Year 12 #1 - GCSEs are sooo last year!

[bpisok]

New thread to see us through to Christmas?

Congrats to all who got prizes and good luck to all doing external exams etc little stars each and everyone.

There were no prizes here.

When it came to getting his GCSE certificates, DS got a pre-printed postcard with his name one the back which told him to pick them up from reception asap ( because the school doesn't want to have to store the certificates for too long).

He went in, the receptionist handed over the envelop, told him to check it for mistakes and that was it. He walked back out of the gates at the end of 5 years without seeing anyone he knew and no one to say thank you, goodbye or good luck to.

The school organises endless assemblies and presentations. DS must have attended upwards of 400 when he was there, most of them to talk in great detail about something not very important. But they do nothing at all for the culmination of 5 years of work for 200 students?? Is that normal?

I think it’s another thing where there is a huge variation between schools, but yes quite usual I would say. DS school has a huge send off at the end of sixth form but I think it’s a shame there is nothing for those that leave at the end of year 11. Unless there is something just less public.

I think I'm just feeling sore with the school because its standards are clearly slipping, and Ds2 could have up to 4 more years there.

The school had an incredible (and scary!) HT for years but he left 3 or 4 years ago. Since then, there has been a gradual decline. Things happen now that the old HT would have stopped immediately and both teachers and students are guilty of doing things now that they would have been too scared to even try unh=der the old HT.
Most recently, the teachers have decided to cut the GCSE school reports down to just one or two a year. Presumably, they were just too much effort.
By now, when DS1 was in year 10, I knew what DS1's targets were and what he needed to focus on, but I heard yesterday, that the school have decided to cut down the number of reports this year and I won't find out how DS2 is doing until next year.
Somehow, with the rate of deterioration, i don't think this school will be one that DS2 will be proud to have gone to by the end of sixth form.

DS’s old school have a prize giving evening but only include those pupils still at the school, so only those who chose to stay in their sixth form. Bit unfair, I think.

Just had a successful parents evening. All 3 subjects are essay ones and he is already writing essays including timed answers at "A" standard. They all feel that over the next year or so with more practice, and as he reads around his subjects more and also as he matures into A level style he should be able to up these to A*s.

Chinese takeaway ordered to celebrate!

That seems an odd thing to do .Ellen because wouldn't you want to win a prize knowing you were the best at GCSE rather than just the best of those who didn't change school?
Or is it only those who go to catering college and beauty school who leave?

Ellen I do think that's a bit mean.

At DS's school I think anyone can get an award(well they gave out over 80), infact when they read out the first person but said that they weren't here, I was half expecting for them to appear on the big screen (set up so those at the back can see) to accept their award, and say how sorry they couldn't be there tonight .........

Dds school had their prize day in June.

The leavers from his school are a mix of those going to college and those going to other school sixth forms. We live in a semi-grammar school area and the grammar schools take on quite a few new students. My DS has swapped to a different comp sixth form, closer to home and with a slightly better record in sciences and maths. So some of the highest achieving students will have moved on. The school are obviously pushing their own sixth form, though. It’s a bit of a shame but not a biggy.

Prize day in June sounds good, but that’s before GCSE results.

Sounds like he’s making good progress, Shalom.

Yes. It’s part of the whole school prize day and prizes are awarded not for the actual results but work throughout the year.

Also it was the day before Prom and parents were invited to a special lunch buffet.

Alex how is DH getting on with his phased return to work (think I've got that right)?

It’s not too bad so far sticker. The journey is tiring and he’s had a couple of dizzy spells. Also his lamp still hasn’t been sorted and they tried to timetable him for a class he’s not supposed to be attempting yet. But he is enjoying being back with the students.

We had prizegiving in June. Prizes are for effort and results throughout the year, rather than for external exam grades. And there were also some special awards for sixth formers that excelled in - specific subjects, sports, community service etc etc These were a big deal, with personal nominations read out by the staff about why each student was being honoured. If either of my girls ever gets one of those, I'll be a sodden mess - it was really touching.

GCSE certificates just came home in an envelope one day. Life has moved on.

Both DS1 and DD moved for sixth form. I can't remember what happened at the school DS1 moved to (which was the one DD moved from after GCSEs), but at DD's current school, all the year 12s, in cluding new starters, were presented with their GCSE certificates at a ceremony to which parents were invited. The awards for best GCSE results definitely included those who had olnly moved to the school for sixth form, as a girl from DD's old school was one of them.

(DD was 'presented' with an empty envelope - I had collected her certificates from her old school for her, but then she forgot to hand them over before the event...).

MarchingFrogs that sounds much more thoughtful.

We had a prize giving in June and although DD didn't win anything she had to attend as she was singing with the choir. No real goodbyes for her which she was very sad about (she was the only one who was moved for sixth form).

I have just collected her GCSE certificates as she didn't trust DS to get them home without creasing them.

That's it, Grade 8 Piano done! Fairly typical boy feedback but I think he felt he had done himself justice - one dodgy scale, slight wobble in his Bach prelude but everything else went well. I'm so proud - this is the culmination of 11 years of very hard work for ds.(small sniff).

He also got his certificates today - Prizegiving was a few weeks ago and the school did it really nicely - prizes for each subject, also most progress and the new 6th Formers were also included. Ds got Maths, Music and Head of Year commendation for best results in school (another small sniff)

What a lovely day Kilash. And that sounds like a fantastic Grade 8 performance. You are entitled to one or two small sniffs!

Drum roll please....DD had the prize for Outstanding Service to the School & runner up for geography. I was seriously hacked off when the grown ups behind me complained loudly about the lad who got 10 straight grade 9s receiving the Outstanding Achievement award, moaning that you shouldn't get that prize for results. Their brand new grandchild caused less of a scene then they did.

Nice to see ‘our’ DC doing well, Kilash and Sticker.

DS3 has just landed himself a job! There’s a dearth of maths tutors locally compared to demand so we’ve responded to a post on the school’s FB parents’ page for a Y12 to tutor their Y9 DS. £10 for an hour lesson once a week starting in January. As DS wants to be a maths teacher it’s win/win, (if it works out.) Great experience for DS, some extra money and a cheap tutor for his tutee! He’s been ‘mentoring’ a Y8 boy at school with maths and helping out at this year’s maths masterclasses on a Saturday morning so this is finally some financial reward for his efforts. Let’s hope it all works out.

Maths Kangaroo tomorrow. It’s all about the maths here!

I think it's worth asking your old school if you are good at maths, as DD's old school runs a similar scheme, again £10 ph. Hope he bounces through the kangaroo in style!

Congratulations all round!

Well done to Kilash DS on getting through the G8 piano exam, and for the Maths & Music prize & commendation.

Congratulations to Stickerrocks DD on the award, which was well deserved. Ignore the naysayers.

And well done to EllenJanesthickerknickers DS on landing the tutoring job.

Good luck to everyone who is doing the Kangaroo tomorrow. DS2 is exhausted after playing in concerts yesterday evening and this evening, so not sure he will be at his Mathsiest tomorrow.

I know we have an BMO1 qualifier on here (sorry, I can't remember which DC it is) so good luck to them for tomorrow too.