How's life at the end of Year 9?

[starfish4]

After three years of being at comp/grammar, I just wondered how life is treating them all.

DD had a few ups and downs the first year with friendships and two detentions, but now has a good set of three friends. This year they've started joining up with three other groups of friends, as well as groups of boys, which is great for DD as she coming across others she actually has a lot more in common with and is building those friendships up.

She's been selected for a Year 10 position in the school - she's certainly not a creep/can't do no wrong person, so it's nice they see something positive in her to think of giving her a chance.

Academically, she's doing alright for herself - in all top sets (not that that's everything though) - her parents are very average, so I think this is all down to the amount of extra work she puts in at home to try and understand and present homework the best she can.

I'm a bit nervous over Year 10 - she's doing 11 GCSEs, three of which we think will involve lots of work. She's never wanted to do triple science but is. She can change her mind early in Year 10, but the science groups are banded with maths, and that means she's ending up with a fantastic maths teacher she's had before.

[RedHelenB]

Glad to have finished then year and glad to be dropping subjects they're not so keen on! Just hope the new maths and English exams aren't as difficult as they predict!

[Namehanger]

Started new school in year 9 because not happy at local good comp. Much happier, made some friends, starting to find himself academically. Looking forward to GCSE's, we are feeling positive.

[QueenOfNothing]

Doing much better than I ever expected.

Has friends.
Getting good grades.
Being really looked after by school.

Compared to primary he's doing brilliantly.

[clarad]

DS was certainly pleased with his report. He has put in so much effort this year compared to last year and I am so pleased he is also getting along with teachers and his friends. I tend to find there is so much less drama with boys than girls!! He is excited to drop all the subjects he doesn't like and we hope he will just do well in his GCSEs

[janethefirst]

I cannot figure out DD! She is getting amazing results IMO but nearly every teacher (bar a few who don't mind so mucch) have said her humour should be saved for break times and that talking is not acceptable. I admit she is a chatty girl but I don't want her "holding back other members of the class just because she already understands the topic" as one teacher quoted at parents' evening. I am at my wit's end with her because she is desperate to achieve more than others (a little excessively at times) but can't stop herself chatting non stop! Though, I must say I am very pleased she has jumped right in there and started doing much more extra-curricular activities.

[errorofjudgement]

Year 9 has probably been DDs favourite year. She's been in sets for most subjects, so class has worked at the right speed for her. She has a group of lovely friends so is happy at school. Plus she's been given a boost by being selected for a scholarship in the extra-curricular activity she loves
I hope year 10 continues in the same way

[HmmAnOxfordComma]

Three years have flown!

Ds is doing very well in core subjects and the ones he's selected for GCSE though his 'best' subjects, grade wise, have fluctuated over KS3 . He's very much looking forward to dropping the subjects he is weak in, although a little sad about no more music and drama.

He's also thrilled to be able to drop team sports and concentrate on racquet sports/running/gym work (they can choose what to do in PE from year 10).

[pointythings]

DD1 has had a tough year - was Wendied out of her original group of friends by a horrible bully and developed anxiety, to the point where we were looking at CAMHs referral. Then with help from the school nurse (who was amazing on mental health!) she turned it round herself, did a lot of meditation and mindfulness work, disconnected with the friends who were failing to support her and found a new group of friends - mixed boys/girls, all very lovely young people.

Academically she has done stunningly well despite it all. Her school chooses options in Yr8 so she has been doing her GCSE subjects only. SHe hasn't felt that as a narrowing, she's glad to have dropped Art/Music/DT/ICT and all the other things which she had little interest in, it's allowed her time to do extracurricular History, which is her passion. She's now a very happy 14yo and a pleasure to be around most of the time.

[starfish4]

pointythings, I'm so glad your daughter has managed to turn things around friendship wise - it's not easy watching them go through that. Mine had friendship problems early in Year 7 but things seem really settled now.

[hedwig2001]

My DS was having an ok Yr 9, until the June half-term. Slipped on wet grass and suffered a badly displaced collarbone fracture.
The pain has been horrific. 8 weeks on, it still hurts. He had one failed attempt at returning to school, but never made it back. He now has to catch up all the missed work over the summer. As his school do GCSEs over 3 years, it is an important chunk of work.

[Yarp]

A good year, after a dodgy Year 8 (bit of bullying). The penny seems to have dropped about the connection between effort and attainment, I backed off about Homework and he does it without a mumble. Socialising more, sometimes in Real Life!! Teachers really like him. He's chosen really sensible and interesting GCSE's - I'm quite jealous actually.

I am a bit nervous about the Coursework element of GCSEs but overall I have faith

More calm, relaxed and thoughtful than he has ever been. Funny. Oh and taller than me and with a much deeper voice.

So much better than Primary

[minesawine]

My DS has discovered friends and socialising in year 9 and has lost a bit of focus. He is very clever, but lazy and I have had to nag him quite a bit about homework, equipment etc, which I didnt think I should be after 3 years. His report was good, but all the teachers stressed he needs to get his act together if he wants to do well in his GCSE. I am gently reminding him over the summer to sort it out. He has been given the set books for his english GCSE and I have persuaded him to start reading them now to get ahead. I will not nag him in year 10 as he has to be more self motivated, but I will read the books (I love reading!!). I am worried about the new english and maths exams, but he doesnt seem to fussed. I hope things will be better now his is doing the subjects he has picked himself. Fingers crossed :)

[timeandtimeagain]

How many subjects do your kids in year 10?

[timeandtimeagain]

Sorry about typos. I want to ask how many subjects do your kids do in year 10?

[Dancergirl]

Anyone else's dc emotional at the end of Year 9? Dd was so upset about the break up of her class....she's doing a lot of the same subjects as lots of her friends but it's not the same as them all being together all day

Dd has had a good 3 years and has developed a good work ethic. She really tries her best with every piece of work, got good end of year exam marks and I'm very proud of her

[Whyjustwhy]

In reply to TimeAndTimeAgain, my DD will be taking 11 GCSEs plus PE and PHSE
Most students will be taking 10, it's only the 2 triple science sets that are doing 11
I get the impression that the number of GCSEs is gradually being reduced in favour of fewer but better grades, seems sensible to me

[timeandtimeagain]

Thanks Why

[Madmog]

My DD seems happy and has a good set of friends, but more recently is developing friendships with others girls which could work out well when they'll up split up with their chosen GCSE subjects.

Mine is also doing 11 GCSEs, which I'm a bit nervous about for her. She was unsure about doing triple science (which adds the extra GCSE) as she doesn't particularly want to do science anyway.

Dancergirl - has your DD started her periods. My DD had times when she was very tearful during the last school holidays, which was on the run up to starting her periods. It all settled down after that.

hedwig - how awful for your and your son. I guess it take a long time to recover from something like that, but hopefully he'll be refreshed at the start of the new school year and up to date.

[minesawine]

My DS is doing 10 subjects - English x 2, science x 3, RE, drama, geography, maths, Spanish. The school is just interested in getting good ebac results, which dictated his choices. Shame on them!

[SallyMcgally]

Not great. Took him out and home edded from Jan because of bullying. It's taken its toll and he's so shy now, but desperate to be part of a group. He wants to go back part-time in Sep, so we'll see how that goes. Am praying that teens get a bit kinder from year 9-10.

[pointythings]

DD1 is doing triple science, maths, statistics, English x 2, History, Geography, French and compulsory RE, so 11 in total. Up until last year I was very about the RE,because her teacher at the time was an evangelising Christian who saw her classroom as a recruiting ground. DD is a pagan, so she was hating the subject and getting terrible marks. Then the teacher was asked to retire and this year DD's teacher has been a guy who's coming at the subject from a philosophical/ethical angle alongside the religious aspects and she's on track for A* and loving the subject. It's definitely helping her essay writing skills too.

[teacherwith2kids]

DS is doing English x 2, Maths, Science x 2 [school only does double - though they have an excellent record of Sciences at A-level so I'm trying not to be too grrrr as he can do 3 sciences at A-level if he wants to], French, Russian, Music, History and Philosophy&Ethics.#

In previous years, his group would have done an additional Maths-based GCSE, usually statistics, but being the guinea-pig year for the new GCSEs, they have discussed playing it safe and just aiming for really high marks in the Maths as a good basis for A-level.

[QueenOfNothing]

Yes DS is missing out on further maths at GCSEs because of the new curriculum. He's sitting maths a year early. Then normally they'd do further maths (not exactly sure what exam) in Y11. But for his year group they're going to repeat maths with the new curriculum.

And his school doesn't offer further maths at A level. So most of the bright pupils leave for 6th form (not that there was a huge number of them to start with) but DS is adamant that he wants to stay. So he won't be doing further maths at 6th form either (not that he actually wants to)

I'm more worried about the new English exam than the new maths exam. Hope his teacher understands it and teaches it well....

Although his maths teacher has left so I'm a bit nervous about who he'll get.

In fact teacher morale at his school is very low. Huge staff turnover last year and again this year. 36 teachers left this year. And they haven't been able to replace them all. So there's a number of subjects which I'm concerned about which teacher he'll get.

Teacher - I thought it was compulsory to offer triple science? I thought they brought that in when our lot were in Y6? I must be mistaken....

[teacherwith2kids]

No, it's not. I have taken it as far as I can with the school without making myself a pariah. Was visited by Ofsted last year, by srprise, and got its usual Outstanding, so they can't see it as an issue. Will try again for DD (just finished Y7) as I think she's actually better at Science than her brother.

For DS, in some ways it works for him because he can continue the slightly eclectic mix of 2 languages, 2 humanities and Music as a practical subject... The teachers who rave about him are his Maths, History, French and Music ones so goodness knows where A-leves will take him. History, Maths or Politics and Economics, would be my best current guess.

[teacherwith2kids]

We've also been lucky with teacher turnover - 6 have left, who happen to include DS's Science, English and French teachers, but the remainder of those departments are also good so I am not deeply concerned. And his fabulous maths teacher has already said that she's taking them all the way up to GCSE.