My DD is in Year 10 at a very academic, girls only, state school. She has never been top of the class and while this has certainly affected her confidence, I thought Year 10 would be the year she turned it all around - she has dropped some subjects she found tricky e.g. Latin and added some of her favourite subjects e.g. art/drama/textiles.
Her latest report was a horrible shock, with lower than expected attainment, progress and effort across the board. I've spoken to the Head of Year about it, and she has collated comments from my DD's teachers. This was a worse shock - almost all say she is daydreaming in class, often appears sleepy, is very slow to complete any work, completely disorganised and can't remember what she has done from one lesson to the next. Her favourite subjects have been given the most scathing comments.
I'm gutted for her (she will never see those comments) but also at a loss to know what she is going on. I have not noticed a change in her personality at home, although I've been aware she hasn't been doing much homework. She says that she hasn't had any, but I now think this is untrue. When she does do homework, it has started to take her ages - she'll stare at a blank computer screen for ages and say she doesn't know what to put - and the work she produces is pretty poor. She has said at school she finds it hard to keep up and her brain feels foggy.
I have read Liedtomum's thread on here with interest, especially about fear of failure, and wonder if that is part of the problem, so will research that more.
I'm as sure as I can be that she isn't taking drugs. She eats well and normally, although she doesn't exercise as much as she could which we are taking steps to address. There have been one or two friendship related incidents (normal teenage stuff) which worried her a bit at the time.
I wondered if anyone had experienced similar with their DD? Does it sound silly if I wonder about a mental health issue (there is depression in our family) Or even a food allergy or chemical imbalance?
I don't really know where to start to help her, so any advice would be really welcome. Thank you.
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Teenagers
Advice on 14 yo DD disengaging from school
21 replies
Libertymae · 08/12/2016 12:48
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