Year 11 GCSE support thread 4 - more exams

I'm very grateful that DD has thus far been untouched by negativity in respect of her body and appearance.

She is supremely comfortable in her own skin and embraces herself, including her flaws.

I hope this doesn't change when she leaves her girls only school and heads into co-ed sixth form. So many women spend their lives finding themselves just that bit lacking .

History today here too. DD wants to do it for A level, so very important. Gulp.

TWF, same here, as DD and her mate were discussing in the car. At least we know that for AS levels - take a couple of days off without worrying too much.

History for DS today.
I am able to collect him (and any other waifs and strays who also live in our village) at 10.30, which he's chuffed about. This is the advantage of working from home!

I have been instructed to bring some of the lemon drizzle cake I made yesterday, though he tells me that his friend probably won't eat it as she's doing the 5-2 fast diet. That made me really sad - she's 16 and is in no way overweight. A lifetime of a negative relationship with food. I'm not suggesting she stuff herself with cake, but just a little slice during the day is fine IMO.

DD has two sixth forms, is planning to go to both inductions as she can't choose between them (and hasn't finalised her subject choice either). One is the day after Prom, so could be a very "interesting" experience.

Both mine have gone off for exams this morning. They seem glad to be cracking on. Half term was utterly boring and demotivating.

Motherstongue thanks for the tip about Pliny's nationality! DS has been working quite hard on his Latin & Greek, and DH should be up to speed as well as a result. For some reason I am not allowed to help with the L&G revision.

This suits me, after the weekend just before his German oral, when we spent the whole w/e practising; no slacking on my part allowed. I was exhausted by the end, and glad to get back to work.

DS has a busy week this week.

History today. Not a favourite.

I need to check this thread on my pc rather than iPod so I can see your pictures of prom dresses etc.

DD did some more computing today and I think a maths paper and plans to do some eng Lang tomorrow (though I don't know how you revise that). She's not stepped foot outside the front door at all since Friday last and not even been in the garden much.

Get your Ds to phone up with an excuse.For example that he is doing valuable work experience that week.I think its a bit rude just not to attend as they might well need exact numbers for planning purposes.All these days are mainly Pr exercises anyway,although they're often sold as being team-building events.

Thanks all, very helpful.
Would I need to tell them he can't go? White lie, the truth or just don't turn up? It's rather a poor show to just not turn up, isn't it? Though I presume they wouldn't retract their offer, would they?

Hi tbtc regarding sixth form options for ds I'd say if his second choice really is still his second choice and if it is offering slightly lower grades for entrance then maybe you could stick with those choices - especially now ds has done most of the exams and hopefully no disasters - that is if he thinks they've gone reasonably OK.
Perhaps holding on to a third choice is excessive especially given the requirement/request to attend the induction week?
But then we're just hoping dd can stay on where she is (hopefully that's quite likely) We didn't apply for a second choice though we did go along to another open evening - but they were offering/asking for very similar grades so in the end we didn't apply. I think if grades were less than hoped for we'd think again and see what local sixth form college could offer. Like many people I like to have a plan B even if it's at the back of my mind.
I guess you could talk it through with the school concerned - see how strongly they feel about students doing the induction week?

My DS is loathe to go to for the induction for his main choice because he says it's just fake lessons. Make of that what you will.

OTOH, I think it comes too soon after he finishes a run of 25 separate exams.

DD has offers at 5 sixth forms but is not intending to go to all the induction days. She has just replied saying she can't make them. Lots of teens here hold offers till they get results A week is a bit much - mostly they are just a day!

tbtc - difficult one. The safest thing is to go on all the inductions, but if he is anything like my dd he may have other ideas!

Sending pictures by PM - don't think you can do this, however if you send people a PM, those who want to see the pictures can reply with their e mail address. I think this would be the only way.

For those who have dc on the spectrum, I know how hard this can be - wishing you luck for the rest of the exams.

I reckon if push came to shove, he'd be able to accept the place without doing the induction. There will be all sorts of reasons why people wouldn't be able to do a week long induction. There will be loads in the same boat too.
Keep options open. Be positive that he'll get the grades but don't burn any bridges (just don't do the week long induction!)

A little off topic and will look around for more appropriate place to post, but you seem like a nice lot.

So, DS has accepted places at three 6th forms. He is confident that he will get what he needs to go to his first or second choice, but it seemed sensible to accept the 3rd choice one when he was offered a place. The thing is, this 3rd one has a week long induction starting the day he finishes his exams. The other ones are a single day early July and a single day late Aug. He is not at all keen to go to the week long one as it means getting the school bus as normal. I really feel for him, that he doesn't even get a few days to relax after exams, though I imagine they do it at this time so that students haven't all cleared off on holidays!

So, I've told him he can't hold the place but not go to the induction. He therefore wants to retract his acceptance. I am not sure what to do.

He said that if he didn't get the grades to go to choice 1 and he'd rather resit.
It's a very good 6th form though and when he was applying for places it had the advantage of being far easier to travel to. We have since worked out travel to choices 1 and 2 are not as hard as we thought.

I don't know...it just seems dodgy to reject a place 'cos he doesn't want to go to the induction.

Bear, I've just googles Pliny (I told you I knew nothing about Latin and Greek). He is Roman so it must be Latin! Impressed with your DH!

What a beautiful little cat!

Does anyone know how to send pics by PM? Don't want to post them up on here.

Nydj, we always used to take the mick about Emlyn's voice as kids!

Thank you for the welcome switchitoff and for understanding the importance of the anxiety issues. I should also point out that I am pretty old so I was a teenager when I had the crush on Emlyn. I knew nothing about football (still don't) and strangely enough I loved the fact that he never seemed to know any of the answers and just giggled his way through each episode. Not sure what the excuse is for fancying a man who I just saw giggling on TV for 30 mins every week! Bearleigh it's good to know that I wasn't alone.

I always quite fancied EH too!

Motherstongue DS wrote out his Greek vocab in Roman script, so DH can test him on it. They're upstairs doing Pliny now - is that Latin, or Greek? Dunno.

switch, that does sound fab. I am especially jealous of the trip across America. We did some homestays in Kerala a couple of years ago - fabulous food and very welcoming families. Whereabouts is he going?

motherstongue, although there are times I'd like to see the back of them, I would miss my DC very much. Will need to gear-up for (hopefully) uni!

DD has 9 left. Roll on June 16th. But then the partying starts

Switchitoff did your D's organise all that by himself?I'm seriously impressed if he did.Also impressed at your fortitude .
Aye,the Canny's spaniel can now woof Latin verbs in time to Britain's Got Talent.

Switchitoff I am trying to be chilled about my PFB being in Japan on her own. It's the getting from host family's house to language school but that is worrying me and the idea of her using Japanese public transport by herself. Her friend's sister did similar when she was a year older and was fine apparently so am resolutely holding onto that.

Lots of laughter tonight at the poor cat's expense. He has been fighting again resulting in costly trip to emergency vet when abcess burst earlier and a lampshade collar. He's not had one before and having some issues. Feel bad about laughing but he is hilarious. The other two cats and the dog are all , what have you done with him?!