Y11 2025/26… come and join

What alevels have all yours picked?
dd has chosen English lit, biology and psychology. (History is the obligatory fourth on paper which she’ll drop).

We've had a busy week: two open evenings and parents evening last night. One sixth form is a definite no, one's a will apply but DS isn't keen. He wants to go to the sixth form college, whose results aren't stellar and will require a lot more effort on his part than I'm currently seeing for his GCSEs.

Parents evening was good. He has his lists of weaker areas in each subject so we can focus revision efforts. Every teacher said the same thing: he can get an 8/9 if he puts the effort in. If not, it's more like a 6. So not bad, but he needs to get an 8 in maths as he's set on doing further maths at A-level.

Parents evening was actually really good. All teachers have said she’s on target for 8/9 - 7 in chemistry. They all gave her the serious chat about home straights etc which im glad about.

roll on end of June

@splenda Sory to hear he was so close to the cut off.
@wonderstuff my DS was ignored at school but college quickly got him assessed more sed the criteria for extra time but gets a word processor to use. Interesting to know different areas assess it differently. I know one parent at my son's school got an independent assessment.

Thanks for your concern. We also feel sad about it. The SENCO said he doesn’t meet the criteria as he’s borderline. I believe the cut-off is 84 and he scored 85.

@splenda I am shocked to hear your Child does not get extra time if they have dyslexia did the school say why?

We are in a very mixed area with kids at the school from complete opposite ends. School appears to be really helping some kids with extra lessons and kids at the have money end have a couple of tutors.

Have been reading all the comments ref tutoring. Not sure if this is allowed so please feel free to report and remove my message if need be.

My DD is currently studying English Lit at Exeter university and offers online tuition for English lit and Lang at a very competitive rate. PM me if you would like more information/contact details.

We have had English tutor since last year for as DS is dyslexic and has no extra time. I think other kids in his school may have tutors too, but I have no idea how many. It is a massive comprehensive.

I think most in our school have tutors for at least one subject, but we are in a very affluent area, where the state schools are good and so parents who would otherwise go private don’t but supplement the teaching with tutors. That’s certainly what we do but only in the subjects we as parents can’t help with. I would also add the affluence leads to parents paying for tutors to get 8/9s not only to guarantee 4/5s. Personally I hate the fact that because each child is competing against those who go private/ use tutors there is a chance the grade boundaries go up and up and up, but also will do what I can including tutoring in order to equip DS as well as I can for the assessment. It is very much the case that the tutoring we have used has pretty much all been in exam technique and confidence on how to answer questions not knowledge.

We are using tutors now but only to help in the key subjects where DC needs a 7 and mock was not a 6. As much about exam technique as understanding. Very bright but ND and won’t get grades without understanding how to. But a tutor is around £45-50 an hour so I’d say not an option for most. It’s hard call whether to spend now or use money to save for As and onwards. But a failure at GCSE could stop Alevel options…

DD is mid-mocks. She is very tired and I’m glad it will all be over by Friday. They had some before Christmas but most in a block last week and next. She’s worked hard so we’ll just have to see. I wish school focused more on exam technique, especially in things like history.

We don't use tutors. I know of some parents who do, but this tends to be when dc are very borderline (ie may or may not get a 4/5 in maths or English) or when they have a huge lack of confidence in a core subject and parents feel they would benefit from 1:1.

I’m often seeing requests for tutor recommendations on school what’s app so I’m guessing it’s a thing ( one grammar / one private non selective ) . Even when struggling neither of my kids have wanted a tutor despite me offering to source / fund . To be fair both schools go above and beyond to provide support to children struggling

Yes I’d say the vast majority have tutors at dd’s school (including us).

parents evening this week for us. Dd had mocks back in November so thankfully there won’t be any surprises but she’s already asked to “be busy” during the maths feedback.

No money for a tutor here so couldn't even if we wanted to. I don't think it's a big thing in our school as most parents wouldn't be able to afford it. I think some schools/areas it seems to be the norm though.

In fact at the year 11 parents meeting at the beginning of the year the Head was very strongly making the point our kids would be fighting against private school kids and kids with tutors etc for grades (something to do with grade boundaries that I didn't really understand). Which seemed a bit of a silly thing to say because if you can't afford it you can't afford it.

Do you feel most parents engage tutors? We don’t but judging by the parents WhatsApp group, we appear to be in the minority

I'm feeling slightly happier now after DSs parents evening.

They said they could tell he was revising from his mock results and also his work in lessons and that the extra science sessions weren't because he was struggling but because he was already exceeding his predicted 5s by getting a 6 in all three sciences in mocks and they want to see if he can push for 7s.

And they are aware of his 4 in English mocks and are monitoring if he needs some extra sessions in that as well so that's reassuring.

Ok. Thanks. Yes, I googled it and they don't let you drop a subject especially English. Let's hope it's just one of those glitches and his previous grades have been satisfactory so it should continue. Thanks for your help.

Thank you. DS says he will speak to his teacher and will let me know. I will see them at parents evening anyway. But we don't get much in the form of feedback out of that teacher. 🙄
Just trying to keep him motivated. Do you know if the school lets you drop a subject if they are struggling at this stage?
Thank you.