Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

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:
prettydaisies · 02/05/2014 21:19

DD came home today and reminded us that she only had 2 more weeks of school left ever ( although she has to go back for the last few days of term, but no work or anything). She only joined her school in Y9, but has loved it and given a lot back to the school in that time - music, sports,prefect etc and she is feeling quite sad. As long as she gets the grades, she has Oxford to look forward to, but she doesn't actually want to leave school at the moment. Not paying her school fees is a definite bonus though!

BackforGood · 02/05/2014 23:10

Financially, it's the opposite for us. ds has been at a state school. We will lose his child benefit and will have to start paying out for him to survive at University in the unlikely event he gets the grades. OK, he'll not be here eating, but it's still going to mean paying out each month to top up the maintenance loan.
He's been sorting out a holiday this week - they are off to Wales though Grin

HPparent · 03/05/2014 08:48

I was on the thread 2 years ago. DD hasn't applied to University. She had a disaster in year 12 with Chemistry and has to resit both AS papers. Her practical result was so low (unable to resit) that her final result is likely to be a grade below her written papers. Ironically for Biology she is predicted A/A and finds that one straightforward. And A in her third subject.

DD desperately needs A in Chemistry to apply for her desired uni course. She will be applying in September. She could possibly apply with a high B and resit next summer. She has a gap year lined up with work related to her course. It just seems her confidence has gone completely for that subject.

She can't wait to leave school (2 more weeks!) as she loathes it.

I am dreading results day. DD was in floods of tears on GCSE day. She did relatively well 5A and 5A* - slightly below the average for her school but one of her results was originally a B which is considered a dreadful shame at the superselective hothouse she attends.

FantaSea · 03/05/2014 12:22

HPparent You have my sympathy. We had a disaster with Chemistry last year too and DD is resitting both papers, plus some other modules too. Biology is also a problem for us. It is so hard isn't it when they feel so under-confident? DD also cannot wait to leave school as she hates it too. I feel quite sad when friends with DC the same age say how bad they and their DC feel about leaving school - we are counting down the days. I have let DD take a couple of 'sick' days this week to do some work, and also just to keep her away from where she is so unhappy. I just keep thinking that it will be over soon, but like you, I too am dreading results day Sad .

HPparent · 03/05/2014 13:39

FantaSea, it is so stressful isn't it. She desperately wants it, but it seems like there is some sort of block for that subject. It is almost like she is resigned to getting a B and resitting. That would really mess up her gap year, as she had planned to go to my sister overseas for a while and also has the offer of paid job in her chosen field.

It really opened up my eyes to how an individual teacher can make a difference. The AS one was absolute rubbish. She has had a good teacher this year and amazing ones for the other subjects throughout.

They are doing revision at school which she finds that quite helpful, otherwise I would let her skip lessons now. Just wondering if I can finance one of those expensive revision courses at half term as I think it would benefit her. Her weakness is exam technique, though she seems to have mastered it for Biology.

FantaSea · 03/05/2014 14:41

HPparent I couldn't feel any more tense than I am atm - while at the same time projecting a calm peaceful exterior so DD knows she has my full support. Your DD's plans for a gap year sound great - I do hope she can get what she needs in Chemistry. It is all an individual thing though isn't it - if DD gets a B in Chemistry (or anything for that matter) I shall be delighted and will be hanging out the bunting. However, if it is essential for your DD to have an A, then that is a big worry for her, and for you.

You are right - a good teacher can make a huge difference.

'Revision' at DD's school comprises doing papers while everyone else chatters around her. She goes to a selective school too, and they are really not set up for the students who are not on for comfortable A/A*, I am sorry to say. Those revision courses sound very good - I think a few days focussing and concentrating on one thing would be extremely helpful. Do you have any in mind that you could get her to?

I think when the exams are over, I will need to go to one of those health spas where you just waft around in a dressing gown all day and just relax. It will be all I will be fit for.

Hairylegs47 · 03/05/2014 14:48

Well both of mine have left school and are on Study Leave.
Exams start tomorrow.
DD is out with her mates and DS is studying hard in the XBox.
I've decided to let them be, tomorrow will come soon enough.

Original poster
cardibach · 03/05/2014 15:40

I'll come Fanta! I love those places. You are so right about grades - it's all relative. DD got a D in AS Chem and was delighted - it's a 'spare' subject and she thought she would fail. If she doesn't get a B in Bio, though, it is a disaster in the making. She has the knowledge, just not the exam technique (or something - the exams trip her up) and I'm bloody petrified. She's driven off to her dad's for the weekend, so I hope she gets some work done.

OP posts:
FantaSea · 03/05/2014 16:18

cardi I have never been to a health spa, but they look so relaxing.

DD struggles with the wording for exams - she can say the answer, but often cannot write it and express what she wants to say clearly enough. She is working on biology today and seems to be making progress.

BeckAndCall · 03/05/2014 17:24

So hariylegs you need to start with the endless rounds of bacon sarnies and hot chocolate from now? Where in the world are you that exams start tomorrow, if that doesn't give away too much? We've got a bank holiday weekend here so nothing til Tuesday at the very earliest........

Hairylegs47 · 04/05/2014 10:45

I wish we had bacon! We're in the Middle East, the week runs Sun through Thurs. And no bank holidays. And no bacon Sad or nice chocolate Sad

I was just wondering why we start today too. It may just be a local thing, because they both have exams on Tues.

BeckAndCall · 04/05/2014 21:37

Chin-up hariylegs. and other platitudes for a poor soul without access to chocolate
Hope it all starts off well for your DC - it's a long haul but they'll probably be glad to get started

FantaSea · 04/05/2014 21:40

Hairy no nice chocolate? Oh dear, that is tough.

Hope your DC's exams went well today.

FantaSea · 09/05/2014 09:28

How is everyone getting on?

I am disappointed to say that the teachers at DD's school seem to have packed up altogether, even though they have until the 21st still to run Hmm . Lessons appear to be 'revising' by themselves but everyone is chatting and DD has come home all stressed and upset that she is wasting time. So I have let her stay at home yesterday and today so she can work quietly at home.

onadifferentplanet · 09/05/2014 10:03

Ds really needs to be on study leave now I think ,he has one more week. he too keeps saying that revision lessons are a waste of time and feels he would learn more at his own pace and concentrating on the things he needs to do. I have I confess invented a doctors appt this afternoon so he can come home at lunch time. He is also expected to attend all sporting commitments so that means a 5.30 wake up and several hours of travel tomorrow hopefully he can sleep on the mini bus both ways.

HPparent · 09/05/2014 12:13

Sorry that students revision sessions are a waste of time! DD's seem to be mixed. Ok in her weak subject - bit pointless in the others. I feel she has given up in Chemistry. I don't know what else to do to support her. She has a tutor but it seems to make little difference overall. Perhaps I should try hypnosis or positive thinking - getting desperate now!

FantaSea · 09/05/2014 14:20

onadifferentplanet don't feel bad - I rang up yesterday and said DD had a migraine and this morning I am running out of illnesses (as last week she had a 'migraine' one day and an upset 'stomach another'), so I just said, rather feebly, that she was 'still unwell' Blush

HPparent sorry to hear the chemistry is still bad for you. For us it is the chemistry and the biology. Yesterday and today I have been sitting with her while she does papers, so we can analyse the mark scheme together. I find it very tedious but I think with my DD, a lot of the problem is her lack of confidence answering questions and being precise enough. Do you think this would help you at all?

bruffin · 09/05/2014 14:24

Ds decided not to go to maths yesterday as the were going over something he is secure on. He stayed in school and revised M2 but still got a negative behaviour.

HPparent · 09/05/2014 16:23

Fantasea, thanks I will try it but think DD would hate it but perhaps she is desperate she is grateful. A guy at work coached his son last year on a similar basis!

FantaSea · 09/05/2014 17:05

HPparent these sessions doing papers are really tense - not a lovely mother/daughter bonding moment at all! For my DD, a lot of the problem is the wording and this let her down last year. I think she is starting to see that her wording is improving a bit. I have only begun doing this yesterday, she has been revising on her own up until now, but I figure that with just a few weeks to go, it is worth a try.

She is going over to a friend's tonight so we will have a break from the biology papers until tomorrow.

Original poster
cardibach · 09/05/2014 18:06

No, there is nothing bonding about revision at all!
DD has had a couple of really good days and is feeling positive. I am finding it increasingly hard to keep the happy-smiling-positive face on and am losing sleep over the exams already! I am really concerned for her. She is a bright girl (even though I say so myself) and has worked steadily from a base of good GCSE results but is in real danger of not getting the grades she needs. It is terrifying (even though rationally I know it wouldn't be the end of the world) and makes me want to take a blunt pair of scissors to anyone who bangs on about grade inflation and easy exams. You bloody try it, you bunch of twats!

OP posts:
FantaSea · 09/05/2014 18:44

cardi I too am finding it very difficult to keep my plastered on smile and I have found myself lying awake at night or waking up at about 5am fretting about it. I am really concerned too as to what she will get. A few people who I have confided in have said rather unhelpful things like 'but she did so well at GCSE' as though that means that A levels will just be a formality.

I will just to glad when it is all over.

BeckAndCall · 09/05/2014 19:17

For us, DD has now finally finished the course for both biology and chemistry - just yesterday. They were already on just revision for maths. They've got one more week of regular timetabled lessons when they're doing past papers.
We're not quite in over stressed mode yet as her first exam isn't until 9th June, but she can't get close to the revision yet so there is still school music commitments for tomorrow and Sunday. But then that's it for music so the tempo on revision should change......
Remember to breathe ladies. And Wine

summerdip · 09/05/2014 20:54

Any boy's mums around?

DS has to work hard to get the Russell group grades and while he is working - we wished he could do a bit more to be secure. Had a family chat about finding the odd extra half hour and it stressed him a bit so we have to back off, stay calm and encourage what he can do. Want the best but have to be realistic and it's tough accepting that. We have to trust he will do what he can do.

summerdip · 09/05/2014 21:05

Wanted to add - leaver's ceremony for my DS today. Remember first day vividly!!

Would be feeling wistful if I wasn't more quietly anxious about his exams!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread