Anyone want a thread for starting year 10 this autumn?

We had quite a hassle securing WE for DS. He got "No don't want anyone", "We would say yes but don't have employer liability insurance" and "I never answer emails or phone calls after the 1st agreement to take a WE student".

By sheer chance I bumped into someone who said yes (turned on what little charm I have to persuade him) and actually had insurance AND even answered phone & emails to fill in the forms.

Actual WE happens 2 weeks from Monday.

I took DS to a Uni Open day today. I know that makes me sound like crazy pushy parent but Actually it was to give him a taste of engineering.  Lboro open day so am outing self.... anyway, DS engaged a lot so both happy he went.  He can study anything he likes where he likes, but it was a good way to help him choose A-levels 14 months from now.

Stuffing my face after long day of driving.

Have other Y10s been doing work experience? DD’s had a fabulous experience this week and has learned so much.

Can I join?

DD is halfway through her mock exams. We’re only just at a stage where she’s anxiety-free in general after some tough years so the fact she’s getting through them and not blanking out etc. is such a relief.I’m really curious to see what results she gets as this more confident version of herself.

It's all getting a bit real. My year 10 is now being referred to as year 11 at school and all the extra exam technique lessons are in place starting this week.

He had mocks back in the spring so no exams now but two sets of mocks next year Nov and March. Also DT course work (50% of grade) in full swing.
He seems laid back about the whole thing and a little bit too confident... I hope it's not misplaced.

So…most GCSEs finished Friday yes? DD’s school prom is 2 weeks after that . I’m thinking as long as I’d be back for the emergency/contingency date next year I could be going away this week?!!! I need a silver lining!

@MyOtherProfile Yes, it’s definitely been kick up the bum time at our school! DD seems to have found it motivating rather than dispiriting though, so all a good learning experience.

Yep I'm in though I don't use the site that much - must get on here more often. One of mine has just been through year 11 - the other two are Yr9 and Yr10 and don't think it will be as easy a ride with the little one!!

How is everyone doing as the end of Y10 approaches? We have a mixed bag of end-of-year results here. Let’s just say the sciences will need some consolidation over the summer holidays!

@Marisquita

She was doing RE. Not exactly sure what came up but she seemed to think it was what she'd expected so I'm not sure how much variety on questioning there is!

She was fine really. She's very good at essay writing and has an opinion so RE suits her skills. :)

I don't know what school your child is at but I know the ones mine are at are very 'on it' in terms of preparing them for the tests.

How did your DC get on with that first GCSE exam @Littlebluebird123 ? I confess I am stalking the 2023 GCSE boards to find out what topics have been coming up (or, more importantly, not coming up so may do next year) in DD’s subjects. I may be a little overinvested!

Hello all. Hope you're all hanging on in there.

Anyone else's DC doing an actual GCSE this year? Mine is doing one, first exam on Monday! Eek.

Thankfully all seems fairly calm and revision going well. Although we'll see. Slightly glad one is being done this year as it's good practice for the ones which count more!

Hi, was on the thread a while back but have name-changed since. DS has been doing pretty well with revision over Easter in preparation for end of year exams after he’s back - was pleasantly surprised tbh. But it’s a bit scary how much content they have already covered, and how much there is already to learn with still a year to go.

English Literature has been the biggest challenge here - seems like you basically have to plan out different essays by character / theme, complete with quotes, and then learn them all. Essays are not DS’s strong point so this has been painful! He’s been watching some YouTube videos, but some of the ‘interpretations’ seem a bit of a reach! Haven’t even had to get into the poetry yet.

Sorry StColumbofNavron, I know very little about T levels, what are your options post 16? It seems to vary so much by region on whether people stay at school or all move to colleges. People tend to stick with school sixth forms here, but there’s a fair bit of movement between them.

Occasionally eldest gets through but then he forgets it. He just says he’ll do whatever course the grades allow him to do. I wonder if I let him carry on and for the start of y11 based on y10 exams things like the PS do get limited. But will he really just continue ignoring?

A job is not a bad idea, but he cannot get one until he is 16 around here. He does have work experience coming up and I’m hoping he might be inspired.

Does anyone know the entry requirements for T levels? He seemed the tiniest bit interested in a couple but I’m sure that he will still need better than 4s.

@StColumbofNavron would he listen at all to your eldest, about the reality of what was needed? It’s really hard. I’m warming DS up to the idea of trying to find some part time work, I think it can really help them grow up. But does take up more of their time that could be spent revising!

Hello everyone, I was here at the beginning but life has got in the way of posting, but it’s becoming a real slog with DS2 so I need some help.

He is predicted (currently, not official predictions) mostly 4s and 5s and I would be ecstatic with this if I knew he was trying hard. The issue is school have communicated to them that a 4 is a pass and he is currently managing that without any effort so is basically just not doing any work. He is doing art and wants possibly to do some arts based subjects at college but he has done not one piece of art work at home and is predicted a 5. He has refused my offer of a tutor for any subject (I’ve suggested maths at a min); does all his homework in about 45 mins on a Sunday. He is refusing to engage in any revision even though at parents’ evening they said even 15 mins a day over the holidays would help. Today, I let him off chores when I went to work if he did the small amount of revision I sent him. I sent him a 4 mark history question (he likes history so I started with that). He hasn’t done it but been on his phone and P.S. all day. I’ve said we might have to consider taking it away if he won’t revise even 15-30 mins when I am literally providing the work so he doesn’t even have to work out how to revise - I am literally giving it to him on a plate. He said I can take it away but then he’ll just sleep all day.

He thinks he can cram at the end because he thinks that’s what his brother did, but his brother worked consistently hard all the way through so had a decent foundation and worked continuously hard at every piece of homework and did actually revise even if DS2 thinks he didn’t.

He just won’t understand that the grades are about keeping his options open and allowing him to chose what happens next rather than being told. I just don’t know how to inspire him. He just says he’ll do whatever course he can get on then do whatever happens next, prob a job.

He has decent role models, all the resources, I just want him to put a bit of effort in so he can pick the sixth form/college and the course(s).

@MyOtherProfile and/or the UCAS one:

https://www.ucas.com/explore/career-compass

@MyOtherProfile She could try the What Uni careers quiz:

https://www.whatuni.com/career-guides/career-matcher/detailed/

DD has exams after Easter too. She produced a very comprehensive revision timetable, which I thought was too much and I felt she needed time to relax as well, and she now agrees and has gone out with her mates for the day. She will start on Monday. I don’t want her to burn out so I’m making sure she has breaks and fun as well - next year is for the hardcore working as they have two sets of mocks.

I agree it’s gone so fast - can’t believe we’re into the final term of Y10, and her school is only up to GCSE so she’ll be leaving in just over a year. I’m looking forward to her time at college on her behalf though, no uniform, just subjects she enjoys, more freedom, she’s going to love it.

It’s suddenly got real for DD - she has her first piece of assessed coursework coming up after the Easter holidays - an invigilated timed essay which will count for 20% of her final grade (IGCSE English Language). They do one more of those later in the summer term, so will have done 40% of English Language assessed work before Y11 even starts. Then to decide which 6th forms to apply to in September/October. It will all come round rather quickly.

Lurking to read through later