Y11 2025/26… come and join

Oh bless her @ECT22the speaking test is 30 April here, how about you? It’s so pressurised isn’t it, no time to think, they just need to blurt it all out as well as they can! Is your DD trying to do a little each day?

I'm sorry for all the kids who are struggling it really is a lot for them.

Unfortunately DS is currently under the Crisis Team for his mental health. He honestly doesn't believe exam stress is a factor but it surely cant be helping. In true DS style it's just incredibly bad timing. From initial contact with a psychiatrist it appears he may actually be Autistic which has come both out of the blue and makes perfect sense when you join the dots.

Anyway that means we have backed right of in terms of revision but he is actually still revising a few hours a day and strangely that seems to be when he is happiest.

I hope everyone's children come out of this unscathed and with the results they are hoping for.

I have an older DC but he was the Covid year who of course never got to sit their actual exams, so even though I've since supported him through A levels and degree course I've never had to do the intensive GCSE revision support before! So this all feels very new. Although I have worked with exam students for years (invigilator - different school to DS) so have seen that side of it and always try to strike the balance between setting clear expectations and sending calm, positive, supportive vibes across the exam room!

That’s tough for your DS 😞

Sorry they’ve all had rubbish days. I think reality must be really biting now.
Even tho I’m a high school teacher, I did not anticipate how intense this would all be. It reminds me of having a newborn! I will certainly be putting a metaphorical arm around my Y11s when I am back at school.

@MabelsBeats aw it eat exactly the same with my dd with Spanish speaking today. Total freaking out and saying she felt ‘incompetent’ 😢 When is your dd’s speaking exam?

Another DC here who had a rubbish day, enormous stomach pain and was crying, she said she was trying and trying to get her French speaking answers into her head but no luck. I calmed her down, administered paracetamol and ibuprofen and suggested she just leave the French for today!

It seems like today was rubbish all round, maybe it’s the weather. DS did get a good 45 mins on poetry after I posted and is now swimming which is a happy place. So not a complete waste. But I am now working to catch up on what I missed to get us to this. and DH and I have agreed a different split of which of us helps with what.. tomorrow is as they say another day!

@FlyingPandasstudy leave here too. Three weeks of school then last day of lessons is 1st May then that’s it.

Sorry to hear about the stressful days. A less productive day here too, hoping to get back to it tomorrow.

@ECT22 I wish DS didn't get study leave - he's only back to school for 2 weeks and then they are off and that's it. I don't think this will be good for him at all. He will get some work done but it's incredibly socially isolating....DS is very happy chatting to friends in between lessons at school but won't necessarily have the confidence to arrange to see people outside of school. I'd love him to be in school until his last exam but we are where we are.

We’ve had a bad day too. Dd had a medical appt in the morning and it seemed to throw off her whole day. She also, for the first time, kicked off about having to revise, as it was her weakest and most hated subject on the timetable. It makes me glad that there’s no study leave - I think for some kids, having to be self motivated at home is exhausting (for everyone in the house).

I purposefully got dd up early this morning. Left the house at 8.30 for the gym together and went to pick up her prom dress. Thought this would be a good productive morning and change of scene… it’s massively backfired as she said she found it harder to get going compared to her normal routine and now I’ve “wasted a day for her”. Excellent.

@whereonthestair DS1 was a horror for that and DH never checked on him. DS2 does a lot more on paper which at least feels like tangible progress (even if the dining table is a flashcard swamp!!)

Went to work today, DH working from home supposed to be keeping an eye on revision. Get back and DS done nothing, DH not checked in and nothing at all achieved…. Sometimes I despair as I know DS has to do things for himself but he would have been better off deciding to do nothing than to stare at a computer while doing nothing for hours. He’s in a bad mood. DH saying oh I thought he was doing something and in a bad mood and I can’t go into my office when DS not at school. It’s not that DS doesn’t have a work ethic he does but today just reminds me how young he is as he hasn’t learnt this is wholly counterproductive

Lat exam is on the 15th here too, then prom the following week. Also have a younger sibling so we're planning on going away as soon as school's break up.

DD has got a very busy summer planned with holidays with friends in Spain and Ireland, a week's work experience in July, family holiday and Reading. I'm quite jealous!

Last exam here also 15th and Physics. Prom 19th.
Revision has been happening as well. French speaking first exam end of April.

15th here too, another one with physics in the morning and then further maths in the afternoon! Nearly everyone else will finish at lunchtime so he’s a bit gutted further maths is later. I gather Spanish is next day but only a few kids in his year are doing that. He’s doing German and that’s all over before half term (according to a language teacher relative of ours the languages happen in alphabetical order!). Prom on the 18th.

feels like the end is almost in sight! He’s working so hard, bless him.

Got home and DD says she's done 3 hours a day, so that's fine.

She'd also cleaned her football boots so it's not just you @FlyingPandas although I imagine she's doing it to avoid revision. She wants to make cake tomorrow.

I’m another one who works in a school! KS1 teacher though so no early holidays for us either. But we have a lovely holiday mid July to look forward to. Dd is also going to Reading and she’d like to get a job one day a week over the summer.

Madness but we’ve booked onto some university open days in the autumn term!

Physics on the 15th here too, prom 3 days later!

No going away early as like others I also work in a school. She’s planning to do some more work experience at DHs company, she did some last summer and she really enjoyed it. She’s also looking forward to going out a lot!

@36and3She definitely needs to celebrate her 16th! Brunch sounds perfect, DD is in a couple of weeks and she’s doing a meal with her friends. My other DD is 21 in the May half term and she did raise her eyes at me and say “but exams” when I said I had booked a really special dinner! Quite sad really that she thinks she can’t even allow herself a break.

DS finishes on the 15th too . 2 hours of revision done today which is progress on yesterday - he says he will do 30 mins of science after shower - we shall see

15th June is last exam for DS too. We won’t be going anywhere either though as he also has a younger sibling and I also work in a state school!

I’m hoping he’ll get some fun stuff booked in with friends, once all the exams are over, and doesn’t just vegetate at home. He’s mentioned a camping trip with friends and possibly some volunteering (he’s a Cubs young leader and may go to help out at a couple of summer camps). I’d also love him to get some kind of summer job but the market is so absolutely awful at the moment I suspect this is highly unlikely. Bad enough for the poor graduates let alone our 16yos for trying to get anything!

On a happier note I’m discovering there’s nothing like being at home nagging encouraging a Y11 to revise to help
you get household jobs done! In between all the encouragement and snack provision I’ve managed to clean all the garden furniture and pressure wash the patio 😂

Last exam on 16th June, prom the following week. When I finish my term (my Trust finishes freakishly early in July 😎) we’re going on a spa trip she’s been asking for since she was 6 ❤️. In between times I hope she slobs around to her heart’s content. They deserve it.

DS' last exam is physics on the 15th. I'm leaving DH and DD at home and taking DS away for a week on the beach. Rookie error as it seems the sixth form transition days are that week, but it was booked months ago and I can't change the dates. Prom isn't until 3rd July.

This is probably very "Mumsnet" but I've booked DD in for a private Covid booster tomorrow. I want to do everything I can to avoid her being under the weather during exams.

Am returning home now after a long weekend visiting family and will try and find out how much revision DD has done in my absence. Finding it quite difficult as she seems to take offence at any enquiry about how much she's done. She's usually very motivated but I don't think she's been doing any more than 3-4 hours a day - which is fine by me as long as she is really doing it!

Also finishing with physics on 15th here and prom that week. DD has then got a busy summer as she will be able to volunteering for an activity she does which is leading to a qualification so is going to concentrate on that for the first month. Then various holiday/camping Scouts etc.

She was also thinking of arranging another week of work experience but not sure if she'll fit it in.