Gcse 2018 (10) The one with half term

Sandy my DD1 did a debate chamber course one half term, she absolutely loved it, learned a lot and it helped her decide on her degree subject.
The staff were extremely professional and knowledgeable, but also mostly still students themselves so much more relatable than stuffy teachers and parents!

I would sign DD2 up in a heartbeat if they ran one in the subject she's interested in.

Sandy - I think it was second who is now third...I looked at the courses too and I think they are very good value although expensive ...they do a Medicine Course which would have been ideal for DD this summer but she is very keen to have sometime out completely chilling so will look at for next year.
I liked the sound of PS too - would also have loved to have a similar college near us - its so well regarded.

I think someone ages ago said they were booking their DS onto a Debate Chamber course. Not sure who it was?

I'm thinking about booking DS1 onto the Physics 1 course. Just wondered if it is worth the money? Quite expensive but in London do very convenient for us and a good university taster.

Stick and Teen we are nowhere near you, but have good friends who are. Their DC are at Brock and PS and both thriving at what sound like excellent colleges. They only have positive things to say about both.
I'll admit to being a little bit envious, I'd have loved somewhere similar for DD1 (and now DD2) but the only 6th forms in our area are the "added onto high school" kind.

Hi Teen yes we seem to be in the same schedule so far / then it’s three sciences next week

I also have a friend whose daughter is at PS (just about to finish 1st year of Sixth form) she has been very impressed although she did state that her daughter virtually changed overnight from a quiet non trendy teen to an outgoing very trendy teen.
@stickerrocks when are you cruising? I booked a very last minute 10 night cruise from Southampton a few weeks ago because there was an offer I could not refuse...although it does mean DD arrives back from Fjords and then 10 days later goes again with DF (different cruise line and some different ports).
I'm hoping that we can switch off from GCSE's come 19th June...DD will be doing NCS during the run up and during the actual week of the 23rd (they allow them the 23rd off) so I'm hoping that it wont be the main topic of conversation.
Oratory - Is your DS doing the same as my DD again next week 2 x History. Eng Lang and Maths?

neah, I've never seen 'GCSEs in same sitting' for local entry requirements. Maybe b/c We are an underachieving county. Local 6FCs would go out of business if they got so choosy. DD's offer is 6xB, which is the most demanding any college gets within 1 hour drive.

DD's mates are mostly going to the walking-distance 6thFC; actually in that circle of mates, Dd is ONLY one who lives walking distance & only one who won't go there. DD resolved on 6FC she thinks will get her very highest results (public school). One lad she is on friendly terms with from school is also going there.

I looked on the parent portal yesterday to try to deduce from the letters to last year's prospective year 12 parents what the school's arrangements for results days are. I couldn't find it, but what I did find was a reference to the (state comprehensive) requiring parents to have paid a fee before their child can join the sixth form.
They were expecting outside students to pay it in cash on results day when they have to matriculate, and mentioned that parents of students who are just staying on would have been billed already and paid this fee in July.
It's not that much, just the price of a pub lunch for four, but I am surprised as I thought state education is supposed to be free? Does that change post-16?

Peggy this university is so new that it isn't even an ex-poly. That's reassuring that your DD succeeded at university and employment after struggling with A-levels.

The linear structure of A-levels doesn't suit DS1, who would be better with modular assessment. The structure of BTECs would have suited him but they don't do them in the subjects he wanted to study.

DD1 held 3 offers, 2 to do A levels and 1 to do a BTEC/ALevel combo. She held onto all 3 until after exams. Then released 1 (PS), and said to second (BP) not attending taster so only went to taster for #3 (Brock). She held on to BP until results day though just in case she changed her mind.

I get the impression some of you might live in my area. The parents of friends have been happy with their choices of PS/BP. At PS you only ever get to see the tutors if they want to see you!

Good luck to all the DC for the last big push.

Stickerrocks I agree. The back-up uni would possibly be more suitable for him in some ways, as there's more contact time and more academic support. It has a high number of entrants from access courses or foundation years.

Thethird one of my DCs has just finished her degree at an ex-poly. She got good GCSEs, struggled at A level, fine with degree.

3 days after her last exam she had an interview, then a second interview. She has landed her dream job with great prospects and starts next month.

The MN bit would be the really relevant work experience (both paid jobs where she worked hard and did well on her own merit) which frankly she got an "in" to through people we know, extra curricular stuff, confidence, people skills and the mock interview that her sister and I did with her.

Lljkk - the places your DC go don't stipulate "at the same sitting" in their criteria? I guess not.

Around here, that's all I ever see. Nowhere is interested in what you got on a resit or when you took an exam early. They just want you know what you can achieve when having to do everything at the same time.

Dd has places at 2 big sixth forms and her current school and plans to hold them all until results day. They seem to encourage it.

Current school is her insurance as they will take her unconditionally based on knowing she's capable of A levels even if she has a disaster.

Other two both have the same entry requirements (6 passes inc 2 at a 6) and want 7 in maths to do the A level.

She's holding them both because she might be influenced by where friends are going. Also the local train network seems to be imploding so she might switch her first choice to the one nearer her dad's house.

I feel quite sad that she might end up staying away midweek come September. I was ready for empty nest syndrome in 2020 but not yet

I'll survive!

yr9 DS finished a GCSE this yr. If he wants his result on "results day", has to be at school same morning as yr11 DD gets her results.

DD already has 4xA* (yr9 & yr10) so only needs 2xB from yr11exams to get into 6thFm she wants; half way thru exams season, there's no way she didn't get the 2xB by now, even if she falls apart for any remaining. It's a waste of time for other 6th forms to keep contacting us with info about when DD starts with them; DD is only going one place. I feel like we're stringing them along (& some of these colleges have skint budgets). Need to tell them now.

I guess some folk send their kids to 6Fms there the minimum entry is 8xA. Holding offers makes sense then.

Thanks oratory. Really useful. Dd plans to watch a few videos on descriptive and narrative writing, make sure she knows all her literary terms and read through her notes. I'll suggest making plans and I think I'll add in opening sentences as that's where she tends to freeze.

This is by far her worst paper and she really needs a 5. When it's over I'll feel like my exam season is over!

The rest of the day will be history - it’s a shame theyre so close together

Practise Writing plans for the longer high mark questions
Reading all the tips/notes/ reminders they ve been given
Reminder of timings
Mainly just try and make sure he stays relaxed and has a strategy for when he gets in there so doesn’t panic/mind blank but stays focused on what he has to do. The questions appear to be a similar format each time so I’m hoping that should help - at least he is familiar with it now.

Those of you who have dc who struggle with English language - what are they planning to do today and tomorrow?

Dd is very anxious about it and needs a plan to keep her calm. (Preferably one that isn't "revise maths")

The competition posts reminded me of when a very shy DS totally lacking in confidence went for his first day at secondary school. Went to assembly only to hear his sister announced as having the best gcse results in the school. He was terrified he would be expected to achieve at a similar level. fortunately it hasn’t been an issue since, they are so different and their own people and he has grown in confidence in other ways.

And when the girls got gcse and a levels in the same year they both got what they needed to progress so we could celebrate that for both of them. I do get its hard for some though.

lljkk it's normal round here to hold several offers at least until the results come out so I wouldn't worry.
DS has taster days at two sixth forms (1st choice and 3rd choice) on two consecutive days at the end of June!

Kingscote I completely get where you are coming from! DS fell onto tarmac whilst playing football at lunchtime a few days before the mocks. The hospital thought he had broken his scaphoid and immobilised his right hand. (It turned out just to a sprain). The school's response was to suggest that he writes and types left handed (despite having dysgraphia which makes doing it right handed hard enough!).
I spent a week really regretting that DS chose to play football that day. He made it through anyway, but did the exams either left handed or by removing the brace for the exam. Even a month later when the mock results were given out, no one remembered the conditions under which DS did them. Knowing how a broken wrist is not a solvable problem, I can totally see your dilemma.

However, it sounds like an amazing opportunity! Maybe someone else isn't available because of their exams, and so this gives your DS a chance to show what he can do?! If he doesn't take the chance, it might be something that he always regrets, and he is more like to emerge unscathed and feeling good about himself than end up injured, so, if I were you, I'd let him play.

@KingscoteStaff - well done your
DS. It looks like a beautiful day for it - just had to let dog out so I've been out already. I think it will do him a world of good to be out today.

lljkk won't your DD be doing A levels by 2020 and get her results a week in advance of your DS's GCSE results?

I've got a similar issue looming in the future, except DS2 is very able and ultra competitive when it comes to his brother. He expects to equal or beat DS1 at everything whether it's academic, sport, even height!