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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:
FantaSea · 09/05/2014 21:37

summerdip what subjects is your DS doing?

I am trying to make sure that every conversation I have with DD is not about revision. I am consumed with the worry of it all but I don't feel it is fair to project my worries on top of her own so I have made a conscious effort to not talk about it constantly, but I want to!

I feel sad about her leaving school as it is the end of another chapter. She changed school for the sixth form so I don't have too much history of this school, but it must be hard to be coming to the end of 7 years at the same school.

summerdip · 10/05/2014 16:30

Yes, I too am very careful not to put my anxieties on to my DS and trying to stay calm when I feel he is not doing quite enough.
MATHS
Biology
Further Maths
Physics

Theas18 · 10/05/2014 16:40

4 days of year 13 left. We've had the leavers concert ( sniffle) and he had leavers assembly Friday.

70% of music done - just the 30% for 1 written paper left.

Much revision in progress. He's even said had the last party till after exams!

It's soooooo stressful as a parent. Especially not showing you are worried lol

Original poster
cardibach · 11/05/2014 11:23

I'm not sure it I mentioned this already, but there is no study leave for DD - expected in school until after the final exam. It works for her as she definitely does more work with some structure to the day, but I know several kids who would do better at home. Just hope their parents will cover for them!
I have 3 teenagers adding up the award nominations for Prom at my dining table at the moment. They are very happy.

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whatsinaname01 · 11/05/2014 13:00

Hi everyone just catching up as not been on for a while.

How are everyones stress levels?

Trying to stay positive but internally freaking out a bit now. DD starts her GCSE's on Tues and DS starts A2 on 19th. Both of mine are not on study leave until after half term which I have mixed feelings about, some lessons are still good others not.

FantaSea how is your DD getting on with the extra pressure of retakes? DS is worried about having so many, think it's hit home over last few days

summerdip · 11/05/2014 13:57

My DS has finished official lessons as of Friday but teachers are still around to offer revision practise. Not sure how this will go so sending DS in armed with past papers to get on with if time is slack.

He's getting down to it this weekend but 3/4 hours is his max. Should be good but I know some do more. He does about 3 very focused. What is in his favour is he has been studying everyday for months - little and often. Fingers crossed. I know some students have better attention spans.

whatsinaname01 · 11/05/2014 14:19

Hi summerdip your DS is taking similar A2's as mine Maths,Physics and Chemistry.
Is he going to Uni? What does he want to study?

summerdip · 11/05/2014 14:26

Hello whatsinaname,

my DS will take a gap year which we are open about - with various options at moment.

He wants to study Maths or Engineering year after at a Russell group uni. No definite choices as yet. We'll wait and see grades. Worst case scenario he'll have to resit one .

bruffin · 11/05/2014 14:26

My ds taking the maths, fm and physics as well. Hoping to take mechanical engineering. The grade expectations are so high for engineering its very stressful.

whatsinaname01 · 11/05/2014 14:49

DS applied to do Mechanical engineering,finally decided on Loughborough. Agree grade expectations are scarily high, I'm so stressed on his behalf but trying not to show it
summerdip what are the plans for gap year?
bruffin where does your DS plan to go?

FantaSea · 11/05/2014 14:58

whatsinaname DD is very stressed with the resits, I'm afraid, thank you for asking though. The problem is the splitting up of revision time - if she does the AS stuff then she is worried she should be doing the A2 stuff, and vice versa. I think, in hindsight, it would have been better for her to repeat year 12, but we were guided by the school who were confident that resits were the best way forward. We will see though - I am so uptight about it all I just want it to be over and done with now. How many resits does your DS have?

whatsinaname01 · 11/05/2014 15:15

FantaSea DS has 6 resits so 13 exams overall. Aahh!! His way of revising is to do past papers over and over. Has been doing this since Jan. He feels he learns it better this way also you get to know what the examiners expect by checking your answers online via marking scheme. How about your DD?

bruffin · 11/05/2014 15:22

Ds works best doing past papers whatsinaname. He is doing 2 resits. He is hoping to go to Southampton with mathematics engineering at Bristol for his insurance.

whatsinaname01 · 11/05/2014 16:09

Great Uni choices bruffin,at least that part is now out of the way and they can concentrate on exams.... will be so glad when results day is over and we know whats what. All this uncertainty drives me crazy as well as the stress for the exams. Feel a bit like a duck Confused - calm on the surface but furiously paddling underneath!!

FantaSea · 11/05/2014 16:14

whatsinaname DD has 6 resits too - I think it is too many to be honest, but it is done now. DD has 15 exams overall as they have to take general studies too. DD does past papers too and I think they are a very effective way to revise.

I know what you mean about feeling like a duck - I feel the same! I am calm on the outside with a permanent plastered on smile, but inside I am really tense and worried.

Original poster
cardibach · 11/05/2014 17:14

If you feel they shouldn't be resitting you can always pull them out - you may have to pay but it could be worth it. DD is resitting 2 units but the stress isn't much reduced! Family fo distracting get this afternoon.

OP posts:
Original poster
cardibach · 11/05/2014 17:14

Family so is distracting her.

OP posts:
Original poster
cardibach · 11/05/2014 17:15

Damn it! Do

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summerdip · 11/05/2014 17:37

5 resits here! So much to do! He's powering away with a tutor at moment.
We have found combination of independent study and tutors helpful.

What are the grade expectations for Bristol Bruffin? Haven't looked there.

bruffin · 11/05/2014 17:58

I think its AAB. But that is an offer for mathematics in engineering. He did apply for mechanical engineering but they invited him to apply for this instead. He found it interesting and decided to go for that course for insurance instead of Loughborough which was ABB for a Beng. Southampton and Bristol are both masters.
Hes upstairs in bed with a headache now. He is suffering badly with rhinitis and its probably affecting his sinus.

summerdip · 11/05/2014 18:08

poor you Bruffin - an unwell son!! I've been mollycoddling my son who felt very cold on Friday after an outdoor drink /party on leavers day. Literally wrapping a blanket around him when he studied to avoid a cold!!! What am I like!!! Smile He liked it though Wink

Thank you for grade advice. It's the A*'s that scare us!!
What other courses are DC applying for folks? And what grade expectations are there?

Must ask Bruffin, when you put your ucas form in- do uni's suggest different courses to you as offer in Maths/Engineering spectrum?? We've not sent off Ucas yet. We would be happy if they did that as he is open somewhat to the course.

bruffin · 11/05/2014 18:31

He's surfaced when he heard that his favorite onion soup was readyGrin

I have heard of unis offering other courses. But on here heard that others had been offered the Bristol mathematics engineering instead of mecheng.
I was wondering if it was for those that were stronger at maths than physics, which ds is. He got turned down from Leeds and Durham.

Original poster
cardibach · 11/05/2014 18:36

summer what do you mean you haven't done ucas yet?

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bruffin · 11/05/2014 18:38

Thinking about it , what actually happened was Bristol emailed him and said they were rejecting him from Mecheng but felt he was still a good candidate and would wait until all applications came in and see if there was a place for him in the maths in engineering or electriconic engineering courses and left his ucas on pending. A few months later he got an invite for an interview for the maths in engineering and got an offer a few days after the interview.

BeckAndCall · 11/05/2014 21:40

summer You're scaring us all now. Please say your DD is doing a post A level application and you havent missed the May 7 th deadline (of course you haven't - we're just projecting here)

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