Y10- 2025/2026

That's really interesting @TheTurn0fTheScrew - I think set 1 just moves too fast for kids who are wrote good but not super secure in maths. DS was near top of set 2 for first 3 years but I don't think he can manage in 1. We have a school catch up tomorrow and want to bring up setting for maths.

DS also had assessment for access arrangements for exams because of his ADHD so hopefully he will get some extra support from that before GCSEs.

Nice to hear everyone's updates! DC2 is chugging along. Maths is a real struggle at the moment. She yo-yos between the top and middle sets. She's currently back in top set after doing really well in the middle one last year, and I thing she'd be better back where she was, even though it's a bit of a dent to the ego.

We've finally sorted some work experience for her - she was interested in catering and hospitality, but after so many knockbacks (mainly non responses which pisses me off a tiny bit) we said she'd have to widen the net and she's got a spot at a conservatoire. They do have a large and busy cafe so perhaps she can ask to spend a little time with catering while she's there!

Got back mid term report based on last tests. Again he blanked in English and History, so no marks there. Maths he seems to have gone suddenly downhill this year (from getting 50-60% marks to 30) and I think needs to be moved back from set 1 to set 2. But he's doing OK in science, drama and psychology, which is good. I was nervous about psychology as a choice as honestly I'd just have gone for the easiest last option possible and psychology is on the difficult end, plus I had no idea how he'd take to it, it was really led by DH. But the answer seems to be fairly well. I think they're not only doing essay questions yet, though.

We have parents eve in mid-March, we get absolutely no feedback on how they are doing apart from that. No reports or anything, just a numeric score for their attitude to learning. I'm so glad there is no 6th form there and dc have to go somewhere else.
Work experience is all sorted, that's not till May but for a shy and quiet dc it's going to be hard work even though the location is lovely.

@LetItGoToRuin Thanks for resurrecting the thread!
Seems ages ago that we had parent's evening. DD's English teacher obviously knows her stuff but is very old school in her approach. DD seems to have got to know her more though and is able to deal with her marking "finally some decent analysis" rather than getting upset about it and she's quite determined to do well so we'll see.
We've spent since Christmas in a blur of school production and local theatre production culminating in what felt like a million hours at the theatre in half term but both DD's were amazing and it was lovely to see them perform.
DD1 has applied to be a prefect next year and DD2 has to pick options for September so it still feels like there is a lot on, but hopefully a bit more time to fit homework in and actually have some spare time!

Hi all
all ticking along nicely here…

we had parents evening just before half term and Im very proud to say she is smashing it - on track for some great grades - so fingers crossed she keeps on this path

She is loving her role on the school council

we have mocks in June so that will he the first big revision test - school organise a timetable which the kids are expected to keep to so thats gonna be interesting, she struggles with revision and techniques so ill be interested to see how she gets on

It’s great she’s enthusiastic about creative writing, hope you can find something for her.

We don’t look to have a parents evening until June, which seems like it’s out of step with everyone else. We had a report before Christmas but just in terms of current likely grades, no actual written input to understand how he’s actually getting on. I’m trying to encourage him to get some support from his older brother with science and maths, but getting him to engage is easier said than done!

I hope everyone had a nice half term and the DCs went back happily. It’s a bit quiet on this thread, but hopefully no news is good news!

DD had parents’ evening (online) just before half term and all seemed to be fine. She is capable academically and at a grammar school, but although she does her homework diligently and revises a bit for tests, she hasn’t shown any inclination to do any extra. I was hoping her teachers would tell her that if she wanted top grades she should start getting into good habits, but there was nothing like that. Maybe they think she works hard at home already – or perhaps I’m just being paranoid after looking at the Y11 thread on Mumsnet!

The only exciting thing to come out of parents’ evening was the enthusiasm of DD’s English teacher who said she has a talent for creative writing and asked her whether she has entered any competitions! This has inspired her to find a suitable one to enter, and she’s planning her story. We will see whether she goes through with it, but she does love writing so I think she will. It’s a shame that good careers involving writing are so rare, in this world of AI!

@Lisamummy22girls – what an honour for your DD – is that from January, or not starting until September?

@AnnieAverage – did you see every teacher? I definitely would have done – particularly the teachers your DD doesn’t want you to see, LOL! What did you decide in the end?

@brackengirl – how did parents’ evening go, particularly English?

@CouldNotStayAway @Eccle80 @TickingAlongNicely @purplejeanie @Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky @jeansgenie and anyone else I’ve missed – hope your DCs are happy and doing well!

We have parents' evening over two evenings a fortnight apart, in late Jan and early Feb. I assume it's to ensure everyone can get an appointment for subjects where a teacher teaches more than one class.

I will certainly try to get appointments for as many subjects as possible - teachers tend to be much more honest at parents' evening than in reports, and it's the only 5 minutes we get with the teacher every year!

Up to now, we haven't had DD with us at parent consultations - the school haven't expressed a preference, and we find we get more directness from teachers if they aren't trying to massage the ego of the student! If the school say the student should be present, we will of course have her there, but it isn't our preference.

The first set of forecast grades will come in the next end-of-term report, but I wonder whether some teachers will mention them in the meeting.

Our parents eve isn't until Feb! Getting slots is like getting concert tickets!!!

I've just booked DD's parents evening slots and am seeing all her teachers but it's online and only 5 minutes each so not really much extra effort. I think she's doing well as was predicted in the 7-9 range for everything in the last academic review but I'm keen to speak to English as she wants to do it for A level and was devastated (with a 6- which in my opinion is fine) with her last assessment and French as she is so bored in lessons compared to Spanish so need to tactfully raise this.

Thanks @TickingAlongNicely I’ve been kind to the teachers in earlier years and skipped all the subjects we don’t really care about.

Dd is really adamant she doesn’t want us to see two of her teachers - but refuses to give a reason. Her predicted grades were fine. Perhaps just embarrassment if the teachers gush?

We saw every teacher. (Although one Science teacher did all three, and she has the same English teacher for both Lang and Lit. )

Did anyone get predicted grades yet? We got a subject-specific prediction in the end of term report, and have parents evening next week (5 mins with each teacher online).

Im struggling to decide if I should book an appointment with every subject teacher or just the ones we are considering for A level. It is the only Parent Teacher meeting we will have until mocks and not much can be said in 5 mins. Any advice?

@Lisamummy22girls that’s lovely news!

My dd has her first mock next week - she sits one GCSE a year early so next year she “only” has to sit ten. She is quite nervous and studying hard. I’m trying to play it cool, she is on track for an 8 so I hope it pans out ok.

DD has just been made deputy head of fhe school council for next year, she is so happy!

My DD is doing 10 GCSEs and is going along ok but finds the extra workload for Triple Science lot
we steered clear of the coursework heavy topics as getting her to do homework/revise is a struggle

11 is definitely a lot, although whilst Art is very time consuming now at least there won’t be exams in the main period for it - my eldest taking 9 in the summer found the sheer volume of exams in a short space of time hard going - I think it was 22 he had. Is there any option to drop business studies if she isn’t enjoying it?

My DS seems to be doing ok, his end of term report likely grade predictions are ok but I would hope he can get a little bit higher - he tells me he is locking in and they will definitely go up! He’s not as academic as my eldest is, but he is more capable than he thinks he is. No proper exams or assessments at this stage as far as I know for him.

DD is finding 9 subjects hard enough, and that's including her extra Science. I think she would be in meltdown with 11 including something like art!

2.5 more days. Although I don't think they have lessons on Thursday morning.

It’s been a term of tests and endless art homework. Certainly no one was exaggerating when they said art is the heaviest workload of all the subjects - it’s a good job dd enjoys it.

I have noticed dd getting more jittery about tests - she had four end-of-term tests one day last week. Eleven GCSEs is a lot and her friend doing twelve is feeling stressed out.

I have a feeling dd is regretting Business Studies as it is “so dull” and “basically just common sense but dragged out and made into something that is way too complicated.” She said even the group activities that should be fun - like designing a new product and its marketing - turn into very tedious exercises because they are put in groups and she gets “stuck with stupid people who don’t try and don’t care”. In a horrible elitist way, I told her this is what it’s like when you join “the world of work” - being able to manage stupid people who don’t care is a useful skill. She was unimpressed. 😂

@brackengirl our girls sound very similar - mine is academic but stresses out too much over tests and revision so she under performs at times

it really is all about getting through the next 18 months as emotional intact as possible - for both of us!!!!

Following