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Secondary education

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Original poster

Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread 2

986 replies

HSMMaCM · 24/03/2015 20:24

New thread ..... (DD not sure about the prom dress she has bought!!!!)

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bigTillyMint · 22/04/2015 19:26

TWF so true about passing the stress back and forthSad

HSM, how lively re the cardSmile

JugglingFromHereToThere · 22/04/2015 19:39

Oh, sooo glad I've re-found you all - I'm so going to need you over the next 2 mths. Yikes! Shock

You came up in active convo's earlier in the day but then I lost you. Tried a search but no luck there. Then you came up in active convo's again when I was looking at the thing on getting your DC interested in politics ...

Anyway ... the important thing is I've found you!

dd (dc1) is doing her GCSE's - Art first on May 1st & 5th - then like some of you RS on May 11th.

Really good report and she says she's not too stressed about the art so all OK for now - except I already have shocking finger and toe nails (sorry if TMI!)

Seems reasonably well organised both at home and at school re. these exams but organisation not always a strong point - in the mocks time management and attempting all questions was an issue in some exams. Hoping all the practice papers from school will be helping?

How's everyone doing?

SugarPlumTree · 22/04/2015 19:44

Yes very true about passing the stress around and that was a lovely thing of DD's class to do HSM. I've said to DD about it and she's going to mention it to her Friends.

Jokingly said 'no otter teachers look as if they are going to walk out do they ? And she said actually a couple do. Fingers crossed no further repeat of today as she's recently lost one of her Ethics teacher to ill health and they have been getting through supply science teachers at a steady pace. One of them walked out to get headache tablets and didn't come back. Thank goodness I'm hearing good things about the other Upper school as would be very worried about DS's future.

Original poster
HSMMaCM · 22/04/2015 20:57

Hi juggling. All welcome to join in the parental stress.

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SugarPlumTree · 22/04/2015 21:22

Hi Juggling, glad you found us Smile I'm quite glad that they aren't old enough to vote this time around as I think it would be quite a hard one for a first vote. But might be projecting the fact I am stuck as to what to do as DD has said who she would vote for if she could. I'm trying hard not to nail bite at the moment and have taken to reading skin care threads as have decided I should try and emerge from this not looking utterly shattered - fear I'm fighting a losing battle!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 23/04/2015 11:20

Thanks for the welcome Thanks
One thing that worries me a bit am I supposed to be organising some amazing programme of revision and past papers for dd at home or is it OK to let school take the lead and encourage dd to make - and hopefully stick to! - her own revision time-table. The other night I got her to put up a list of when her exams are in the kitchen. That's about all I've actually done myself! Is that enough?!

I saw some posts about having nice food in and I remember my DMum doing that for me with some nice healthy treats in my lunch-box (all those years ago!) dd has school dinner usually though - although I guess might not always do this when she just has one exam in a day (as will often be the case) So maybe have a think about some nice lunches we can share - breakfasts too might be an idea as dd often skips this ATM?

Like you wordfactory I'm not working as much ATM (just some light home tutoring) so I think this is probably just as well for getting us both/all through the next couple of months of exam season!

TeenAndTween · 23/04/2015 11:34

Juggling re organising revision.

My DD can't organise her way out of a paper bag, so I am heavily involved in revision. This has included defining the revision slots each day, and the priorities for each subject.
I'm also doing loads of praise as to how well she's getting on to keep her morale up, as she does find schoolwork hard.

If she were more capable, I think I would be discussing with her what her expectations towards revision were, how she was going to organise herself etc, and if it sounded reasonable then leave her to it (albeit with some monitoring, questioning and showing an interest). Also asking what school have said about expected revision.

I do think it is important to be confident they aren't focussing on 1 subject to the detriment of others, and are going to spend appropriate time on subjects that come at the end of a run of others.

The school can only suggest so much. Each subject teacher will be pushing for their own subject. Only you and your child know her own strengths weaknesses and needs.

TheWordFactory · 23/04/2015 11:34

Hi juggling...

I think if your DD has plenty of revision resources and past papers from school, then job done. If not, then some of us can probably send you in the right direction.

My two went to school today (DD huffing and puffing about some mislaid English shizzle).

DH took them so I had three hours to put my head down and do some work. I feel very virtuous Grin.

DS had a small wobble last night with his Dad Sad. He's worried he won't do as well as everyone is expecting him to. DH told him that we don't care a kipper. He's worked hard and that's enough for us. Apparently, DH felt he was very convincing...

TheWordFactory · 23/04/2015 11:38

teen I did the same with DD.

We made a timetable at the beginning of Easter break, all fancy and colour coded. That way DD could be sure all bases were covered.

DS wasn't so keen. He likes to be left alone. Which I have done. Only hope he hasn't spent weeks on Latin literature only to shit himself the night before Physics, having not opened a book Grin.

SugarPlumTree · 23/04/2015 12:30

My DD's organisation leaves a lot to be desired as she has Dyspraxia. However she hates input from me and will do the opposite to what I suggest on principal. Therefore I am keeping a low profile and influencing where I can with tutors and emailing teachers in the background.

I think we are in a different situation to most of you though where I'm about damage limitation at this point and just trying to ensure she gets enough to get into 6th form on a L3 course. She won't be revising science as there is no point at this stage in proceedings. The focus is on English, Japanese and Maths now. Hopefully she has passed Photography now. Geography is touch and go, Philosophy her teacher has just gone off sick. I am resigned to Maths resit.

Original poster
HSMMaCM · 23/04/2015 16:15

DD had a total melt down over her French speaking today and didn't do it. She has also found out that her French assessments have been chosen to go for moderation, so she's panicking about that too.

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Original poster
HSMMaCM · 23/04/2015 16:16

I had a chat with her yesterday. She's likely to pass them all and I just told her to do her best and get the best marks she can. Don't think it helped though.

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Original poster
HSMMaCM · 23/04/2015 16:22

Study leave starts 1st June

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Littleham · 23/04/2015 16:25

That is a shame HSMMacM. Can she do it again? It is really common for them to have a panic attack for the first one.

ErrolTheDragon · 23/04/2015 16:36

Oh dear HSMMaCM Sad - mine completely bottled out of a german speaking CA but was allowed to redo it and did fine. She realised that anything she did manage to say would get marks and they don't really take marks off if you try something and get it wrong. Moderation can lead to grades going up so she should try not to worry about that too much (easy to say, I know).

Original poster
HSMMaCM · 23/04/2015 17:15

She has another chance on Tuesday afternoon.

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ErrolTheDragon · 23/04/2015 17:47

Oh good.

bigTillyMint · 23/04/2015 18:15

Oh your poor DD, HSM - DD had that problem quite a few times and is now so relieved to have them all done. Fingers crossed for her.

SugarPlum, it sounds like you are taking a very sensible approach, fingers crossed for your DD too.

My DD is still at school revising. After 2 nights of doing nothing because of meltdowns at school, it is just as well!

dingit · 23/04/2015 21:18

Dd has just gone to bed, she normally goes after me! ( gone 11pm)

bigTillyMint · 23/04/2015 21:21

Aww! My DD is off out for a run with a friend!

Original poster
HSMMaCM · 23/04/2015 21:49

DD has just finished 2 hours ballet coaching and looks ready to fall straight into bed when we get home. It clears her mind of exams, because it's so physical.

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dingit · 23/04/2015 22:00

Tilly my dd runs too. Wonder if they would all get on well in RL!

bigTillyMint · 23/04/2015 22:02
Smile

DD had a bit of a shock when she realised that it's 3 days of Art next week and only 2 weeks till they startShock

JugglingFromHereToThere · 23/04/2015 22:04

My dd has always enjoyed her dancing too HSM - think it will be good for her to have that hour of ballet through her exams, especially as it's on a Friday evening

JugglingFromHereToThere · 23/04/2015 22:09

We've had a few serious meltdowns over controlled assessments too, especially in French, and speaking exam the worst understandably. ICT CA's have also been a bit of a headache here (understatement!) But think all CA's are finally done now which is something!