To not be remotely involved in teen's gcse revision

[driedapricots101]

Just seen a post about ensuring this & that for language gcses.. tbh I didn't even understand it because whilst my teen sits theirs in may, I have not been remotely involved in their studies. They are bright & independent & I'm trusting they know what they need to do.. they tell me they do & mocks grades are all good.. im hoping other parents take a back seat at this stage too..some ive spoken to could probably sit the exams themselves so involved are they... or am i being a rubbish parent?!

I talk to my kids all the time about their school work, what their tests are like, what topics they are doing. When my son has a Maths test coming up they send home a great big list of
topics so we sit together, RAG rate it and then sit and watch videos together of the red ones. I check what their homework is and talk to them about when it’s due in and when they might have time to do it. I help them ‘make time’ if needed and support them with anything they ask for help with.

I imagine that when my older son starts year 10 next year this will continue. I imagine that at this time in year 11 I will be helping him to identify time and space he can use each day and supporting him in which subjects to revise and when. I will be looking at his exam timetable and identifying priorities and talking about anything he is worried about.

I imagine our house will be covered in revision posters and he will be asking us to test him with flash cards nightly!!

I believe the first written GCSE is on 9th May this year so coming up very quickly.

My parents (90s) didn't pay the slightest attention to my revision or timetable -I certainly wasn't stopped from going out or given any special treatment (I.e monetary rewards for passing, no guests in the house during revision, revision cards etc). I think a few of my friends had parents who were more invested, but I certainly wasn't the odd one out in this respect.
My DS is doing his this year and I'm definitely much more involved, but he is autistic so his needs are higher.
DD is now 19, but hers were during covid so she didn't actually sit an exam in the end.

I think some posters fail to understand that some parents are over invested in their eyes because they need to be.

I just kept them topped up with snacks/drinks and offered to test them on stuff if they wanted me to. You can lead a horse to water and all that.

Scotland so Nat 5's imminent. Mine hasn't wanted any input other than some help with word counts . Seems to know what he's doing. Has attended extra study sessions the school put on, even over Easter holidays.
I'm being very lenient re household chores and being an extra lovely mum making snacks etc. He knows it's temporary .
Agree will be totally child dependent though.

This!

My parents had zero involvement in any aspect of my exams- I’m sure there was emotional support but that was it and it worked for me. I was pretty academic and self motivated though. I guess all kids are different. I will just go by what my own daughter needs or asks for although I do think they needed to be mostly self directed

My son is yr 10 so getting ready for PPEs - he does a lot out of school & is worried about finding the time so we’ve helped him write a timetable to show where he’s got time available. Hopefully that will set him up to be ready for next year. Think my main job will be food and drink supplier!!

I'm not helping. He's autistic and extra nagging to do revision doesn't help it makes him push back and get annoyed. He's getting good mock grades so other than asking how he is doing and making sure he has every opportunity to learn and every opportunity for a good break from revision so he doesn't stress too much he's on his own. Each kid is different though and we did our own revision as kids and did good so I'm sure he'll be fine x

I was the same as you when my oldest sat her GCSE’s 2 years ago her grades were great. My youngest I will definitely have to be more involved as she will need more support. So definitely depends on each individual child.

I do think they needed to be mostly self directed

I agree, but a lot of 15/16 year olds haven't quite learned that yet and still need a bit of guidance. A good school teaches them revision techniques, but it is obvious from this thread that not all schools do this. We even attended a year 11 parents evening where the school gave a presentation on revision techniques to the parents and pupils.

DD's school were also pretty good about getting the students used to sitting exams. From year 9 they sat January and end of year exams in the school hall, so by the time they did their GCSEs they were used to it.

You aren't being a "rubbish parent" but more of a judgemental parent. Who cares what other parents are doing? Just focus on your kids and family.

I didn't need help with my GCSEs but my school was great and parents wouldn't have been much help as they didn't have a great education.
I do feel that I have to help my eldest, who is going through mocks. His school doesn't seem to have done much revision with him or even told him how to revise. I am dreading next year tbh, because I think I will have to do a lot with him.

One of my children needed help with planing revision and “encouragement “ to actually do it, the other is very motivated and more than capable of sorting it herself and has had no input from me at all.

This. And I'm a bloody teacher by trade!

I'm not getting that involved other than knowing when the exams are, helping draft a revision timetable and reminders to stick the timetable. They know they can ask if they need help.

I was torn - their teachers say they are A grade students but they often get B/Cs. I could coach them to achieve those As but having seen family members spoon fed to get the As who can't now self manage I decided not to.

If they’re independently good at studying and get good grades, I don’t blame you at all. I sat 10 GCSES with the top grades (this was 10 or so years ago) and I don’t think my parents could have recalled what subjects I was studying, if asked. I don’t remember any peers having involvement from parents either. As others have said, they’re likely about to go to college then university and independent study is sort of essential. Overbearing parenting and involvement from my parents would have got my back up, frankly.