Gcses 2019 support thread 5

DDs is anything as long as "safe" and "respectful", the second is particularly aimed at students respecting the large Muslim contingent - which means they don't get the short shorts/skirts and crop tops of other places - without actually banning them. My old DD did go in pajamas one day though!

Induction day seemed to have gone quite well - she spoke to other students, and found her way 1/2 way back to the station.

Annoying - that’s what the dress code is. Very few for boys, huge list for girls including no collar bones on show......🙄

Black suit with a formal shirt for smart occasions. Daily wear is the skirt with any top.

That’s so harsh triggers - it’s not exactly going to encourage her to admit mistakes in the future is it? Fingers crossed for the results (I wouldn’t rush to mention anything personally but that could be me taking the chicken way out).
Dad will miss taster day as she’s on NCS but she’s going to email the school about handouts/reading lists, although we don’t have much free time either!

We are finally done! Dd has had her introduction days and has decided to go back to her original choices and do classical civ instead of textiles. She's got a good few books to read over the holidays including Howards End and the odyssey. She has to do an epq and is keen to do gold DofE which i think might do her good, although it's expensive so I'd be glad if she changed her mind!

oh triggers that sounds harsh... I'll keep fingers crossed for appeal and hope if its not upheld that DD is not too gutted. If she needs if for A-level (apologies I can't remember) can the school write a supportive letter (if she's not staying on at school).

End of work experience week here - DD has really enjoyed it and surprised herself I think. She was in a law firm and got given meaningful tasks to do rather than just shadowing etc. She says it will be a bit odd not to be going there on Monday!

Ohhh! Then big congrats🍾
We only had awards in Y7 and a similar thing happened with the girl who is a national maths whizz losing out to another girl! But how fantastic to be recognised for something you weren’t expecting

Arewedone - no DS got an award - for maths! We were just surprised, as there were other DC who are head and shoulders above DS in maths (DS got a 9 in his mock, but scraped, as he is likely to do if he manages a 9 in the real thing, and one boy got 100% in the mock and couldn't think of anything he got wrong in the first two exams, at least). We were just surprised it was maths rather than science, were he did get the best grades for science in the mocks, and he was top of the (admittedly very small) art contingent. As mentioned, it does seem like it was a prize per DC, so if maths decided he got maths, then science might have been told to find somebody else. You only get to go if you or your DC wins a prize, that is why it was a first for us (and most of the other parents there).

Triggers - really feel sorry for your Dd, must be heartbreaking to be penalised harshly for being so honest. Hopefully she will have done well on her other papers💐

Bimkom - sorry your DS missed an award! There’s often many reasons behind them. DS school also gives vouchers ahead of the ceremony to select books. No awards given at Dd school!

Well no prom either, but the prize day was yesterday, so it felt a bit like a goodbye, end of an era, and quite sad. Very interesting about the prizes. School clearly doesn't have a lot - there was one prize for maths, one for science, one for creative arts, religious studies, one for MFL, three for most improved, one all rounder - for each of KS3, KS4 and KS5. Then there were three prizes for B'TECs, a cup for each year in sports, two music cups, a few additional prizes such as an endeavour prize, some good behaviour/good character traits type prizes and a few additional certificates, and that was it. Most of the parents we met there said it was the first prizegiving they had been to. The head boy spoke and said it was the first prize giving he had been to (and he didn't get a prize). They did say that they gave some more prizes at the Year 13 graduation in May, but they listed all the names, and it was only around 10 or so.
The other thing that was noteworthy was that they didn't only give the KS4 prizes to Year 11s, it was spread between Years 9, 10 and 11. There was a Science prize, which was the one that I thought DS might have won if anything, but that went to a Year 10, as did the creative arts prize (again, he might have been in the running for). Really not clear how they decided who got what, although it did feel like it was strictly one prize per DC. Seems like the departments had had a think, and then discussed more widely. The headteacher did seem to suggest that they had put a lot of time and effort into deciding who got what prize, it clearly wasn't about who had the top score in any given subject. Quite a lot of work for a £15 book voucher (albeit that we had to go off to our local bookstore and buy the book, and give it in, so it could be written in). I also think that touch was nice, as it means that at least the DC could choose the book and get something they might want.
Very different to what went on in Primary School, which was a lot more traditional, as I remember it, and was done at the graduation assembly, all parents and children were there, nobody knew beforehand, and the DC got what they got.

I love all the prom pictures , dd had hers last week and deleted all the photos I took of her :(

The school have finally heard back re accidental phone on her in exam and self reported. Not good news - she's been disqualified from that paper. She should still pass , the other 2 papers went well but she can kiss goodbye to a 7 or 8 . The school are going to appeal but don't hold out much hope.

I've not yet told her , think I'll leave it till nearer results day.

DD didn't do Prom. But is now in college for her induction day- a bit scarey. I expect her to come out with tons of summer homework and most people to have done little before enrolment.

Steppemum, sounds good they seem to grow up so quickly

Stepp sounds like a perfect night all round!

Steppemum - sounds like a perfect party ! Imagine it was great fun!

Aw so glad it went well and he had a good time - despite the dancing!!!! Looking forward to the picture

well, ds had a brillinat time.
Not so sold on theactual prom - after we had eaten, all there was to do was dance? So we danced all evening (yes dear that's called a party

dropped him at the field for after party, with change of clothes, bag with smoe cider cans and a sleeping bag, one of his friends has said he can share a tent. Went home to bed (with phone switched on)

Got a phone call at 6 am (I get up at 6, so not unreasonable) can I pick him up, he hasn't been to bed.

Picked him up, they all had a ball, turns out all other after parties were cancelled in favour of this field behind someone's house, everyone tere, all veyr social and frinedly, good time had by all, most had just stayed up all night.

Really pleased for him, this is actually only his 2nd party ever, and since GCSE their friendships seem to be up in the air, so wasn't sure how it would go.

He is now alseep.
Sorry, photo will be later, not on my phone.
He said - everyone looked so nice, it was actually really nice to dress up.

Sorry posted too soon!
She rang when she got home and they’d all had a great time. Pick up is 11 - let’s see how much sleep they got!
We now have a potential mix up for next weeks NCS - a friend’s mum was rung with a different pick up time to the email which makes more sense, but no one else has had the call! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Thanks everyone! She stayed over at a friend’s last night with a group of them (I have flowers for the mum - I can imagine how noisy they must have been!).
We struck lucky with the bag and shoes - after getting the dress a few weeks later I bumped into a really stylish lady wearing ‘50’s gear with lilac hair. It turns out she has a shop (and this now is very outing!) so I followed her on Facebook, and the first post featured the shoes and bag that had just come in - an absolute perfect match!

Wow Fos - what a great outfit! Must have taken ages to coordinate it all. Fantastic she went all the way with the hair too!
Pleased it all worked out with the car!