Y11 2025-26 Results Day and Next Steps

Oh my god! That’s like GCSE revision workload 😮 Mad that they expect them to keep that up for 2 years. Is it a college/school where they are prepping them for Oxbridge and similar?

That does sound insane and not normal.

We have the opposite problem here in that they are being set hardly anything but they are expected to make sure they go over and actually know / can remember stuff they have done. However a couple of DS1’s teachers like taking their work in to look at it a lot, so he hardly ever has his books. Plus it’s a newish syllabus I think and apparently there isn’t a good text book either! He is really struggling with doing anything as he finds nebulous work very difficult.

DS is working hard but not at that level @whereonthestair He has very few study periods as his timetable is quite packed (4 A levels, additional electives and PSHE modules) but I would say he's averaging 1-1.5 hours of study time each evening and maybe a couple of hours per day at weekends. Still finding time to fit in volunteering and a hobby once each per week and lots of gaming! It definitely feels like a step up from GCSE but not a daunting step up so far (though the amount of maths homework he gets is eye watering but he's taking it in stride).

I wonder if it's the amount of reading etc that is creating so much work for your DS? Having studied humanities at that level and for my degree I would say there is a definite trick to managing the reading - it is literally impossible to read everything that teachers 'suggest' you should, even for set essay pieces. He'll probably become an expert at skim reading and speed writing in time (I did English and history so a lot of essay writing). But that does sound pretty intense.

This was me with Law reading during my uni years 😂 Headnotes and nut case summaries is what I read as I told myself it was impossible to read all the set reading (and still have a life).

Anyone else off to Nottingham on Saturday? We did Southampton last week but dd didn’t like the campus. That said it was a good starting point and has given her things to look out for on other open days.

We're not doing Nottingham as they've closed their MFL department 😭

DD has applied to do a taster day at Churchill College in November. There's one for History and Politics and one for Literature and Languages, if anyone is interested.

We also heard back from Art which the school has asked to be reviewed as the whole year went down 2 grades. There was no change but they're now appealing the decision. DD doesn't care anymore but at the time was annoyed to get a 6 when she was expecting an 8 or a 9! The school is a very high performing grammar so won't want to have a year where the highest grade was 7.

Skim-reading and summarising key points is one excellent use of AI. Recommended! He can then go back and read more deeply about things he's interested in or didn't understand from the summary.

We got DS's re-marks back for AQA English Language. No change on paper 2, but 8 extra marks in paper 1, which pushes him up from a high 6 to a high 7. Really pleased with that. Still waiting for English Literature paper 1 to come back.

Just got English Literature back as well. No change. He was one mark below a 9 so that was vanity only.

Congratulations to your DS for English Lan @NotDarkGothicMama

@NotDarkGothicMama Good news about English Lang.

DD seems to be getting lots of homework now or she left it all till last min as done quite a few hours today !

How is everyone else getting on ?

Daughter very stressed preparing for tests next week 😬 She has some big-topic tests in 3 of her A-levels and is trying to get on the teachers' good sides from the beginning for those predicted grades next year 😂

Having never had tutors in any of the sciences, she now wants me to find her Chemistry and Biology tutors as she feels it would give her an edge. Does anyone have any recommendations for good online tutors for Chemistry and Biology?

Yes, I know one, I’ll DM you…

I would recommend the 'MyTutor' website for A level tuition - used it for DS1 and it was a really flexible system that allowed you to identify experienced tutors for your chosen subjects (ie you can see how many tutoring hours they have clocked up so how experienced they are). Definitely worth looking at. All online and DC can download the notes made during every session to keep.

https://www.mytutor.co.uk/

DS2 is doing well...seems to be working hard and enjoying the courses so taking that as a win for now.

Dd is loving her alevels and thankfully feels confident in her choices. The workload is heavy especially with an epq on top but she’s managing well. We’ve been to two university open days so far which have definitely given her a helpful push to really knuckle down.

Went to New Scientist Live today (we go every year) and one of the talks was really useful to get DD started with her EPQ. All seems calm.

We might also have to look into tutor dd struggled with mechanics homework.
Good to hear courses are going well.

We’ve made it to half term! (We get two weeks here!) It feels like an achievement with all the decision making about subjects, epq titles etc. So well done to all the dc!

Yes well done to everyone! Hope all DC are feeling settled in their courses now.

DS is celebrating a grade increase for his English language, which has now gone up to a 9. Seems to be enjoying all of his A levels though chemistry definitely the standout favourite for now.

Anyone's DC had any luck in finding work? DS is starting a weekend volunteering role tomorrow, we figured this would at least look good on the CV even if he's not earning any money from it.

No luck at all here. It's really depressing. So many jobs applied for and only one interview. She thought it went ok but they then ghosted her and didn't get back to her when they said they would and haven't replied to her when she got in touch asking if they'd made a decision. That really knocked her confidence. And now several weeks later and many more jobs applied for, absolutely no sign of anything else. I worry if she misses the Xmas temp work then she'll struggle in the new year too when all of them will be free (with experience) to get any jobs that are out there. I'm finding this as hard as the GCSE stress tbh.

Look into things like pool life guarding, sports coaching, refereeing, cricket scoring, hockey umpiring. All pay and constant demand. They need to qualify but easy enough to do

How are those working managing with school work? We’ve not entertained the idea of getting Dd a job. I honestly can’t see how as she does several hours of homework each night.

I think it's hard with time too. One of our neighbours had asked DD to do some tutoring though, which feels like it could be a good one as just the odd hour here and there.

Does anyone know if there's a calendar somewhere which has uni open days on? I've looked on line but the ones I've found have far too many and include virtual and real, it's hard to filter them down... I really want to see just the top 20 or so!

We’ve been to two open days so far and just booked by looking at individual websites. Booked Birmingham next for next month.

I’m in awe of you all looking at jobs and unis and such. Here I have been pretty impressed at how DS has adapted to sixth form study but it is taking his all - can’t imagine him having a job too and he isn’t thinking about after sixth form at all yet, he hasn’t even decided which of his subjects to drop (on advice of school he started 4 with intention to drop one after trying them out).
One more week before half term here.

Re jobs - I agree that lifeguarding and footy reffing are great ideas. Yes you need to get the training (and pay for it) but it's decent ££ and always needed. Also can flex to some extent around other commitments. DS2 was a footy ref for a season and the money was great plus he could say no if the match didn't suit. Obvs it is mostly on Sat/Sun mornings. He stopped in the end bc of grief from parents on the sidelines sadly.

My DC all had paper rounds with a local newsagent but I appreciate this is a dying option. But seven years after DD stopped doing hers, I still see a lad on the same round (it includes our street). So it is still a thing in some areas. The good thing about that was that it didn't cut across their after-school or Saturday sports and drama as a lot of cafe etc jobs will. It helped tho that we live about 3 mins' walk from school! wouldn't work with a long morning commute I guess.