Angry, upset and annoyed or over reacting rant

squibbs25

Just a vent really!
My ds is in year 11 and today i had a call from my sons maths teacher to say how we'll he is doing :-) which is absolutely great. He is working hard and it's showing in his work and homework. Which led onto the homework conversation that they are revising for their gcse's and the past paper he bought home this week he was stuck on a certain algebra in a graph form question. The teacher replied that yes none of the class are familiar with it as it hasn't been covered yet and they should be covering it in the next couple of weeks BUT they have their gcse in a couple of weeks. 6th and 8th of Nov to be precise.
I told the teacher I'm not happy for my son to do the gcse if they haven't been taught the work. He attitude is that ds should get a B grade even without being taught this bit.
The class will then have the opportunity to either re take the same gcse or if they pass with C or above they will they take maths statistics.
WTH? How can they put kids in for early exams if they haven't taught them the work?
Please do not think I am over exaggerating or that I have got this wrong. It is 100% the fact.

I'm so annoyed. If my ds and his class mates had been taught how to do it and not paid any attention then fair enough but to say they haven't been taught it and hopefully it will be covered before the exam I think is terrible.

I have said if it isn't covered then I don't want ds sitting the exam but in ds's opinion he wants to get it out the way (which I do admire) so he can move onto the next part.
The GCSE is the higher paper so he will then move on to statistics (even if he passes at a C grade).

The teacher did say he would call me next week sometime to update me further.
I feel like I'm torn between the devil and the deep blue sea

meritaten

I don't think I would be happy either - preparation is key to passing exams and if the work hasn't been covered.................well!!!!!!!!!!
its not good enough to expect the pupil to get a B - not knowing this part of the exam, its easy to have an off day and put a wrong answer down. I am not explaining this very well, but, I wouldn't be happy going into an exam knowing I hadn't covered all the curriculum.

kingfisherblue

I wouldn't be impressed either - I struggled with maths as a teenager, and that was when I was given examples to work from (I was better when actually shown what to do, and remember my dad going into school to ask why we were only being given an example and not actually being taught). It sounds as though the teacher is intending to cover the work though, so hopefully your son will be able to understand how to work out the answer before his exams. In the meantime, do chase up the teacher if he doesn't get back to you.

Good luck to your son - I hope he does well x

marisco_2

You seem overly concerned to me. Your sons teacher has assured you that this area of learning should be covered in the next couple of weeks. That gives ample time before the gcse exam is due to be taken, for it to be taught and to get the students secure in their knowledge of it. Going by the dates you advise the exam is over a month away. When is half term around your way? Most schools have this at the end of October, which gives lots of opportunity for extra in-depth revision too.

squibbs25

EmmaBridgewater wrote: »

The next couple of weeks is before Nov 8?

He didn't say ARE definitely covering it only *should be*

Mojisola

squibbs25 wrote: »

He attitude is that ds should get a B grade even without being taught this bit.

The class will then have the opportunity to either re take the same gcse or if they pass with C or above they will they take maths statistics.

If the children are being entered early, there won't have been time to cover the whole syllabus.

If he doesn't get a good enough grade, he takes it again. If he does, he can move on to statistics.

As long as the bits that haven't been covered yet won't set him back if he takes Maths at a higher level, I would let him do the exam. If there are important areas which still need to be learned, I would ask son to agree to work on them independently if he gets a good grade and moves on to statistics.

Becks81

I think the fact that you had a call from a teacher says a lot, it's hard enough grabbing a quick word in the playground after school has finished with the teachers at me DD's school.

Are these actual GCSE exams or are they mock exams? If they are only mock then I wouldn't worry too much as the material will have to be covered before the school year is out and the exams are sat ( I think May/June time if memory serves)

If these are 'proper' GCSE's that count towards A-Levels or College, then I think you have every right to be concerned. I would wait for an update from the teacher, but I will again say I think you're very lucky to even get a phone call, and be proud of the comments you have had from the teacher, you should be proud of your DS, the teacher obviously has high hopes which must count as something.

squibbs25

EmmaBridgewater wrote: »

I see, maybe if its imperative your son could ask the teacher to go over it briefly in lunch or after school? Or even self teach a little.

I did search on the net for the general idea on what to do as I don't remember doing it (was soo long ago) but I don't know what it comes under. It's having an algebra question a graph with no number on and finding the point if the curve. If that makes any sense.
Quadratic equations I think they are called. But everything that came up in the search was not the right thing.

Rebecca01

Some schools are cancelling the Nov exams due to Goves
new announcements. They are terming it stick or twist.

You could always buy a revision guide and as said above, teach it to yourself. I remember having to do this with my GCSE Biology.

I would definitely call the teacher next week and discuss your worries and check the exam is going ahead in line with the new announcements.

squibbs25

Becks81 wrote: »

I think the fact that you had a call from a teacher says a lot, it's hard enough grabbing a quick word in the playground after school has finished with the teachers at me DD's school.

Are these actual GCSE exams or are they mock exams? If they are only mock then I wouldn't worry too much as the material will have to be covered before the school year is out and the exams are sat ( I think May/June time if memory serves)

If these are 'proper' GCSE's that count towards A-Levels or College, then I think you have every right to be concerned. I would wait for an update from the teacher, but I will again say I think you're very lucky to even get a phone call, and be proud of the comments you have had from the teacher, you should be proud of your DS, the teacher obviously has high hopes which must count as something.

Yes they are proper GCSE's that will count towards A Levels or college
I am proud of my ds (as is his dad).
I am also grateful for the teacher acknowledging the hard work the kids are doing.
Not all the kids are taking the early exam. Only a handful of selected pupils.
Like I say I think it's great that he has the opportunity but its clouded by the fact they haven't been taught everything yet and the clocks ticking.
Exams are pressure at any time without the pressure of not knowing how to do something that's fundamental to the exam.

nearlyrich

Over reacting you don't need to get angry or upset it will just unsettle your son, calmly discussing it with the school is the answer, if he hasn't done enough to pass the exam they can either make time to cover key parts of the syllabus or he can take it at the end of the year.