GCSEs/Exams 2013-2015

[KatyPutTheCuttleOn]

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.

[Theas18]

Checking in here.... Dd2 is a grafter and able, but terrified of trial exams having seen her siblings chomp their way through bited sided modular exams . She should be fine but is a worrier.

Actually of my 3 ds is the one I think suffered due to the changes - he's had the rug pulled from under him and now has a linear A2 to so having done modular GCSE and AS. Thats a tough ask to change exam skills within a year.

[bigTillyMint]

Got a reply! Apparently the assessment calendar is on its way!

DS who is Y8 tends to do it on the night set, but DD juggles more. She has always got it all done to a high standard though, so I guess it works for her.

[wordfactory]

Both of mine are trying to do prep on the night set where possible

[bigTillyMint]

Y10 information evening?

Have fired off an email, but I expect it will be some time till we get a reply.

[ErrolTheDragon]

DDs school had their yr10 information evening last night. The main messages were (a) that there are quite a lot of support mechanisms in school and (b)how important time management is. They had some yr12s do a 'how to survive' presentation and they stressed that it really is a good idea to try to get homework done as soon as possible and not let work build up. Obvious enough but quite useful to have it pointed out by pupils rather than adults!

[Ezzymozzy]

May I join. My dd is in year 10. It's all confusing and I have learnt a bit from here. I will now check how many Subjects she has entered.

[wordfactory]

Oh yes.

I think it's good for all students to have some periods covering these subjects. I just don't see any need for them to take a GCSE in it on top of their options.

[bigTillyMint]

Yes, yes, they can be valuable if taught in an interesting and engaging way. Particularly if there is no opportunity for covering topical, etc issues at home in normal discussions. And there should be loads of PE for all - especially finding stuff to engage non-traditionally-sporty kids.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Odd - yes - I'm glad my DD will be doing some RE/citizenship (no ICT as she does Comp Sci) but glad its just for information rather than examined. Similarly, I'm glad that they have to do some PE.

[OddBoots]

I don't think there is need to do a GCSE in those subjects but I wouldn't call them crap, I actually think they are important in helping our children become rounded adults. This blog explains why better than I can.

[bigTillyMint]

She is doing all the solid subjects, with a load of crap on top. AFAIC, Citizenship, RE, ICT, drama could all go.

[bigTillyMint]

So true intitgrand. But when the school is putting the children in for all these exams, I'm not sure what we can do.

[intitgrand]

If someone takes s 9 GCSEs in solid subjects and all passed at A* in one sitting .That is not going to close any doors to them.

[ErrolTheDragon]

I believe the half awards don't count towards the league tables now, another reason DDs school has dropped them entirely and they just do what they need to cover statutory requirements.

[bigTillyMint]

Wordfactory, I totally agree. Unfortunately state comps are in the business of trying to get as many points as possible for the league tables

Errol, PE is an extra, but it is something she is passionate about and I think it must be more useful than Citizenship

[wordfactory]

That's the trouble tilly if you kids are made to do them, they will end up doing the work, which will dilute the time available.

Ten GCSEs is more than enough, in fact I'd say it's prefereable.

I work at one of the most selective universities in the UK, and we don't look for any more than nine or ten GCSEs. But we do want good grades!

[ErrolTheDragon]

To be sure, it goes against the grain to tell a child not to bother - 'prioritization' is perhaps the appropriate word?

I take it that the 'PE as an extra' is something she's passionate about (given all that gym) ... but given she's doing that out of school anyway does she need the PE for her career plan?

I've a DN who did 13.5 GCSEs and got A* in most, A in the rest (B for the .5 cit. which is I think all that's possible) - she had a weekend job as well - very bright and hard working, but shows that a high number can be doable with determination.

[bigTillyMint]

Yes! Another question for the email/meeting!

TBH, I don't think there's much point in putting that much effort into any of those three (even friend who is HoICT in a 6th form college says GCSE ICT's a waste of time!) even if they are full GCSE's. But she is a child who wants to do her best at everything and I can see her stressing about them anyway.

[ErrolTheDragon]

tilly - yes, does sound excessive. I think the first thing I'd do is check if they are all full gcses esp the cit/re/ICT - I didn't think there was such a thing as full citizenship gcse and lots of places do halves for the compulsory RE. If they're not full awards than TBH they're probably not worth putting too much effort in versus the others.

[bigTillyMint]

OK, so how do I help DD to manage all her subjects? She seems to be doing 15 GCSE's (which I think is blardy ridiculous, and I think I will try to go in to see someone about it) and is getting worried about how she is going to get all her homework done

• she now has to stay at school for an extra hour or so 2 nights a week (all Y10 and 11's do)
• her art teacher wants them to stay for an hour after school once a week
• her drama teacher wants them to do half an hour at lunchtime or after school
• she wants to go to the gym with a friend once a week after school
• she has gymnastics on a Friday evening and all day Saturday.

I am going to encourage her to take it a day/week at a time, but it sounds daunting to me. I only did 9 subjects for O'level

[HSMMaCM]

DDs school told us not to worry about league tables when our children chose their options. DD has settled happily into yr 10. She might be offered the chance to do maths a year early, but the maths head has made it clear they will only do it early if they are on track to get the best mark they can. She can't wait to stop doing ICT next year. She thinks she is in the wrong set for one class, but hopefully that will be resolved.

[ErrolTheDragon]

DDs school used to do the half GCSE citizenship but have dropped that this year - I think that there had been pressure from parents and/or pupils not to bother and they actually listen!

[bigTillyMint]

Errol, I think they are

The worst of it is not even that we don't get a say in it, but that we don't really know what timetable of exams, etc is planned for them

DH is planning an email, I am planning to go in!

[wordfactory]

I am soooo not a fan of numerous GCSEs, especially those bloody useless half courses.

They should be entirely optional.

[ErrolTheDragon]

tilly - that does sound like a lot ... hope you don't mean the ICT/RE/cit. are exam subjects too? DDs RE/cit is non-exam and doesn't sound too onerous - they have a combined slot for it and something called 'beyond the curriculum'

How on earth can they start revision this early... you have to learn the stuff before you can revise it . Extra classes if you need a bit more help, fine, but at this stage I'd have thought that was 'consolidation' not 'revision'.