Gcses 2019 support thread 5

We're not aiming for highest marks really. Passes will be fine. If I look at the science, no way will DD be able to learn all the detail in the guide.

ds says the revision guides are not detailed enough to get the highest marks.

We’ve passed all dd’s revision guides on to dss, uniform decent bits are being passed on to someone I know who is a single mum like I was back in yr7. I’m going to email the local food bank see if they’ll take them

Teen, DD has used a mixture - revision guides, online resources, her own notes (which are good) and custom-produced revision guides made by the school and published either on their VLE or in hard copies.

She found revision guides good for presenting the 'basics' in a uniform way, but her own notes and the school's materials were best for the extra detail / boost / techniques needed for the higher grades.

ds used a lot of class notes.
Didn't have a lot of revision guides, mostly Eng lit and science.
We bought what was recommended.

Ds and dd's school do use part of the FSM budget to subsidise revision guides and books for GCSE

Just found out that dd's school (different to ds) is asking for different guides to ds. Dd is just going into year 10, so I thought we could pass them all on, now I'm going to have to buy more!

@TeenTimesTwo
DD revised from mixture of text books, reasonable class notes (though DD spent a fair while puzzling over her own handwriting) and WhatsApped friends' class notes...

What did all your DCs revise from if not revision guides?
Are their class notes all excellent? Or do they all use online sites and rely on them to be complete and correct?

For DD1 4 years ago we relied almost entirely on revision guides, and I'm already doing the same for DD2, y9, as her class notes aren't coherent enough.

.. but having said that, her school's pretty big on text books, which, although heavy for lugging around in bags the last 2 years, are a good starting point for revision.

Hearing about all these lovely unused Revision Guides is kind of tantaslising as I work with newly arrived Asylum Seekers who take months to be allocated school places and are champing at the bit and super aware of being behind their British school peers...those guides would be perfect for them to get accustomed to the UK curriculum preparing to go into Year 10 or 11, maybe I should have got organised to get local schools to make a collection. Not been much on our radar, didn't realise they were such a thing.. clearly I should hang out in WH Smiths a bit more.

we're fairly low budget so only bought two Maths Revision Guides, which DD protested were commercial profiteering and unecessary but school were recommending and I didn't have the confidence to resist.

Not sure how much difference it made, plenty of past papers online for AQA Further Maths tomorrow.. and suspect they don't even exist for new tricksy exam format ones like OCR Class Civ.

Deriguer- totally get it and share your thoughts!
Exactly same here, endless study guides and revision books ordered half not even opened and the cost was never a second thought. It’s very sobering!

We've put all the revision paraphernalia into a large storage box in the garage.

We've decided to hang onto it until we know the results.

If all is well we'll be donating the books to the school who've emailed out that they'd be grateful for such donations as a supply for children whose parents may struggle to afford them.

Tbh - got me thinking. We just bought all the revision guides without "thought" - it's what you do?

Packing them up I was very aware that it's hundreds of pounds worth of books.

Same with his uniform - rugby tops that sell at £25 etc. I've got a bundle of stuff that's again worth three figures.

So I've washed/ironed everything and plan to take it into the school clothing shop (they accept and distribute donations).

Looking back it was stressful, but I've never been in a position where I had to think "what if" as a parent.

Would the results be different if I'd been able to afford xyz book?

Sorry just a somewhat morose reflection on the experience that whatever the outcome, DH and I couldn't have done more, but that's a reflection on our "economic privilege".

DD has gone out to a friend's for the evening. She does have an exam tomorrow afternoon, but she was all giddy at the idea of being able to go out and think about something other than exams....

I think putting stuff in the loft may be a safer option...

Prom outfit sorted, but no dresses here so it was easy, she's wearing smart black trousers, her beloved converse hi tops, a black floral shirt from a vintage shop and a borrowed purple wool blazer.
When she wears the outfit and puts her glasses on she bears an uncanny resemblance to Sue Perkins!! (same hairstyle too).

that should say - HIS choice

ds cleared all his books out, but they have gone in the loft! (until results day) - choice!

He has also dismantled his desk for the summer!

He has reluctantly agreed to go shopping on Monday for a suit for prom. We have 10 days

Dd has taken a break from revising to chuck all her notes in the recycling. All except for what she needs for German tomorrow.
Recycling bin is overflowing now

So much for a few cans of lager, he swapped some for cider so mixed his drinks and I think had more than he took. He came in barely able to stand, saying I’m not gonna lie I’ve had a bit to drink! How he thought I might not notice is beyond me😂 Helped him to bed with faithful sick bowl and towels over the carpet, left both our bedroom doors open, I barely slept all night in case he was ill. Glad to report no adverse effects this morning and he’s just got a McDonald’s delivered 😂

So quiet weekend - But wow - I can now see DD's bedroom carpet. She has sorted and recycled all her notes. Decided that she will not re-take anything regardless of grades (maths aside), and took great glee in tossing all her German notes in particular . I can now hoover for the first time since Half Term, and DD is busily removing all the sticky patches from her mirror wardrobes.

Thanks for all the supportive messages about lack of parties. I was/am still feeling for DD, she seems to be the only one not going to an after prom event. The issue is that she is friends with everyone, but doesn't belong to any of the core groups..... DD1 was the same actually, and in fact, didn't really find a "tribe" until she got to Uni, and she has had an amazing time ever since, so I shouldn't really be too worried, but I just don't want DD2 to get upset when the Instagram posts start hitting.

Anyway, she looks amazing in her dress, just got it steamed by the lady we bought it from, and it fits beautifully. Now we have just got to hope for some nicer weather.

Dd had a great time at the party last night. Party was hosted by a friend of dd's who goes to a different secondary school. Dd met a lot of this girl's friends who are hoping to go to the same sixth form college dd is hoping to attend. So she was happy!
She went with a can of cider, came home without it and slightly giggly. She confessed to having drunk her cider and a bottle of wkd.

Her plans for today is to bake a strawberry flan for father's day and to revise for her German writing exam tomorrow.

So close to the end of exams

Sorry should say...saturday night t.v is always in my bed ...to be left alone with my packet of revels !!

Oh glad the prom dresses are coming together .
No prom or parties for us .

Ds did go out with his friends yesterday.
I got some cash out to make sure he had enough .
He then starts looking in the fridge ,to see what he can take to the PICNIC !!

Flips sake ...i had been shopping the day before and would have got him stuff if he asked !
Well he went of with a packet of sausage rolls and so.e baby belles horrendous cheese things ! Oh and a big carton of apple juice !!

At 9.45 pm i texted him to see what time he would be home .....

He texted me back to say

"I am in bed " !!

He said he got in at 8.30 but was shattered because they walked the whole circuit of Richmond Park (+ extra at the beginning at they got off at the wrong train station !!)

There is my mummy fail !
I was watching saturday night t.v and did not hear him come in .
Told him i was cross he did not put his head round the door !!