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Agreed

I doubt many people want those interventions in other countries with money going to companies that used to be publicly owned. I don't think that is a ethical way to make money, but some companies that lobby for interventions used to be government owned, so at least money went back into the tax pot.

I am not sure there really is the enthusiasm the government shows. In effect, we get f-all say about it. As my neighbor in a DUP voting area said: So there is millions for rockets, but we can't get the streetlights maintained (we had 3 bust lights and the whole cul-de-sac was in complete darkness)

But they will play it as "soft lefties who hate the army" VS "strong UK" and so round and round it goes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-53751678

Gavin Williamson has shown his absolute incompetence again with the last-minute announcement about A level students being able to use mock exams for their grades.

It's an absolute shambles. The rankings and CAGs weren't perfect but we put a huge amount of time and effort into them. Mock exams are done differently by every subject in our school, let alone between different schools, they are completely unregulated, with made-up mark schemes.

Just the latest in a long line of completely un thought-through knee-jerk policies at the expense of the professions and people they affect.

But Sturgeon did something, so Gavin “Fireplace sir?” Williamson had to be seen to do something as well. The wrong thing, because he’s a Tory cunt, of course.

This whole process has been a real challenge for kids who "pull it out of the bag" with exams. Whether or not it's right, it served my son well at GCSEs and could well have done with A-levels. The option of using mocks is a complete joke - his school, like many others, used mocks to give students a timely reminder that they need to work harder, so mock grades are unlikely to offer a better outcome.

Sturgeon and co hardly covered themselves in glory on this

I'd have been fucked, basically did fuck all coursework and didn't bother with mocks, blagged pretty good on actual exams. Not that I actually used the results for anything ever as far as I can remember.

Aren't all pupils able to take the actual exams if they are unhappy with the results?

Same.

But let's be honest, should that be rewarded? Or should people who have diligently worked constantly be rewarded?

They are, in the Autumn, having had no teaching since mid-March, when they might already have missed their offers to start at university this year...

Why not? It's what the system encouraged

TBH this curve ball that's thrown everything into chaos would be the perfect time to change the school year and remove the long summer break.

Fair points.

Massively fucked. Really feel for kids caught up in it. Hope it's slightly improved by next year when we've got the double again, but sure it won't be.

I've got double this year - gulp

What?
Why wouldn't you want a long summer break?

But then the political classes wouldn’t be able to justify their nice long summer recess to (for example) stay gratis on/in various private islands, villas, etc, which in no way amounts to bribery or corruption...

Plus the public schools have always done it and “It was good enough for me...” etc.

It's a childcare headache and there is some evidence that educational outcomes are better without a long break, especially for disadvantaged kids.

There was an interesting discussion on R4 a few weeks ago about the disproportionate impact of the long break on children generally, but particularly those from the least affluent families - in terms of health and educational attainment.

@jellybaby beat me to it

I've got double this year - gulp

Feel for you and the kids. Good luck tomorrow and next week.

Is that about this covid long break or about long summer holidays?
I'm aware of the need, personally, of kids to unwind from school and the pressure of school. Also aware it's not jolly fucking hockey sticks through the long holiday like it may have been "back in my day".

Long summer holidays, not the current 6 month box set marathon thing.

Eg https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/00346543066003227

A review of 39 studies indicated that achievement test scores decline over summer vacation.

That one is US centric but there are similar studies here.

I think if students think that all that matters is exams at the end of two years, it's a risky strategy and goes against what we are telling them (and doesn't often work) - but it's within their rights to give it a go.

@Markyboy is right, there are some people who can pull it out of the bag at the last minute and this sudden change really disadvantaged them to the benefit of those who worked consistently. But we had to base all our predictions on evidence.