Current Year 10 2020/2021 support thread

Thanks very much for the hair tips - at the moment she is still pink turning orange, ideally would be good if it just goes without redyeing, she has antidandruff shampoo which helps a bit but seems to spread it into her hair colour so we now have a less pinky more orangey look. School are being very tolerant which is good though not sure how long that will last. Hoping can get to the weekend and that's better when things go wrong which they generally do with hair dyeing experiments.

Hope everyone is having good returns to school / end of holidays.

Silkies Head & Shoulders original for getting rid of hair dye, if it's really stubborn something like Colour B4 is good but quite strong-smelling (speaks from experience!). DD is having all of her hair off next week - from bra-strap length to a pixie, she is much more excited about this than school .
We didn't do much over the holiday, DD met up with a couple of friends outside but otherwise much quieter than usual. I have a feeling this term is going to be a tough one, homework is starting back, DofE starting and exams straight back after half-term. Football is also back with a vengeance so training two nights a week plus Saturday mornings and matches on Sunday mornings.................
Good luck to all those going back this week as applicable

Thanks Its Glad you had a good return to school and nice if quiet Easter.

DS is in assessment stage for EHCP but LA replied to me to say they are drafting him one with professionals and senco said 9/10 who go to assessment get one so hopefully. It should make quite a difference for him and school - he needs help to write and school really need an extra person, DS is sometimes standing by a 60mph road in the rain and there's no staff. It's a very safe area and DS wouldn't run in the road but its not great. He really needed support from y7 but its taken this long to get this far, he had a full-time TA at primary at one stage but paid for by school. He is variable though, sometimes can manage. Also school here its 10 GCSEs and 1 level 3 which is like AS level so massive workload and he's pretty lazy.

His tutor has messaged to say he is very calm which is a relief. Got a haircut for him tomorrow as he currently looks like a sheep that hasn't been shaved for about 6 years but told him that and he smiled and said he loves sheep.

Not sure if DD did any work in holidays, she is very good at getting one with things by herself. I don't think they get much homework with pandemic, all I know is she has asked me to buy 3 different versions of Romeo and Juliet which seems excessive but if it helps why not.

Fingers crossed for the EHCP to come through for your DS Silkies - do you think they will do anything differently once it has come?

Back to school was actually pretty calm here this morning. The Easter hols seem to have passed very quickly but we didn't do much, met up with some friends and family, played board games, watched films. DS didn't seem to have any homework set and he's not one for doing stuff off his own bat. I did try to get him to read some of his English revision guides but I think he really needs a push from school rather than me. School seem to be (understandably) focusing on the year 11s at the moment, must be so stressful for them, glad I'm not a teacher!

Hope those still on holiday have a good week, at least you have some places to go now. Easter is later next year so they will go back to school on the Tuesday after the bank holiday Monday. I don't know if Easter being later is good for those doing exams or not, probably doesn't make any difference!

Hope everyone had a good Easter or is having one. Ours was pretty dull as nothing open apart from the punting once.

Not a great start back to school. DD had put in temporary pink hair dye which turned out to be not so temp so she was in the bathroom trying to unsuccessfully get it out.

But looks hopeful for DS to finally get an EHCP. Haircuts tomorrow!

Then DS as usual needed lots of help to get ready, got stressed by new pencil cases and bags and also wanted the one of his two identical blazers which was missing. So he has gone in late. Though was eventually located.

DH was getting grumpy as he wanted to be in the bathroom but at least two kids now at school. First lesson for DS is PE which he misses anyway so should be OK and he has his lunchcard. And DH can now take his shower. So hopefully world peace will shortly be restored.

@TheOnlyMrsW He's really keen about the smaller venue, he's also worried about other kids being horrible about him getting extra time as his grades are good so they may think it unfair. (He has a really worry about people judging him)

Sorry @HelloDulling forgot to reply to you earlier , I have gently broached revision over the break with DD but don't really want to push too much, she's having a tough time with her dad at the moment so trying to be the non-naggy parent!!! I suspect she'll do some anyway when boredom strikes next week

@Gumbo we are in East Lancashire and most of our schools here finished last week for two weeks, however the catholic primary school that DD went to doesn't finish until Thursday, I vaguely remember from her time there that they always have Holy Week in. It used to be quite good for sneaking cheaper holidays when everyone else had gone back in .
@PringlePopIt that must be a huge relief for DS, both the extra time and the quieter area so the reasons for the extra time might not necessarily be obvious? IME when DSS had "different" arrangements for managing his ADHD he hated it and didn't really take advantage as it marked him out from the rest of the class.
Silkies your plans sound lovely - our forecast is dry for most of the holidays but still struggling to get into double figures after tomorrow so not I'm brave enough to book much!!!!

Thanks Its I also need to help DS with English, well all writing but not easy with ASD and doesn't seem even to want to try, quite scary to think he'll have GCSEs in 2 years time. And he has to do 11 which is far too many for him but top set science do triple and double results tend to be 6 and below then the top set maths if they opt for stats do FM level 3 as an extra. I may get them to drop some later but will see how it goes, he refuses the SN room so it makes sense to put him in lessons. It's English x 2 plus History the big challenge though he already has geography so history could go if needed. He only writes about 1 line at the moment though apparently can speak history and english to very high levels but basically writes 1 line of nonsense. Really hoping he will get an EHCP soon.

We went punting and was lovely weather though a bit windy so didn't get far at all as no-one could punt and current was really strong. Hardly anyone there, just one or two very strong 20ish men managing fine. An ice cream would have been lovely but we were late though then uncharacteristically let us stay late too, only about 3 other punts out whole time there. DD tried, she was better than DH but that wasn't saying that much. Lovely to go out though.

Hope everyone has a good Easter. Our only other booked thing is the lido but that is forecast to be 9C so not sure that's viable. Still today was first family day out since summer holidays due to lockdowns / isolations / house move.

Pleased for you @PringlePopIt

Jacks Gelato on Benet Street (next to the Eagle pub) does very nice ice cream if you fancy any @Silkies

Before they reformed the GCSEs I think it used to be more common to do one early in year 10 (mind you people used to do 12 or 13 at some schools!) I think there is an argument for it being good practice but then schools can always do end of year exams in exam conditions. I'm glad we don't have to face any this year, such chaos. I think DS will end up with only 8 GCSEs (and additional maths which is technically slightly different I think). I'm mainly worried about his English grade(s) being good enough. Would be nice if I could get him to do some work on it over the holidays but somehow it doesn't seem very likely - sigh.

Our school used to do English Language a year early for everyone but thankfully they have stopped that. DD asked if she could take Maths a year early but they said no-one is allowed to do that. Seems crazy to me to do English Language a year early for everyone as some children must fail because of that. If you aren't doing RE GCSE you are supposed to do half RE in year 10 which seems pointless to me though guess its practise -DD took full GCSE and DS I will try and get opted out as he refuses RE lessons. He used to love them at primary though they had some very passionate evangelical christain teaching there and at secondary its a very sceptical approach. Though DS appeared a bit confused at primary declaring himself half-Christian, half Muslim and that he would only have a Muslim wife.

We are in East of England and all schools off now and back 12th April, shame as we go back just as things to do start. Still have the punting and if we are desperate enough to risk hypothermia the lido. 9C that day though

Thanks @HelloDulling ... I agree it's good for them to get some exams out of the way and get into the swing of how it all works.

@Gumbo We are in Wales. Finished on Fri for two weeks.

DD is doing ICT GCSE this year. Had one assessment on Tues, next bit is in May. I don’t really understand why they do it a year early, but actually it been good practice.

Where is everyone whose schools are already closed for the holidays? Our lot only close next Wednesday (well - actually Thursday, but it's not a school day and instead we have slots where we remotely chat to the Tutor).

Also, I'm confused by all the GCSE exams taking place - is this just in very specific subjects? Or has my DS not understood as is he supposed to be studying for something that he hasn't bothered to mention? I wish your DC well anyhow, all of those who've got exams looming...

Well done to your DS Gumbo

We just started the holidays here though doesn't especially feel like a holiday more lockdown continued, at least the weather is getting a bit better and there are dates when things will open, just a shame its when the kids are back at school though DH did suggest we could go without them

The weather forecast has improved a lot for the punting - now a big sun and 20C but the lido day is 8C so I'm not sure if that will be viable. Told DS about the days and he seemed a bit horrified at punting and at the idea of a lido, he's probably right with the lido but it sounded good when I booked it.

Hope everyone has nice Easters. Good luck to those with real GCSEs looming. Our y10 exams have also been pushed back to the week after half term though they have constant exams and have had quite a few since being back despite it supposidly being assessment free. Though in the current climate its probably wise and DD seems to cope fine with them.

We had the results of ds assessment for extra time and he has been granted 25% extra and also can choose to do his exams in a smaller area. We're so relieved.

We had a virtual parents evening this week. I quite liked the format as there isn't the usual scrum, running late etc. Ds also doesn't want his challenge grades set at 9 as he feels pressured so we'll see how it all goes. He's doing well but has first part 'gcse' exam on Tuesday and is stressing today! I have been supportive but in a nice way have told him he needs to be a bit more resilient as he'll have 10 to sit at once next year!

My son is in year 10. He takes a GCSE in May and has already been graded on the practical part. Seems all wrong when he's only 14

Hi all. Much as I was desperate for them to go back, I’m glad it’s Easter now!

Have got DD’s parents eve the week we go back; am hoping for some sort of grade predictions. DD says she doesn’t want to know, as it will be too much pressure, but I would like to know what she is working towards.

@TheOnlyMrsW DD’s exams are the week after half term too. I said she needs to start making revision notes for her three sciences and Geog over Easter. Went down like a lead balloon. Will buy some (more!) new stationery to get her in the mood.

Great news Gumbo, especially as it means he can concentrate on the other subjects now. Last day of term here too - frustratingly DSS finishes on Thursday next week so he will be here the week that DD is back to school, luckily he will sleep through pretty much anything so at least he won't get woken up in the mornings .
We don't have many plans for the holidays - DD is very happy that football is back next week and in no mood to be "peoply", one thing that she has really struggled with since being back in the school building is the noise levels. She's already said that her plan for these holidays is to do very little and absolutely nothing to do with school!!!!
Normally they would have exams in early May but we've just had an email from school to say they will be the first week back after half-term. The email specifically says that year 10 will have a formal exam week and in the end of year reports we will get their normal ATL's, details of any gaps in learning and the grades that they are on track for at the moment. I assume that by specifying a "formal" exam week they will maybe in proper exam conditions in the hall but will wait and see on that.
V impressed at those whose DC's have done the Olympiad - whilst maths seems to have clicked this term (just in time) for DD, I think that a decent GCSE grade is all she can aspire to in that particular field!

Big congrats to your DS Gumbo! He must be so pleased.

We finish tomorrow for the Easter break and looking forward to some down time. Hope the weather is better than predicted for you Silkies. We have plans to meet friends on Tuesday afternoon and currently the weather is looking quite hopeful, fingers crossed. Haven't made too many other plans and DH will still be working from home so I foresee lots of board games and watching Disney+ to try and stay out of his way. I really miss lazy holiday days browsing at the library and wandering around the shops with lunch at a cafe.

At least DS has said that I can cut his hair (with the clippers) in the holidays, it's been getting quite unruly. He had a detention after school yesterday, still struggling with attention and controlling his frustration at school. He is quite pleased they said they could choose which 19th novel to study so he has chosen "A Christmas Carol", he hates "Jane Eyre". I asked him if this meant we should (re)watch the Muppet version for revision :)

I haven't been on this thread for a little while as it was quiet on the school front (amidst the twice-weekly Covid testing, which DS is coping with surprisingly well - he has ASD and I was dreading it!)

Anyhow - he wrote his Sports Science exam at the start of the year; since then there's been conversations about them having assessments as well if they wanted rather than the exam marks - it all got confusing. But - he got his exam results back this morning and he got a D*, so he's delighted . Also, it means no more assessments and he can put it behind him and concentrate on more important subjects!

I hope everyone else have DC who are coping with this all - only a week until holidays..

Ours go back on 12th too and was annoying though probably deliberate most things reopen on 12th. Though a bit is opening on 29th.

School still going well and both in. A few assessments but nothing compared to normal though they went assessment crazy last term so its nice not so many. DD got to orthodontist fine. Looked up forecast for punting and says mist, DH says do you want to change dates, I said well its a choice of mist, fog or rain.

Ds said the Olympiad was hard - he's not actually a 'natural' mathematician and doesn't really enjoy maths.

Thanks Silkies - DS seemed quite pleased after the Hamilton paper, he did answers for all six questions though he ran out of time a bit at the end. But having gone through the questions this afternoon it seems like he made some silly mistakes and got a few of them wrong so he is now not quite so happy. Don't think he will have done as well as he did in the Cayley last year. We have told him he still did very well to qualify and I think it was a hard paper. Hopefully the results won't take so long to come this time! Hope you enjoy the punting, you are right you really don't want to fall in - friends of mine used to try to do bridge hopping (back in the dim distant past of my student days) but it almost always ended with them in the river - shudder.

Our school seems to be doing lots of assessments even though Yr10 did loads remotely in online school - I guess they don't want to rely on those results. Apparently they are going to change the way they communicate these results to parents next term so I don't know what that means. We have to wait and see.

Only one more week before we have our Easter break and the weather is currently looking quite hopeful so looking forward to meeting up with some family we haven't seen for far too long. I think some parts of the country have the Easter hols a bit later but ours go back on the 12th just as stuff starts to reopen! Hey ho.