Y11 2025/26… come and join

DD’s current primary concern… prom dress. Because “everyone” has already got theirs. Wtf it’s in June!!

Only just got mock results from December. DS got 7 in French, 6 in English Lit and 5 in language, 3 in Maths and then 2s in Science (double cert) and History.
Had already signed up to premium Seneca to increase revision options.
No idea what happened with History as he got a 5 in the summer exams!
We have a tutor fortnightly for maths and English.

Have applied to sixth form, waiting for interview. Really hope he can scrape a pass in maths this year.

DS1 is doing further maths in year 12 . He had a mid range 8 at GCSE . It appears to be very hard , they are constantly being tested and re tested if they don’t do quite well enough . I think it’s one to treat with caution . I’ve offered my son the get out several times or tutoring - but he’s still ploughing on - apparently he will tell me if he’s in trouble !

@NotDarkGothicMamasorry I explained badly the school does GCSE maths DD just hasn't had to do proper work as she found it easy, so no revision for tests finished homework in class as done class work before others. She ain't a genius though and this is her max level so will have to start working to do A Level maths. Probably needs to revise for maths GCSE if boundaries go up, to stay a 9.

I'd definitely say focus on the maths. Round here, if they don't get a 5 then they have to keep doing GCSE maths at sixth form, no matter which A-levels they're doing. He doesn't want that for another two years.

@Tebheag how does the school get away with not doing maths at GCSE?!

Forgot to add

Hi I’ve not been on here for a while due to life. Here are my sons mocks grades….. what should he work on, planning on doing history economics and politics at A level. He has a maths tutor already, he got a 5 in year 10 mocks but he hates maths…. He is capable just not interested and I don’t want him to peak too early with revision. Parents evening start of Feb. Only getting results now as mocks were before Christmas. Feel like I’m constantly yelling at him to do past parts as he only seems to be making notes every time I look. Finding it so stressful as a parent. He was a star student year 7-9 but it’s not cool to study now at this age is it?! 😒

I was the one trying to put DD off doing ALevel maths as she has not had to work at GCSE maths and has coasted for years with no study so ALevel will be a big step as she will have to finally do work. I coasted gcse too so struggled at ALevel 🙈 told the teacher she has been bored in class and starting to switch off. He has offered to start giving her harder work. Shame her school no longer did maths gcse after a year.

Our school also requires 8 for maths - DD is now predicted this but previously she's been a "7" all the way through, she is getting the 8 having knuckled down and doing more practice. I also did maths A levels and found it very hard - got a B. Definitely would have enjoyed a different subject more - having said that I was a coaster and not as hard working as DD!

Agree re maths alevel. At dd’s school (academic indie) they’ve upped the entry grade from a 7 to an 8 to do maths alevel and from an 8 to a 9 for FM.

Oh goodness @UncomfortableSilence that sounds like you have a lot on! I will be so relieved when the bloody DT NEA is finished but also v relieved DS didn't pick art which does seem to be a bit of a time thief.

@Tebheag DS had to tick either a 'maths only' or a 'further maths' box for A level choices. Ticking further maths meant you automatically took maths as well - I am not sure it's possible to do further maths as a standalone without maths. Interestingly, at his sixth form briefing (academic boys' indie) the head of maths seemed to be encouraging students to approach maths A level with caution. It felt almost as if they were trying to put people off doing it - especially further maths. I think at DS's school in particular (and possibly many schools in general) maths A level can be seen as a bit of a "badge of honour" by a lot of students (not to mention parents!), with some possibly pushed towards doing maths when their heart isn't truly in it. I think you have to (a) really really love maths and (b) be very very good at it to do well in the A level, and to do further maths you have to love it even more! It has a high drop out rate I think.

Having said all that, DS is opting for maths, further maths, physics and chemistry - but he's a total nerd, bless him (commented on Friday night that he's 'really quite enjoyed the mocks', goes to science clubs for fun etc) so I hope he'll be okay. Time will tell though.

DD has picked English Lit, Maths and Computer Science. She’s applied to 3 and at 2 has also put Further Maths however at my school ,which is currently her first choice, FM doesn’t work with the option blocks.

Parents evening was last week and all good still on track.

She did her first Maths paper, Algebra 3, last week. Does anyone else do this? I hadn’t heard of it before, in her school all of Set 1 have to sit it and it’s a pass/fail paper but counts as another qualification.

Things are feeling fairly full on at the moment with Art coursework, a couple of subjects are doing exams after school to not eat into lesson time and trying to fit in appointments for final orthodontist and specialist physio she has for a back condition plus she fractured a bone in her foot just before Christmas!

@NotDarkGothicMama DD signed up to just further maths as teacher said I would expect you to do this one. Teacher made it sound like you signed up for one or the other, said 1st year do maths paper then second year do further maths. Will get DD to check.

She hasn't heard anything from either choices yet.

@Littletreefrog A levels at the mo. Hoping for 6s. But every possibility it’s lower so applying for all options. We are defo looking at more practical subject options. But tbh I think if serious about PS I’d get them doing StJohn cadet volunteering and stuff

DD wants to do sciences mainly. Difficulty choosing between physics and chemistry. She's enjoying physics more (because she doesn't like the chemistry teacher mainly) but I'm concerned doing both maths and physics when she doesn't love maths may be a mistake. But will start 4 and probably drop one so some wiggle room.

Are they planning on A levels as a route in to PS at Uni? DS went with the T level as predicted 5s at GCSE and he liked the practical element but at his latest parents evening he is now predicted 7s and as we have never even considered A levels as an option I'm not sure if it's worth considering now.

They're two separate A-levels, but you have to do maths if you want to do further maths. You can't do FM by itself, but you can just do maths. It's worth checking what your DD's signed up for with the sixth form.

Mine is looking at PS too

Mine has applied for 6 different subjects depending on the 6th form. I think her top two are Maths and German, but not everywhere offers German so she's also applied for Economics, English, Psychology and History. And is now second guessing herself and wondering if she wants to actually do Maths, Chemistry & Biology with Art as a 4th. I think because she finds science easier to revise.

Not sure how easy it will be to change it or how she'll finally decide!

I think if you want to do further maths, you have to do maths AND further maths. You can’t take further maths by itself. Perhaps by ticking further maths, she signed up for both A levels?

What is the difference between maths and further Maths ? Thought DD was told she would be doing Further maths as bright. Wasn't mentioned to do both. She only picked further maths on her applications.

DS is hopefully going to do a T level in Health with a view to going to Uni to either do Paramedic Sciences or Nursing but Paramedic Sciences is the first choice.

DS wants to do maths, further maths and economics, plus a fourth one yet to be determined. He was set on physics but got scared off, which is really annoying because he's always enjoyed it and it's one of his top subjects. He doesn't want to do any subjects that require essays (I'm keeping quiet on the economics front).