'I'm not stupid, I've got 17 GCSEs', says girl who thought 'Barraco Barner' was Britain's President

Gemma Worrall, 20, tweeted about 'our' president 'barraco barner'. Within 12 hours, her comment had been retweeted almost 7,000 times. It was clearly an extraordinarily dippy thing to write. So is Gemma as dumb as her tweet would have her appear?

While Gemma might not be signing up for Mensa any day soon, she’s certainly no Jade Goody. Softly spoken and articulate, she was educated at a local Catholic school and insists that she has 17 GCSEs — an extraordinary number, as most people obtain 11 at most — in subjects including English, Business Studies, Religious Education, Textiles, Technology and Media Studies, all with passes of grade C and above. She also says she has two A-levels, in Travel and Tourism.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2577055/Stupid-Ive-got-17-GCSEs-says-girl-thought-Barraco-Barner-President-An-audience-beauty-salon-receptionist-story-speaks-volumes-modern-Britain.html

No comment.

I loved that tweet. Barraco Barner - classic!  ::smthg:: 

All hail Barraco, the mighty leader of England and the counties of Scottish, Waleses and Air!

Raggamuffin wrote:I loved that tweet. Barraco Barner - classic!  ::smthg:: 

Isn't it really worrying though that someone so thick can get 17 GCSEs and 2 A levels? What does that say about the level of exams today?

Tess. wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:I loved that tweet. Barraco Barner - classic!  ::smthg:: 

Isn't it really worrying though that someone so thick can get 17 GCSEs and 2 A levels?  What does that say about the level of exams today?

You beat me to it.

GCSE's mean nothing - I've been saying that for years.

Even when I did a degree i thought that was a complete joke.

40% pass mark. You are handed a sheet which tells you exactly what they are after for a pass, merit, distinction. If you don't get 40% your work is handed back to you with comments, you make corrections and hand it back.

Having a son who is now at secondary school, i realise that is exactly how they do it there too.

Tess. wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:I loved that tweet. Barraco Barner - classic!  ::smthg:: 

Isn't it really worrying though that someone so thick can get 17 GCSEs and 2 A levels?  What does that say about the level of exams today?

That depends on what subject they were. Maybe she didn't study American or British politics.   

BigAndy9 wrote:

Tess. wrote:

Isn't it really worrying though that someone so thick can get 17 GCSEs and 2 A levels?  What does that say about the level of exams today?

You beat me to it.

GCSE's mean nothing - I've been saying that for years.

Even when I did a degree i thought that was a complete joke.  

40% pass mark.  You are handed a sheet which tells you exactly what they are after for a pass, merit, distinction.  If you don't get 40% your work is handed back to you with comments, you make corrections and hand it back.

Having a son who is now at secondary school, i realise that is exactly how they do it there too.

I sort of think that the point of GCSEs is to show that the person has the ability to stick with something and work at it. If they can't be arsed at school, they're not going to be arsed when it comes to doing a job either.   

Same with degrees really. It's often been said in the past that studying for a degree shows a level of commitment and the ability to work on one's own. Of course, these days it's all about "team work" anyway, so perhaps that doesn't apply any more.   

Raggamuffin wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:

You beat me to it.

GCSE's mean nothing - I've been saying that for years.

Even when I did a degree i thought that was a complete joke.  

40% pass mark.  You are handed a sheet which tells you exactly what they are after for a pass, merit, distinction.  If you don't get 40% your work is handed back to you with comments, you make corrections and hand it back.

Having a son who is now at secondary school, i realise that is exactly how they do it there too.

I sort of think that the point of GCSEs is to show that the person has the ability to stick with something and work at it. If they can't be arsed at school, they're not going to be arsed when it comes to doing a job either.   

Same with degrees really. It's often been said in the past that studying for a degree shows a level of commitment and the ability to work on one's own. Of course, these days it's all about "team work" anyway, so perhaps that doesn't apply any more.   

GCSEs were brought in so dumb kids came away with something too.

That's it. That's a fact.

Hmmm, shame there aren't GCSE's in Common Sense and Real Life

BigAndy9 wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I sort of think that the point of GCSEs is to show that the person has the ability to stick with something and work at it. If they can't be arsed at school, they're not going to be arsed when it comes to doing a job either.   

Same with degrees really. It's often been said in the past that studying for a degree shows a level of commitment and the ability to work on one's own. Of course, these days it's all about "team work" anyway, so perhaps that doesn't apply any more.   

GCSEs were brought in so dumb kids came away with something too.

That's it.  That's a fact.

Agreed....more liberalist appeasement...this time to the "proud to be fick" brigade.....same mentality that tried to stop competetive sports "because there mustnt be any losers"

victorismyhero wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:


GCSEs were brought in so dumb kids came away with something too.

That's it.  That's a fact.

Agreed....more liberalist appeasement...this time to the "proud to be fick" brigade.....same mentality that tried to stop competetive sports "because there mustnt be any losers"

I thought you were one of the deniers that educational standards had dropped. It might be Sassy I'm confusing you with. It is patently obvious the liberal left teaching unions who have controlled education for the last 5 decades have completed their reduction of standards to those which meet the very lowest of expectation.

You won't find RWers defending them but you will finds lefties doing so.

Deny educational standards have dropped??? bloody hell man, i knew more at 13 than most that leave school at 18 with A,s do now...Its insane...

If a kid only gets A's now they are disappointed. Only A*'s will do these days.

Boy are they clever!

veya_victaous wrote:

I prefer "Bronco Bama":

victorismyhero wrote:Deny educational standards have dropped???   bloody hell man, i knew more at 13 than most that leave school at 18 with A,s do now...Its insane...

Fine then we are in complete agreement. Now ask the teachers spokesmen whether they agree.