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Original poster

Why are some schools setting extra GCSE work for Y11?

81 replies

noblegiraffe · 27/03/2020 19:26

I don’t mean A-level prep, or providing ongoing revision in case of September resits.

I mean setting and marking work giving pupils the impression that it can be used towards improving predicted grades.

There’s no way that the exam boards will look at it is there? It would be totally unfair.

So why are they wasting kids and teachers’ time?

OP posts:
kilbride65 · 27/03/2020 19:28

I’ve asked myself this and we’ve been bombarded with work for my Year 11 child.

Piggywaspushed · 27/03/2020 19:39

I suspect maybe these are schools who don't have very good record keeping??

Postmanbear · 27/03/2020 19:42

We’ve been told to carry on setting work for our year 11s+13s. Reason given has been in case they want to take the exam again if they are not happy with the grade. No students are doing it.

MuddledUpAgain · 27/03/2020 19:43

Any student that wishes to take an a level in the subject, needs to ensure that they have completed all of the content included in the gcse course.

Students haven't yet made their final decisions (only given indications and from experience, these are likely to drastically change) so schools don't yet know for certain who will be taking each course.

Government guidance isn't great, but any evidence can be used. Plus, keeping some normality for a year group who has had the ground pulled from under them will hopefully be of benefit.

Piggywaspushed · 27/03/2020 19:45

Government guidance isn't great, but any evidence can be used

This will not be true.

Devlesko · 27/03/2020 19:47

My dd school are carrying on as normal.
Full time table with teacher present.
Mine didn't do well in mocks and is exceeding her predictions by 2 levels in some subjects, so her teachers are counting the work that is being set and marked now. It's still school time, not Easter hols yet.

HugoSpritz · 27/03/2020 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrippEnos · 27/03/2020 19:53

Because no-one knows what is happening.

And some of the work being set isn't "extra" it is what they would be doing at this point in time.

Letseatgrandma · 27/03/2020 19:54

I was wondering this. Mine has good predicted grades and coursework marks so is pretty happy-her school (SE grammar) has said they will direct them with stuff to do for any subjects they’re taking for A level if they are interested, but that’s that.

She has friends at other schools who are being bombarded with work though-essays, past papers and even mocks! I was starting to wonder whether we’d really missed something?

Piggywaspushed · 27/03/2020 19:55

Because hugo there is no way they will disadvantage huge swathes of already disadvantaged students by allowing an inclusion in data of work done from more privileged homes with possible parental intervention.

HugoSpritz · 27/03/2020 19:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Piggywaspushed · 27/03/2020 20:00

No... actual exams are done with no help whatsoever so that is what we are meant to be replicating.

Most schools now do a lot of assessments under teacher supervision to monitor progress , under timed conditions and log that.

NEAs all have a 'controlled' element.

We'll find out next week, I guess!

HugoSpritz · 27/03/2020 20:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HugoSpritz · 27/03/2020 20:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user1471530109 · 27/03/2020 20:05

Our yr 11s would have been sitting a second wave of mocks this past week. It's on the calendar. So they've taken the papers homes to do.

I think it's more about keeping them going with some normality. I won't be chasing those who don't do it. But I'll mark anything that gets sent back.

They've worked so hard. Turning up for every extra sessions. Apparently we get guidance next week from the exam boards on how to set the grades.

FrippEnos · 27/03/2020 20:07

Piggywaspushed

By your thinking then, no yr 11 should be doing exam style questions or online tests at this point in time?

Piggywaspushed · 27/03/2020 20:08

well, I don't think so but please don't quote me!

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 27/03/2020 20:11

You can’t assign GCSE grades to individual pieces of work. There’s no way that the exam board will say ‘we were going to give Johnny a 5 but now we see that he got 100% in an algebra test the school knocked up and sent home in April, we’ll reconsider.’

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 27/03/2020 20:12

Yes, I do to an extent hugo but lots of courses were finished and revision was happening. In reality year 11s have a lay off rom early June til September anyway and no one bombards them with work ordinarily.

I hadn't finished teaching the course in my subject but those taking an A Level in it may or may not have the GCSE.

Keeping them ticking over is one thing but that is not the tenor or the tone of much of what is being set by many schools. I have seen copies of outrageously threatening messages to students on Twitter!

I gave my year 11s a reading list!

Piggywaspushed · 27/03/2020 20:14

Also hugo I tend to think that,as time goe son , many students will , sadly, have other things on their mind. Schools telling them they had better do a science mock or else would not be very thoughtful, to say the least.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 27/03/2020 20:19

Any student that wishes to take an a level in the subject, needs to ensure that they have completed all of the content included in the gcse course.

No problem with this, that would come under ‘A-level prep’ in my OP.

It’s the ‘predicted grade boosting’ stuff I’m objecting to.

OP posts:
user1497207191 · 27/03/2020 20:20

When kids get lower grades than expected in July and want to do the "re-sit" in the Autumn, they'll not only be out of practice, there may be parts of the course that they weren't taught, both of which will cause panic between results day and the resits. That's why schools are continuing to "teach" for the duration.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 27/03/2020 20:20

However, we already know that pupils can appeal those grades. We don't know what evidence they can submit to support their appeals

I suspect they’ll be told to sit the resits.

OP posts:
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 27/03/2020 20:22

It’s not ongoing revision I’m referring to, user.

I’ve seen on MN and twitter that kids are being told that they can do work now that will count for the summer. It won’t.

OP posts:
eldeeno · 27/03/2020 20:22

I'm a teacher. We've been told that we have a duty to finish the course for all our students in case

  1. They decide to take the exam (early next academic year if poss)
  1. They continue the course through to A level.

I'm teaching the course until Easter. Then I'll provide revision materials for those who want them, and a project to start preparing students for A level if they want that. Neither will be compulsory.