Y11 2025/26 The Final Stretch

@36and3 starting early to make them think about after As is no bad thing. I’m doing one early as it’ll rule an idea in or out early

Tbf I would be very hesitant to give a grade indication as a KS45 teacher unless I had a very small cohort and thus had time to give them all a relisten. I wouldn't want to do that with a group of 25, say.

You'd have to know the mark scheme really well to be able to give an off-the-cuff rough idea of grade there and then.

French speaking this morning went very well and DD is happy. Her teacher said she'd pronounced a tricky word that she hadn't seen before correctly, but no indication of grade.

Tomorrow here, still practising like mad! Well done to all those who’ve got it behind them!

Is that all our speaking exams done now?! If so well done all! Dd loved the satisfaction of highlighting off the first one!

ok this is mad BUT…. We’ve booked onto three university open days for the autumn term!

Well done to all with good language exams under their belt!
Here revision got even more off track than usual due to DS’s grandmother visiting overnight. But he did enjoy seeing her so I’m hoping it will perk him up a bit.

Another decent Spanish speaking exam to add to our list! My dd got the topic she was dreading, and cried, but her teacher was supportive and she was pleased with how it went. Relieved to have her most feared exam over with!

My son had his French speaking today. His teacher said well done and she could tell he’d been working hard. She said he performed at or above his predicted grade (6).
Big improvement from mocks where she said he barely said anything and he got a low 4.
so the hard effort did pay off!!!

i haven[t got to grips with how study leave works at our school at all.

This Friday they have shirt signing but then study leave begins in the afternoon of next Friday. But DS has an exam (drama) Friday. I can't figure it out at all. So I've told him to just tell me where and when to turn up.

Love that!

I asked him tonight how he's feeling about it and he's pretty chill. Said as long as I keep the snacks coming it's all good. Typical boy but I love the fact he's not inherited my anxiety!

We only heard yesterday about study leave. Compulsory attendance this week and then optional timetabled lessons until half term. DS1 promptly asked if he could go to school until half term - “as the teachers make me work less hard than you, Mum”
Given I’m mostly handing over past papers, leaving him to do them and marking them fo him afterwards I am worried about this…..
Also in the camp of those wishing they would just start properly as think he might have peaked a bit early.
Good luck to those doing language exams this week.

There was a mention of study leave on one email (about prom) here and since there has been nothing. I've contacted the school twice and had no reply. So honestly I have no idea. My DS is assuming he's going to be having revision "lessons" between exams. Sounds bizarre to me but possibly helpful in making sure kids actually turn up to the exams I guess. I just wish they'd actually talk to us!

For those with kids finding it really stressful. Thank you so much for sharing it. My son is pretty laid back overall but with a hint of snappiness recently. It's a good reminder that actually beneath the surface he probably is feeling it more than I realise and I need to be mindful of that.

I think different schools do different things.

DD’s school is officially finishing next Thursday, but her first written exam is next Thursday morning, so she can’t attend lessons and do her GCSE that morning.

In reality, her last day will be this Friday. Next Monday is the bank holiday, and she just wants to revise at home after that, she gets more done and is feeling at the moment that school is a waste of time as some children are being disruptive and so she can’t focus. I’m one for keeping a high attendance rate, but under the circumstances am happy to keep her off for a couple of days next week before official study leave starts.

Is study leave rare now or is it just in schools near us where they continue full time until all exams are done? I can't decide whether I think that's best or not tbh but was surprised as I assumed we'd be done next week.

Well done @EducaatingRita. Art is also finally finished here. I actually think the last couple of weeks have put her off a level again.

She was desperate to miss school today but given she's only got 3 days left, I made her go in. Perhaps the wrong call, apparently everything they're doing is pointless now. I call teen attitude!

We are the same. DS had his weekend metldown and both Monday and yesterday the school called me to say to come get him as he was distressed.

Past 2 nights I have run him a bath and inisted he get into bed lights out by 9. He said he's feeling a bit better today, but I am hoping he will go to bed early again tonight.

DDs Art exam part 2 today, portfolios handed in. Then no more time vacuum Art GCSE required, wooo hooo! She can concentrate on other GCSEs now..

Only 6.5 weeks to go for them all - worth the pain for future gain, even though it doesn't feel like it sometimes

We are exactly the same. I feel he peaked at February mocks and now fatigue and boredom have set in. They are revising and learning exam technique at school so I'm counting anything he does at home as a bonus and trying not to get too stressed about the fact it definitely seems like he has taken his foot off the gas.

I don't remember finishing GCSE courses as early as my DS has and if I'd had as much revision "lessons" in school as he has I'm not honestly sure I'd have done much more.

Also if I'm honest I don't think I learned what worked for me on revision until A level and into my degree.

My DS is getting very tired we have basically backed away from expecting much if any revision other than in school. Mocks went well and so trying to just rely on DS to know what he’s doing and fatigue is probably a greater factor to how DS does than what he knows. The damned exams just need to start now!

french speaking completed today and the first 2 of 51 exams done for the DTs.
feedback was “it went ok”.

have given them their exam gift box thingys and they’ve already tucked into some sweets and chocolate. I sense the edible items will need to be replenished. 😀

still not ordered the shoes…..

@whereonthestair I remember yoropen. They were brilliant.
@Caddycat we have tried several grips as advised by OP and she couldn’t get on with any of them.

Thank you for the great tips @clary

@Wolfiefan could you get a grip to put on a compliant pen? Would that help?

All the best to all the MFL speakers this week :) remember the past and future tense, work it in at least twice. And give opinions and reasons. Last year I had a candidate finish their description of the photo with "J’aime la photo parce que c'est intéressant" – I mean it wasn't but who cares.

Final tip – say what you know the French for, not what you would like to say but don't have the vocab for, please.

@Wolfiefan AFAIK all papers are scanned. Markers for Eng lit will mark multiple iterations of the same question rather than marking a whole paper.