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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Y13 support thread, anyone?

700 replies

cardibach · 06/04/2014 19:20

I remember our GCSE one 2 years ago. It was a haven! I hesitate to start this as I'm not totally confident of wanting to post DDs results in the end, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
So, how's the revision going? What are the tricky subjects for anyone's DC?
DD is revising steadily, but then she always does and has had some disastrous module results, so not filled with massive confidence. Biology is her issue - she knows and understands it but can't seem to give the examiner what they are looking for. We've had papers back and her tutor says she hasn't answered anything incorrectly, just hasn't said precisely what the examiner wants. Seems so unfair.

I'm stressing. Anyone else?

OP posts:

FantaSea · 28/04/2014 19:24

I think it is an age thing for me

What are other DCs getting in the way of revision lessons at school? DD has come home tonight in a flap as she feels today was a waste of time. Maths was a paper which they had to do by themselves with the teacher at the front on his laptop and everyone was talking. Biology was doing 'your own revision' with everyone talking and lastly Chemistry was doing an experiment. They have finished all the practicals so she cannot see the point of this. So she is upset that she has had a wasted day. I have said that she can stay at home tomorrow which she is thinking about. They still have 3 weeks to go until they officially leave so I think they should be doing a bit more in the way of proper revision lessons and am just wondering if this is typical in year 13?

BeckAndCall · 28/04/2014 23:03

My DD still has three weeks of teaching fanta but they haven't finished their curriculum on either biology or chemistry! So still working on that. In Maths it's just past papers in class - so doing the paper for homework then working through each question collectively. Plus they have 'maths clinic' out of hours ( lunchtime) so they can sit down one to one and go through problem areas ( any maths teacher in the department being available - not just their own tutor - I got the impression that today there was a full departmental turn out to handle the queries!).

bruffin · 29/04/2014 08:10

DS was supposed to do his last physics ISA yesterday, it's been put off three times now. The teacher cant get the circuit boards to work and he is having to contact examining board about it now.

FantaSea · 29/04/2014 09:43

BeckAndCall that sounds a lot better than what we are getting. DD has 3 weeks of 'teaching' left too but there is not much teaching going on I am sorry to say.

bruffin your poor DS, that is a lot of stress for him. Have they decided when they will be able to re-schedule it?

yourlittlesecret · 29/04/2014 09:58

Still covering the curriculum in Chemistry and Physics.
Further Maths lessons are revision (did Maths in Y12) so DS is just using the time to work his way through all the past papers. He's doing some extra modules not taught in college so he's not even doing the same work as the rest of the class, just sitting in the classroom. He may just as well do that at home really but he would be given unauthorised absence for that.

Does anyone know whether attendance records at 6th form matter in the future? I have insisted he goes to classes because I thought his attendance might be a matter of record for job references?

I think they finish at half term.

FantaSea · 29/04/2014 10:10

secret I too have wondered about attendance in the 6th form. School for DD is such a waste of time at the moment so I am inclined to ring up and say she is ill, so it would be an authorised absence but she is very worried about me doing this as she is worried about being 'found out'. I am considering doing this for a few days, not the whole 3 weeks, I should add! I am worried too about job references but more worried about A levels if that makes sense.

Timetraveller · 29/04/2014 10:52

My DS also feels he's wasting time at the moment. He knows what he needs to do (Physics, Chemistry and STEP), but is frustrated because he keeps being given maths papers. He says he has to do them if they are given as homework! He wouldn't dream of not doing work set by teachers.
I think he is looking forward to study leave so that he can choose what to study. He finishes on the 9th.
There is also added pressure of joining in with the last day pranks being organised, and finding a costume to dress up! All stuff he could do without but can't really avoid. Oh, and filling in his page of the Year Book. I've spent several evenings trying to help him think of 'my most embarrassing moment' or 'the background music to my time at this school' etc.
Does everyone else's school or college have so much fuss at the end of year 13?

FantaSea · 29/04/2014 11:48

Timetraveller it is so hard isn't it? DD is still getting homework and this is adding to her frustration. Her study leave starts on the 21st may but her first exam is the 19th, so we still have 3 weeks to get through.

The year book was a huge do but it is being done by a publishing firm so they all had to enter their details on a website before Easter, and then it went off to be printed. It seemed to occupy rather too much time for my liking. The actual end of term seems rather low-key I am happy to say. They have a leavers' assembly and buffet lunch on the 22nd May and that is it. They have to wear 'smart casual' for this so no need to buy yet another outfit.

It is all so stressful isn't it?

yourlittlesecret · 29/04/2014 12:57

Timetraveller DS is at a 6th form college and there really won't be any meaningful goodbyes. The year book stuff was all done in Year 11 at his old school.
Regarding the homework. DS's teachers know that STEP is as much work as an extra A level. He has had a quiet word with both Maths teachers and they are happy for him to sit in class doing either STEP questions or other practise papers which are not the ones the rest of the class is doing. They are also not expecting him to do the "homework" (which is only more practise papers) because of this.
I tried to get them to agree for him to do it at home but coming up against admin staff responsible for attendance and without the flexibility to make exceptions.

boys3 · 29/04/2014 13:19

Still best part of four weeks to go here, final day is May 23rd, and of course it would be half term the following week anyway.

DS1 doing humanities only subjects, and lessons are now seemingly just focused on revision, or perhaps more accurately, exam practice. This seems to split into a mix of 1) looking at past papers; 2) answering past papers, or a part of one at least in exam type conditions - so actually writing the essay(s); 3) again under exam type conditions planning what they would put in the exam question essay presented - done in isolation - then having a class discussion around what people put down.

Certainly in one of his three subjects there is a regular, at least once a week, class dissection of an essay that one of them has written. So feedback and comment from peers not just the teacher. Although I think they have been doing that throughout the entire year.

As far as attendance goes DS1 has quite a limited timetable with just the three subjects and from the start of Yr 13 the school allowed study leave at home when they a clear morning / afternoon etc - has to be applied for and can be withdrawn. In practice he'd go into school for a gossip instead :) But we are at the point now where he's now spending that at home rather than going in.

At least his leavers assembly is not until after all exams have finished. May 23rd is the leavers day and they all go in in some themed fancy dress - over which there has been much discussion and debate within the year.

Mutteroo · 29/04/2014 13:39

Dreading DS results. He gained A* at GCSE in the subjects he's doing at A level but its not looking remotely like he'll do so well this summer. He has decided to take a year out & so no worries about a uni place.....until he can't find a job & decides uni will be best for next year & then his grades will be vital.

I thought parenting was supposed to get easier as they get older?

Good luck to all the other parents who are stressing about their little darlings results.

Timetraveller · 29/04/2014 13:49

Fantasea Your DDs buffet lunch sounds very civilised. DS will miss the end of year 13 party as he has a STEP exam the next day! Not that he minds at all, he really isn't into big parties.

Secret Your maths teachers are very understanding. I don't think it would even occur to DS to ask to do anything different from the class. Extra time on STEP must be very useful.

FantaSea · 29/04/2014 13:53

Mutteroo I am dreading DD's results too. She has found the whole sixth form experience rather too challenging and I will be glad when it is all over .

BackforGood · 29/04/2014 16:35

re the attendance - I was talking to Head of 6th Form earlier in the year as ds was missing lessons and going in late and he was telling me that, yes, future employees write to him all the time and ask about attendance and lateness. He said, previously he used to get asked generally for a reference and he could highlight the positives without mentioning much negative, but he said more and more now there are specific questions on the reference requests, like... 'What % attendance?' and 'How many times was (s)he late?'

yourlittlesecret · 29/04/2014 17:26

BackforGood Good to know, thank you. He will have to suck it up then.
He has a few unauthorised absences because of health issues and failing to get open day visits authorised. (He thought that letting the teachers know was enough but it wasn't and they refused to approve it retrospectively).

Original poster

cardibach · 29/04/2014 18:38

DD doesn't get study leave - they are expected to be there until their exams finish, although obviously as each subject completes there will be fewer timetabled lessons to attend. They usually have a coffee and cake 'reception' (that makes it sound more formal than it is!) with staff at break time and they have Leavers' Dinner (prom by any other name) after the exams. DD is Deputy Head Girl, so she is involved in organising that.
She is just putting the finishing touches to her English coursework (due at the end of the week) and revising Bio like a demon. She really needs to get going on Chemistry, too, as she does need to pass the unit she is taking this time...
She's out at a singing lesson at the moment as she is singing at her cousin's wedding in the middle of the exams. So many pressures!

OP posts:

BeckAndCall · 29/04/2014 19:04

Snap, cardibach - my DD is signed up to play at her godmothers wedding right in the middle of exams! Although I do think the change in focus round about then will do her some good......

And before that we've got a big concert of Thursday so no revision this week - just rehearsals!

Timetraveller · 29/04/2014 19:45

cardibach and BeckAndCall It's so hard to know what to carry on with and what to stop during exams, isn't it? DS was going to accompany his sister for her oboe grade but I've realised it's a week in the middle of A levels!
We decided together that it would probably be too much pressure, even if he happens to be free for it. I suppose you just have to know your child.

Original poster

cardibach · 29/04/2014 21:46

Indeed, Timetraveller. It all has to be individual decisions at this stage! All over in about 7 weeks...

OP posts:

BeckAndCall · 29/04/2014 21:48

I know, it's hard to get it right. She was supposed to be playing at a big venue the night before her physics GCSE two years ago - one of those 'doesn't happen very often in your career' type occasions - and I ummed and aahed about it. But then she said no, she wouldn't risk it and pulled out ( not leaving anyone else in the lurch, you understand). But she was right - I wasn't so clear on it. So Ive been prepared to trust her from then on....

BeckAndCall · 29/04/2014 21:49

Is that all it is, cardi. - 7 weeks? I don't know whether to laugh or cry!! Seems like it'll all be over soon but doesn't seem like long enough!

FantaSea · 30/04/2014 08:37

DD is staying off today to get some work done as the 'lessons' in school are proving to be nearly useless. I have just rung up and said she is ill so that will be authorised absence. Apparently, quite a few of them are off 'sick' so I imagine they are doing the same.

7 weeks to go here too - it doesn't seem long enough to me, but I will be so relieved when it is over.

Original poster

cardibach · 30/04/2014 12:57

It might be 8 weeks. Not long though. Yes, cheering and worrying in equal measure.

OP posts:

Timetraveller · 30/04/2014 13:07

We have more than 8 weeks here - exams right up to the end of June due to the extra STEP ones

I'll be glad when it's over (and GCSEs!) but I'm also dreading results day. They've all worked so hard, let's hope everyones DC get their first choice university.

bruffin · 30/04/2014 15:42

DS has his last exam maths FP2 23rd June, prom that night and then he is off on holiday for a week with gf. They are going to Iceland, I am jealous

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