Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms

Oh no SugarPlum! We have LOADS of that really strong insect repellent left from previous trips to places with mozzies, etc. I could have sent you some. AuntP do you have some?

It is really difficult to make the right choice but hopefully with all the legwork you are putting in the way forward for her will become clearer BTM. Hope she enjoys Prom.

AuntPetunia pack some insect repellant, bite cream and antihistamine for DS. DD just sent a sad face Snap Chat of her covered in bites, 26 if we're going to be precise about it as she was.

Hope it all becomes clear for her BigTillyMint. It's so important that they are happy with the choice. (When I went, in the West Country, there was no choice so the concept has been alien to me- steep learning curve!)
And PROM today! It's a beautiful day. Sounds like she's all set. Camera and tissues at the ready.

Thanks everyone. She has 4 other offers (all visited before applying and then for interviews), but they are all a difficult journey away, meaning she would need to get up very early which she is not good at. One she particularly liked for pastoral care, which is a plus, but it is a huge sixth form college involving a convoluted journey. She might be able to go back to her "old" school, but we don't know yet, and she was hoping for a fresh start...

The Taster Day one has a good track record on results, but obviously a very different pastoral approach to her current school. It is over-subscribed, including for the Taster Day, so the students that actually go there may not be the ones she saw on Monday as you need very good grades to get in, and I think that maybe they don't have to try all that hard with the pastoral stuff as they are so over-subscribed. But what we need to do is find out more, so we are hoping she will agree to, and we can set up a little meeting to find out more.

AuntP, glad your DS is happy with his school and new choices - DD may swap Economics for Art if she does end up going back to her old school. The Art exhibition was last night and the all the work was very impressive.

Prom today! She got her nails done with her mates yesterday and they are getting hair and makeup done today then getting ready here before I drop them to school as they are being bussed to the venue. I too am hoping to get photos...

Oh the prom pics are gorgeous, BTM sorry your dd had bad feeling about the 6th form, makes me so glad DS is just going back to his school. No hassle with getting right grades etc, he had a taster day today and has now decided his A levels , biology, English and psychology. So his 2 best subjects and something completely new.

Prom is Friday and he's off to the barbers tomorrow for hot towel shave and haircut. Will post pics Friday.

What are the other options BigTillyMint?
Any chance of visiting them? It really is a gut feeling I think. Good luck.

Really sorry to hear that BTM, not easy any of this . She had a few interviews didn't she ? What are the others like ?

Glad to hear that your DD has contacted your SugarPlum, and great that she was upbeat.

DD's Taster Day didn't go too well for her - she was very apprehensive before-hand, and then felt that the Pastoral Care wasn't as warm as she had hoped and is very worried that it isn't the right place for her. I am hoping that she will agree to go with DH/I to meet the person who would be her HoY and find out a bit more, but it looks like it is no longer her first choice. It is a big jump to a new Sixth Form, and especially for her

Looks from other threads as if SAT results are out, doubt DS' s will turn up till end of term. I care not one tiny bit about them .

The thought of the GCSE'S however make me feel somewhat queasy...

Last (and only) update from DD seemed pretty upbeat which was more of a relief than I can put into words.

Pity I don't have a pic of dd when she got home this afternoon as a contrast to all this elegance. She brushed and replaited her hair yesterday morning, since when she'd walked about 25km in wind and heavy rain, slept in a tent and then walked some more.

Wow, Spud, they do look elegant.

DS wore a black suit, white shirt and black tie. I really wanted to put a black pork pie hat on him and call him 'Elwood' but he didn't get the reference

Another gorgeous prom pic, she is stunning Spud

Rather in awe of all these jetting kids! DD is presumably in a tent in a rather nice part of the Yorkshire dales at the moment.

Spud, she looks stunning.

I have only given DD the odd fiver or tenner so far as she works and has plenty saved and there's only 2 more weeks and we'll be going away on holiday. She has a bank account, but doesn't like drawing money out! Most of what she does is hanging out with mates and the odd meal out. In your case, I think I would give her a weekly allowance, counting up for meals not eaten at home and the odd activity. If she runs out before the end of the week down to poor planning, then tough

I thought weekly because if I give her a month's money, she'll blow it in one go. But part of me wants to teach her a lesson and for that to happen so then she knows about planning her expenditure......

Fabulous photo spudmasher. Sixteen year olds are so elegant these days. Beautiful dresses.

Not sure I am a good one to give advice about budgets at the moment! A weekly allowance seems a good idea.

Lovely to hear how busy DC are jetting off all over, taster says etc.
Sat dd down tonight and asked her to draw up some sort of a budget for bits/ activities over the long break. I feel like I'm haemorrhaging money at the moment and it needs reining in! I think a weekly amount would be better for dd. She's got three weeks work on minimum wage for a 16 year old but that's it.
What are you all doing about spends over the break?

Great ballet result HSMMaCM

DS is in France and due home tomorrow, haven't heard a thing from him . Luckily a parent on the trip text me so I know they arrived safely! DS1 is 18 on Tues, so birthday arrangements are being finalised - no party, family celebration.

I thought it'd quieten down once exams were finished but we still seem to be on the hamster wheel...

Hope her prom goes well bigTilly.

Well done on your dd's ballet result HSMM.

My dd is travelling with friends on three bus changes deep into the SW.