Gcse 2018 (10) The one with half term

lobster I'd be happy to talk about it all day long! I can't believe we'll be on the plane 4 weeks today. DD is really looking forward to it but it feels so distant at the moment with 3 weeks of exams, prom and 3 x sixth form taster days to get through before then.

cubscout DD's reason for moving isn't for academic reasons. She feels like she needs to get out of our very small, very boring and non-diverse town ("A local school for local people") and go to the nearby big city. I secretly think it's because she knows she'll never get a girlfriend unless she leaves!

I think she's doing the right thing. She's pretty much finished with her friendship group here and has had various hassles and low level bullying episodes. She really needs to find her tribe and that isn't going to happen here.

I am worried about how early she'll have to get up though

There's quite a bit of movement locally. Some schools don't have sixth forms, some sixth forms are in grammar schools and there's a FE college in town and a couple of other colleges within reach. My DS3 is hoping to move to a more local comprehensive school sixth form as it has better results/reputation in his chosen subjects. All the sixth forms are selective but schools give lower offers to internals. The FE colleges are a good fall back insurance place and students who are disappointed with their GCSEs and don't make their sixth form offers can usually find something at a college in August/Sept even if they haven't looked at them before.

It's so much easier (as a parent) when they are doing their exams at university. You have no idea how much revision they're doing and it's easy to forget when the exams are. DS1 has done 6 of his second year exams and I think 4 to go. No idea what the subjects/topics are, whether morning or afternoon. No specs to look up, no grade boundaries to be published. Bliss!

I'm interested to hear from those of you whose dc are moving schools or going to 6th form college - is it because their current schools don't have 6th form? Or don't offer the subject ranges? In my area, there is not a huge movement at 6th form - some move for subject choice (e.g. my ds school don't do Music A level or languages, and dc move into ds school because it is strong on Maths) but generally the majority stay where they are.

Ds quite relaxed about this week - we have re done his revision program for the next 2 weeks and it's great to see less and less on it!

Oh Kick it sounds like you're going on my dream holiday - number 1 on my bucket list!!

I'll be picking your brains when you get back. How exciting.

Third I completely understand, I've said it many times on the yr13 thread but it seems cruel that there can be so much riding on just a few exams. So much can go wrong and there is so much to lose.
DD1's first exam is Wednesday and I can already feel the dread setting in.
Like you though, it tends to settle once the first exam is out of the way (until results day!)

DD2 has 5 this week and 5 next week and then that's it!
So 2 pretty heavy weeks (an exam every day) but as the end is nearly in sight it feels manageable I think.

DS has 6 papers this week, mostly his weaker subjects, but is very relaxed. I'm not sure when the fear is going to hit, but my guess is it will be at about 9:10 on Tuesday when he's had a chance to look through the English language paper.

Thethird ask yourself how bad can it realistically be tomorrow? I bet if you're honest with yourself, the answer is that it won't be anything that will have a lasting impact.

(Hope that's not patronising, I'm just trying to help you rationalise your anxiety away).

Checking in again - it's such a relief to realise our family is just like all of yours - with DC in various states of motivation/enjoying getting out to do some fun things on occasion and starting to think about results day!

I've been out most of the weekend trying to create space to study (DD2 ill, so quiet for a change!) but I think the only focus and attention has been on Dan and Phil on YouTube. DD gets a 9+ for that!

3 exams on Wednesday and then one final one 8 days after that!! Wish we lived somewhere she could order prom clothing online - it's really hard to find anything suitable and affordable here.

We're leaving the country in a month, so DD also excited about packing and planning all her Summer activities. Final exams seem to be an inconvenience - hope she didn't peak in her Mocks for these!

Best wishes to all DC with a heavy exam load this week (i.e any exams!)

Sorry for those DC struggling today. It has felt a bit strange, the relief of last weekend getting the first few over and getting to a break but now having to wind up again so I can understand.

ooh that sounds exciting Kick and cruising with a book sounds lovely too. Never considered cruise for a family holiday but thinking about it, it sounds great for a short treat with just one DC. Maybe you've just given me an idea for 21st b'day !!

Oh and dd and I have a big adventure planned for July. It will involve volcanoes, orang utans and several days without WiFi

Oh dear sost. Sounds like she's reached the point where revision is counterproductive.

Dd has just finished after revising since 10.00. She has spent most of the morning doing language paper 1 q5 plans and opening paragraphs. She did 4 in total and got more confident with each one. Thanks so much for suggesting that (I think it was oratory?)

The worst bit for her is the blind panic between seeing the question and deciding what she's doing. She's all smiles now because she realises she can do it

@stickerrocks - Yes just me and teen. I am taking lots to read and intend to chill in spa. I think DD is quite looking forward to using her new camera ...I think there will be lots of Scots..DD was away at the same time last year and it was mainly American and Scottish families (lots of older teens) and a few kids from Indies who had also broken up.

Meltdown from dgd just a little while ago. She said she just can't contain anymore knowledge but she doesn't know it all and she wants to do well not just pass and she wish it could all be over. Floods of tears, hot and bothered and her hormones. Just sent her for a cool long shower and told her enough is enough. She must have a rest now from revision for rest of day. That bought more tears as she's so many hours behind schedule etc. But I said she can do a little bit after dinner if she feels better but only 45 minutes. She's almost burned out doing so much revision its absolutely ridiculous! She says she doesn't want to let us down, her teachers down or herself down. I said no matter what your results you will never let any of us down as we know you have tried your best and hardest. So we will have to see how she feels after shower and some pampering. I said I'll paint her toenails and we can do a facemask each. A little girlie time in order!

Three weeks ago I think most of us (parents) were pretty anxious about the start of GCSE's...a weeks break and I think we are a lot more relaxed?

Thank you slinkyme and Teenmum60 I plan to distract myself and keep busy and hopefully tomorrow will be better

TheThirdOfHerName - sorry to hear your feeling anxious again (but totally understandable). I am sure your DS1 is going to fine - he has a goal to aim for

It definitely says you need to pay. By coincidence, 5 seconds ago, DS was just looking at last year's letter to internal students starting year 12 and it clearly says that you need to bring a printout of the email receipt from Parentpay to show that you have paid it (the "you is directed at the student, but its obviously the parent who actually pays).

We'll pay, if he stays, but I am wondering if this is actually legal? Maybe they get away with it because who is going to make a fuss just as the enrol into the sixth form?

DD too into K pop and Anime all that but I couldn't tell you more than that which band she is interested in.

Best of luck Third. Keep your self busy today and tomorrow and plan a nice small treat for you tomorrow evening. I do understand how you feel and we are not at the A level stage.

I just can't believe that in a blink of an eye this whole exam period will be over. Right now it's all about revision. DS too has exams but not qualification affecting.

Looking forward to the summer but equally DD still hasn't got enough organised as still waiting to hear back from a few applications. She didn't want to do NCS but I wonder whether we should discuss - she didn't explore it enough.

In K-pop news, DD isn't a big fan of BTS - she prefers Astro, Golden Child, MXM and Jeong Sewoon, all of whom are extremely unlikely to be touring the UK, so that's saved us a couple of hundred quid (not to mention the time spent in online ticket queues).

She was chatting to me about K-pop at lunchtime today and I learnt all sorts about the ethics of the different 'entertainments', the difference between a band and a group, the 101 selection show etc. If only this were one of her GCSE subjects.

mmzz it’s perfectly legal to ask for a voluntary donation to the school fund but it’s not legal to make it a condition of entry - and I’m pretty sure that applies to sixth form!
It sounds like the school is being very heavy-handed in its approach to getting money off the parents.