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Original poster

Countdown to GCSE results day

103 replies

duchesse · 18/08/2011 17:30

After disastrous A level results today with DS, I'm quietly optimistic for DD1 who is altogether a different kettle of fish. Please come and virtually hold my hand as I rock and shake in the corner. Or take to the bottle.

OP posts:
prettypurpledaisy · 23/08/2011 12:34

DD just gone into town with her friends so I can stop walking on egg shells for today. Mine are similar to yours duchesse DD works really hard to get her grades whereas DS who is much more academic is so lazy and I hope his results will shock him into working hard in year 10 and 11. At least he has the chance to retake if they are as dire as I imagine, based on the amount of time he put into revision 'not much you can reivise for ........' was his constant phrase.
No Oxbridge intentions in this house :) so not the end of the world if the results aren't what we wanted.

sieglinde · 23/08/2011 12:22

duchesse, that sounds both smart and well-informed. My children are more similar, but I have twin godchildren who are utterly different.

Original poster
duchesse · 23/08/2011 12:07

sieglinde- DD1 is hoping for 10 A* and has stated that she will retake art if she gets anything below an A. She has v high standards, is bright and works like buggery.

Her brother on the other hand is a lazy, workshy little sod who just thinks that things will fall into his lap and that if you have to work for them they aren't work having. We have tried everything over the last 7 years- cajoling, explaining, bribing, punishing, allowing him to find his own work level for a year (HA!!). His results reflect this.

Both these children are the fruit of my loins, have been brought up in very similar ways. I've never expected anything less of Boy child than I have of the girls. He just isn't cut from the same cloth. I've had to revise downwards my inner hopes and expectations of him over the last 3-4 years whilst outwardly continuing to expect the best from him.

It doesn't matter really what I know about Oxbridge entrance- he has had the same information as DD1 and decided that it sounded too much like hard work; DD1 treats same information as a challenge and rises to it. We have expended as many resources and energy as we could trying to get DS to point in the right direction.

As a university friend (now a sec teacher) said recently, getting into Oxbridge (which incidentally both DH and I achieved) is not just about pure ability, it's also about managing to get your act together in time. DS did not manage this, DD1 might (and I hope so for her as that's what she wants.)

Incidentally, getting into Oxbridge also relies heavily on wise subject choices, so if anyone is contemplating them as an option for their DC, you must investigate extensively subject options before your child chooses GCSEs (ie year 8 or 9). Speak to the universities/colleges and ask them what the best subject combination would be for what your DC appears to be interested in. Do not let the school fob them off with crap non-subjects as both universities prefer solid traditional subjects at A level. I think that the reason my son got a university place at all despite dismal A level results is because he took three solid A levels.

OP posts:
sieglinde · 23/08/2011 11:52

DS is off to the Reading festival at the weekend, which is helping him get through.

However, if I'm the only one who is worried, I'm now worried that the rest of you may not get how important GCSEs now are for university entrance. Especially in the land of Oxbridge and the Russells, you really need quite a row of A* to get past the very first hurdle. Personally, I dislike this, but it's of course due to the ridiculous grade-clustering at the top. I would say that a modestly pleasing row of As with no stars, Bs and the odd C would pretty much rule you out for most of Oxbridge.

DizzIzz · 23/08/2011 11:27

I am sure the school will be open to discussion. Head of year mentioned that they have had girls with a C in Chemistry at GCSE level who have gone on to do A level in the past and achieved a grade A, obviously with a lot of hard work. It is a fee paying school and I have never had any problems with them, and while I think that they do consider the girls perhaps the biggest consideration is their nice percentage of girls achieving an A at A2 level.

The lady who is responsible for completing the 6th form timetable seems to have DD pigeon holed to do subjects that she doesn't want to do ..... we shall see.

Strangely, I am feeling very calm today and have a "what will be, will be" attitude.

sieglinde · 23/08/2011 10:25

DizzIzz, she isn't being influenced by the coalition guvverment, is she? Because the last time we had the Tories cutting funding they seemed not to get that sciences are more expensive than the humanities, and they backpedalled very fast when they realised.

prettypurpledaisy · 22/08/2011 21:35

My DD is now booked into a two hour dance workshop on Wednesday night so that should take her mind off her results and she will certainly sleep :)
I am under strict instructions not to express any disappointment if they are not good.
My poor Mum is trying to understand but since her stroke she doesn't really follow the situation, which again lessens DD's stress as it makes her smile as she explains results day for the 10th time.

GnomeDePlume · 22/08/2011 20:30

Respect Loshad. Not sure yet if we will have doubling up in some years or not. Will depend on whether DS goes into the Army as he hopes. That will then have its own anxieties of course.

sieglinde · 22/08/2011 20:27

Aargh. May I join you? Pale with anxiety for very ambitious and academic but truculent ds1. Has nine gcses coming in and two are worrying him. Sad

gingeroots · 22/08/2011 20:15

DizzIzz - sounds a tough one !
Don't know your DC's school obviously ,but sometimes there is more flexibilty about who they accept into 6th form than they let on .

Good luck to all .

Original poster
duchesse · 22/08/2011 19:07

Good luck MadLizzy- crossing fingers for you that you'll get the result you want!

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Mabelface · 22/08/2011 11:37

I get my English result this week, then I'll have a whole 2 GCSEs. Grin

DizzIzz · 22/08/2011 11:34

Joining in with you all, feeling quite nervous and never done this before. DD has hopes pinned on doing Chemistry and Biology as two of her A levels, which are sadly her two weakest subjects. School are saying that she needs an A grade to go on and do A level but we think she may scrape a B. She will not listen and is determined not to switch to English / Eng Lit which she is predicted an A. Thursday is going to be a nightmare if she gets two Bs and well, if they are Cs then the world has ended, ha.

Original poster
duchesse · 22/08/2011 10:46

We have double whammy this year, and again in 2 years' time, then single whammy two years later. And that's not even starting on the degree exams, which will also come fast and furious. If DS decides to do a year in industry, there's the chance we might have all three older ones at university at the same time...

OP posts:
minsmum · 21/08/2011 23:01

Can I sit with you please I'm a bit worried about DD I have never had to do this before so its all new to me and I am already worrying about the next 2 years as well. She has to get 5 B's to be considered for 6th form

Loshad · 21/08/2011 22:28

will beat you gnome - started last year with ds1, finishes aug 2019 with ds4, some years with double whammy. Have started on the wine Wink

GnomeDePlume · 21/08/2011 21:48

I'll come and sit here with the happy thought that I have got this to look forward to every August until 2018. I think I will start laying in gin.

prettypurpledaisy · 21/08/2011 20:49

DS is going over with his friends so he doesn't want me with him but DD does so that I can bring her home if her results are not good. I am conerned about my students as I inherited two groups when I started at my school in January and want good grades from them, we all worked hard to get the grades they deserved but I can't help worrying.

DD is more stressy than usual, snapping at me but it will all pass by after Thursday I hope.

Loshad · 21/08/2011 18:36

I'm not excessively worried about this years y11's - i had bottom exam set so i know in my heart that 2/3 of them will not have got their C, can't physically get from ds2's school to mine to see both so quite chilled. Last thurs was more anxious but Ds1s school and mine are much closer, but happily all my sixth formers did pretty well - 25% A's in a non selective sixth form Grin

BecauseImWorthIt · 21/08/2011 14:20

Another one joining in!

Although I have to say, having had the wait last year for DS1's A level results, I'm not quite as wound up for DS2. He will probably do reasonably well - and he will get his 6th form place, but he may not get the subjects he wants as he has to get a minimum of a B in those.

But - it won't be for want of us talking to him about the need to work hard!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 21/08/2011 14:17

I'm also a teacher and feeling weird that I want to be here for dd1 to get her results but I also want to be at school to see the Yr 11 get theirs! Does anybody have the spell for being in two places at once, please? :)

I think dd will be okay but she has high expectations (and worked very hard) and keeps beating herself up a bit about mistakes she might have made. She also has to choose where to do A levels and is in a bit of a flap about that too!

prettypurpledaisy · 21/08/2011 14:13

Can I join? DD1 needs 6 Bs to go into sixth form, I am sure she will be ok but we are getting a little stressed. DS1 has taken 3 in year 9 and is remarkably unconcerned about his results. Plus as a teacher I am worried about my students too!

Loshad · 21/08/2011 09:45

not too nervous for DS2, but he has very high expectations so fingers crossed. He did work really hard though, quite unlike his DS1. DS2 was dumped by girlfriend of 2 years a couple of days ago so he really does need some good results to cheer him up. Wonder if the younger two are going to be workers or cruisers Hmm

kangers · 20/08/2011 22:34

awaiting with trepidation. DS1 gets his on Thursday- no plan B- hopes to get into 6th form. Quite worried.

marriedinwhite · 20/08/2011 08:43

Fingers and toes crossed here for DS and everyone else's.