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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Here we go! It's GCSE results week!

399 replies

MaureenMLove · 20/08/2012 20:47

Are you ready? What's everyone got planned for Thursday? I'm going to my school to check on results, then wait for DD to call me from her school, with her news.

It's going to be an emotional day! Possibly not personally with DD, not expecting any top results, but she does already has Maths and English in the bag. She had what she needs to move forward and that's all that matters.

I have another 120 kids at my school and one or two who I care very much about. Can't wait to be there for them.

OP posts:

Year11mum · 22/08/2012 15:40

Hello all...can I join in with the nail biting. This is my third round of vicarious GCSE results but by far and away the most stressful. DD1 and DS2 were both , outwardly at least, very laidback about the exams and kept any worries or concerns they may have had to themselves pre results, so I don't really remember it all being quite so stressful as this time

DD2 though is and always has been a worrier. On top of this she has struggled with Chronic fatigue since the end of year 8 and has had to miss lots of schooling/ was asked to drop a GCSE by school ( her consultant recommended dropping a couple more but she was having none of it) and things like concentration and memory recall are badly affected by the condition. She worked so hard to try to catch up with work missed, was very hard on herself during revision and yet still emerged from most exams very donwbeat.

For the past couple of weeks she has been in tears almost every day worrying about tomorrow. At first I thought it was all the last minute panic everyone gets to some extent about results and have told her that it is human nature to remember the "mistakes" made rather than the correct answers given. I've told her that if she found a paper difficult then it is likely everyone did and people often find that they answer difficult questions better than the apparently "easy" ones. I tell her that we couldn't be more proud of her in the way she has tried to beat her Chronic fatigue and we know she couldn't have worked any harder..But she remains inconsolable and today admitted that it is because she knows that she can't do as well her older brother and sister whatever she gets that is getting her down. Apparently her dad and I saying that we will be proud of her whatever her results gets her even more depressed because in effect we're saying that we don't expect her to achieve the clutch of A*s she's set her heart on

She knows she has worked harder than her siblings did and put in more effort, but says that won't mean anything when the results are out. She will be considered by everyone as the , in her words, "less clever one but she's tried sooo hard, bless her."

So what should I do? Leaving aside the illness element have any of you been in the position where a younger child has not performed as well as his/her older siblings and feels that they are a disappointment because of it?

Champneys · 22/08/2012 15:43

I have just eaten a whole packet of cheese straws whilst reading this thread and I didn't even realise it. Must be the stress! Gawd knows what i'll be like by morning. At least a stone heavier for starters

cardibach · 22/08/2012 15:48

THat sounds very difficult, Year11mum. I only have one DD, so can't be all that helpful. My sister has an 'academic' DD and a 'practical' one (they are both clever, capable, girls, just one liked school better). She tried to find things the 'practical' one could excel at, like voluntary work overseas. Both are happy, succcesful young women now. It goes against the grain at the moment, but we need to remember it is only (hollow laugh) GCSEs and not the end of the world. I think.

THanks for the link about grade boundaries whoever posted it - all DDs are WJEC and they aren't releasing them until tomorrow. Oh well, wouldn't have really helped anyway, I don't suppose.

bruffin · 22/08/2012 15:59

DS is so laid back about it he is horizontal. He just says he can't do anything about it now. I know he will disappointed tomorrow if he doesn't do well.

MrsCobbit · 22/08/2012 16:05

I am so stressed I've taken to ironing - it was either that or gin! DS1 has gone to buy his beers for Reading.....

Champneys · 22/08/2012 16:08

MrsCobbit, when you have done yours I have plenty to keep you busy through the night until the results come in

Yellowtip · 22/08/2012 16:09

Year11mum DS3 has five older siblings whose results are all significantly better than DS3's predictions. We get a lot of well meaning people saying 'hard act to follow' etc. but at the end of the day it's tough being in that position. DS3 doesn't sound as though he's in your DD's mould, on the face of it he's much more laid back. I do feel protective though.

LineRunner · 22/08/2012 16:11

Can I say, I am absolutely bricking it for tomorrow. I feel a bit ill. (DD's results.)

MrsCobbit · 22/08/2012 16:12

Have plenty to keep me going Champneys - it's been a while.......

Champneys · 22/08/2012 16:15

So, how will everyone get their results and what time?

Do you/dc actaully have to go to the school or do they get emailed or what?

We have to phone in or email a request and they are emailed back.
Next terms bill has arrived, but I am certainly not paying it, until I see what exactly my money has gained so far!!

I honestly think it is going to be a disastrous set of results, and am not joking. Intellegent, but bone idle is how I would describe ds. And a charmer, so he knows by friday I will have forgiven him for not doing a jot of work.

SecretSquirrels · 22/08/2012 16:16

They have to go to school at 10am tomorrow. I will be watching the phone at work waiting for it to ring.

Year11mum · 22/08/2012 16:16

Thanks for replying cardibach. I forgot to mention that unlike older two ( one of whom has just graduated and the other completed first year at uni) she already knows what she wants to do in life. And that is...be a doctor. So, from what I understand, she's currently set on one of the few degree courses that look to GCSE results for their first cut off when pruning down applicants. . But you're right, GCSE results are not the end of the world. In DD2's case she and school will be able to explain about her missed schooling/medical condition and hopefully when she's just able to concentrate on the subjects she loves in 6th form she will begin to shine/achieve her dreams. DD1 and DS maintain that they never talked about GCSE results again after the actual day they opened their envelopes and DD1 says she to this day doesn't know what some of her best friends got, although she says they all did well enough to go out partying on results night!.

Good luck to everyone -

BackforGood · 22/08/2012 16:19

ds goes into school too - all meeting up with his mates at 9.30, and I have to wait for him to phone me. He is pretty horizontal too, it has to be said.

Year11mum · 22/08/2012 16:21

Yes I was hoping you'd be here yellowtip ( I'm an addicted lurker so have read about the stellar results of your older DCs - amazing) and might have some advice. It's the worrying and lack of self confidence that makes it all the worse for DD2. If DD1 had been the third child I'm sure I wouldn't be fretting so much _ she certainly wouldn't be.

MrsCobbit · 22/08/2012 16:24

I will be taking him to school at 10am in full anticipation of begging negotiations with the head of the sixth form. Have Plan B and C sussed - if it gets as far as Plan D we have no hope since there isn't one.......

TheOneWithTheHair · 22/08/2012 16:29

Another one checking in with an incredibly laid back ds. I don't think he's given it a second thought. To be fair he's pretty sure what results he's getting. The only one with a question mark is French as he went from an Unclassified in September to a C in January. I know he would love a B as he's worked really hard but we'll see in the morning.

Fingers crossed that all your dcs get the results they need and deserve. :)

Yellowtip · 22/08/2012 16:31

No advice Y11. I could do with some myself! Your DD has had very compelling circumstances to do less well, unlike DS. I'm just limbering up with the usual lines about well you worked hard this year (double edged); you're lovely anyway (double edged); they've kept the grades down (nearly true) etc. etc. DS2 did a bit less well than the others but that was entirely down to being pretty louche with regards to work (he did a sprint right at the end).

I hope she does much better than she thinks; worriers often do.

Champneys · 22/08/2012 16:32

oh not what they deserve TheOneWithTheHair We'll end up with a column of U's

What they need is better

BackforGood · 22/08/2012 16:33

Noooooooooooo! I hope he gets better than he deserves (in terms of work put in), theOne

BackforGood · 22/08/2012 16:33

x-posted

Champneys · 22/08/2012 16:33

lololololol crosspost!

LineRunner · 22/08/2012 16:35

My DD did work reasonably hard. But ... it's touch and go with her maths, and I'm very very nervous.

TheOneWithTheHair · 22/08/2012 16:39

Oooops sorry.

Let's stick to what they need then.

I put deserve when I was thinking of the precious young thing he once was and not the lazy teen.

LineRunner · 22/08/2012 16:41

I think we all deserve straight As.

Toomuchtea · 22/08/2012 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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