GCSE Meltdown

[lambethlil]

DD1, Year11, has just lost the plot, saying she'll not get good enough grades to stay at her school for 6th form.

Apparently the head of her year has been telling the ones whose grades are too low, that they are predicted to not reach the required standard.

TBH I'm not sure what is self protective bluster; she doesn't want to stay at the school, and wants to board at a (specific) less academic school, but we've told her that unless she gets a bursary that brings the fees right down she won't be going.

Any ideas what to ask of her current school? Whether to check up on what's predicted, or leave it until after the mocks in January?

Part of me feels as if this might be just the shock she needs. She does the bare minimum and not even that sometimes.

the 'talk' they have had would be to allow them to apply elsewhere in order to give them some choices for September. I would have presumed that you would already have the predicted grades information - if you haven't then speak to the school asap and not wait until January.

You may be correct in the shock that she needs, as a secondary school teacher I often see a high number of students thinking that they have forever to do the work and all of a sudden the exams are upon them. In fact, I spoke to 2 of my year 11 groups today with my 'days in school talk' if broken down into days left in school, hours that they are actually in lessons etc than it can equate to about 24 days left (5 hours a day, 120 school days left until May half term...) now that scares them!

Thank you cricket!

She's hovering now, so I'll ask you more later.

If the intention was to put a rocket up her, its not working- she's now panicking about school, why we won't apply to others across London etc.

Grrr. I've printed off the deadline information for the other 2 options to reassure her. I just wish she'd put this energy into working rather than fretting. I'll ask school exactly what they've said to her and what her predicted grades are...

Thanks cricket.

let me know and I will try to help xx

Go to the school and ask for an up to date progress report in all subjects. See how good/poor she really is. Sit her down and have serious talk with her.
Give her the "dates/months/time left" facts.
A lot of teengers this age drift from day to day without seeing the full picture..i.e that there is an important exam looming! Now is the time to be seriously revising/working for the GCSE's. Some need the shock treatment to get them motivated. If they spent the time they waste studying instead of fretting about it their grades would increase!! It is still only November..(no need to emphasise that!!!) Now is the time to start a targeted approach to the exam.
If she is really poor consider enrolling her in a revision/study skills course ...sometimes they can help students to be more focused and teach them how to organise themselves.

Thanks cricket and aries.

It's much calmer here now!

She huffed and puffed and moaned for a few days, but does seem to have knuckled down. I asked the teacher who said that it was a very general pep talk with no specific grades mentioned. So [hmmm] at DD's interpretation!

Mocks in January, and they do all seem to have gone into pre exam purda already- no socialising for weeks!