Y11 2025/26… come and join

I’d alternate one week biology, one week chemistry. Or do a block of five weeks each…

Weve gone a bit rogue with tutors… English literature is her best subject and an alevel option, she got a 9 in her mock so doesn’t need a tutor, but wants one to maintain the confidence. The tutor is also doing some English lang too. Thats 90mins fortnightly.

Then intensive revision courses at Easter for maths and chemistry which she is definitely not doing at alevel. 2 days each subject, 9 hours a day with plenty of breaks / lunch etc so probably about 6 hours of studying.

We had a letter on how to make sure they are revising, I think fatigue might be setting in for some children. DD was sick the last week of term and is still feeling the effects of it.

We have got DD a tutor for chemistry, as she was really struggling. Although I'm not sure getting a 5 is actually struggling (in mock 1), but was originally predicted an 8, so something is off. I don't know if it's a complete waste of time and money to tutor a subject she's not planning to do for A levels and whether we should focus on biology instead, which she needs for psychology? I feel I'm better equipped to help with biology, DH can do physics but neither of us loved chemistry in school. What would you do? The tutor can switch to biology if needed, so I could do this... I can't afford more than 1h a week...

Hmm wonder if our kids are at the same school! We too were summoned to a similar parents information evening this week.

My DS has managed to get ill with a cold so the revision plan for half term already out the window. He has a lot of mocks after half term so I am sure it will pick up again. He has precisely zero interest in the prom, I don’t even know the date for it. It’s funny I think he has been happy at his school but also won’t miss it at all

Ooh that's cheap! We need addresses lol.

DD is locking in too. She is focusing on what is in her mocks as they start after half term (Mostly paper 2 stuff) Her 2 options are not in the mock this time round so are being ignored for now. We just got a tutor for chemistry and biology, as she asked if we could do that. I think she is fine though, she seems to over complicate things when sometimes the answer is obvious/common sense. I wonder whether more past papers would help. She does a mixture of cognito, save my exams, school resources and CGP books.

Should edit to say that was HER priority!

Hi all happy half term! Dd is “locking in” but mainly on her chosen alevel subjects so I’ve had to gently remind her she has 7 other subjects too. That said she’s willingly agreed to go on a revision course for her two weakest subjects at Easter which is good.

Priority no 1 is prom dress though which we bought yesterday so she’s delighted. As am I as it was only £75 as I was envisaging her picking her something in the hundreds.

Our school is doing study leave from 1 May and I don't think they will be doing anything in the holidays. Apparently there will be a small number of kids not allowed to do study leave.

Up until now I've left DD to handle everything herself, but think I will have a chat about how effective her revision is / any distractions and do the checking in more.

I remember going to the library for a day to try and focus on revision and spending nearly the whole time reading a fiction book I found!

Ugh yes to the school resources on the very distracting tech. DS is at a "Chromebook school" so every revision resource is on Google classroom. Really annoying when I leave him to study and find him on bloody YouTube.

I think schools shoot themselves in the foot doing this. The benefits of the super online resources can be massively reduced by the student getting distracted.

The problem with removing their phone is a lot of resources are on their phone or tablet/laptop. DSs school have put all their revision material and activities and homework on Google Classroom and also given them lists of various YouTube videos etc to watch. It's really a lot harder for them to be motivated and not distracted than it was for some of us back in the olden days (depending on your age).

@Ursulla42 - she may just suddenly get it . DS did poorly in mocks (2-6) and I think that helped . Definitely make sure you take the phone though . DS1 used to leave it face done on his bed - but he is trustworthy and wants to do well , DS2 has agreed to leaving it on the windowsill outside his room - giving it to me as a suggestion didn’t go down well . School suggested revision was done in a common space not bedrooms to avoid distraction (ps5/tv) - our kids don’t have that kit in their rooms though and no convenient quiet space downstairs to use here . I also didn’t work hard enough with my GCSEs and paid the price so they have that story drummed into them too

@Ursulla42 same here. Hard to get them organised and focused as they are bored

Had a serious chat with our DD last night. Feel like she made a great start to the year and is now moved to just playing at the revision. No study plan, no enthusiasm, just tinkering and filling in that revision app to make her feel like she’s doing something. School had the parents in this week of this particular group indicating that parents need to be on it with their kids. How do you do that though? We have agreed a quick chat in the morning to find out the day’s intentions then another chat at the end of day to establish what was achieved, we proposed handing over of mobile phone for sessions but that was met with complete resistance. DD predicted and capable of a range of 5, 6, 7s. Let you know how we go!

DS has 15 plus German speaking. First two done today, went ok apparently… Harsh to have the second week of mocks hanging over half term!

Yes and I guess at laswap it’s not like going into a school sixth form where most kids already know each other - everyone will be getting to know new people as they come from four schools.

Harris Westminster exams were def tough - apparently the maths was brutal. DS and his friends all got well over 400 but not over the 433 interview cut off.

I haven’t heard about any holiday revision sessions - certainly not at half term (which is the middle of mocks). Our school just does before and after school intervention sessions, though DS doesn’t have any. In terms of study leave, I don’t quite know how that works - have heard rumours that it’s possible if you ask. DS works better at home (certainly better than in his science classes where he is one of only three or four in his class doing higher level papers and the teacher sounds pretty useless) so we might ask if he can have study leave. I remember mine fondly, revising in the garden!

I’m impressed you all know so much about what’s going to be on. Judging by what past years parents say ours will almost certainly have after school sessions running after half term but they tend to inform you on a subject by subject basis with a day or two’s notice! Luckily the school musical is this week so after half term DS1 can be free whenever.
On the less good front he got his English mock back and he only got a D so revision/ practice will happen over half term whether he wants to or not…….Any good tips for general English Language resources? (we are WJEC and not much specific stuff out there though I have bought him a revision workbook).

No half term or Easter school revision sessions here. The teachers are rightly enjoying their holidays.

DS's school is doing Easter revision sessions but not half term. Five hours of science every Sunday for the rest of term too.

Does anyone's school do half term revision sessions? We have had an email to say they are having some next week and they strongly advise the children go. They are also doing them through Easter Hols and half term.

Harris Westminster interviews are on Sat 14 Feb. The letter invites went out on Wednesday 04 Feb..

La Swap does seem a bit different to a school 6th form even though it technically is. Depending on which college you get, you don't have to be there for morning register and just come when you have your first lesson, I believe.

I didn't know Harris Westminster interviews were through. Dd didn't apply but a friend's child did - it was the only school they could find that did Greek A level. I'm hoping they got a place, but they did say the exam was very tough.

My DS has 19 papers for his spring mocks. In theory over a fortnight but as he has extra time and rest breaks that doesn’t actually fit into two weeks without the school needing extra staff/sessions. He has kind of got used to it, and it is helpful for us to learn about how to help him pace himself given if he works too hard his body shuts down

Yes DS is keen on La Swap too. His school doesn’t have a sixth form so he has to move somewhere! He’s not keen on going to another school sixth form, but seems LaSwap doesn’t count…

I hadn’t realised they don’t all get interviews - makes sense I guess. Will tell him that as a confidence boost since he didn’t make it through to the Harris Westminster interviews (though nor did any of his friends who applied).