The final push

[Teddingtonmum1]

My DS has 2 entrance exams whitgift & reeds in 4 weeks , he has been working hard but his results on practice papers seems to still be erratic one day he gets 100% the next day its 60%. am planning to stop study over Xmas but will need to resume work w/c 30th as I'm at home for the next 10 days. Am planning to have an intensive 10 days before the exams can anyone advise the best way to tackle it , DS can't do long sessions works better doing short bursts for 30-45 mins is it better to do one day on one subject or mix it up ?

[Teddingtonmum1]

Hi
Whitgift unfortunately don't test NVR which despite just starting for the first time oct DS seems to have picked up quite easily just our luck !!.
Am still in court as some mn may know with ex as he doesn't want DS to weekly board hence seeing whitgift which is nearer to his father so could share parenting but his totally unreliable so have to have a back up as he says a lot but does very little , am looking to move from my flat next summer ( 2 bed in outstanding Collis primary school catchment if anyone is looking !!) so may have to rent in Croydon til he settles in or boards at 13. who knows everything is so up in the air which is driving me INSANE . unable to plan for anything at the moment ... will keep plugging away only a few more weeks to go am taking DS lap top shopping on Friday for his Xmas pressie so that should give him a boost . Hopefully !!.....

[JustAnotherUserName]

LadyMuck - thanks. Hadn't thought of that. You are right of course. (We have prepared him ...)

[Teddingtonmum1]

Ginandit

Yes when I done the open day the boy who was showing me round said he gets to school by 7am 3 days a week for conditioning sessions for rugby. DS isn't very sporty but think that might change if he gets a place !!!

[GinAndIt]

It sounds like a really difficult situation, OP - hope you get the result you want (and is best for ds of course!)

[Teddingtonmum1]

Ginandit
To be honest I've had enough already filling out forms headmasters interviews at reeds last week ( think it went ok but you never know !!) just be glad to get to march with 1 offer. if we get anymore ill have another meltdown at least if you only get 1 there's no choosing ...

[GinAndIt]

Sorry, cross-posted!

Yes, that sort of early start isn't unusual if boys make it into one of the top teams. Even if he's not sporty the school will find a way to get him there 6 days out of 7 ...

Don't get me wrong, ds loves it to bits, but please don't underestimate the level of commitment (and therefore to-ing and fro-ing from school) that's expected.

Anyway, back to your original question - fwiw, I think we carried on throughout Xmas but at a lower, more casual level. I was of the opinion that what ds didn't know by mid-Dec he wasn't going to know, but we just kept things ticking over, half an hour at a time. Best of luck.

[mary21]

Does the x26 go anywhere near whitgift? Boys from Teddington use it to get to Sutton grammar. If is does try a rush hour trip to see how long it takes

[Teddingtonmum1]

It does go to croydon but I think it would take ages DS sat Sutton but didn't get past the first round but it would have been the only wanttogetgoing there will have a look.

[antimatter]

x26 doesn'g near whitgift
he would need another bus to get there, it would make it too far

[Teddingtonmum1]

Yep just had a look it stops at wallington then east croydon but takes about 50 mins as it only makes about 10 /15 stops might be easier than the train would have to do a dry run IF he got a place of course !!!

[Teddingtonmum1]

Ginandit I hope you don't mind me asking but did you get a bursary ?

[antimatter]

50 min at night not in the traffic. You need to double that time.

[makemelaugh]

Re long journeys...I recently read a study about how much sleep teenagers really need. Apparently they need more than adults and more than many children and they never get it. The result is underachieving, grumpiness, lack of concentration, mood swings, lower stamina, etc. On top of that, think about secondary school.... Time spent travelling is - with exceptions - time they could've spent doing homework, activities, resting or sharing quality time with you. They will also want to stay in school for clubs, sports, rehearsals, library... They will want to go to a friend's house, have that friend around to their house... Think about having to pick up when ill, or after a late activity, or attend parents evening, events, sports fixtures... I have been to DS school at least 15 times already just in one term!
Just saying... Because someone gave me very good advice re distances last year when we were choosing schools and I am so grateful for it! And so glad I listened!

[havinganightmare]

DS gets Wimbledon bus to Whitgift. Nearly killed us all the early start the first two terms but one year on we are seasoned pros at the 6am start for the 7am bus which is a hair raising 5 minutes race in the car! He is learning to manage his commitments with homework and clubs so that he hasn't too much in the evenings once home - and that makes a huge difference The problem is weekly fixtures when he misses the bus home but we are juggling that pretty well too. And of course Saturday fixtures..... Great school and definitely worth our journey - but adding on the extra time from Teddington is questionable. What about Hampton?! Good luck with it!

[Teddingtonmum1]

Hi havinga nightmare

Have resolved myself if he gets a place I will move, as from teddington at 11 would be impossible there is the bus from new Malden but I doubt if I want years of having to get up at 5.30 am .

Ginandit
Did try and pm you back keeps kicking me out will try again !!