Will exams actually happen ...

[Diditreallylookawful]

Sorry, didn't really know how to phrase that, but that's the main issue. DC is Y11 and they have been absolutely decimated with Covid (including my own child). Lots of pupils out, lots of teachers too. Learning is being hugely disrupted, group drama pieces that need to be filmed and submitted this week can't, Art, Design practicals all on hold and getting more and more behind. We are just one school. Extra curricular activities stopped, sport etc. I know there are thousands in the same boat, and I know we have to get back to "normal" at some point, but is anyone else worried?

Yes because they will be getting advance info as to what will be covered. This explains how quite nicely:

www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/revision-help/what-s-happening-with-gcse-a-level-and-btec-exams

I'm assuming they will go ahead. There's an outbreak at DD's school as well, which was almost inevitable as they have had very few cases until this half-term. They put a 4 day break in the mocks they've just done to allow for their vaccinations, which turns out to have been a good thing because those off with covid only have half the exams to catch up.

I don't think anyone knows how this is going to play out - it may be that after the current surge and the vaccinations, things settle down massively. At this point, there's still time to catch things up, and presumably schools can submit "special circumstances" where practicals have been severely affected.

Apparently the summer exam timetable has the papers for each subject separated by a couple of weeks, so that it is relatively unlikely that a student will miss both papers. There are always procedures in place for those who miss one paper, and for those for whom special circumstances have been submitted.

I'm hopeful that the large number of cases we're seeing now will mean that things are calmer by the summer.

There has been concessions made to the fact that this cohort has lost time - some subjects have reduced content or requirements and others (as per PP) are providing advance information about topics appearing on the exam. Drama doesn't have to be filmed this week ... it's a bit poor that your school is putting on unnecessary pressure.