Year 11 2023-24

Good luck to anyone doing their art gcse today, hope all goes to plan.

Big heard anything about DS taster days yet.

Our induction is at the end of June.

My dts have their taster day in July but are likely to be out of the country in DH home country (plus point being able to book flights out of school holidays!)
I assume it doesn’t matter if they don’t attend? Both are pretty confident with what to expect.

@dinomirror - yes DS has induction days in July for the places he has applied to. Unfortunately choices 1 and 3 are on the same day so he's going to go to option 1. He is sure on his subjects too but it's a chance to meet the teachers, head of year, other students who will be in his classes, spend the day in the new place and get a feel for it. He's looking forward to them.

@Philandbill yep Art at the end of this week for us too, I cannot wait until it’s done! Then Spanish speaking on 3rd May before the rest kick in.

Roll on the 20th June!

Last stages now is how I'm trying to sell it to DD. She's did her MFL speaking exam on Thursday and has art this week. At least once the art is done that's one quite big time pressure subject done. She's trying to keep in mind the long summer holiday that she will have from mid June to September. However she also has a horrible cold so not great this weekend. I encouraged her to go to her sports club yesterday as I thought it would do her good to see non school friends and she was glad she'd been. Breaks are important. Leaving her home alone today as we're taking DC1 back to university.

Yes I think it’s going to be a tough few weeks, dd is done at this stage really, not enjoying school much at all. I really hope she has a good time at college!

DS has just informed me he is dreading going back to school on Monday 🥲 He's never been an I Love School kinda kid, but he's never hated it.
The sooner these blooming exams are over the better.
He just looks rung out and miserable. He's had a decent Easter holiday, been out with us and his friends, but he's had enough now!

Any other DC doing taster days at college in July? Dd doesn't want to go as she is quite firm in her subjects but i am very keen for her to go just to get a feel for college

Yes. The relevant info is on pages 6-8:

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guide_to_spec_con_process_2023_24_FINAL.pdf

Am I right in thinking you can sit if ill and get special consideration or if too ill to sit they will base result on other exams provided a certain % for that subject is actually sat?

Special consideration for illness, yes. But there is only English and maths in November.

Back when I was at sixth form I met a boy in my English A Level class who'd had appendicitis and missed all his GCSEs. He'd been allowed to do A Levels based on his predicted grades and then sat English and maths GCSEs, I think, the summer of Year 12. Not sure if similar things happen now.

I invigilate GCSEs and every year without fail we have at least 1 student who sustains an injury either just before or bang in the middle of exam season almost always boys getting broken limbs playing football!

Schools can apply for special consideration if something happens to adversely affect grades, but I don't think exam boards are often very accomodating.

Yes, think you're right. For some reason, I thought it was just English and Maths resits then. Just Googled and looks like you would need a GP letter/certificate if student is ill.

I think they would do resits in November?

Sigh, we were doing OK with the revision but now illness has hit (hopefully short-lived). Although it made me wonder - what happens if a student is ill on exam day? Obviously you'd try and struggle through but what if it is something such as a vomiting bug?

This is super on instragram for biology revision
https://www.instagram.com/biologywitholivia?igsh=Nm9nemZpcHU4Ymt2

@Midnightstar76 I wouldn't worry too much about High School not being a fit for your DD. My DS is not stupid by any means, but sitting down all day doesn't suit him. He wants to be active, and not just sit and listen. He's also more of a hands on type learner. He was okay with books, until he got to Year 7...

I bet you will see your DD flourish, and become more herself whatever her next step in life may be. To me, there are no mistakes of course choices... My DS is free to make his own choices, and I will not get annoyed with him if he later decides to change career paths from carpentry. He's also interested in Civil Engineering, and Construction work. I will 100% always be there for my DS. Definitely just be there for your DD, no matter whatever the outcome of the GCSE exams.

@Needingacoffee to be honest I don’t think high school has been a good fit for my DD period. Hopefully she will flourish and be herself in her next step in life. I agree I am just being there for her 100%

We’re still on the letter grading here in Wales and school predicts and gives targets of whatever grade they think the child is capable and on track to achieve - be that A* or lower.

DS has revision sessions each night after school and does about an hour more each evening. He already sat lots of papers last summer and during year 11 and so he only has 12 left this to sit summer. He’s pretty chilled and carrying on with his out of school activities. As they’re mostly exercise based I think that’s a good thing.

Anyone else have teens that are just 'over being at school' now? Mine has been for a while now, especially since the 1st lot of mocks he had. His attitude has really changed in Year 11... I am less concerned about what grades he gets, and more concerned about his mental health. I don't want him to get all anxious, and stressed out. I certainly don't pressurise him to achieve higher grades. He will get what he gets...

My son was given predicted grades in 9s and 8s mainly. There is no way that he will achieve those grades in most/nearly all subjects. I am more realistic than that. I haven't put him under any pressure to go for those grades, despite him being a fairly able student. His last mocks were all 4 and above. The problem here is he knows he wants to do carpentry at college come September. The grades to start off in carpentry are low, and he is much more able to achieve higher grades than needed. I don't know why, but he is totally not even interested in doing any revision at all. I think he'd do better if he did, but I am not going to force the issue. Maybe he will start to do some soon? I won't hold my breath though. Quite a few of his friends have been on holidays abroad over Easter, and one was on a cruise. I doubt they've bothered much with revision either. Oh well. It's a bit sad, as he's never been one for books in more recent years, however he's always done homework, and his best... What can I do? I will just be there for him. He definitely is not interested in A Levels, or going to university.