GCSEs 2012 support thread

[Kez100]

Here we go........hold on tight!

Sounds like people are starting to wind down when poor DD has horrendous week next week - seven exams - 2x maths, 2x history, biology, chemistry and geography. She had some time off at the weekend but its been full throttle since Sunday and can't see there being much let up until the weekend after next. I do feel sorry for her but there isn't alot I can do except make sure she's taking on fluids and eating something healthier than biscuits occasionally . Can't wait for it all to be over and she can go shoe shopping for prom night!

Dd has four next week, two Maths, chemistry and biology, so she was supposed to be revising all this week. We've had a horrendous few days, DH was rushed into hospital last night, he collapsed while cutting the grass, they don't know what it is yet. They're talking about a stroke, Tia or seizure. We spent most of the night in the ambulance and then in hospital, he's still there and we don't know how long for. He won't be able to drive for 3-6 months. He's 43. Otherwise fit and healthy. Obviously this has been all I've thought about today, and then tonight, I thought about DD's exams and how this stress will affect her. I'm so worried about both of them.

I'm not surprised Primrose. Poor you, poor all of you. I find it helps to get practical when crisis strikes. You should get hold of the exams officer at school as soon as you can. It's possible s/he won't be in until the 11th. This is clearly a proper case for Special Consideration, it's bound to affect your DD and entirely reasonable that it would. That apart, all you can do is look on the bright side and try to reassure your DD that all will be well.

How awful for you Primrose, he'll be in my thoughts hoping for a speedy recovery. I agree that this is exactly the situation that special consideration was introduced for. Hopefully that will be one less worry for you and your family.

I hope yourvdh is better soon primrose

Thanks everyone.

Primrose how horrible. Yellowtip is right, though.
Hope you are all coping and that your DH recovers quickly.

What an awful thing for you all to be going through. I wish your husband well for a speedy recovery and a full diagnosis. Indeed, the route for special consideration needs to be explored as soon as you are able.

Thinking of you, your DH and DD Primrose. I hope DH is home soon and you get a full diagnosis.

When you can, try and get a note from the doctor confirming what has happened that you can give to the Exams Officer. They will then pass it on to the Examination Boards.

I wish your DH a speedy recovery Primrose.

Primrose, so sorry to hear about your DH, and the stress to your whole family. Big hugs to all. As other posters have said - do get a doc's note which will take some of the pressure off your DD.

Thanks everyone. I've been to see him today, and he's feeling ok apart from still having a bad head. He had a CT scan and a lumbar puncture, and is still waiting to see the neurologist. The worst thing on Monday was when he made no sense and couldn't say what month it was.

I will ring DD's school, I think the secretaries are there in the holidays, and ask what to do about special considerations.

Thanks for all the good wishes. :)

DD back to being negative and stressy about Maths on Monday. I don't think she has done enough work, she maintains she has but 'sucks at Maths'. Not sure how to deal with it.
I am also getting stressed that she won't get good results in the summer, I'm not sure whether she did enough work. She did work, I'm just having stress about her underachieving.

Not been on this thread for a few days. DS has been to loads of parties had a lot of fun mixed with RE revision.
Sorry to hear about your DH Primrose. Do keep us posted.
cardibach - I think it will be a long wait until August 23rd for us all. Even when they thought the exam went well doubts creep in afterwards.

RE on Monday and the penny has just dropped with DS that he will only be going into school for the exams them coming home again. So he actually has more time to revise geography than he thought. The clue is in "Study Leave"........ he can be dozy at times.

Hope they can sort out the problem and he recovers well Primrose and that your dd can get special consideration.

cardi I am trying very hard to not get stressed about results. Dd went into these exams very borderline between grades on nearly all her subjects (based on coursework and modules already sat) - if she's managed to pull them up it will give her more options for the future, but from what she's actually said about her exams this seems less likely.

But there's absolutely nothing we can do at this stage, so it really is best to just try and forget all about it until August and I'm hoping this will be easier to do once the exams themselves are over.

It's a worry. My daughter worked alright, really hard, but she is a C/D borderline candidate in everything. Very stressful for her because she is right on the level of truly failing, even with hard work and doing her best.

Sending you and your family Primrose all good wishes, what a horrible thing to happen to your family. The school will have an Examinations Officer who you should notify immediately with the circumstances and details of how this has affected your child. IF possible, a piece of medical evidence from the Doctor to outline the circumstances and any effects this has had over the week -i.e. time taken up visiting in hospital etc, stress, - Examinations Boards like as much supported evidence from professionals as well as parents, as possible - this is likely to affect your child over the coming weeks in addition to the revision time over the holidays - good luck.

I shall be very relieved when all these exams are over, it has been a hard 2 year slog for all the children, as one of my daughter's teachers said, it is quite simply a matter of stamina for all of them. My own daughter has had some ongoing Post Viral Fatigue syndrome for the 2 years after becoming very ill at the end of year 9 - it goes in predicatable patterns. For her, also a fairly borderline candidate in some subjects for these reasons, getting through these exams, no matter what the grade, will be a real testimony to her grit and determination to continue on a full timetable. Thankfully only Maths, Geog, Statistics and 2 rather random German exams to go- there are three exams in one day which I think is going to be a killer for her, and then an 8 day gap before a 45 minute german reading exam.......... the end is in sight!!!

Thanks for your good wishes.

He's home now, but not very well. He's sleeping a lot and generally feeling groggy (medical term!). He's self employed, so is worrying about needing to work, but really needs to rest first.

They are still not sure what happened, but the ct scan and lumbar puncture were clear, which is good. He can't drive for at least six months, and still has to have an MRI scan.

I have spoken to DD's school, and they have left a message to say that they will inform the examining board. I missed their call today, but they are going to ring back tomorrow. Hopefully her grades will not be affected because she really has worked hard.

Primrose - glad your DH is back home and the tests were clear.

Cardi - my DD also had a maths meltdown. Throwing things around and getting really frustrated after making loads of mistakes on a practice CGP paper. In the end I told her it didn't really matter if she dropped down in maths, and to concentrate on the history and Latin next week. She has calmed down and did a couple of Edexcel practice papers today - marks are still not up to her predicted grade but she seems to be recovering her confidence. Unfortunately you can always work harder, your DD worked hard and I know you are proud of her efforts - I am sure she will do better than you think.

I think it is too late to do any meaningful revision now, apart from a bit of last minute cramming which probably won't make much difference. It is annoying that due to sheer laziness my DD will probably not make all her predicted grades, but hopefully it will be the shock she needs to pull it together for AS levels.

Guineapiglet - big hug for your DD - I had a disease very much like PVFS in my twenties and it was horrifying. She is amazing to have got this far.

THanks BeingFluffy. I am proud of her,and will be whatever the results are. t's just a bit edgy at the moment, isn't it! We have a family tradition of champagne breakfast on the results morning - whatever the paper says. As you say, it will probably be better than I currently think!

Champagne breakfast - great idea!

It's luffly, BeingFLuffy. Bocks FIzz and/or champagne, croisants, pain au chocolat, brioche, bacon sarnies if anyone fancies it. All bought before results collected and consumed after. A celebration of the work done, and hopefully of the results, but regardless of them. My sister started it with her girls.

Primrose, what a stressful time for you all. Hope your dh recovers well.

Maths for ds tomorrow, he has gone to a friends house to study.

Oh Primrose, how very distressing for you and DD. Glad to hear DH is back home safely. I'm sure tomorrow will bring some small measure of relief when you get full support from the school and the exams officer.

Maths tomorrow for us, Ds is bored with revising, he has done all the past papers, everything in the books, BBC revisesie, Mymaths, etc. Likewise history. Fingers crossed for everyone that all goes well.

Cardibach loving the idea of a special breakfast. Might have a think about that ;-)
Oh and speaking of breakfast now we are back in exam week, tomorrow will be egg fried rice (leftovers from tonight).

Primrose, wishing all the best to all of you. It's put my whining in perspective.

I have dd1 doing A levels, dd2 (migraine sufferer) on GCSEs and ds with Y10 GCSEs - he's very dyslexic and I worry he won't achieve his potential which would be so unfair.

Most of my time is spent entertaining dd3 (8) as her sisters normally spend loads of time with her.

House is a mess but as long as everyone's calm....