GCSE Summer 2020 - Thread 11 Carry on Corona Cohort - Starting New Terms and Settings

we are tentatively getting on ok here as well with the relationship between me and ds improving. I will probably have jinxed it now.

I honestly think its his job that has done that. It seems to have given him a bit of perspective tbh.

Thank you monkey. I will take a look. She does have a maths tutor and today she asked if she could see her twice a week from after Xmas. This coming from one who hates maths, I nearly fainted 😁😁. It does show, however, how much she wants to pass it and never have to do it again!

Fools, so pleased to read your ds is a bit happier. Dd has been seeking me out more too. It's nice isn't it (altho she also has her evil moments too!)

RedskyAtnight thanks!

@SoTiredNeedHoliday

You're very welcome here, but your questions might be better asked on the current Year 11 thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3653238-Starting-Year-11-GCSE2021-title-edited-by-MNHQ

(This thread is more aimed at parents of the DC who took (or rather didn't take) GCSEs in summer 2020).

I'm new to this thread. DS sitting GCSE (hopefully) at the end of this academic year.

Can someone catch me up on any changes to assessments that have been announced? Also, have there been any dates advised?

I know they were thinking about having them later than scheduled

DS school has not passed on anything as yet.

That is lovely to read Fools

He is Crazycrofter. I think he is feeling well again which makes a huge difference. Have noticed a slight but perceptible shift in him, think he is starting to feel like he belongs and actually felt he missed out a bit by being off last week.

Early days but drop off this week was a lot better. We’ve also noticed he is more sociable when home and comes to find us more so very pleased about that, taking my victories where I can get them , one day at a time 🙂

@pasanda there are also excellent youtube and BBC bite size resources. If there is any area she is stuck on, I am sure we can signpost her to good resources - there seem to be a few maths graduates on here. I know that is not the structured strategy you want to have in place, but it should work.

@pasanda the best thing for maths is to plough through a workbook as it will help her work out which areas she needs to focus on. She can do that with your help and then let the teacher know her weak areas when she knows what they are - something like www.amazon.co.uk/GCSE-Maths-Edexcel-Practice-Workbook/dp/1782943994/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&crid=VQXUGKJ14O7G&keywords=edexcel+foundation+maths+9-1&sprefix=edexcel+fun%2Caps%2C176&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1601377540&sr=8-6

Do you know which board? And foundation or higher?

How is your ds @FoolsAssassin? Is he staying at the current school?

Your poor DD Pasanda, they haven’t made it easy for her one bit.

DS said this morning that teaching for physics is ‘solid’
Maths and FM are good as far as I can tell and not struggling too much with computer science which is good as new subject.

DS's views

Geography - good
Physics - good
Computer Science (AS) - really good
Maths - I still hate this

(He's only taking maths because of potential future interest in Physics or Comp Sci, both of which will expect him to have maths. He was really ambivalent about taking it - especially knowing it would be a huge learning curve to come in after 6 months off. My job currently is to persuade him that when a teacher says "do some examples for homework" - that doesn't mean he does the easiest 2 and then give up).

Oh dear @pasanda what a mess! I suppose there is always a resit option in the summer if Oct/Nov is too soon for the maths?

It is ealing.

I want to call the 'helpline' (which is an 0800 number that covers about 7 colleges and has proved worse than useless so far) but dd is adamant she wants to sort it herself. But she is reluctant to draw attention to the fact she is doing A levels plus the need for retaking maths in case they tell her she can't do them at all (as has been the case twice already causing a huge amount of stress) despite having enrolled, got a timetable and college ID.
Honestly you couldn't make it up

It must be so frustrating for your DD Pasanda on the lack of maths support with clock ticking to next sitting.

Good to hear feedback from DCs on how courses are going.

DDs reflections:

Music - loving everything about it, in a group of 4, all enthusiasts , all different instruments and great teachers. Have started a sixth form band at lunchtimes with other sixth formers as year 12 & 13 in the same bubble.

Drama - going well. Luckily another student joined her so getting lots of teacher time with 2 in the group. Enjoying the syllabus.

Photography - loves it. Lots of homework from every lesson but DD coping. Not sure about the teacher yet but good in providing clear instructions which DD needs.

Psychology- had 3 teachers, interesting subject but DD overwhelmed and dropped it last week.

Form tutor great and had a phone call (parents evening) from her and was very complementary about DD settling in well.

Assessments this week and next then first progress report in 2 weeks.

To all your dc though, I'm glad the majority are liking their courses 😊. Dd likes hers but has had hardly any homework and not much put on the online learning links so is constantly emailing her teachers to check she's not missing any as she's very borderline with her grades and paranoid she's going to get chucked off.

Sorry to change the subject but despite a phone call (from me), an email and person to person convo between dd and head of A levels, she has still not had any maths tuition . When she spoke to them on Friday they said she would be 'put on a list' for maths gcse (despite them apparently knowing about her before) and would receive an email either Friday or today with details on how to link to the zoom session between 4-6pm tonight.

But nothing.

This college is absolutely shit with their organisation and it's winding me up more and more. Online maths gcse tuition for someone who doesn't 'get' maths is bad enough but NO online learning is even worse. Grrrrr

DSs thoughts on subjects:

Maths - likes it. Prefers one teacher to the other

Geography - likes it. Probably prefers physical geography to human but both are good. Both teachers good.

Religious Studies - favourite subject at the moment. Enjoys being able to discuss things and likes both teachers.

Also likes his form tutor.

All in all pretty good.

Had slight worry when had another “important” email from school today but was that a year 13 has Covid 19 and their close contacts are isolating.

Thank you everyone; some great thoughts and experiences there. I think she’ll be ok, just thrown by the high bar. Previously she thinks being in a group where most were STEM biased in their strengths, she probably stood out in class and as a result, ranked highly in the sub setting. I would have assumed her current grouping is based on timetabling vs ability, but the group will clearly now be of those in her year (and newcomers to the school) that excel in English and may consider taking at HE level.

Parents’ evening in a couple of weeks...good time to sense check.

I also think as a time poor person in the past, this has massively caught up with her taking 2 essay based subjects. She needs to adjust accordingly to cover the reading needs, not just bang out an essay like she used to!

DS seems OK with everything but Spanish is still unresolved. He talks most about sociology but probably because he knows I am interested. He finds economics hardest.

there sis till a spec with Pope on it?? Goodness!

I love Pope!

Teenagers always respond to Streetcar and I love teaching it. Get more and more uncomfortable about the misogyny each time, though. It's a great discussion but some kids are at a very basic level with their understanding of male violence and very much judge Blanche,and even Stella.

DD’s comments:
English- loves Streetcar, not so sure about Wordsworth, is completely bonkers about Pope.

Chemistry- hard. She thinks the teacher is trying to scare off a few students who might not be up to it - lots of tests. Loves both teachers.

Biology - great, one teacher more approachable than the other (and with more of a sense of humour...)

@ealingwestmum Top tip for English (given to DD by Older DS) is that it is massively worthwhile doing ‘flipped learning’ for English. He would read the material ahead of the lesson, plus a couple of bits of research - even if it was just wiki background on the author or some random’s poetry blog. He then felt he had something to say early in the discussion sessions and (in a ‘fake it til you make it’ way) then felt emboldened to come up with his own thoughts. DD is doing this know and it has helped her confidence.

I think that if you are dealing with material for the first time in a group, so much of your brain is processing your reactions that you don’t have any room left to come up with thoughtful questions or insightful comments.

How is DS finding subjects?
PE - most interesting and most friendly
Maths/FM - likes the main teacher, but content still boring, mostly GCSE
Physics - OK, nice teachers

Another one not doing much work, no idea what the standard of his work has been, not much handed in and no parents evenings until Feb.

@ealingwestmum sorry to hear your DD is struggling, does your school set for A levels? I have not come across that, I think it is usually one group in an option block unless an enormous sixth form.