whats year 9 all about?

[kilmuir]

thats it really. i know schools differ but just an idea of exams/options etc.

[bigTillyMint]

Dame and Werthers,

I was at least 15 when I started drinking, and back then it was either a glass of cider or a martini/cinzano and lemonade Luckily DD doesn't seem to much like the taste of alcohol yet and is horrified that this "group" are drinking/smoking/doing drugs/whatever, but sadly I know it won't last!

Tidying the bedroom is a constant war with DD, but we are having a good day today - cycled up to see DS in his footy tornament and have been baking. I'm making the most of it because she will probably be screaming at me in half an hour!

[WerthersUnOriginal]

Ah at last supportive people. I thought it was just me against the rest of the world.

"all my friends are allowed...." Seems to be the default argument in our house.

So far this yr 9 term I've waged war against skinny jeans for school, facebook and a nasty fall out with friends and tidying the bedroom. And that's week 1

Omg please don't tell me alcohol negotiation is on the horizon (I know that it is though). Also old gimmer here too. I fantasise about peace, a nice book, comfy slippers and being left alone..

Gin anyone..(It doesn't count for us)

[DameEnidsOrange]

Thanks Tilly - I'm used to the "all my friends are allowed...." and we allow the DCs to have a (suitably watered down) glass of wine at meals, let them have a sip of whatever we have to try and take the mystery out of drinking, but I don't feel comfortable with the idea of young teens drinking WKD and whatever else they no doubt smuggle in.

I'm an old gimmer so did my under age drinking in the days before alco-pops were available, so it was vile stuff like 20/20 and watneys party six down the park that I started off on.

[bossboggle]

DS's school, they do Options in year 8 and then are guided through year 9 ensuring that correct choices are made when they enter year 10 and the GCSE's begin in earnest.

[bigTillyMint]

DameEnid, you are not being an old fart. DD has only just turned 13 and there is no way DH or I (or any of my friends) would be happy with her going to a party where they were the parents were giving them a bottle of WKD.

There is, however, a group of Y9's at DD's school who seem to have been holding these kind of parties for some time. They also seem to involve weed and God knows what else. These parents seem to think (as the children do) that they are dead cool

[DameEnidsOrange]

Werthers and Tilly I was hoping that what they said was a load of rubbish.

Already this week DS has been invited to a party where the parents have said the DCs can have a bottle of WKD each and I'm not comfortable with that but told I'm being an old fart. Bit off topic I know so may do another thread about it to see if IABU but i know I'm not at least I don't think I am

[bigTillyMint]

DameEnid, same here - both the options in Y8 and the (well hopefullly not!) Y9's with more attitude!

[WerthersUnOriginal]

I can see what they mean about going off the rails a bit. Dd has 3 friends who seem to have morphed into horrible emotional bullies over the holidays

[DameEnidsOrange]

My teacher friends refers to Y9 as the "lost" year. They've got over starting school, but they are not quite into the swing of GCSE's, they tend to go off the rails a bit

Our school has recently converted to an Academy and they did early options in Y8 to start GCSEs in Y9 - we shall see how that works out

[Suffolkgirl1]

Different schools vary on their compulsory subjects - DS1 has to take Maths, Statistics, 2x English, science (double or triple), French and ICT.

Some schools, like his, then allow free choice of other subjects(3 in his case) others make pupils pick one subject from each of a set of option boxes.

RE is optional at his school(the compulsory element is covered in tutor group/assembly) and no tech subject required either, whereas his sister at the girls school has to take GCSE RE in year 9!

The school web site would be your best bet, if you search last years year 9 letters you may be able to find the options available.

[Themumsnot]

RE is compulsory in some form - some schools figure they might as well get everyone to do at least the short course GCSE as they have to teach it anyway, some just do the minimum they legally can get away with unless DC have chosen it as an option subject.

At our school, options evening is Feb half-term in Y9. DD1, going into Y11 now, chose Eng x2, Maths (and must do Statistics too as she is in top set), Science X3, Drama, Music, History, RE (all must do), German. In order to do be allowed to do both Music and Drama she had to do a technology subject as a twilight after school as all pupils are required to do one. She got it over with in Y10 though and is now mercifully free (should find out how she did today!).

[bigTillyMint]

RE is compulsory in DD's comp, but I'm not sure if they have to do the GCSE.
They chose their options last term and start KS4 tomorrow!

[eatyourveg]

RE is compulsory in our school - not a church school but an indie

[WerthersUnOriginal]

Ah ok. I guess I'll be well versed in all this soon.

[MrsHoarder]

compulsory not computer! Bloomin phone

[MrsHoarder]

I think RE is only computer in church schools. Even them not everyone does the full GCSE

[WerthersUnOriginal]

RE is compulsory? I didn't know that. Dd (just starting yr9) will be pleased, I think she would have chosen it anyway but it's good she'll still have 4 more choices on top.

[thewhistler]

Working out what you like and are good at, learning exam technique and the basics of science, doing extra curricular things.

[eatyourveg]

Options evening is around Christmas in our school where its like an open evening and all the teachers try to sell their subject. The mandatory subjects are English x2 Maths Science (double or triple) RE French and PE. Then you choose 4 others and put them in order of preference. one will be a reserve unless you are doing it as a twilight (historically only music and statistics) Some schools do options in Y8 so Y9 is the start of GCSE courses. the form goes out February half term and there are a couple of taster sessions in the new subjects ie Business studies, media, philosophy, statistics, law and psychology. As far as exams go Y9 could mean doing some exams like functional skills ICT. At our school Y9 has usually meant taking FS ICT and the first unit of science which determines if you are triple or double science come Y10. Not sure if this is carrying on seeing as all the exams are supposed to be taken at the end of 2 years now