GCSE Support - the results are in

[SheilaFentiman]

Continuing the threads we had going during revision and waiting for results day!

Do exam boards ever review marks on their own initiative e.g. they have a marker with a lot of papers being regraded? Just wondering if that would explain it

That’s brilliant! Well done to your DS!

Could I ask how many marks he was from a 5?

Unfortunately I don't know, we didn't look into it we were perfectly happy with the 4. He got 69 put of 160 if that makes any sense to anyone re grade boundaries.

Ok so apparently DS signed something that he didn't read! The teacher said it was just to say he had picked up his results but I wonder if there is a generic paragraph in there about the school sending any for review that they thought would benefit. The school have obviously paid for it because I haven't been asked for any money.

Nothing to pay as it has gone up tho.

69/160 for AQA was three marks off a 5 and 12 above a 3.

just wondering if anyone else has had their review of marking back? We are still deciding whether to get 2 subjects reviewed. One is one mark off a 9 and the other 2 marks off an 8.
@Hellocatshome Interesting, we definitely have a form to fill in and sign for a review of marking and you have to list the components. Well done to your DS!

Apparently tomorrow is the last day you can request access to the scripts.

Thank you, we have managed to get the scripts back and we are just deciding whether to pay for the review of marking. I think that we have until the 28th. We need to check one subject ourselves but a teacher is looking at a few papers for the other subject and has kindly offered to add ours to the list.

That's for priority access. The main deadline is 23 September.

Was coming on to update, but just saw the confusion regarding scripts and the access deadline. At DDs school the exams officer was saying that yesterday was the last day, but only for AQA exams. She said she felt it was incredibly unfair and actually quite unusual. Maybe they suspected an unmanageable amount of admin after this years harsh grading, so decided to bring forward the deadline.

So we have had a very stressful week. Dd had enrolled at an art college, but on the day of enrolment hated the vibe (as did I tbf)Completely different to a few days before at the interview. Looooong story short, she has joined a sixth form at a high school who only got back to her 2 days a go! Apparently they had missed her application.....strangely. Anyway, we're keeping everything crossed that this was the right decision for her, given this was all very last minute 😬

Was tomorrow the last day for AQA? We were told 26 Sep. We have put one in but were advised to see what came back from that and then decide whether to put the second in. Obviously we can’t do that if date has changed.

I think you're right

filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/results-days/AQA-POST-RESULTS-FLOWCHARTS.PDF

We requested scripts for 3 subjects 2 were one mark from the higher grade and one 4 marks). The staff for relevant subjects very kindly reviewed them as well and subsequently we decided to just submit one paper for one subject for marking review AQA Biology.
Not holding out much hope & it doesn't effect DC sixth form choices but it would mean having 2 sciences at a grade 5 as opposed to one, which might be useful in the future.

AQA's deadline for priority access - so you can see them before deciding to review or not - is today.
The deadline for review requests is towards the end of the month.
If you just want the scripts back to have them, then that's also the end of the month.

Thank you mrshamlet

Thank you @NCTDN and @MrsHamlet .

We got in touch with school this morning and it turned out they'd set a deadline of lunchtime today for requests.

Further maths( 1 mark off 7) has been sent for review by school.
In rather niche news Ancient Greek apparently results nationally have been lower than expected for the cohort so school have requested scripts and may submit a blanket request for reviews. It won’t change anything materially but would be nice to go up a grade!

Nice to hear everyone's updates and good luck to all your dc for starting sixth form or college.

Can anyone help me, feeling a bit desperate. Dd narrowly missed the entry requirements for her school sixth form by 2 points (needed 46 points from 8 best GCSEs, she got 44). She appealed to the Head which was turned down. We have submitted English and History papers for review and are waiting to hear. I'm not too hopeful but if her grades go up by 2 overall, her current school will have to accept her.

In the meantime, she had the option of another (state) school or a small private school. The state school is lovely but the journey is an issue and I think she would find it exhausting (she is ASD and has a lot of anxiety). The private school is very close to home, we put in a late application, she went for an interview and they offered her a place.

She attended yesterday but came home and said she hates it and isn't going back. Her reasons include - it's a very long day (finishing at 4.10pm), they don't offer one of her subject choices (Sociology), they encourage an EPQ which she doesn't want to do, and as she's new they all know each other and is worried people won't like her.

I want her to look at college courses, our local college offers a BTEC in Dance which would suit her (she's a keen dancer) and is the equivalent of 3 A Levels. Lots of plusses her - everyone is new so in the same boat, BTEC much less stressful than A Levels, she can come and go as she pleases and it's relatively local to home. Her reason why she doesn't want to go? The lack of uniform. She said it's too stressful to decide what to wear every day.

I have pointed out many many times that no sixth form will offer ALL her wishes, she will have to make some compromises. But all I hear is that she doesn't want to move schools.

I am so scared she will become a NEET. Any advice please?

@bendmeoverbackwards Get her to sit down at the weekend and list out the pros and cons of all options. Her grades aren't fantastically high if she has averaged 5.5 so A levels is a bit of a risk.

The clothes at college is a ridiculous reason really. Doing Dance I expect they'll be in leggings and hoodies won't they?

Maybe given the ASD situation she needs you to make the decision for her?

Thank you @TeenDivided I agree about the uniform thing and I did point out that she'd be in dance wear. But she's obsessed with her appearance, always thinks people are looking at her/judging her etc.

She got five 6s, two 5s, one 4 and one 3. Shame as she is a very bright girl and capable of much better but her anxiety went through the roof in Year 10 and she had very poor attendance in Years 10 and 11 (around 60%). So I suppose she's done ok in the circumstances.

She did very well to get those grades on that attendance. How is the anxiety now?

The BTEC (it is BTEC not T-level, yes?) might be less stress. Any homework would be directed for assignments, exams would be fewer and so less revision.

However would there be group work, how is she on that?

Also what career progression are you expecting after college?

@bendmeoverbackwards that's a very tricky situation. I think putting up the barriers is an understandable response when she's not been able to stay on. DS2 (also an anxious ASD with low attendance) is staying on at his 6th form and I have to say I can't see him completing his A Levels but I've gone with it.

I think if you can get her to view the college I'd start with that. I'd also try and speak to admissions yourself. I think colleges cam be a bit better at supporting young people rather than schools who just have expectations. (We've already had the '"he needs to be in school in his lessons" response to him sitting crying in reception 🤦‍♀️)

My last resort is online though it would be after id exhausted everything else

It’s definitely a BTEC (level 3). My oldest dd did a dance BTEC along with one A level a few years ago and she said it was pretty easy to get top grades.

As for career, dd doesn’t really know yet. She said recently she was interested in vet nursing which you can enter via a variety of routes so unless she wants to do a vet nursing degree, it’s not subject dependent.

Online is an interesting option, just been googling and found Minerva, is that the main provider of online learning?

@bendmeoverbackwards therea a good facebook group - Home education uk exams and alternatives - it has lots of information on it. As many different options

There's a few online schools, Kings Interhigh and Oxford online school are the ones ice been looking at.

The LA was willing to fund online A Levels for DS1 through Tute. I think they so sociology (we found a more suitable provision in the end).

They're all pretty expensive options