GCSE Support Thread 2013

[wolvesarerunning]

I've been waiting for someone to start this (was on the 2012 thread last year and am unlucky enough to have dc 18 months apart in consecutive school years!) Please join me to support and share the angst with only four weeks to go now to the first written exam.

Cory, you're quite right, I only read your opening phrase and just thought 'how can this be when we still have so long to go' so my sincere apologies. I had no intention of belittling all that your DD has achieved so very well done to her and that will teach me to read posts more carefully before responding.

Dd finishes on the 19th and then we are going to New York for a few days Once we are back she is doing work experience at a publishers in London for a week. She does the odd bit of work at my work so she may do a bit over the holidays but mainly I think she is planning to lie in the garden and read all summer. Given how hard she has worked I think she deserves a rest!

DS has to go back to school on June 24th for the last 2 weeks of term (independent school) which he is not too happy about. Last year his sister only had to go back for the last 2 days, but apparently some parents complained, so this is the new regime!

DD1 is not yet 15, so she isn't looking for a job. They have an induction week, for the 6th form, which doesn't actually last a full week. She also has at least two music courses/events planned and possibly a third (haven't heard if she's got on it yet but I'm thinking now, not, to be honest. :( Still she got through to the final selection round so that;s not bad). It does all depend a bit on her had though - I'm wondering whether to junk at least one. Apart from all of that, she is Audrey 2 in her Drama Group's production of Little Shop of Horrors at the end of June. And we have several treats planned - some Proms (the ones at the Albert Hall, not the imported American things), Othello at the National (love the lovely Adrian Lester) and Private Lives in the West End (ditto, but double strength, for Toby Stephens. And I like Duckface too). So, plenty to look forward to....but I reckon she (and I) would swap all of it for a trip to NY, MrsBartlet! I'm not going back till October and I am counting the days (and constantly looking for some pretext to go earlier). And she has never been, and is desperate to (my job takes me there quite regularly so 'going to NY' has always been a Thing in our house).

Wow MrsBartlet - what a treat...for you and DD! Really something to look forward to! My DS is going back to boarding for the last 2 weeks of term (he's been back home with me throughout the exam period). I live abroad so will be heading back as soon as teh exams finish but he wants to stay here and catch up with mates etc for the last 2 weeks then he is off on rugby tour to Australia! He will also be doing a bit of work experience towards the end of the holidays in a law firm. He has no interest in law but its the only thing I could set up for him and I guess it cant do his cv any harm!

Oh, MrsBartlet - DD1 has started the post exam reading a bit early, too - she's read half of Game of Thrones since yesterday evening. Mind you, I'm not criticising her - that;s almost exactly what I did when I was doing my O and A levels - different books though, because GRRM hadn't got started at that point. And it's not like I haven't been pushing them at her like literary crack for the last year. You need something to properly give you a break in between revision sessions and exams. You need to wind down. So it's fine (I hope).

It is a complete coincidence that we are going to NY the day after DD's exams finish and I keep trying to stress this to DS who is only in Y7 - I don't want him expecting the same when his GCSEs finish! DH happens to be going to NY for work that week so the children and I are going out a few days later after his meetings are over so we can all have a long weekend there. DH goes once or twice a year for work but the DCs and I have never been so we are beyond excited!

Russians - DD has started a bit of (panic) non-exam reading as she has a meeting of her book club next week and she hasn't read the book for it yet! I do agree that they need some downtime.

Dd has definitely done a lot more revision than I did for my O' levels - I am proud of her for putting so much work in! When I did my A'Levels one of my friend's parents were on holiday and I stayed at hers and had lots of bbqs and parties instead of revising - what were my parents thinking of? There is no way I would let DD do this but to be fair to her she was horrified at the thought of it!

sisterhood - I think any work experience must be good for them. I spent every holiday from university working in a law firm - hours and hours spent putting their accounts on to microfiche - such fun

fivefathoms Thu 06-Jun-13 17:28:19
"Cory, you're quite right, I only read your opening phrase and just thought 'how can this be when we still have so long to go' so my sincere apologies. I had no intention of belittling all that your DD has achieved so very well done to her and that will teach me to read posts more carefully before responding."

That's all right.

And in one sense of course she is lucky. She is lucky still to be alive. I am very conscious of that. We have a lot to be thankful for.

No, she hasn;t had her 15th birthday yet. They do GCSEs in Y10 at her school.

mumslife - is your dd changing schools for sixth form?

Russians - I can't believe your dd is doing this at 14! How many is she doing this year?

She's about to be 15. All of them. 12 subjects, all terminal exams except for physics where they did module 1 last summer (I can't remember if that was taken before or after her 14th birthday).

It's not like she is the only one, all the late June July and August born kids won't be 15 for any of their exams. It doesn't seem to be a problem. But it does create a difference when talking about the long summer in front of them......

Not that I'd want DD1 to do work work anyway. She will be working hard enough on her things, assuming her hand is in a fit state which is still by no means certain, actually. And she deserves a rest.

Wow! You must be so proud of her for coping under the circumstances. Is she recovering ok?

Anyone else have an exam today? DS had his first classics exam today and thought it went well - much better than physics on Weds. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

My DD is also currently 14 and sitting her main GCSEs (8 plus 2 BTEC). She is 15 in August. She sat a few papers last summer when 13, and did really well in them so did not need resits thankfully.

Last GCSE paper on Friday 14th, then starts the Year 11 curriculum on the 17th June.

Just 3 papers next week, so the end is in sight for us.

MrsBartlet I really am. Her face is pretty much back to normal now, I don't think there will be any permanent marking (which is amazing given how smashed in it was at the time. She does tend to bruise easily and spectacularly though). The mental scars will take longer though. Her hand will need physio - but she can't start that till after the exams. I mean - she could but it might not be wise, since she's found an MO which is working ok for her right now.

Oh your poor DD - but what great strength of character to press on with her exams regardless.

DD1 has history, yes. In the morning. Then chem in the afternoon. Then maths on Tuesday morning, geog on Wednesday morning, more maths on Friday morning. It's a tough week.

Yes - we have history Monday morning (USA) then the same schedule as Russians for the rest of the week but we also have biology TA in Thursday morning.....

History here also on Monday am and then Maths paper later in the week. Remaining 4 the following week.

Hi. Joining this thread a bit late but it's nice to share the angst.My DD has just two more to go and what a relief it will be all round. Lots of stress here. Roll on the long summer (for her at least).