam-assessment-administration2

I did this in 1997 and got a separate grade, though it wasn’t ‘counted’ if you see what I mean.

p.s as a twice Covid sufferer wishing the Silkie family well!

@zighead

Thanks *@Silkiescatz* I definitely didn't do this in my English GCSE in 1992 and I've just asked DS and he's not been told anything about it either. Will see if I can find any info out once I remember what exam board his English exam is with.

I did my GCSE English in 1992 and definitely did do a speaking assessment, I did mine on squash (the game, not the drink).

DD is doing hers on how to stop cats taking over the world, and it involves a lot of powerpoint from what I can tell.

Thanks StColumbo DD still off, DS has survived so far and in school.

DS did the speaking assessment last term and was able to record at home with us as the audience. I thought it was great but I’m probably biased.
Just want an announcement of what is actually happening with exams. I think I read somewhere by half term? I’m assuming exams are going ahead with some adjustments but there will also be a plan B (TAGs) in case of further lockdown.

I cannot remember what I spoke about but English speaking and listening was my only A grade - make of that what you will

Sadly, it wasn’t counted other than a nice thing.

Hey all,

DD is at home in bed with possibly tonsillitis, awaiting PCR results. Just managed to charm some antibiotics out of the GP, so if it is that she can hurry up and get well again.

We have got open evening at her current school next week, and then one at DS's school the following week. Other local schools all seem to be doing theirs online, which is no good to us as we want to see the art and product design facilities. I think she'll stay put, tbh.

DD did her speaking bit last week; she said some of them were really good. I definitely didn't have to do that in 1993. Must have depended on which board.

Hope your DD is soon feeling much better @HelloDulling

I took DS to our second sixth form open evening tonight, I came away feeling fairly positive about it. It will be a good back up choice I think. They don't have as many studying further maths (only one class usually about 15 - still much bigger than the group I studied in at my school sixth form!) but their entrance requirements are lower and they seemed very supportive. Given DS's "spiky" profile he may end up there but I think that he would do well and have an enjoyable two years. Gosh won't be long before they are having to think about applying for university or other options!!