GCSE 2018 no. 6: stress, struggles and success (hopefully) *Title Edited by MNHQ*

DD1's school is operating a "Passport to the Prom" system, whereby the students have to chalk up a certain number of revision sessions and home-made revision resources in order to earn their ticket. I kind of admire whoever came up with the concept as it's hitting the reluctant students where it hurts. But I'm fascinated to see if they do actually prevent anyone from going!

DD1 is fighting against it a bit because she is finding that she has to go to sessions just to get her card stamped. But on the other hard, she's learning quite a lot about being tactical. She was despairing about producing "yet more" English Lit resources until I pointed out that it would be perfectly reasonable to print her quote bank on four separate sheets of paper - one per work - and call that four items!

mmzz I really think a late night email demanding attendance before hours the following morning crosses a line. Was it actually sent after 10pm? And has the school ever suggested that it's a good idea to get plenty of sleep? Because no teacher should be assuming that the students are up and working at that time of night.

I have never in my life faked an illness, but I agree with others that it may be time your son acquired a sudden "tummy bug" so he has some breathing space to get on top of things. Or alternatively, could you use the email as an excuse to fire off a response spelling out just how much the school is currently sabotaging the efforts of a conscientious student?

Mmzz the school may be panicking about results as people say but it sounds like their emails are out of control! I was feeling hassled by all the usual revision class type ones but they are nothing like that. DS says his English teacher is running revision sessions in Tutor time.
Hope Sostenuto dgd is now fully restored - it's a lesson for all of us - I can imagine she's a bit fed up having to remember to drink all that water!

MMzz - I think the DC's at your DS's school are going to be worn out by the time they get to the proper exams....they do appear to be taking a cramming approach. I would be tempted to do what Bluebelle suggests and would have probably kept DS off school today so he didn't get all the homework for the weekend (unless they send that out by email too) and so that he can have some breathing space.

I received a slightly whinging email from DD's MFL teacher about her not attending a clinic on Monday and I just bounced it back stating that DD was working really hard out of school and I was proud of how well she was doing in MFL (considering she asked to drop subject in Dec)...in fairness there was a nice reply back stating that DD's turnaround was most impressive...I wont have DD unnecessarily pressurized...

We appear to have a "new boy" on the scene so I have informed DD its all fine providing she continues to revise until 8.30...he is also sitting his GCSE's too - so hopefully all will be well!

Wow mmzz that's ridiculous to be emailing pupils late at night like that. I've said it before but this thread really is an eye opener into the differences between schools. Sorry if I've missed it but is your ds at a grammar or Indy? It seems do different to the way my dd's school is approaching the exams. They are delighted when the kids turn up

I'd also be recommending a few sick days at this stage. Even if you are honest and say they are for his mental health.

Dd had a night off last night for McDonald's and The Avengers. Back to it tonight. German speaking test next Thursday. For those who have already done it - did your dc just learn stock answers to questions or did they revise any other way? Dd is doing well on the main set of questions but I thought they couldn't get away with that any more

mmzz I was coming on to say exactly what Bluebelle has said! Let him have a couple of days off to get on top of things (and importantly, to feel that he is on top of things). Possibly including today!

mmzz I would say that your DS's school is petrified that it is going to lose its excellent record on GCSE's and as its the first year for most of them they don't know yet how much work is required to cover the syllabus sufficiently and are clearly now panicking and so are throwing everything at these exams.........I would hate to think this is their normal way of preparing pupils for the exams!

If DS was at such a school then I would be letting him have some unofficial sick days so that he can cover what he feels he needs to and to relieve so of the tremendous stress the school is putting on him. At this stage I think it is fruitless to try and negotiate with the school. Anyway good luck to your DS I have a sneaky suspicion his hard work will be amply rewarded

Teenmum, good luck to your dd for tomorrow!
DS did his in January, on raising the awareness of MH problems. He found it scary but did well.

Sos hope your dgd is feeling better. It's scary how quickly dehydration can happen. I'll keep an eye on DD's fluid intake, she's had problems with it in the past. Although she's been pretty good lately- she has an app on her phone with a plant. She "waters" it every time she has a drink to try and keep it alive. Sounds daft, but it seems to work for her and she's really proud of how tall it's growing!

Good luck Teenmum's DD for her presentation tomorrow, sounds like she's chosen an interesting subject.
DD rejigged her year 6 talk on Bees for hers! Used the same cue cards and everything! (Didn't wear the bumble bee costume that she wore the first time round though!)

Thanks Pannetone. DD has studied for it for an hour a week in an after school class. She's planning to blitz it after the rest of her papers finish, so I'll be delighted if she gets a pass.

Sost Don't nag! We're all here.

I'm starting to feel guilty now I alternate my two classroom mugs between one which says "I'd rather not be an accountant" and "I'd rather be in Cornwall". I also have a habit of reminding my classes that I like wine/gin/Hotel Chocolat if they pass!

Hope your DD is OK now Sost....

Just dropped my DD off at Brownies (first week she has helped out since before Easter due Birthday/School commitments). Dd has her English presentation tomorrow on the subject of "Dreams".

Whole year photo sent out today - so need to order online - something nice to look back too when she is old and grey like me!

Hi Sos I was having my tea

Lovely to see new faces and glad to share info advice and woes with each other!

DgD moaning because she has to get up early hours to have a wee because she has to drink 2 litres a day or end up on a drip again. Everyone make sure teens drink water because we thought she was drinking enough and we always make sure she has a drink to hand when revising but we can't pour it down their throats! Tell them if they don't drink enough they can become really ill. Dgd was so dehydrated they could not get blood out of her hence in hospital. Also tell teens if they have to go to loo at school to go, not hold it in till they get home like a lot of them do. ( hospital says they have teens in for precisely this reason as they don't like/ scared to use/ embarrassed to use school toilets) and they will avoid drinking and eating so they don't have to go.

*Good!

Next Wednesday is soon! Hood luck with revision Sostenueto's DGD. Perhaps some of the regulars are having their tea?

Lots of new faces on and nice to see but where is everyone else?

Well done with English - 5 would be great

Thanks EllenJane. Yes, our local college does do a BTEC like that. We looked at it a while back, but he just wasn't interested. I think he's just not ready to think about leaving his school.

I'm more anxious about physics than maths, but I guess we'll see what comes out in the wash.

Hi all. Getting a bit concerned about the overly happy attitude of dgd..begining to worry its all show and that she is really worried about exams have asked if she has major concerns over anything so we can try to help her. All I got was stop going on nan. As her first exam is Wednesday week am really fretting. Don't know whether to trust she's keeping up with revision schedule and not say anything or keep asking her

Ha, cross post ginger! Try to get him to be open minded, at least until he gets his results!

Hi ginger. DS2 is doing a 2 year level 3 BTEC in computing which is worth 3 A levels in UCAS points at our local college. He's going on to do an HNC in computing next year, possibly leading on to an HND, which are like the first and second year of university. There are students on his course who got a C in the old GCSE maths, so there are alternative routes to getting into computing if maths A level is a non starter. To get a C or above in maths A level you really need to be capable of a 7 or above at GCSE.

DS1 called A^ an A star with distinction or A star star. 4 years seems a long time ago now! Next they'll be doing STEP and GCSEs won't seem very important.

Hi Oratory. Thanks.

Yes, our DSs sound very similar. Mine is also staying at his comp, it's just that I am worried about him getting the grades to get onto the A-levels he wants to do. He's very tunnel-visioned and I don't think he would entertain the idea of business or anything else. He certainly doesn't want to have to go to the local college. He has toyed with perhaps doing the Cambridge IT certificate instead of physics, but he says (correctly I suspect) that physics is important for game design. We really should be able to get him through it as DH is a physics graduate and works in science.

I've literally just been told the result of DS's second round of mocks. In January he got a 3 in English Language. That was a bit of a wake-up call for both of us and so I learned about the papers and he's been sitting down with me for 'lessons'. I've just learned that the paper he did before Easter achieved a 5! I've so chuffed with him. And I reckon I might give myself a teeny pat on the back too. Fingers crossed for that result in August.