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Secondary education

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Original poster

Last day of school before gcses!

71 replies

legallady · 02/05/2012 09:05

Just received letter from DD's school confirming that Friday 11 May is the last day of timetabled lessons before gcses begin. If she wasn't hoping to stay on for the 6th form (depending on whether she gets good enough grades) that could feasibly be her last "proper" day at the school.

I can't believe 5 years has gone so quickly Sad. She's already had her leavers' sweatshirt and Yearbook and suddenly gcses are upon us.

Anyone else wondering where the time has gone?

OP posts:
Kez100 · 04/05/2012 04:51

Yes, my daughter is. She went off on a tangent rather last year deciding she wanted to go an artistic route. All very well, but she hadn't chosen Art - nor anything related for GCSE! They have a habit of scaring you silly at times but she put a portfolio of work together in her own time and it does go to show what can be achieved if you are dedicated enough.

IdontknowwhyIcare · 04/05/2012 08:12

Yep DS has choosen he knows what he wants and is working hard to get there. He will go to 6th form (if he gets the grades) at his current school (no choice to go elsewhere (overseas)). He has chosen Eco, Hist, gov & pol, philosophy, eng lit. His eventual aim is to go to LSE and work in politics. Already he has organised work experience in the House of Commons for the second year.

glaurung · 04/05/2012 08:26

Dd is still dithering whether to do maths or not. I guess results might help her finally decide.

seeker · 04/05/2012 08:41

My dd is ( thankfully) staying where she is for 6th form- History, English, Theatre Studies and....Physics!

MiladyGardenia · 04/05/2012 09:10

Ds1 has chosen History, Govt and Politics, Geography and Biology. He's known for several years what he wants to do at university and hasn't wavered since.

TheOneWithTheHair · 04/05/2012 09:19

I've got a ds finishing on 1st of June for "study leave". He will only have science left by then. He's off to catering college next year. He already works Saturdays and holidays in a restaurant and loves it.

I just can't believe he's finishing. He doesn't seem old enough.

I also have a ds who's about to start preschool nursery. Talk about being at the opposite ends of the education spectrum!

MaureenMLove · 04/05/2012 16:49

I got all teary eyed again this morning. We had the yr11 group photo. They all looked so bloody gorgeous and grown up and excited. Got a lump in my throat and everything! Grin

God, I'm going to miss them!

seeker · 04/05/2012 18:51

I've got one leaving primary school too. Fab planning thatwas!

GrungeBlobPrimpants · 04/05/2012 18:58

Stock up with tissues right now, Seeker

I'm worried whether her uniform will last into next week and the exam dates though. Confused Her skirt's button fell off weeks ago with zip just manageable; blouse underarms a bit iffy but jumper covers them to the world; blazer arms short but never mind; but school shoes' leather and soles worn to last threads. She's talking about wearing converses to and from school and changing once she gets there

Kez100 · 04/05/2012 20:03

LOL at the falling apart uniform. Same here, except as she says, the last day will bring forth more photos of her in uniform than ever before! All in rags!

....at least she will not be the only one!

BringBack1996 · 04/05/2012 20:21

My DS is doing very similar A levels to yours Milady (history, geog, bio and economics). What is it that your DS is wanting to do at university?

MiladyGardenia · 04/05/2012 21:05

He wants to do Law, BringBack. He seems to be fully aware of and ok with the mountains of work that will entail so fingers crossed... What about your DS? Does he know what he wants to do?

daffodilly2 · 04/05/2012 21:09

My eldest DS leaves school on the 11th too - should be going on to 6th form but it feels such an event. I remember my leaving day very well - ingrained. I was a very sensible girl yet I drank vodka being passed around that day - never touched spirits since as a result. Daren't tell my DS I was such a rebelShock
I'm happy for him, I think being older is easier, more freedom , but he is Sad at every year passing, he wants to stay young, carefree and without responsibilities he tells me. Maybe the exam pressure is tough on our youngsters.
I've loved being his mum, don't want to go back just cherish the good and bad times and toast Wine his future. I'm so hopeful and excited for my brood.
I wish all your DC a memorable last day and a huge hug of love as I will give my DS. It's wonderful we have got them this far and we can be so proud from those tiny little babes, good, positive adults are emerging.Smile

BringBack1996 · 04/05/2012 21:15

He wavers really, but at the moment it's social policy. He was interested in Law but is very put off by how competitive it is and thinks he wouldn't get in :( That's why geog/social policy appeals to him - grades needed for uni in these subjects are lower (ABB I think for geog at LSE).

Kez100 · 04/05/2012 21:26

When I was in fifth year (now year 11) I left and my friends all stayed in sixth form. Although I went to college and did well, I had a recurring dream for years after that I had never finished school so my results didnt count and had to go back and do the last exam bit again.

SecretSquirrels · 05/05/2012 15:29

My baby leaves at half term. There must be some mistake because I'm just looking at the photo of him aged 4 in his big new uniform all ready for reception.
He has just gone shopping for Prom shoes and a year book.
Can someone explain to me what a year book is? We never had them.
Exams start on 14th and he goes to a 6th form college in September.

He's always been ahead of himself though and all he thinks about is going to uni to study particle physics.
Preferably in America. Sad

Kez100 · 05/05/2012 16:46

I think some years ago, a decade or so, they decided every child should get a Record of Achievement at the end of secondary. Something to put all their certificates etc in so they don't get lost. Something to show prospective employers.

I'm not sure if it is a requirement anymore but it still seems to be a tradition. Each school seems to include different stuff.

Ours has a personal statement, their CV, report on attendance, copies of certificates given by the HT over the years. My daughter added in a few things she had at home as well - like achievement postcards.

It has plenty of spare room and she will be able to add in her exam certificates as well later on. So long as she doesn't lose it, it seems a good way of keeping things safe.

seeker · 05/05/2012 18:36

Well, I got stung for £37.48 in Staples today for essential revision supplies......gullible, moi?

BackforGood · 05/05/2012 18:49

My ds still has to go in (so much better than the weeks of "study leave" IMO. I'm amazed how much this "leaving" malarky (prom, new suit for said prom, leavers lunch, leavers hoodie, leavers year book) is costing me, considering he's not leaving Grin.
Well.... I suppose 6th form entry does depend on GCSE results

NO WAY would I want to start again and go back to the baby days though ! Shock

MaureenMLove · 05/05/2012 19:59

DD's only remaining school skirt is being held together with a safety pin! I'm such a tight arse, I only need to buy one from M&S or BHS. It could only cost a tenner! Grin and I could give it to the neighbours. The PE kit is relatively new, but only because I don't think she's done much PE this year - conveniently been able to avoid it! I'll be able to pass that on to someone too.

She gets presented with a record of achievement too, on Celebration Afternoon, with much the same things in mentioned up thread. It's a lovely thing to do I think. Can't wait to recall all the things she's done over the years.

Kez100 · 05/05/2012 20:46

Ours didn;t have anything like that in it! It was more like a future record of achievement...a place to put certificates! The only 'past' achievements in there were her personal statement (which I have seen anyway because she put it with the college applications) and record of attendance

bruffin · 05/05/2012 22:02

I must be a baad mum ad I didn't realise Ds's last day is Thursday. They are going to Thorpe Park Friday.

I must be in denial.

Ds is taking sciences and maths for A levels but hasn't decided which 6th form he wants to go to. He applied to another 6th form and been accepted or stay Whete he is.

Kez100 · 05/05/2012 22:18

Ahhh, a question on that. My daughter has two conditional offers too. However, hers are both the same conditions. We are waiting for the second letter to arrive (but she was told in interview she had a conditional place). Does she have to turn one down?

If she meets conditions and gets E and M she knows her preference, however, if she doesn't meet conditions or fails English (she already has Maths) the other place is better because it offers resit GCSEs alongside the course she has chosen. At what point do you formally have to pick? Can you hold more than one conditional acceptance?

knittedslippersx3 · 05/05/2012 22:25

We have 2 conditional places here and won't accept and decline until results are in.
Finish end of May here and last exam June 24th. Prom July 6th.
Have ordered photos etc. Can't believe this is it!

bruffin · 05/05/2012 23:22

Agree with Kez they make the decision when they get their results.
Prom is 2nd July, we went to Westfield to try on suits, but couldn't find one yet.