Year 9 - 2022/2023 Support Thread

@QueenMabby it’s interesting you mention D of E, I always thought it would be good for ds to do that, but I’m suddenly changing my mind. I think it would potentially be a lot of added stress. Im keeping quiet at the moment but at some point we are going to have that discussion.

Re: activities;
Ds2 has just given up piano 💔
But he's keeping on with his youth am dram group.
His gymnastics group stopped during the first lockdown and hasn't re started ☹️

@QueenMabby it is a minefield indeed!

Ds1 did triple science (huge amount of content, hardly any of it lab/practical based) as he planned to do biology A level.

However, after going to the 6th form college he changed his mind. He really wishes he hadn't done triple now.

No option of single science, sadly.

Well we had a year 9 parents information evening last night. Presentations from the pastoral lead, academic lead and careers department.
The school are cracking down on discipline this year and there is a whole new consequences system. I’m pleased about that as year 9 is quite important, and distractions and disruptive behaviour need managing firmly.
They made it clear that the level of work required is quite a step up this year, that they will be looking for much more depth in pupil’s answers. There will be a big onus on self discipline and self motivation.
I’m slightly worried about whether ds has the maturity for all this 😬

Hi 👋

Ds2 had just started Y9.

He's quite anxious about options. He's currently thinking about history, sociology and graphic design. No idea about the other one but school are keen for him to do triple science - which after my experiences of ds1 doing it I'd say its really not worth it unless you want a further education in or a career in STEM.

It won't be MFL which he loathes.

@QueenMabby I always know dd2 is stressed when she starts making schedules 'to fit it all in'... they do help her to do this, but it shows she's doing too much and she starts doing things like 'get up at six am to shower and do my practice,' which is mad.

I think sometimes they are relieved when you forcibly take something off them (it's like they can't do it for themselves) but it's really hard when they love it all and you want them to have opportunities to try everything. No easy answers. It does ease off as they get older I think (but then they just socialise like crazy).

@QueenMabby we have all the overscheduling - especially since she has to do her music GCSE afterschool so that takes out another day. She's in a class of eight for that (but only 12 for dance and 15 for latin in a state comp so it's not like it is as much of an outlier as it looks). Can't say she's sad about dropping art - though I think a bit about food tech and not taking sociology.

Lots of clubs not even back yet and we're already wondering how she'll fit it all in.

Oh I’m glad I’ve found this thread! My ds has just started year 9. His school has allowed them to drop some subjects already, he’s dropped Spanish, Art and Music (which he is very pleased about!) And he is starting Classical civilisation.

So far so good. I’m hoping his maths is better this year, it’s the one subject he really struggles with. Unfortunately it’s one of the most important 😬

@QueenMabby - oh, definitely no top-ups for DS - doesn’t stop him nagging though (we have been here before )

His sister did a girls in STEM day last year as part of DofE. They went to an investment bank, had a nice lunch, and she brought back a goody bag. She didn’t seem to come away with any insights though about investment banking 🤣.

DS had his first day back today and am already trying not to be in a hormonal grump. School lunch payment system is not accepting payments and the school response is ‘just keep trying’. Year 9 have always been taught as separate sciences with the GCSE science curriculum starting in Year 9 (even though options don’t start until Year 10). But for some reason there are no separate sciences showing on the timetable, just ‘science’ with no communication about the change in approach. First world problems I know but I wish they would just let us know about the change and the rationale for it. Plus DS has spent 90% of his weekly allowance on his first day back which means I know he will spend the next 3 days nagging me for a top-up. Work is a pile of problems. Very grumpy today.

Do most schools say what order the sets are in and tell you which set your child is in?

DD's have set since Y7 for a lot of subjects (they sit banding tests as part of the application process) but it's so huge I have never managed to work out even how many sets there are, and school are very cagey about saying things like top, middle or bottom.

I kind of know who the very academic ones in DD's friendship circle are, and the ones who are more likely to need a bit of help, and I have managed to work out a rough idea of where her set is based on who else is in it!

DD is clever, but has significant SEN - a massive part is that she needs things explained over and over in a very structured way initially, plus poor working memory and dyslexia, so needs a class with plenty of kids who are focused and interested so she doesn't get overly distracted, but not one that goes at break-neck speed.

She aced the banding tests (all NVR) and ended up in top-set Maths in Y7 which was an 'interesting' experience for all. Luckily school seem to notice these things and moved her to a better class for her needs before her confidence got dented.

I'm just praying they've picked the right ones for her this year.

Thanks Tigers not London, though it is an inner city comp. Seems to be a lot of changes in leadership/high staff turnover in schools in general at the moment. Unfortunately teaching is a hard profession to be in right now and our kids are suffering the side effects of staff drop out/burn out. I wonder if this might be a partial explanation for your concerns about your DS's new teacher. Maths is particularly tricky to recruit for....

Still the new head seems good so far and DS came back happy yesterday - onwards and upwards!

@minisnowballs that teacher sounds a peach!

That’s amazing she gets to do Latin in year 9. They didn’t teach Latin at my school but it’s a language I wish I’d been taught because it would have been useful professionally, and to understand the roots of many words.

DS isn’t starting GCSEs this year, at least not officially. They are being taught the sciences separately now though for the first time, which is good,

He loves music and it’s taught by one of his favourite teachers, so I’m really glad he’s still got it. His school has dropped computer science though which is no loss for DS.

@MoMuntervary sorry to hear your DS has had such disruption at his school. It sounds familiar to one I know of. Are you in London? Feel free to answer by PM if you prefer.

Aww - I did Classical Greek GCSE @QueenMabby - loved it. Never used it since except to decipher road signs when on holiday. My older daughter (Y11) is regretting Latin - finding it quite tough, I think with a mum with a classics degree their expectations of her are high (and she is quite good at spanish so it would have been easy). DD2 loves it though and she's in a class of 12... probably the smallest they would have allowed to run.

They don't always get to keep their teachers at her school - mainly if they leave. DD1 has a new maths teacher for Year 11 and some new science teachers too - though she's delighted by both. It's not always a bad thing - fresh perspective might be good.

She's also worried that they've moved the maths setting around - she's definitely clinging on by her fingernails to Set 1 - plenty of time for sets to change @TigersAndToucs...great he's taking science so seriously.

Meanwhile back in Year 9, DD2 has a 'very boring' maths teacher who sat at the front and informed then that 'I've seen your projections - I'm expecting xx number of nines. The rest of you will get 8s' .... which seemed a bit bonkers (at least he didn't tell them which ones!). He then made them sit in silence and complete five worksheets.

Re music. Fingers crossed. She does do a lot outside school though - got her membership confirmed for National Youth Orchestra Inspire yesterday (which is free - woohoo!), and has a new out-of-school choir as well as everything else. She'll be busy!

And city girl - this is great news! You must be so relieved.

Hello, pleased to see this!

DS started Year 9 yesterday. He's very happy. They're in sets for the first time and he's in set 1 for English and Maths, and set 2 for science but was told by the head science teacher he was nearly in set 1.

DS has ADHD and struggles with concentration (and occasionally behaviour when bored, hmm) and was finding chemistry hard. He should have been given extra time in the end of year 8 exam but wasn't, so that's something I have to raise with the SENCO. He's very motivated to work hard and get himself into set 1 for science and even said he'll ask DH for help with chemistry, which is unheard of. It is so great to see him taking school seriously; a big change from Year 7 and the first half of year 8!

He's very happy with all his teachers apart from one. Which is a situation that I need to keep an eye as its potentially concerning. I did a thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4628223-teacher-not-speakingunderstanding-english-well

My DS had his first day at his new school and was beaming when he got home - thank god! He was so nervous last night and this morning

Can I join? DS just started Y9 today. I can't imagine him doing his GCSEs next year so I think it's probably good that his school don't start them this year!

His cohort and school in general are, well, interesting might be a polite term. There's a new head this year after two years of disruption with the old head leaving suddenly, an interim head and then the new appointed buggering off after a year. So I'm hoping for some stability, an improvement in general behaviour (DS is fine on that score but finds it hard to concentrate at the best of times) and that maybe DS will start to apply himself a little bit!

Gosh that is a hefty set of choices - and 14... wow. I was a Latin and Ancient Greek fan (even did the Latin at A level) and was rather sad DD didn't enjoy it at all.

We've been very lucky - music v popular choice and they're running at least 3 sets for it. I do hope your DD manages to get the out of school provision @minisnowballs

So far DD seems very happy - had her first session today for the BTEC subject and absolutely loves it and the teacher. Big relief as I rather chose that one for her!