Y11 2025/26 The Final Stretch

So sorry @NotDarkGothicMama hadn't read the whole thread – so sorry to read about your cat. Hope DS is not too badly upset.

5 June as a final exam date can only be DC not taking science, or indeed DT, geog or in fact maths! There are papers in bio and chem as well as physics after 5 June, for those taking combined science as well as triple. So most GCSE students (apart from those just sitting a few exams) will finish on 15 June; Spanish is later tho.

Great posts @MayasJamas and good tips too.

I do so agree that literature teaches us so so much about the human condition. Shakespeare is particularly good at this – which is why he is still studied.

I still think that to have studied in some depth, for an exam, so you need have some understanding of it, a Shakespeare play, even if in a truncated, simplified form, plus some other texts (and yes I agree the texts are not always inspiring; tho there are better texts IMHO on the spec than are often chosen, for all kinds of reasons) is a basic essential for a 16yo school leaver in the UK. He's our greatest writer, arguably the greatest writer in any language. I hate the idea that someone who is not keen on reading can thus duck out of such a privilege and delight.

I also don't think people who are not keen on maths and physics should be able to drop those after year 9 either btw. You use maths in later life; let's hope you also use Shakespeare as well – well you do, unless you have never said or heard phrases like "in my mind's eye" and "break the ice".

I don't have contact details for the exams officer but will check tomorrow that it's been passed on.

DS was telling me yesterday that he's going to answer the question about Othello instead of Macbeth tomorrow. I'm not sure if he was just trying to wind me up, but it worked! When I asked him if he knew what Othello was about, he told me the story of Icarus. That's one way of winging it, I suppose.

So sorry for you all @NotDarkGothicMama.

Hope DS gets plenty of support at school . Awful timing .

On the English Lit chat DS2 has never been a reader - I’ve tried so many books as I love reading . He has really enjoyed some of the set texts though and even sitting with him today being told that he likes some of the poems is such progress . For me it justifies him doing a difficult subject . Teaching them a lot about life on the quiet too I think and maybe how to approach / not approach certain scenarios

Oh goodness @NotDarkGothicMama I am so sorry to hear that, how awful for you all. Poor DS and as you say what timing. I hope his school handle things sensitively. It is possibly also worth messaging the exams officer if you have contact details for them (though tbh the head of year should feed through to the exams officer anyway). Certainly in the school I work in we would be briefed about any students who are struggling with a very recent emotional upset and asked to keep a particular eye on them in the exam hall. Thinking of you all.

Thankyou. We're all gutted. DS has retreated to his room.

@NotDarkGothicMama ah so sorry. Your poor ds, and all of you. Hope he is resting and giving himself time to grieve this evening.

Oh I am SO sorry, that is awful. You couldn’t make it up. What a blow, and literally nothing you can do to make it better for DS. Well done for contacting school straight away. Sending hugs.

With perfectly awful timing, DS's favourite cat has been hit and killed by a car. We have 4 and this is the only one DS let into his bedroom and allowed to sleep on his bed. I've emailed his head of year to ask him to keep an eye on DS tomorrow. He's very upset.

No study leave here until Weds 10th June and will go home after that morning exam. Last one for my son is Monday 15th June anyway.

This week:
English Lit
Biology
Maths & Computer Science
Geography

We have no study leave either until half term. We have however agreed with the school that DS does have exceptional circumstances, as he is disabled and has 50% extra time. My concern today is that he can manage to do all 6 exams next week as the biggest risk for him is the timetabling. He suffers from fatigue and exams with no lessons would be fine but he may need to come home to sleep!

I suppose it makes sense if you're doing double science, rather than triple.

No study leave here apart from exceptional circumstances at either end of the spectrum i.e those kids who will work better at home without distractions and those children who are best kept away from others so they don't distract them. Which leaves a nice middle group of kids who want to do well but benefit from the structure and the teachers being around.

DS finishes on the 15th June. 5th seems very early, they must have a lot of days with more than one exam to fit them all in.

That does seem early. Im sure one of the last ones that is full year is physics on the 15th or 17th June (the monday)

@helenafalco I have offered for DD to just let us know if it gets too much and she can stay or come home. Several of her friends did it for mocks and a few people are doing it for gcse. I only offered because all her classes with exception to maths are mixed abilities even maths covers 9 to 5s and just in her words repeating the easy stuff.

@36and3 and @whereonthestair DD has similar
Mon Eng lit
Tue. RE and Biology
Wed Maths
Thur Geography
Fri. Electronics 2nd and final paper

Also no study leave got mix of classes and 1.5hr study sessions before exams.

@EducaatingRita thank you for the grade percentages very interesting surprised some like physics where higher than expected

@EducaatingRita whst a lovely way to put it about the grades.

5th is very very early. 17th here!

No study leave for my dd either, or the school where I teach. It suits dd well. She’d probably focus only on the exams right in front of her, so it’s good for her to keep interleaving the other subjects too so they won’t get neglected.

No study leave here. They're expected at school as normal until they've finished their exams. It seems like that's 5th June for a lot of the kids, which seems very early to me as DS has 5 after that. I asked why and apparently they've found that students feel more relaxed if they're kept to their usual routine.

We’ve got RE eduqas board this week and the week after. Also got another exam on both days. Fingers crossed for our DC

DS school are allowing study leave after half term, but I want DS in for at least the week after that, he does very little at home and needs to get the school bus in for exams anyway. A few of the most disruptive kids have been directed to study at home, so hopefully that will help it be a better environment. I think after half term the timetable is suspended and they are putting them in supervised study rather than directing them.

DS1’s school do English Lit early @clary . He got a D (Wales so still letter grades). He could have retaken it but given he is C/D borderline on English Lang too we decided to concentrate on that (which isn’t going well as it is). He got exempted from Welsh too due to SEN (very thankfully). He’s actually a total bookworm, it’s the analysis he can’t do :(.
Good tips on the English @MayasJamas - not sure DS1 would be able to do that sort of analysis in the exam under pressure but I can see that that’s the sort of thing they want.
@helenafalco - similar set up here - though DS wants to go in as he likes his routine, not sure they are actually getting much revision done as it all seems very chaotic. Personally I’d let her if she’s sensible.
Lots of people seem to have a very packed week - good luck to all. Here 3 next week, 2 on Tuesday (Geography and Biology) and 1 on Friday (Sociology).

At DD 's school they have asked them all to continue coming to school in between exams until after half term. DD not keen on finishing an exam and continuing with the usual timetable in class, they are not focusing on next exams just the usual timetable. Apparently the environment is not the best for revision/learning at the moment, with everyone is all over the place in class, now she is asking me to allow her to come home after exams or stay home on days she is not writing. Anyone else facing the same issue??

@MayasJamas you can come to my house and help instead 🤣