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Secondary education

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

Original poster

GCSEs/Exams 2013-2015

75 replies

KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 29/08/2013 12:13

A support thread for people with DCs starting GCSEs/Exams in 2013 with the exams in 2015.
Hold hands, share cake, wine, frustration, results, tips, book recommendations etc.

OP posts:
longingforsomesleep · 29/08/2013 13:34

One here! Every time I think I've got to grips with the exam system (I have older children) they change it!

Not sure whether the new system will be better for DS3 or not. DS2 did well at GCSE (about to start sixth form) but he upped his game considerably in year 11 and I think he would have done better if all his exams had been at the end. All his science marks for example were higher in year 11 than for those exams he sat in year 10.

Does your dc do all exams at the end of year 11? DS3 is doing maths in November. His school have also decided that all students will do English Language at the end of year 10 (which means not studying any Eng Lit in year 10). This means if anyone doesn't get a C they can have another go the following year. I'm very anti early GCSEs!!

ITCouldBeWorse · 29/08/2013 13:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 29/08/2013 14:18

Yes, maths in November this year. Other than that, no.

OP posts:
ByTheSea · 29/08/2013 14:23

DD1 starting Year 10 next week.

Supertrooper88 · 29/08/2013 14:26

Ooo marking my place. Just on my way out but will post later.

OverTheFieldsAndFarAway · 29/08/2013 14:31

Is there room for another?
DS3 starting yr10 next week. Fast tracked French in yr 9, got a B. all others taken in yr 11.

GrimmaTheNome · 29/08/2013 14:35

My DD will be starting yr10 next week too. Her school doesn't do these stupid early exams - they just do 11 after two years thank goodness. She's fortunate its a GS so they don't have to play the league table games. I think she'll benefit from the move back towards exams over course work.

longingforsomesleep · 29/08/2013 14:52

Grimma - I thought GS's were the worst for playing the league table games! They're certainly bad for early GCSEs - ours is anyway. I can't understand the logic behind getting a B or an A early when you could get an A* at the proper time!

putthehamsterbackinitscage · 29/08/2013 15:06

another one with pfb starting y10...

I think they may do Eng Language in Y10 and Lit in Y11 but other than that, nothing early as far as I know, and the new linear syllabus makes it harder to do stuff early anyway...

DS will take 10 gcse's overall but that's ok with me - 10 good grades far better than doing extra ones or do some early and potentially getting lower grades or retaking....

I am currently trying to get him motivated to start the new year with a tidy desk and bookcase (given up on the rest of the pigsty)

louisea · 29/08/2013 17:36

Jumping in. DTs starting Year 10. As far as I know all exams at the end of Y11. GCSE evening for the parents in a couple of weeks. Hoping that they pick up their game compared to Y9.

Original poster
KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 29/08/2013 17:36

I wondered about English Language and Lit in year 10 or 11 but I've not heard anything, maybe we will know more when they go back?

What subjects have your DCs chosen? Engineering, Geography, Triple Science and Fine Art here.

OP posts:
longingforsomesleep · 29/08/2013 17:41

Only 2 choices for ds if he does triple science (which he is). He's doing music and computing. I think he does his DT GCSE next year and can pick up another subject then.

5madthings · 29/08/2013 17:47

ds1 just about to start yr 10, he got the options he wanted and is in top sets, exoected to do well etc. he is very laid back tho and am.hoping he ups his game a bit. he is lucky to be naturally bright but i dont want him relying on that!

GrimmaTheNome · 29/08/2013 17:47

Grimma - I thought GS's were the worst for playing the league table games!

DD's doesn't have to - it always comes top of the county table anyway. She's lucky!

She's doing (in addition to maths and 2xEng): Triple science, German, Geography, Electronics, Computer science and Drama. The only one of those she doesn't like is the German but they have to do at least one MFL.

5madthings · 29/08/2013 17:50

ds1 is doing eng lang and literature, triple science, maths, a btec in computer science and citizenship studies? plus geography, history, statistics and ict. so 12 in total? statistics is being taken after school as an extra.

BackforGood · 29/08/2013 18:13

I have dd1 (who is dc2) starting Yr10 next week. She is pretty capable, but I worry she's not got her head round the fact she actually needs to start putting some serious wok commitment in from this year. She's pretty laid back about it all.

wordfactory · 29/08/2013 18:47

It will be interesting to see how schools ract to the changes.

DS school has always done linear exams in year 11. So nothing new for them. They have it down pat.

DD's school is moving over to linear. I grilled the teachers on parents evening and they didn't seem worried.

GrimmaTheNome · 29/08/2013 18:58

I would have thought that linear is easier for the schools than all this modular stuff.

wordfactory · 29/08/2013 19:04

Grimma I would have thought it would make a more smooth two year period, gradually working through the syllabus, without all those bloody modules hanging over.

I think it will work in both my DC's favour. DD because she'd ramp it up over every module and DS because he wouldn't ramp himslef up enough!

pixelchick10 · 29/08/2013 20:18

Hi there - DD starting Y10 next week too - we're expecting the work load to triple!!!

LickleLemon · 29/08/2013 20:25

This is all new to me with DD1 going into year 10 next week.

We have had an upset during the holidays with a general communication from the school alerted us to the fact they had her options down incorrectly. Of course being August no one was avialble for ages but it is now finally resolved and DD has her original options.

As far as I know I dont think the school sit them early. However, I understand they start an actual English assessment at the end of next week.

DD is pretty set on what she wants to do and the direction she is heading and I just hope this means she continues to knuckle down. Until now she has been quite studious. She can be a little disorganised though - so I am hoping and praying she can manage her workload OK. She weekly boards so I think we are going to have to get used to her bringing lots of prep home where as before she was pretty much clearing it during the week - leaving our weekends pretty carefree.

Sh has chosen to do 2 additons subjects in her own time as well. I hope she copes with the workload OK but if not she can drop one. We will just have to see how it goes.

I am just wondering how the hell I became a Mum to child starting GCSEs - I know its a cliche but starting reception seems like yesterday and I cannot believe we are here.

roisin · 29/08/2013 20:46

ds2 is just going into yr10. He is in a set that will do Maths early as long as they are on track for A* other than that all exams at the end.

ds1 got very stressed in yr10 and it was a bit of a nightmare year, so I'm hoping we won't have to go through that with ds2.

I keep emphasising to ds2 that he just has to do his best. ds1 got all A*s, so ds2 is likely to feel a sense of expectation- though hopefully not from us.

busymummy3 · 29/08/2013 23:08

My Ds going into Y10 next week and we have no information whatsoever from school and never likely to get anything out of DS hoping we are going to be more informed next week,

GrimmaTheNome · 29/08/2013 23:44

However, I understand they start an actual English assessment at the end of next week.

Yes, that's likely - DD did one last term, though apparently they can discard the results and do it again or something, if they didn't do particularly well, so sort of a trial run.

longingforsomesleep · 30/08/2013 00:34

"DD's doesn't have to - it always comes top of the county table anyway" - then I guess they play the league table games exceptionally well Grimma!!

I was forgetting the mfl - how could I? DS spent half of last term dithering between German and Spanish. Plumped for Spanish and then negotiated a switch to German. Let's hope he's made the right choice!

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