Page 3 | GCSE results day 2021 support thread

HappySonHappyMum · 2021-08-02T15:22:14+00:00

10 days to go until results day. Thought I'd start a new thread for parents who are getting the heebie jeebies and are probably more stressed than their DCs. I personally am trying not to mention it AT ALL, so it would be really good to have a thread where I can worry along with everyone else!

TeenMinusTests · 04/08/2021 10:45

Last year they had to collect but then leave the site. All that seemed to mean was they congregated outside the gates instead...

I do have one 'parent friend' but she has a highly organised DD and as a parent is very hands off, so asking her for info is somewhat pointless as she won't know!

PurpleDaisy2114 · 07/08/2021 22:28

Waiting to hear how it works from DS school.

PettsWoodParadise · 07/08/2021 22:47

I have the day off work but I won’t be able to concentrate but it is DD’s day and not mine (mantra - repeat!), so to take my mind of it this is the day I have booked a skip to clear out my late mother’s house. I will have my hair in a scarf (imagine Angel from escape to the Chateau).

Friday I have off too and we are having a mother daughter day together and we are going shopping to get DD a new bag for sixth form. Lunch out and lots of hugs. We don’t usually spend much on ‘things’ but Friday will be an exception.

Have been so so proud of DD coping this last year with lockdown, father with cancer, me trying to juggle two jobs, grandmother dying. She has single handedly washed down the nicotine walls in her grandmother’s old home. She has done some tutoring. She has cooked me dinner some nights and bought me tea. Truly blessed and just now hope she gets the grades she so thoroughly deserves.

Original poster

HappySonHappyMum · 07/08/2021 22:53

What a lovely post @PettsWoodParadise. I hope your DD gets the grades she deserves as well, in fact I hope all our DCs do because they've had to cope with everything that's been thrown at them and it's been bloody hard for them all. I notice the papers are already bleating on about the amount of top grades that are going to be given out for A level - downgrading the work that these students have put in. Is it too much to ask that we praise the resilience of our young people and celebrate their achievements instead of belittling them?

OP posts:

PettsWoodParadise · 07/08/2021 23:25

Yes the grade inflation means even if they get good results they won’t be believed. It is so dispiriting but something I am choosing to ignore as otherwise it is too depressing and unhelpful. Yes let’s hope employers and universities recognise the value of the change management skills & resilience our DCs have.

TeenMinusTests · 08/08/2021 06:32

tbh Grade inflation is an issue for A levels. I read that instead of 25% A /A* in 2019 it is 45% this year. That causes a massive headache for universities as some places will have far too many students accepting and no room to accommodate / teach them all.

To me it's not about grades not being believed, it is understanding that maybe grades this year are fair, but a reflection of all pupils having a good day rather than in an exam season when some pupils are lucky and some pupils have bad days with exams. So if a pupils gets say all 7s this year, well maybe previously some of those 7s might have been 6s but the 7s still show they are capable of that when it all comes together.

I also think it is perfectly possible to praise the resilience of our children whilst simultaneously accepting there has been grade inflation across the whole cohort. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

ihearttc · 08/08/2021 11:44

DS has worked incredibly hard through both lockdowns in comparison to his friends (most spent all day/night gaming) so I’m quietly optimistic that his grades will be good. However I’m also aware that in some ways the way the exams (and no matter what the press etc report there were exams) were actually much better for him as I think he would have crumbled under the pressure of “real” exams.

Will be interesting to see what Tuesday brings as it might give some indication of what we will expect on Thursday.

Lucyccfc68 · 08/08/2021 22:41

@ihearttc

DS has worked incredibly hard through both lockdowns in comparison to his friends (most spent all day/night gaming) so I’m quietly optimistic that his grades will be good. However I’m also aware that in some ways the way the exams (and no matter what the press etc report there were exams) were actually much better for him as I think he would have crumbled under the pressure of “real” exams.

Will be interesting to see what Tuesday brings as it might give some indication of what we will expect on Thursday.

My DS was the same. Constantly working, completed every piece of work set and put a huge amount of effort in. Completed 2 lots of mocks and constant assessments. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he gets the grades he deserves.

doorornottodoor · 09/08/2021 07:43

Bit worried about English Language. We need a 6 for some of the university courses he’s looking at. He thinks he did badly in his school exam and had a bad lockdown so little evidence. Do you think universities will be strict on this? Should he resit? Just want to be prepared come Thursday! He thinks he did better in Literature.

TeenMinusTests · 09/08/2021 11:03

Just been pointed to info on results day hidden(ish) on school website.
Rock up in person any time in 90min opening slot. Otherwise will be posted. Nice and simple.

SlightlyJaded · 10/08/2021 10:34

Super stressed in our house. My previously thriving and achieving DD had to move schools the Christmas of Year 10 and then within weeks we were in the first lockdown which she did not cope with well at all.

I have no idea what her teachers know or don't know about her ability/potential. She had a set of predicted grades from her previous school including an 8 for English Language. The prediction she got from her new school was a 4.... I KNOW she is better than a 4, but they clearly don't.

Does anyone know whether, in this situation, they would refer back to anything that she achieved prior to her school move, that might help shape her grade? She is crapping it.

SueSaid · 10/08/2021 10:40

'Yes the grade inflation means even if they get good results they won’t be believed. It is so dispiriting but something I am choosing to ignore as otherwise it is too depressing and unhelpful'

Why does this happen though? I know it's the equivalent of teachers marking their own homework but why when a student has been getting say 5s and 6s in mocks, why would they give them a 7 or an 8? It baffles me.

I really hope it isn't a free for all this year.

WhatHaveIFound · 10/08/2021 11:42

@doorornottodoor

Bit worried about English Language. We need a 6 for some of the university courses he’s looking at. He thinks he did badly in his school exam and had a bad lockdown so little evidence. Do you think universities will be strict on this? Should he resit? Just want to be prepared come Thursday! He thinks he did better in Literature.

What degree course is your DS looking at doorornottodoor? I'd take advice from his teachers on whether he shoud resit if he doesn't get a 6.

I'm the same with DS as English is one of his weakest subjects. I have everything crossed that Thursday's result is ok (he's not up to resitting exams at the moment) and that in two years time the universities will be a bit more lenient with this year's GCSE students.

doorornottodoor · 10/08/2021 12:40

@WhatHaveIFound Economics/Business studies I think. His Maths is strong. He’s doing A level BS, Maths and Theatre Studies.

doorornottodoor · 10/08/2021 12:42

PS good luck to your son.

WhatHaveIFound · 10/08/2021 12:48

Thanks doorornottodoor and fingers crossed for your DS. Mine is looking at doing a Maths degree though with A levels of Maths, Economics and Biology he could always do pandemic planning!

AChickenCalledDaal · 10/08/2021 13:49

Just marking my place for Thursday. I have no idea what her results will be and I'm very worried about getting my reactions right, so as not to compound her general anxiety about all things school related. It's been a very hard couple of years and the chances of her getting the grades she'd have got in normal times seem remote. Hoping for (a) enough to get into sixth form and make a fresh start and (b) a maths grade that will not require her to resit, which would be the end of the world as far as she is concerned.

Iimaginethiswillbefun · 10/08/2021 17:26

Just got through A Levels today now we have DD getting GCSE results Thursday.

I’m just grateful she made it out of secondary school in one piece. She has ADD and ASD lockdown was a nightmare for her. Good luck to everyone.

Dancingdreamer · 10/08/2021 17:54

[quote doorornottodoor]@WhatHaveIFound Economics/Business studies I think. His Maths is strong. He’s doing A level BS, Maths and Theatre Studies.[/quote]
I think you need to look quite carefully at GCSE requirements for each course at each uni. When my DS was looking a few years back some unis were asking for higher grades than others and it differs between courses. I know for example that Birmingham are really strict about having GCSE English at the required grade 6 fir business studies but didn’t (in those days) seem to require the same for Economics.

Original poster

HappySonHappyMum · 10/08/2021 20:45

Got to say the release of A level results today has given me the heebie jeebies even more. For all those with DCs who got A level results today I hope your DCs got what they need to move on to the next stages in their lives. I have decided to focus on the GCSEs that my DD really needs to get into sixth form. 6's in History and English and a 4 in Maths. Should be OK but the closer results day gets the more worried I become…

OP posts:

Plummer88 · 10/08/2021 23:25

We are quite nervous about results but it should all be fine. My daughter wants to study medicine and is hoping to do chemistry, biology and maths for a level. She’s hopeful of an 8 for maths as that means she can do the accelerated maths alevel in a year then further maths for the second year. Fingers crossed.

portico · 11/08/2021 14:45

@AChickenCalledDaal

Just marking my place for Thursday. I have no idea what her results will be and I'm very worried about getting my reactions right, so as not to compound her general anxiety about all things school related. It's been a very hard couple of years and the chances of her getting the grades she'd have got in normal times seem remote. Hoping for (a) enough to get into sixth form and make a fresh start and (b) a maths grade that will not require her to resit, which would be the end of the world as far as she is concerned.

You’re good if you have an idea of your DD’s results. Panic stations here, as waiting on DS2 GCSE results; we’ve got no idea!. DS1 achieved 4 A stars in his A Levels yesterday, and DS2 is putting himself under pressure in the face of his elder brother’s results 🤞🤯

TeenMinusTests · 11/08/2021 16:16

Earlier this afternoon I heard DD tell someone she was getting her GCSE results on Friday.... Given how anxious she gets I have decided not to mention that in fact it is tomorrow. Anyway I'm stressed enough for both of us.

justasyouare · 11/08/2021 16:19

I have twins getting their results tomorrow. Just hoping they both have good enough grades for their 6th form. As always, the dread is that one does miles better than the other. They’ve both worked incredibly hard but will never be among those getting straight 8s and 9s- I just hope they get what they deserve and are pleased.
They are incredibly cool about it.
Results will be online. Gah!

FreekStar2 · 11/08/2021 16:35

Nervous here- hoping for all 7s, 8's and maybe a 9 for English Lit! DD wants to study medicine so it's crucial she does well- no resits accepted.