GCSE do they start them early?

northerntwo1

Evening all, I googled but responses were mainly net mum forum which frightens the life out of me so thought I'd ask here in the hope some teachers or parents of teenagers can help.

My eldest is in year 9. Targets have always been 5/6/7 etc but this year they are in GCSE grades. They've also sent some GCSE suggested reading out.

My question is why? Do they do them over 3 years and what happens if it's a subject you don't chose for an option.

Is it worth buying their suggested books (she may not take as a subject). Also they are changing the GCSE does anyone know exactly in lay terms what this means. Her targets are very high as she's stressing, her homework is also increasing so if I can help or even understand if schools expectations are realistic (lessen her stress) it would be good.

Spendless

Hi, I've a child in yr 10 and one just started yr 7. My eldest is the last year in his school that is starting GCSE studies in yr 10. When he took his options earlier this year, so did the year below so the current yr9's are also starting their GCSE studies and yes that will be over 3 years. I can't quite remember the reason why, as I didn't take much notice, it didn't affect eldest and it would be in place for a few years before it's youngest's turn but I *think* it's something the school is doing in response to the Government's changing of exams. My son's year is the last to have letters for their gcse results and it will change to numbers for your son and the years below.


My son has had his grade targets for all his subjects.

northerntwo1

Spendless wrote: »

Hi, I've a child in yr 10 and one just started yr 7. My eldest is the last year in his school that is starting GCSE studies in yr 10. When he took his options earlier this year, so did the year below so the current yr9's are also starting their GCSE studies and yes that will be over 3 years. I can't quite remember the reason why, as I didn't take much notice, it didn't affect eldest and it would be in place for a few years before it's youngest's turn but I *think* it's something the school is doing in response to the Government's changing of exams. My son's year is the last to have letters for their gcse results and it will change to numbers for your son and the years below.


My son has had his grade targets for all his subjects.

That would make sense the letter says all about changes, prep for new GCSE but not what's actually happening!

She's worried she is expected to take at end of year 9.

I rang the school but we play phone tennis due to work.

I will tell her it's nothing to worry about and if she doesn't hit these stupidly excessive targets it's not a bother.

Thank you

balletshoes

my daughter has just started year 9, she chose her GCSE options at the end of year 8, to start this year. She has just had her first test to GCSE standard, more to come. The coursework will be done over 3 years, but she does have the option, if things are not working out with one of her non-compulsory option choices, to change to another subject at the beginning of year 10.
There doesn't appear to be any more pressure put on my daughter using the GCSE standard compared to Key stage grading, as far as I can see.

northerntwo1

balletshoes wrote: »

my daughter has just started year 9, she chose her GCSE options at the end of year 8, to start this year. She has just had her first test to GCSE standard, more to come. The coursework will be done over 3 years, but she does have the option, if things are not working out with one of her non-compulsory option choices, to change to another subject at the beginning of year 10.
There doesn't appear to be any more pressure put on my daughter using the GCSE standard compared to Key stage grading, as far as I can see.

But she hasn't taken options. For example Russian. They start Russian in year 9 but that's from May (year 8) as they do when year 11 start exams to free up year 7 teachers for new students.

Her end of year target is a GCSE grade B for Russian. After 3 months? How can they assess this. She's never not hit her targets and they are penalised for not hitting them or offered extra help. They also limit extra activities like sports if you don't hit targets but these seem extreme, especially in subjects she's just started and will not take in year 10.

balletshoes

northerntwo1 wrote: »

But she hasn't taken options. For example Russian. They start Russian in year 9 but that's from May (year 8) as they do when year 11 start exams to free up year 7 teachers for new students.

Her end of year target is a GCSE grade B for Russian. After 3 months? How can they assess this. She's never not hit her targets and they are penalised for not hitting them or offered extra help. They also limit extra activities like sports if you don't hit targets but these seem extreme, especially in subjects she's just started and will not take in year 10.

hmm in those circumstances I'd certainly be speaking to your child's tutor or year head, to help understand what the school is doing this year.

northerntwo1

balletshoes wrote: »

hmm in those circumstances I'd certainly be speaking to your child's tutor or year head, to help understand what the school is doing this year.

I will (once phone tennis ends) I just wanted to have some understanding too. I hate being kept in the dark and communications direct to parents isn't their strong point, they use students to relay messages. She could have interpreted these wrong or the normal not hitting target punishments don't apply.

She'd be gutted to stop playing for the school because she's never going to get a B in Russian. She can't even write her name :rotfl:

kingfisherblue

Generally speaking, GCSE work starts in Y10. However, my son (top set) started science in Y9. He is taking Chemistry, Biology and Physics as separate subjects. Chemistry exam is being taken a year early by his class. The others are the following year (around may of Y11). He isn't phased by this.


My daughter attended a different school, and was offered the opportunity to take Geography two years early (she sat the exam in Y9). She worried about it, so I told her to think of the exam as a practice run for the following year. She passed with a grade B, much to her surprise.


My philosophy is 'As long as you try your best, that's good enough for me'. I expect my kids to do what they can, but not study all hours of day and night. They still need a bit of fun, and my daughter volunteered for Rainbows and Brownies during her GCSE years and didn't want to give that up (she still volunteers seven years later)/. My son volunteers in a retirement village, and wants to continue with that, so I'm happy for him to. I want them to do well, but to enjoy life too.


I hope she stops worrying and that you can reassure her. Exams are important, but so is being happy.

missbiggles1

We used to do O levels over 1 year - spreading GCSEs over 3 smacks to me of more manipulation of the education system rather than raising standards!

northerntwo1

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Generally speaking, GCSE work starts in Y10. However, my son (top set) started science in Y9. He is taking Chemistry, Biology and Physics as separate subjects. Chemistry exam is being taken a year early by his class. The others are the following year (around may of Y11). He isn't phased by this.


My daughter attended a different school, and was offered the opportunity to take Geography two years early (she sat the exam in Y9). She worried about it, so I told her to think of the exam as a practice run for the following year. She passed with a grade B, much to her surprise.


My philosophy is 'As long as you try your best, that's good enough for me'. I expect my kids to do what they can, but not study all hours of day and night. They still need a bit of fun, and my daughter volunteered for Rainbows and Brownies during her GCSE years and didn't want to give that up (she still volunteers seven years later)/. My son volunteers in a retirement village, and wants to continue with that, so I'm happy for him to. I want them to do well, but to enjoy life too.


I hope she stops worrying and that you can reassure her. Exams are important, but so is being happy.

Thank you, she's a young leader and peer mentor too, taking bullying and self harming mentor classes via guides and a ranger. I think the school need to answer my queries. I know this sounds off as a parent but grades don't bother me one bit. I want them happy and rounded that's all. It's why stupid targets like this annoy me.

I'll speak to school and make my feelings known.

pleasedelete

Does she go to a maintained school, free school, UTC or academy?

If so the school will be subject to having their results published in the national performance tables.

From 2014 only 1st GCSE entry will count and not best. This will reduce the early taking of GCSE. It is also a focus of Ofsted inspection to ensure that it is not detrimental.

The new tables look at best 8 (so outcomes from 8 GCSE) however if they take early then fail and retake and pass it doesn't count in tables (but they still have the GCSE) If they take early and pass then it does count.

So a few schools may do early entry if a pupil is taking a high number of GCSE and is a high attaining pupil but most state schools have now stopped early entry either at short notice in 2013 or from this academic year.

GCSE targets are based on a mixture of prior attainment at KS2 (these inform the national expected progress measures) and ongoing assessment at secondary.