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Secondary education

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Original poster

Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread

967 replies

Littleham · 23/11/2014 12:17

Is anyone else fed up with GCSE's and the stress they create? Thought I would start a support thread for the following few months. Mocks start next week at my dd3's school.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 06/01/2015 12:06

There are 'prom dress shops' that require fitting dates months ahead Shock? Blimey. Sounds like DD's idea of hell. She's already said she won't wear heels as she can't walk in them let alone dance -and is intending to coerce her pals to also eschew them as she's the shortest anyway. What do boys wear to these events? (there's probably a thread devoted to this topic somewhere but not sure I dare look for it).

TeenAndTween · 06/01/2015 12:11

That's what I thought!
From pictures, boys round us generally wear suits, with some being smarter, and some scruffier.
DD's heels are the highest she's ever had (still under 3 inches), so she now has 5 months to practice in them!

MrsSquirrel · 06/01/2015 12:17

Yikes! DD hasn't even mentioned a prom dress yet. Grin

TeenAndTween · 06/01/2015 12:22

DD is quite fussy over neckline, material, colour, cut.
I'm quite fussy on price. Grin

From an initial search, what she wanted wasn't easily available. And I don't trust bespoke from China sites. So we started looking pre-owned and the one we bought came up.
I also didn't want the stress of looking at Easter when she should be revising.

I'm sure loads of people sort these things out much later, but I didn't want to take the risk.

dingit · 06/01/2015 12:31

I've started looking, and sent her a link to a beautiful beaded maxi dress, in DPs sale! She won't need towering heels if she has a long dress, she's a real clutz in flats as it is.
She won't have much time at Easter, as she also has a school trip to Paris. The child is costing us a fortune Shock

dingit · 06/01/2015 15:24

Oh. Dd got a B for science, her prediction was A*. Not sure what happened there.

CrazyTights · 06/01/2015 15:44

We've bought party dresses for DD from sellers in China on Ebay and they have always been fine but we've ordered in advance. One of them we got free as it didn't arrive for 8 weeks and paypal refunded us. I emailed them to say it had arrived and they didn't ask for the money.

Ginandtonictime · 06/01/2015 15:45

dingit - is your dd ok? surprised/shocked by the B? Hopefully this is what the mocks are all about ... a kick up the jacksy to get them focussed for May ...

dingit · 06/01/2015 15:53

Funnily enough she wasn't too bothered. None of the class did amazingly. Her arch rival got 5% more than her just getting an A. I think they mark quite harshly, to give them that final boot up the butt. Onwards and ( hopefully) upwards.

auntpetunia · 06/01/2015 17:26

Results day here is Friday. But school have brought in some revision extras so where they used to finish an hour early alternate Mondays they aren't and there is extra revision sessions each afternoon after school but they appear to be targeted and DS hasn't been invited. No one gets the choice about Monday everyone stayed and got randomly given a previous paper to do in one of their subjects. DS got ict and said it was ok but dated as it was all about Bluetooth. They get the scores the next Monday. He's got a 3 day revision weekend first weekend of half term and that's a residential so hope that will give home some good technique. He's too blasé at present for my liking. But he's bloody clever and last parents evening everyone said he was on target or above. We've got another parents evening beginning of Feb so all hinging on Fridays mock results.

As for prom, he's a smart dresser anyway so I think a new shirt to go with his work experience suit (which I hope will still fit him: at 6ft 4 I'm hoping he's stopped growing) and new shoes he'll be done. Though last time I asked about it he said he wasn't going!! :0

dingit · 06/01/2015 17:32

6ft 4! Wow, good thing he's not going with my dd she's 5ft 1, they would look funny together.

SugarPlumTree · 06/01/2015 18:14

6 ft 4 , wow ! DS is predicted to be that height, DD is the same height as Dingit's DD.

Very interesting to hear how differently schools do year 11 with timing of Mocks, how they give results and revision sessions. DD'S school is not hugely academic as they lose children to 2 lots of Grammars. But she seems happy there and given that our other local Upper has had 2 pupils commit suicide last year I feel that is vital.

We have had a successful afternoon with her new Japanese tutor for her speaking assessment. She said today's performance would have got her a high B or an A which is a massive relief. I hear her rattle away to her Skype tutor but had no idea if she is any good or not. She'll also help her with her writing and check the other areas for gaps in her knowledge. So relieved we have found her.

Need to decide if we find a Maths tutor.

auntpetunia · 06/01/2015 19:38

Sugar is your Dd the one going to the Jamborree in Japan?

SugarPlumTree · 06/01/2015 19:51

No but she is hopefully going this summer to spend 2 weeks at a language school. She's applied for a contribution from a local charity and we're sorting the language school and flights at the moment . I am trying to be very chilled about it.

homework · 06/01/2015 20:18

Well my ds got letter today for an interview for the course and collage he wants , need to sort time off work as not that local to us and will take time to get there.
He pleased as it's the better one of two collages he applied to , still hoping for interview for other as well .
Now to also work on interview technique , give him ideas about question there likely to ask . As well as continue studying for exams .

He only applied two days ago , but we worked on his personal statement together and got few people from work to read it , who all though it's was really good , so hopefully it's help impress somebody .

auntpetunia · 06/01/2015 20:24

Oh gosh sounds stressful homework is that for A levels? Am so glad DS is going to his cure schools 6th form. No interviews etc needed. Good luck for the interview.

auntpetunia · 06/01/2015 20:25

Cure = current!

homework · 06/01/2015 20:44

No not a levels but course is worth three a levels it's a an advanced diploma at btec. It's well established collage and has a lot of applicants for this course .
So we hoping that he does well at interview , and is offered a place . Then he has to decided if he wants to become residential , or do a lot of travelling each day .

homework · 06/01/2015 20:46

But first of all he needs to get grades at gcse to get on the course , so have to keep pressure on slightly with regular revision , mocks again in two weeks time , but one proper exam on Thursday .
It's a tough / stressful year for them .

auntpetunia · 09/01/2015 19:28

Well mock results are in!!! All 10 passed 1 A*, 2 A, 3 B and 4 C. He's not happy with the Cs in chemistry and Maths but chuffed with As in both English papers. ( especially as he's dyslexic).
Science teacher told him he made a few silly mistakes so work in school next week is looking at the papers to see where they lost marks.
Onwards and upwards now with the focus on chemistry physics and maths.

homework · 09/01/2015 19:58

Well done to your son aunt petunia , now he knows that he can do it and where he needs to work hardest with revision on.

My ds got interview for second collage , so if gets these both will have three options to pick from come result time in September hopefully .

bigTillyMint · 09/01/2015 19:58

Well done auntpetunia's DS, especially with the A's in EnglishFlowers

Good Luck to your DS, homework. DD has an interview for one of her applications next week. Not heard from any of the others apart from the letter saying they had received her applicationConfused

CrazyTights · 10/01/2015 14:14

Grade A in the chemistry mock for my DD :) Well done to the others with their mock results.

auntpetunia · 10/01/2015 14:39

Well done crazy's Dd. DS needs to work towards an a in chemistry if he wants to do his preferred a levels. His A* was biology but his other sciences and maths let him down both C. (His words not mine --I think he did well)

stayathomegardener · 10/01/2015 18:22

Hello, signing in if I may.
DD yr 11 Dyslexic,post viral, doing mocks now.
I am going to NEED this thread in the months to come. Gleaned some great tips already.

On the plus side went to look at dress sketches for Prom today and despite dreaming that they were horrific was pleasantly surprised.

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