Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread

Living Errol's DD feeling sorry for people not learning any more physics

No mention of study leave. Prom at the end of June.

I've had no mention of study leave from DD or the school. They don't have an official leavers do, there's an unofficial 'prom' organised by the pupils but I don't think she or her friends are going. One less source of stress!

She said that today they'll finish the physics syllabus, and said she felt really sorry for all the people who were never going to learn any more physics (or maths).

DCs school are continuing lessons well into June and are having their leavers event one week before the end of their GCSEs (all have an exam the day following the event). I was stunned by this as I expected them to have study leave from May and not have the leavers event until after the exams. Does anyone else have this?

My problem is dds boyfriend. He keeps rocking up after school, and tonight I kicked him out at 6.15. I feel like the bad guy, but he has exams too. They will have all the time in the world in the summer.

Mine will be doing her DofE volunteering this saturday - usually some pretty serious stake-bashing, digging or sawing at the wildlife reserve. Exercise and fresh air, but it's only one afternoon every other week and it's not got a schoolday after it. Her big physical activity is windsurfing/sailing, which doesn't start till May but - in common with every other GCSE/A level year junior member we've ever known - she won't be doing any till after her last exam.
(She was lucky that she could use her after-school FM as her 'skill'.)

Yes, exercise and singing all good. Just a bit too much of it!

Same here Tilly. By the time DD has done Homework, CAs, Drama rehearsals, and English practice she's pretty much full up. otoh She has already done 3.5 GCSEs equivalent by marks, and by 2 days into next term she will have done nearly another whole one.

Yes, physical exercise is very important! We are very keen for DD to do a bit as often as possible!

DD is not revising ATM - she is trying to keep up with her homework and get her CA's finished, plus Saturday revision classes. DH says that is fine as we don't want her to burn out on revision too early. She couldn't cope with trying to do any more anyway.

Physical exercise is supposed to be good for stress, so maybe d of e is not all bad.

I know I'm going to have to put my foot down with DD.

She's just text to say she will be late tonight as she's got a lacrosse match. So another night coming in tired and hungry, with barely any time to revise!

Thank God she breaks up next Friday. But then there are those bloody DofE expeditions. 3 days each. And she'll be fit for nowt when she gets back....

DD has just finished her Silver DofE volunteering 3 weeks earlier than planned (but having done 6 months) due to after school revision classes.
Luckily she's not doing any other DofE this year - no way would she have coped with missing weekends for practice expeditions. In fact she may not finish it at all, we kind of signed her up 'just in case'!

TWF, my DD has suspended nearly all of her coaching now until after the exams as she knows that she needs some time to herself at least - even if she doesn't spend it all revising. Thank God she never wanted to do DofE!

I know HSMM, we have to grit our teeth and try to support as much as poss. Without moaning

Conversation with DD by text this morning:

DD: Can I go to extra French revision class after school today?

ME: Thinking, I'll have to leave work early and collect you, because you'll miss your bus. Of course DD, that'll be fine. Any time you want.

Word - sounds like you need to lay it on the line to her that if she spends too much time playing games etc right now, she will be letting herself down.

Two DofE expeditions this easter? Blimey. That sounds like poor planning by whoever is organising it. DD's school times them with the exam schedules in mind - so for the girls doing silver (mainly yr 11, some yr12s) the practice is after GCSEs (either before or during the summer hols) and the assessed is at the start of next autumn term. Last year with bronze they were (IIRC) also scheduled not to interfere with the yr10 exams, with practice/assessed not too close together.

Errol I am getting frustrated with school who have continued with the usual round of clubs/practice sessions etc but DD must also bear some responsibility in that she is over committed (always has been) and needs to bow out of some things now.

I keep repeating that there will be no sanctions if she misses lacrosse/netball/tennis/drama/choir etc but she doesn't want to let anyone down.

Sigh.

I am in complete denial that she has two Duke of Edinburgh expeditions over Easter!!!!!

We got our exam timetable today. The first exam is on 11 May, the last is on 12 June. 18 exams in total. There's also a whole week gap in the middle where there are no exams. All in all, not a bad timetable. There is still some syllabus to finish in English. We've been having a really bad time with the teacher but despite numerous complaints to the school nothing has improved. DCs will scrape through due to a very good tutor, not the school's efforts. All the teachers are running numerous revision sessions and have high hopes for the DCs.

Word - surely they shouldn't be keeping kids that late in clubs at this stage - what on earth are they that are deemed to take priority over revision/sleep? I thought my DD was pretty late tonight - about 6:15 - but that was after Further Maths, not exactly a 'club' (and the bus was late).

Counted 23 exams on DD's list. Still stressing about final french controlled assessment and rehearsing a drama piece.

We've been given dates for study leave.

TBH, with regards to DD, I'm considering adding to it (unofficially). She's knackered. They've finished their courses. And she does too many clubs! If she doesn't go in, she can avoid them, if she does go in, she kinda has to go to them.

Last night she wasn't home til 9.30pm. Tonight it will be 7.30pm. She needs to rest, sleep and revise!

Yes it does help thank you, I was beginning to think there were no exam papers!

Apparently study leave starts 15 May and exam timetable coming after Easter. If one doesn't appear then I can email and exam officer will email me one

DD isn't sure whether they get any study leave, but hopefully they will let us know!

Sugar - ah yes Study leave.
I'm expecting um contact with the school regarding that, as I believe they won't go on leave until half term, which is half way through exams.
But I'm waiting until the official announcement, which I think we may not get until after Easter.

SugarPlum is this any help? Or this?