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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Countdown to exam results. Anyone else feeling anxious?

645 replies

jellybrain · 30/07/2013 11:11

Waiting for DS1's Gcses results on 22nd of August. He did really well last year but, all the talk of moving grade boundaries has got me worried. Fingers are very tightly crossed for maths as this is the subject he struggles with most.

OP posts:
Movingtimes · 20/08/2013 12:52

How many people are going in with their child to get results? I want to go in with DD as I used to work at her school and would like to say hi to old colleagues but I don't want to embarrass her if I'm the only parent there.

creamteas · 20/08/2013 12:56

Moving This varies from school to school I think. At my DCs secondary, no parents go in nor lurk in the car park. The DC all go in with their mates. But at a neighbouring school they seem to have whole family outings!

Probably best to leave it to your DD to decide.

boschy · 20/08/2013 13:18

Felt incredibly nervous this morning, as does DD1. we just keep telling each other that what will be will be, there's nothing we can do etc. I think its just the anticipational butterflies... and the fact that if she gets her C in maths she will never ever have to do it again (please god).

I am allowed to wait in the car park, but results this year will be from a gazebo next to the car park (work going on on main site) so she thinks she will come and open them in the car before going back to talk to any teachers. But that may all change of course.

I just wish it was this time Thurs! We are planning to go to London for the day tomorrow to take away some of the nasty waiting time. And we give cash for results I'm afraid - I work for money, why shouldnt she?!!

duchesse · 20/08/2013 13:44

DD2, like her brother and sister before, has utterly banned me from even being in the same town as her school on Thursday. I can tell she's worried, unusual for her.

RussiansOnTheSpree · 20/08/2013 14:18

DD2 reckons that she wants us to come with her to actually get the results rather than lurk in the school car park. But I've told her no way, she has to do it herself. HOWEVER if when we arrive we see loads of parents walking with their kids from the car park to the school then we will too. But I don't think it will happen.

RussiansOnTheSpree · 20/08/2013 14:21

Sorry Dd1. I'm going mad.

Movingtimes · 20/08/2013 14:22

DD1 actually says she is happy for me to come in with her, but she is so nice that she would say that anyway, so I will play it by ear. Interesting to see that it varies school to school.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 20/08/2013 15:19

I am allowed to wait in the car park if I really feel I must but desired to stay at home and wait for a phone call. She wants to phone not text, but thankfully I am first on the list of people to be rung, at least...

mumslife · 20/08/2013 15:35

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creamteas · 20/08/2013 15:35

When my eldest went for his GCSE results, he left home at 9.30 and was calling for a friend before heading into school (20 min journey to school). By 11.00 I had not heard from him and was getting anxious. I called him and he didn't answer Shock

I eventually got through to him about 15 mins later, only to find that he hadn't actually got to school yet. They were still waiting for one friend to get out of bed Grin. He was crossed that I had phoned, so didn't ring him again. Time went passed, and passed, and passed and no contact. I was imagining the worse.....

But he eventually wandered back mid-afternoon having done really well. He had been too busy to call before, as he was having a meal out with his mates celebrating.

mumslife · 20/08/2013 15:40

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MissMarplesBloomers · 20/08/2013 16:16

Have only just got out of the padded cell from last weeks traumas! Grin

DD1 sorted so now it's DD2's turn. She has had a really crap 2 years healthwise, been really ill & in & out of hospital, so has missed a lot of school (

boschy · 20/08/2013 16:41

mumslife, I think this might be the 5th attempt? lost count (I cant do maths either!) she's just finished Y11 so if she doesnt get her C this time she'll have to resit in 6th form. whether she gets her C or not there will be tears I feel, but am hoping for ones of happiness!

I do feel for you for those whose DC have been ill etc.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 20/08/2013 17:18

How do I make my parents a bit less complacent about dd, or do I just prep her for the inevitable Comments?

Since she was sitting the exams and before, both have made comments along the lines of 'I imagine she'll be quite disappointed to get anything but all top grades, won't she' - no, dad, you will be, you mean - and 'she must be feeling pretty sanguine about it all, mustn't she?'.

I know they love her and consequently rate her abilities and work highly, I know it's nice they care, but I also know if she got 11 A*s and 1 A they'd be commiserating with her over the A, and telling her ah well not to worry, that's still very good. Hmm

Oh yes, and telling dd2 that they expect she feels she now has a lot to live up to!

Have just said on the phone to my mum that, y'know, we just can't know, can we - last year they went after the borderline C/Ds, who knows which boundary and in which subject(s) it'll be this time, lol lol let's stay calm.... Are any other GPs doing this, or shall I just be quiet and be glad they're so engaged with it all? Wink

webwiz · 20/08/2013 18:52

PILs are coming to stay on friday and I'm going to prep DS before they arrive as they are quite likely to make unhelpful comments whatever he gets and make a milliion comparisons to other people's grandchildrenHmm

My mum on the other hand has resorted to prayer - I'm not sure what that says about her expectations of DS.

eatyourveg · 20/08/2013 19:14

I'm going with ds2 up to his special school where he will collect his results. They are not GCSEs but entry level qualifications which will hopefully get him onto a foundation course at college. If he passes we will celebrate, if he doesn't pass, we will still celebrate the fact that he is leaving school having achieved so many things that we never thought possible but which an examiner is simply just not interested in.

circular · 20/08/2013 20:02

Looks like DD collects later than most, at 11am. I am expected to wait in the car park. She says she will open her envelope to check, then come straight out to tell me.
Meeting up with friends briefly after, to compare notes, say final goodbyes. But will have to be brief as she needs to enrol at new school.

Is anyone likely to be checking grade boundaries tomorrow, or is that just tormenting ourselves more?

mindgone · 20/08/2013 20:20

Nit, my other DS got fab A level results last week, and when I told my dad, he just asked what he got for the others! I had to explain that they all do only 3!

mumslife · 20/08/2013 21:11

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mumslife · 20/08/2013 21:15

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boschy · 20/08/2013 21:46

TOSN and webwiz I feel your pain. whatever my DD gets (and it wont be 10 A*) will be outshone by her cousins next year... oth my mum thinks the sun shines out of her proverbial so she will get support in one way or the other!

eatyourveg - very best to your boy and your celebrations whichever way it goes. (people dont realise how hard they struggle, do they?)

mums - she's got her 6th form place because they love her!! but dear god I hope she doesnt have to struggle on to get that sodding C in maths.

heronsfly · 20/08/2013 22:01

10 am for us too, i have got to wait in carpark till she rings, if its good news I can then go into the school front court very gracious of her
Like other posters she has already got a b in maths after a resit and was very happy to never have to suffer another maths lesson.Grin

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 20/08/2013 22:36

I wish I could do some managing of expectations starting with my own.

Unfortunately I have a boring day lined up tomorrow: got to go to work for as long as possible, and go and see grandad in hospital in the evening, so really far too much leaving her to stew, and more than I would have liked. Decided I will take her and dd2 to nandos and then let her choose something new to wear afterwards, whatever else happens, on Thursday.

TheWave · 20/08/2013 23:09

Anyone waiting for grade boundaries for GCSEs, the Edexcel document is out on their website. Just getting to grips with what it all might mean but may have confused me more than helped. DD1 not so happy about Maths I think. Maybe don't share with DCs tbh.