Starting Year 11 GCSE 2021 Thread 2

@UncomfortableSilence we haven't heard anything about results day. But ours are having a prom, they are doing it at the school in July. Their reasoning being if more lockdowns happen, the Year 11s are in a bubble so it can still go ahead (plus we live in a more deprived area so costs are being kept to a minimum which is sensible) so I'm imagining a results day is on the cards.
Although at the moment, I'm not looking forward to results day haha!

Awww that’ll be such an anti-climax and all done by Fri is so soon! Mine would have cried if they’d received bridging work. That’s just too much & too soon. I’m guessing he’s going to put it to one side for a few weeks at least & have some downtime.

Ours have also completed assessments this week. Have 3 weeks off and then in for a week of A level/next stages foundation stuff plus some general well-being things. It’s quite vague and not terribly exciting. They are doing a leavers brunch with hoodies on the last day of that week, which will be lovely and a proper to end to yr11. They never organise the proms but a bunch of mums have sorted it for yr11 and the students themselves for Yr13. Very lucky to have managed these!
School haven’t mentioned results day other than the dates, but I doubt mine are too fussed about that.

@UncomfortableSilence

I honestly don’t get the reasoning behind it either. I wondered if it was some kind of National Guidance but clearly not if other schools are managing it.
They have worked so incredibly hard and now years of hard work is just going to be on a bloody email.

Unfortunately there is no way I can get him there. I’m a TA so I’m in school myself by 8.15 and I’ve also got another DS who is 10 who I need to get to school. DH works in London and we are on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.

It's so unfair on the kids how all schools are taking a different approach.

As for results day I can't think of the reasoning behind that? The kids are all in school together anyway it's really no different, we even had our kids in for results, in a slightly different way, last year.

I really feel for you and him.

We are having similar issues re. Summer A level work. The problem is DD doesn't even know if she can take her chosen subjects, the blocking hasn't been confirmed yet and 3 of her chosen subjects are in one block, she's also been given work for her reserved choices, which she in no way wants to do at A level (and is unlikely to be successful with).
Also having similar issues of there being little choice of 6th forms locally and 2 of her A level choices are only offered at her school.
We do have a leaver's jumper and a prom though and get to pick results up in person (though I'd rather not have that).

Is it out of the question for you to drive him at least one way?
DD's college is an hour door to door by bus, but we are going to drive her (30mins) for the first year because she has been so unwell she wouldn't cope. We are retired though so can fit it in.

Sounds like his current school might be the 'least worst' option.
I bet everyone doesn't do all the bridging work. Maybe set aside some weeks to do it 'full time' and then agree anything else doesn't get done?

@TeenMinusTests

It was a back up option just in case his grades were awful. He had a phone interview and the man asked what his predicted grades were...he seemed shocked and said most people that do the course need to resit maths and English. So academically it doesn’t seem a great fit for him.

It’s a 12 hour day nearly to get him there as there are no trains only a bus which takes nearly 2 hours as it goes around all the little villages on the way...hence why he wanted to stay at his school 6th Form. He loves the school but is just really frustrated with how they have dealt with everything and all this bridging work isn’t helping!

iheart I'd be seeing whether 'a bit of a nightmare' journey was bearable for 2 years. A BTEC Sports course seems not a great option for someone due to get 7/8s who wants to do A levels, but the school...

Honestly it’s absolutely ridiculous. I’ve already annoyed his HT back in September by questioning the cancellation of the prom, not sure I’ve got it in me to argue with her over this as well.
He should get into 6th Form, it’s a fairly low achieving High School so as long as they get decent enough grades they get a place (not exactly painting a great picture am I?!). We live fairly rurally and it’s a bit of a nightmare to get anywhere else. He also has a place on a BTEC Spors Course at a college but he wants to do A levels. Academically he is more than capable of doing them, he is predicted mostly 7’s and 8’s but I’m not sure he is ready for the work load.
It just feels like the last straw. He actually wanted to see the teachers etc on the Results Day and thank them etc, it feels like they are almost just washing their hands off them. Absolutely not teacher bashing, I know how hard they have worked but I really don’t understand their logic!

@ihearttc some of these schools are acting in a bizarre way aren't they!
Has you child got a guaranteed place in six form them? Surely it's dependant on results if they get their sixth form choice and subjects? Some children could do all that work and be wasting their time?
Our sixth form is very competitive to get into so I'm basing my thoughts on that.

ihearttc
That sounds awful.
There is no excuse for no results day - our school managed it last year.
And no leavers hoodies until September is plain daft.
The bridging work sounds ridiculous too.
Can he go somewhere else?

DS was for the most part doing ok until yesterday. We got an email last night saying that they aren’t even going to get a results day...it will just be emailed to them. They won’t even get their Leavers Hoodies until September which seems rather pointless. This is on top of having no prom. So basically next Friday that’s it. Whilst I appreciate that’s what had to happen last year, we are in a much better position this year and all other local schools are having their prom.
Attached to the email was details of all the Bridging Work he has to do for A level. I’m not sure what I was expecting, maybe some textbook suggestions with some reading for the first few weeks work but in fact he had 4 massive projects for each subject (so 12 in total) which will take the entire summer. They are compulsory as they need to present them when they start back to 6th Form.
He is completely mentally and physically exhausted and quite honestly was looking forward to doing nothing. It just seems unfair to make them do this after the 2 years they have had

DDs last exams were on Wednesday, the last few days they've been watching films, doing some lab work in science, last day is Friday, they'll have their leavers Mass and then all over the park after school. She's doing her shirt today.

Prom is end of June fingers crossed! Her 16th is next week and we're having a smallish party in the garden so she's busy making playlists and buying outfits so it will be a nice final weekend.

DB has his own business and has asked her if she wants to do some admin type work with him until September which she jumped at, I'll be at work so won't be able to drop her so she is going to get the tube which will be good experience for her. She's also going to do a CV and walk round our shops and see if anything is on offer.

Hope all your DC are holding up ok.

My DD too has finished her last exam today. Leavers assembly and prom planned for July. It's a weird feeling but onwards and upwards. ❤️

Well DD's exams are all finally over. Thank god. She now has 5 days to finish her art portfolio then they do a leavers ceremony next Friday and she is done. This weekend will be busy with finishing pieces and mounting everything but we are certainly on the home stretch! I hope everyone elses DC are doing ok and nearly finished :)

I just wanted to offer some balance, however, I shall go back to lurking and leave the regulars to their echo chamber

Nobody wants an echo chamber. It's actually lovely to hear that some kids aren't struggling and some schools are getting it right. I wouldn't want anyone else's child to be as stressed out as mine has been. I didn't take issue with your post - It was just the pp's suggestion that the parents were to blame that grated a little.

iheart
That's a shame, they've missed so much. Although I am a little worried that ours could still get cancelled and I've bought DD's dress.

That's so rubbish iheart, to be honest after last nights presser I wouldn't be surprised if the next stage of easing is pushed back and it doesn't happen. We've been told if it's cancelled they will do it at a later date but I think it needs to be before they move on to the next stage.

DS hasn’t even got a prom to look forward to! They cancelled the first week back to school in September. He is absolutely gutted. He spent Y7,8 and 9 hating himself and feeling incredibly self conscious. Puberty has been really kind to him and he really has transformed from an ugly duckling to a swan! He has a gorgeous girlfriend and for him the prom was so so much more than the end of school and it’s been taken away from them along with all the other experiences they have missed. It’s awful how these poor kids have been treated.

No pressure on DD here either from us, never has been, like I said upthread, the sound of my repetitive droning that you can only do your best etc etc is boring me.

It's great that some kids are coping well, however all kids are different, some will sail through, some will struggle and some will fall apart, it's the same every exam season, there's not a year goes by that we don't have kids in my school in pastoral in a complete state about exams.

This year is magnified by the absolute shit show this government has played on education, these kids don't know what's happening half the time, they've been in and out all year so of course some of them will be affected by this. As parents we can guide and support and hope that the ones struggling come through this with their mental health intact and knowing that whatever the outcome of this years exams they can all go on to achieve great things.

Some of DDs last assessments have now been cancelled, she's been given an end date of 28/5. There will be some online bridging work for 6th form followed by a taster day in July which she is horrified to find out is the day after prom, not sure who came up with that great idea She's spending today shopping with her friends for prom accessories so she's happy.

I just want to say this chat has really helped me. As I am calm on the outside for my ds, this forum has really helped me destress.

I couldn't agree more - fault is not with the school but I am amazed there is such a varied approach with the schools - It is totally the fault of the government.

They keep talking about mental health and I believe the stress all our children have been through during lock down..:some having on line lessons and others having hardly any and then been told no exams and then yes exams..is too much unwanted stress for a child who wants to do well.

I personally can't wait till it is over and thinking what wonderful things we can do as a family. I have been considering buying a dog for us over this year...and that will be my new focus...

@The3rdMrsdeWinter I have found all of your posts to be empathetic and measured. So thank you.
We can only go off our own experiences and that of those around us. I just hope our teens come out the other side relatively unscathed.

I'm sorry to hear about your DD's DF Tiny - my mum died when I was in the 6th form so passmemilk is wrong, I have empathy in spades.

I just wanted to offer some balance, however, I shall go back to lurking and leave the regulars to their echo chamber.

Good luck to all our teens.

Sorry posted too soon
@The3rdMrsdeWinter
I smile and tell her the only grades that count are the ones on the certificate. Said friend also glosses over the fact that my DD has worked hard consistently, whereas her's has cruised
You sound equally judgmental. This crap should be aimed at Gavin and the government, not undermining the 15/16 year olds.