Happy thread

[Bunnylump]

Well, yes, I did think that. But also it just occurred to me that perhaps I should qualify my thoughts on GCSEs. I do genuinely believe that it is not possible to compare O levels with GCSEs. Firstly, a whole different set of skills were required - we had no option of modular exams, for example, and we had to be able to reproduce diagrams ourselves, rather than label them (sometimes using a word bank). However, students now take a much larger range of subjects and a much larger NUMBER of subjects. My children, for example (who obviously did this a number of years ago) took 14 subjects. In addition to this, because of the composition of the subjects (especially things like double science) the students are required to learn a LITTLE BIT about a much larger range of subjects. So, for instance, if you are really good at biology and physics, but hopeless at chemistry (like I was), the chemistry element will drag your entire mark down. Similarly with English literature - the students have far more texts to learn and work on, even though for some of the exams they are given sections of the text (or in some cases the entire text) to look at in the exam. When I did O level English literature, I was expected to REMEMBER whole quotes or sections or poems.

[giraffe]

F's school only lets them do 10 GCSEs, but they are all proper subjects, no ICT or things like that, and they don't take any early. K will come out with 12, although one is a DIDA (whatever one of those is, I think it stands for diploma in digital applications) which she did in year 9. The science seems really weird, they seem to have to learn and understand a lot less facts, but then will be asked a question about say the ethics of culling hedghogs (This year's A level biology I gather, sounds more like RS to me).

[MBH]

Defence Including Dark Arts ??? I like it - very progressive

I'm far too far out of 'formal teaching' to know what goes on these days - all I can tell is the attitude, behaviour, and communication of the kids I see on the street. [Hey! See what I did there?? A, B, C ]

I remember that 'O' levels were hard, 'AS' leves were bewildering, and 'A' levels were beyond my grasp... the cleverest girl of our school managing 4 and a number of other very brainy people getting 3 to allow them to go onto University. [They were the rare few in the school population]

[Bunnylump]

The staff could do with some Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons to cope with some of the more shi**y pupils...there are some I'd very happily turn into a pile of horse manure.

[giraffe]

I opened a biology workbook that she was throwing out. This was a GCSE level book and the first question was a picture of two foxes. It said look at the picture and describe 2 differences between the appearances of the foxes. She had written. Fox A is dark and Fox B is white, Fox A is fat and fox B is thin. I said to her that she could have said that when she was 4. Why on earth is that considered GCSE level? They were just rough drawings of foxes, so it clearly wasn't expecting anything more technical.

[Bunnylump]

Was it not followed up by a question on adaptation though? E.g. "Where would the white fox be most likely to live and why?" Or "What could you say about how successfully the foxes were competing within the food chain?" I could see the point of that a BIT more. Having said that, my daughter's just been teaching her year 4s (8 year olds) about that! Mind you, I told her to tell them my favourite fascinating adaptation fact. Which is...

Vultures wee down their legs to keep themselves cool (they can't sweat) but also to kill off germs they have picked up from stomping about in dead things.

They liked that one.

[LAT]

did she follow it up with "but don't try that at home?"

[Bunnylump]

What? Stomping about in dead things or weeing down your legs??

Mind you, as I get older I'm increasingly concerned I might be turning into a vulture. Star jumps are a DEFINITE no no...

[Bunnylump]

to qualify this post, I'm neither showing off or counting chickens - I'm just chuffed and thought I'd share this.

Just heard from Dibble he's been offered a 4 year PhD at UCL. (Wonders - will this boy EVER get a job?? ) He hasn't definitely accepted yet (he's also applied to one at St Andrews), but at least, assuming he manages to complete the Masters without catastrophe (which is definitely not a certainty!) he's got something to do rather than joining the dole queue from September. And he does get paid to do this, so hopefully we can stop shelling out for a bit... I was particularly pleased because he said he was up against all sorts of "boffins" who'd been to private schools then Oxford and Cambridge, and he also thought he'd said some "pretty stupid things" when he had his interview . Not surprising, really, since this is his first proper interview and there was a panel of 5 people!

So that was good news for a change.

[tricia]

you have every reason to be chuffed Bunny

Tricia

[LAT]

Great news, well done Dibble!

[chazzie]

Brilliant news Bunny - congrats to Dibble!

[giraffe]

Well done Dibble!

[clvrlad]

good news indeed

[strep98]

Well done that lad, he will soon be brainier than Mum

[Bunnylump]

Well done that lad, he will soon be brainier than Mum

I think he overtook me in about year 8...

The only slightly sad thing is that my Mum (who was a biologist) would have been SO proud of him. Yes, she was pleased for all her other grandchildren when they got their degrees (music, music, music technology!!) but she was REALLY pleased he chose biological sciences, because she was the one who inspired the interest in the first place. She didn't even get to know he got his degree. I'm really missing the fact I can't ring her to tell her.

[Wulfruna]

That's really good - well done Dibble!

[MBH]

Yes - very well done - but with regards to.......

Well done that lad, he will soon be brainier than Mum

I think he overtook me in about year 8...

.... you will always have him beat with experience and application of knowledge

[pebbles]

Great news Bunny!

[giraffe]

Yes - very well done - but with regards to.......

Well done that lad, he will soon be brainier than Mum

I think he overtook me in about year 8...

.... you will always have him beat with experience and application of knowledge

Since when do youngsters appreciate experience and application of knowledge. "it doesn't work like that anymore, Mum!"