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Original poster

Year 11 in September 2016. Feeling nervous for DS

38 replies

minesawine · 03/07/2016 16:21

I have been on mumsnet since DS started at a nervous wreck in Year 7, and shared many stories. He is now about to enter Year 11 and I am terrified. I am waiting on his results for early GCSE's and his Year 10 mocks, he thinks he has done OK but I think he could have studied more. Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised, fingers crossed!

Now he is about to enter Year 11 and it feels really scary, lots of big decisions - focussing on his studies not girls, what A'Levels to take, what school or college for 6th form, university subjects or apprenticeship etc etc. He really needs to grow up and I need to get a grip.

Are there any other anxious, soon to be Year 11, mums and dads out there?

OP posts:
errorofjudgement · 04/08/2016 21:20

Yes, but only to re-read an inspector calls, and it would be "helpful" to read Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde before they start the novel in September.

Original poster
minesawine · 04/08/2016 12:35

Did any of your Year 10's get any homework or prep for Year 11. My DS was told to read the whole of Macbeth. So far he has read 6 whole pages, whilst moaning how boring it is. I am going to get him the film to watch, maybe it will make him exited about the book (I live in hope!!)

OP posts:
Original poster
minesawine · 09/07/2016 20:08

I would like DS to go to a 6th form college because they have a bigger range of subjects then his current school and the change will be good practice for Uni. He wants to stay, so there will be lots of interesting debate, but it is his choice at the end of the day.

The school don't give parents the grades for his mocks until 2 days before the end of term which isn't ideal but it may help him decide on his A'Level subjects over the summer. It may also help me work out if a tutor is needed in any subjects for his GCSE's.

There is so much to think about but all he wants to know is if he can have a stretch hummer for his prom. Wine Wine Wine

OP posts:
nessus · 09/07/2016 09:52

DD will be starting YR.11 too in September. Will be reading her school report later today... I like to read reports first on my own before we go through it together! She is confident that her mock results are good so we will see if she managed a clean sweep of A's and will be clearing out my purse lol

This report is particularly important as will have to be submitted with sixth form applications going out over the summer (A-Level & IB subjects already decided thankfully), for which she has personal statements to write. With entrance exams to prep for and of course revision planning for GCSE'S plus county sports means an intense few months ahead but exciting nonetheless!

errorofjudgement · 06/07/2016 23:27

Often schools and colleges have open evenings for 6th form aimed at Y11s in October, then applications follow. I think I am correct in saying you apply directly to the school/ccollege so can end up holding several offers.
I think this is what we will do. DD wants to take drama as one of her A level choices and the 6th form drama class looks v small (from the results tables) so I think it is wise to have a back up in case there are insufficient numbers to run the course.

Socialaddict · 06/07/2016 21:26

My DD is also going into Yr 11 in Sept. I am already nervous but she is not at all! I shall try and control myself so I don't stress her additionally but am unsure if I'll be able to. Shall follow this thread with interest. My DD is planning to do some prep in the holidays but am sure this will not happen. In our school they choose the A levels in February after the mocks.

BertrandRussell · 05/07/2016 20:06

Oh help- ds is going into year 11 too- it hadn't crossed my mind to be particularly worried about it- now I'm worried that I'm not worried!

Original poster
minesawine · 05/07/2016 19:31

Over the summer I will have gentle chats with him about having to step up and focus. Deep and meaningfuls just don't work with him. I did say that he needs to use this year to decided what subjects he wants to do for A'Level and he just grunted that he doesn't know what subjects, but will probably do 4. OK then, 4 it is!

When do they have to decide what subjects they are doing in 6th form, do they wait until they have their GCSE results or do they have to decide before then.

OP posts:
swingofthings · 04/07/2016 18:14

All they do is prepare for the GCSEs, but they still have quite a number of topics to go through, so revision normally starts gradually from Feb/March onwards (but of course pupils can start revising what they've already learnt sooner). Some topics will still be learnt late in May. The triple science curriculum is huge and DD was still learning new topics a week before the exam (and found out here that this was common).

I learnt all this as I went through Y11 with her. My advice if you are anxious about not being in touch with what is going is to make time to go and speak with his teachers. They much rather than a mum asking them how she can help her son prepare than a mum who doesn't get involved or worse who thinks she knows better than them.

Original poster
minesawine · 04/07/2016 13:49

That is helpful Swing, I am trying to be calm and not panic. I would love him to do some prep in the holidays but that is never going to happen. I will see if I can find out if his school do two sets of mock exams.

I have no idea how Year 11 works, do they just revise and study all year, ready for GCSE's, or do they also learn new topics and subjects?

OP posts:
swingofthings · 04/07/2016 10:33

DD finished year 11 and despite having been educated abroad myself so no experience of GCSEs, I haven't found the process or future stressful. I do think that being anxious is probably the thing that will inhibit a child the most, so better to try to be relaxed so he can be too.

DD was always well prepared for the year, but a number of my friends' boys were not and they worried they wouldn't grow up in time to take it seriously. What really helped in our school is that they do two mock period exams, one in November and again in February. Many of these boys didn't do well at the November one and that was the eye opener for them to realise they needed to start studying. All did better in the February one and that was the incentive to do even better at the actual exam. Obviously needing to wait for the results, but feedback would seem to be that they have done very well.

I wouldn't put too much pressure on your boy now or right at the start of the year as until the penny has dropped that he will need to get on with it, he is likely to rebel against it and that will only make you more anxious. Give it time, boys usually start to take it all seriously later than girls closer to Easter time.

tapdancingmum · 04/07/2016 00:36

I am a tad anxious. Have one DD (19) who sailed through Y11 and has quite comfortably immersed herself into uni but we now come to DD2 (15). She is bright in her own way but lacks confidence in so many subjects. It doesn't help that she hasn't had a permanent science teacher for a while and doesn't get on with her mega teacher (or class). He is leaving though so hopefully they will get a good replacement.

She has surprised me with the amount of study she has done for her end of year exams but tells me that she isn't hopeful of good marks. I'm hoping she is playing it down but we shall see.

She can't see herself going to uni and has said as much to the school but wants to stay on for A levels. She now realises that saying this was a mistake as they do lose interest in the ones who aren't going to uni so I've told her to tell them that she hasn't actually made up her mind.

Here's hoping that my fears will be unfounded and she also sails through but it is nice to have somewhere to vent or celebrate.

RedHelenB · 03/07/2016 19:03

Not exact;y anxious but dd2 does tend to take the weight of the world upon her sometimes. Done one early GCSE and I am so hoping she gets the grade she worked for so that it will make her feel Y11 is more manageable