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The Fifteenth Republic - A Level and GCSE Results storm coming!

999 replies

StaffAssociationRepresentative · 10/08/2020 23:41

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff. Baiters and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here only if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

If you come with a stick to beat us with then please do so elsewhere and not in the staffroom

OP posts:
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Hercwasonaroll · 11/08/2020 15:24

Horrendous decision in Scotland. How is that remotely fair? Not saying the statistical adjustment was perfect but the 2020 cohort will be looked out for by employers.

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HipTightOnions · 11/08/2020 15:25

The approach was published well in advance. It’s so wrong to move the goalposts now.

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Hercwasonaroll · 11/08/2020 15:31

Piggy what would you do instead of exams?

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NeurotrashWarrior · 11/08/2020 15:40

I was the cohort that didn't do an English gcse exam or actually any at university, or gcse textiles actually.

I prefer course work, but it's harder for science and maths I think.

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NeurotrashWarrior · 11/08/2020 15:41

Too many actuallys may show that that course wasn't the best however...

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Hercwasonaroll · 11/08/2020 15:44

Maths coursework was a complete joke. Kids getting As on the coursework and sitting a foundation paper to scrape a C overall.

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ineedaholidaynow · 11/08/2020 15:49

Will this impact A-Level and GCSE results?

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Mistressiggi · 11/08/2020 15:52

I can't speak for other teachers, but every estimate we made was accurate and achievable for the pupil.
The weight of not having double figures of appeals to put through in the first week back is considerable too.
JS has form for dramatic u-turns.

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monkeytennis97 · 11/08/2020 15:54

@CallmeAngelina

I'll tell you what is PISSING ME OFF at the moment here on MN, and it's all the faux concern about kids' mental health whilst being out of school. This is from people who have never given a shiny shit about such kids, who now see fit to use their plight to try to tell US, who have been trying to help for years with our pleas falling on deaf ears from the government, and funding cut year upon year, that we should go back to (Covid UNsecure) schools because it suits their personal agenda.

Oh my God yes, this!!
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HipTightOnions · 11/08/2020 15:56

I can't speak for other teachers, but every estimate we made was accurate and achievable for the pupil.

Trouble is, we all genuinely believe this, but the overall effect is an apparently dramatic improvement in results, in a year when schooling has been disrupted. That is just not plausible.

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ineedaholidaynow · 11/08/2020 15:57

@monkeytennis97 many posters who have shouted about children's mental health and vulnerable children will go very quiet once schools are open

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Hercwasonaroll · 11/08/2020 15:58

@HipTightOnions You said it! 15% uptick in some cases, I just don't see how that can be realistic.

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Piggywaspushed · 11/08/2020 16:03

I dont think msths and English would ever see this the same way but I would go for continuous assessment for English. Lots of countries don't have this obsession with terminal exams.

But anyway , I do think Swinney has said they will look at how to work for next year's lot too.

Interestingly in parliament, the only MSP who openly politicized it all was a Tory and ,as an SNP guy pointed out, they wanted this u turn do that next year they can howl about a decline in standards!

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monkeytennis97 · 11/08/2020 16:06

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@monkeytennis97 many posters who have shouted about children's mental health and vulnerable children will go very quiet once schools are open[/quote]
I know. It has really annoyed me how vulnerable children have been used as politics blackmail throughout this but not cared about by government before. Endless shouting at Gav during the briefings for that!

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Piggywaspushed · 11/08/2020 16:07

I honestly don't think in 15 years time employers will go 'oooh 2020, you must be shit'. I was an infamous year in Scotland for different but equally contentious reasons. I am more obvious because we had numbered grades but it never even got mentioned at any stage

I actually think, if anything, the classes of 2020 and 2021 might be viewed as resilient.

Anyhow, I am happy for those young people.

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HipTightOnions · 11/08/2020 16:13

Anyhow, I am happy for those young people.

Yes, but...

Young people in my school will be at a relative disadvantage (if this goes ahead in England too) because we were strict with ourselves and pre-moderated our own grades, according to the published policy.

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noideaatallreally · 11/08/2020 16:18

Soooo... what will happen now in England and Wales. A dramatic recall of the grades the exam boards will have adjusted and back to teacher predictions - all by Thursday??? Surely the results in Scotland will not be allowed to rise so far ahead of those in England and Wales? I think the results will already be in schools for SLT to see, will be interesting to see if they are recalled.

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Hercwasonaroll · 11/08/2020 16:18

15 years time maybe not. But 3/4/5 years time when they're done with A Levels and after jobs.

I really really hope this doesn't happen in England.

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Piggywaspushed · 11/08/2020 16:21

I just genuinely don't think they will.

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MadameMinimes · 11/08/2020 16:22

With the numbers cap reinstated at universities and Ofqual and the government unlikely to do the same for A Levels this has introduced an inherent unfairness to the scramble for university places this year. I think it’s ridiculous to have no form of moderation or standardisation in place. No system of standardisation is perfect and any system they used would have problems but Ofqual/SQA are responsible for awarding grades. I think it’s an abdication of that responsibility. Now if you’re not happy with your result in Scotland there is only the teacher to blame.

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Danglingmod · 11/08/2020 16:23

I think schools that have pre-moderated and not increased their own pass rate/7/A rate or whatever will be fine.

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Appuskidu · 11/08/2020 16:23

As someone with a y13 waiting for A level results, this is all making me very nervous Confused.

It doesn’t seem fair if Scottish kids get their results moved up but ours don’t?

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Piggywaspushed · 11/08/2020 16:24

Let's not make ourselves panic appu! It is what it is...

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MadameMinimes · 11/08/2020 16:24

Results in England will be sent to schools in little over 12 hours. Tomorrow they will be printed and envelopes stuffed. I can’t see anything changing before then and I actually don’t think Ofqual should cave on this.

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Hercwasonaroll · 11/08/2020 16:25

Now if you’re not happy with your result in Scotland there is only the teacher to blame.

Another good reason I don't want this in England.

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