DS1's report is due out today and I've got butterflies

[Ormirian]

He's in yr9 and about to start thinking about his GCSE option. Recently he has been deciding on what he wants to do when he leaves school. I am getting a bit freaked out that life is going to be really tough for this generation - to find a job or to afford university. DS wants to try for an apprenticeship but they aren't easy to get hold of especially in the area he's interested in.

Suddenly his grades and results seem really important. And the decisions he makes over the next few months. More so than ever before. He's doing OK, much more than OK in some areas, but I am so worried it won't be enough.

Anyone else getting panics about the future?

It's mad isn't it? Five minutes ago ( it feels like) they were still at primary school! I think DD knows the sort of subject area but not specifics of what she wants to do, and she will only think about Unis that do rowing - a current passion, but that may well change

Does your school stop at 16? I think that when schools do, secondary education must feel very short. Ours goes through to 18. Whether they stay on or not will be up to them and what they want to do. But if they had to move at 16 I suppose we would be thinking about it v soon.

Yes, jsut to 16. We have a very good college that offers A levels as well as FE. It does seem short. Primary went on forever! Secondary is over so quick.

A school in our LEA starts GCSEs/BTECs in Y9 so options in Y8. As a whole school policy it is a ludicrous idea that doesn't work for the majority of students and if my child went there I would have moved him when this idea was brought in. It is scary enough in Y9!

I agree with penguin - I hate the two-year KS2 schemes, but more and more schools are moving to this system, because of the pressure on results, especially in core subjects. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the boys' school don't go this way, at least until ds2 is through!

Sorry to be thick - but you aren't talking about them doing exams early? Just dragging them out over three years? Is that right? DD is doing maths early, so has started that syllabus and has started Greek GCSE but that is because the Greek is an extra iyswim. But she will be choosing her options late this academic year.

No, the idea is that they do some GCSEs in Y9/10 and some in Y11 and it is sold on the idea that the students will have the chance to resit in Y11 if Y9/10 doesn't go too well or will leave with more qualifications if they do. The majority do leave with more but without the firm grounding of a 3 year KS3 many lack the basics so tend to achieve around the C grade rather than A or A* that they may otherwise be capable of. Schools are happy as the number of passes at C or above is increased even though many will not have achieved their true potential and will struggle at AS/A2 due to gaps in their knowledge. More importantly the pressure on the students is immense as teachers try to make up for the lost KS3 year as well as doing the GCSE. Pupils doing one or two GCSEs early because they are capable of doing so is different, and a good idea but bringing forward the options/GCSE process a year for everyone regardless of ability is crazy.

I have just looked at DS's (yr 10) maths book and he has a target page in the front. It says his target is A* by December 2011. This means he will be doing his maths gcse in 4 terms.
He hasn't started early, but i do remember some talk of starting AS levels early.

Shit!

I found his last learning review from June and he has actually slipped back a level on maths. Which seems strange. DS reckons it's down to one assessment that he got spectacularly badly wrong

I want to speak to someone at school but DH won't have any of it. He thinks that attainment levels are the spawn of the devil but I am worried.

Went to open evening at college last night and he needs a B in maths at GSCSE. If he doesn't get his act together that isn't going to happen

And if DS1 is struggling fuck knows how DS2 is going to cope with secondary.

I feel like such a failure

No no no! You are definitely not a failure! You seem in tune with what is happening with your dc schooling and proactive. How can that be failing?!

Stuff your DH ( no offence ) and go and speak to your maths teacher if you want to and it is worrying you. GCSE is a very long way off. DD is doing maths early and I think it's a long way off! I think these attainment levels are fairly vague and if based on one test, they are almost meaningless why not arrange to meet the maths teacher this week. You'll feel better for it.

Thanks rather.

Difficult to get to see anyone anyway. I just want to have a quick chat on the phone really but no-one ever seems to be avaialble.

I will try to raise the subject again tonight but I know what his reaction will be.

I do feel that you are being forced to be rather ahead of yourselves though.

We really are not thinking about GCSE grades here, even though DD has started maths, and you say you went to a college open evening? We are certainly not thinking about A levels yet, they haven't even chosen their GCSE options! You are worried your DS won't get a grade B in maths, but he hasn't even started the syllabus yet as he?

I know.

One of the reasons we went is that is DS chooses engineering as a GCSE he will be going part-time to the college from Yr10. And the handle most of the apprenticeships.

So he can choose to do GCSE engineering, he doesn't need any grades to get in to the course?

Is the fact he is aiming to do a GCSE at college making you think further ahead than maybe you need to? I think you are being rushed, or maybe I'm being too cavalier?!

I think I'd still try to get to the bottom of his maths though..

Yes. I am going to try to speak to his head of year (apparently that's the chap to ask).

Incidentally he did a GCSE level assessment last week and came back with a high level C.

No the GCSE is just the start. He is going to either do A levels and university or an apprenticeship if he can get the right one. But it's perfectly common to do an apprenticeship and then proceed to university at a later stage.

Hmmmm...... I think I may be overthinking it somewhat

DS(year 9) is my number three - DD1 is in her first year at university and DD2 is in year 13 - so I am very chilled about year 9 this time round.

Ormirian it is still a looong time till GCSEs your DS will be fine.

DS has a detailed plan for his future anyway - English at university preferably Oxbridge and then go to California for Film School as a postgraduate and then become Hollywood film directorWatch this space to see if I get to go to the Oscars

Orm, if he got a C grade on a GCSE assessment in the first term of yr9 I'd have thought he'll be fine when it comes to the real thing.

Yeah I know

Thanks

DS told me to 'chill out, mum' yesterday. Think is I got so used to micro-managing him when he was in primary - hw used to have to be dragged out of him with much screaming and stropping and he was always just below where he should be. He is much more organised now but every now and again I get a panic that I am letting things slide