Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread 2

[HSMMaCM]

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

DD likes to talk, oh does she like to talk - does that mean in two years time before A levels she will be quiet?!

Thanks for all your lovely comments on DD's film, will tell her about the best Directors being to busy to go. No exams until next week so hoping it is short lived amd she gets over what it is quickly.

How are you and DS doing this afternoon MrsDB?

Your poor friend's DD QOD. That must be very debilitating to be dealing with Whooping cough and GCSE's.

Sorry for those with injuries/illnesses, hope at least the pain eases.

Ds had his art exam yesterday and today so it's all finished now. He thinks it went well and showed me a picture on his phone. Hes got some coursework to finish but the bulk of it is all done now. Phew.

I agree that it's impossible to say the right thing. I am just keeping up a steady supply of food and nodding in all the right places (I hope)

Y&Y I didn't know that - but surely they should be covered on the days when they are examining, in much the same way that anyone who is an OFSTED inspector is "bought out" of school when they are doing that job. Seems a ridiculous system. I thought 7pm was ridiculous - 9pm is just ludicrous.

DD has come home raging. Had her final drama rehearsal before Friday's exam and the teacher spent all the time with the group most likely to get A*s. DD's group had no teacher input at all. The students had 'words' with the teacher before they left. She's mega stressed about it now, because she really wants to get an A in drama and doesn't know if she will.

Back DD's drama teacher is an examiner this year. Partly so that she would understand better the requirements for the course and so teach better. If she then had to miss teaching her y11 group on a number of days to go and examine others then I guess that could have been problematic. I agree though - DD was shattered next day (and aching all over from unaccustomed activity).

DD came home from school today and went straight to sleep.

Should say ... She was there for 3 hrs waiting for teacher input.

And I know the teacher probably wasn't paid to be there and I appreciate all the effort she's put in, but still ...

HSM How frustrating/annoying/upsetting for your DD.

(I'll be happy if DD gets a C for Drama.)

T&T, can you tell us what you bought - I need some ideas!

Dingit, love that link!

HSM, that is terrible Is there any chance she will give up some more time for their group?

DD says they have a collapsed timetable on Friday to focus on English Lit. Hope it is useful!

HSMM - oh, that sucks. Can I just ask which board she's doing - if on future threads people are asking if their DC should do drama it really does seem to make a big difference (to the stress, if not the result, I don't know if/how they equalise between boards)

T&T - I was thinking that, I guess schools typically don't have many drama teachers so if they were out in the schoolday their own exam sets would suffer.

DD has just shown me her planner, with all the exam times and rooms marked in. She starts off quite lightly with just biology U2/3 and a 2hr chemistry paper next week but the week after, and the one after half term look heavy, before tailing off again the next two weeks.

Oops - just spotted my fat fingers mad T&T into Y&Y earlier - sorry!

HSMMaCM that doesn't sound good at all :-(

I can't remember what board it is (I'll try and remember to check). I think it is more a problem with getting the whole group to rehearse. I have offered to get her to school early tomorrow, but I don't know if the others can get there, or if the drama teacher is available. At lunchtime apparently the A* group have a rehears and after school the drama teacher is helping out the other drama teacher.

As I said, I fully appreciate the time and effort she's put in, but I only have one DD and I feel her disappointment physically.

Tilly I have bought:

pink bath bomb from Lush
lavender bath bomb from Lush
sparkly nailpolish from Claire's
sparkly eyeshadow from Claire's
lip balm in shape of owl from The Works
multisized post it pads set with cats on from The Works
heart shaped lip balm from random shop
credit card sized thing with poem on To Daughter from ditto
gel pen with nice picture from ditto
smelly highlighter from ASDA
heart shaped desk tidy from ASDA
packet Cadbury's mix ups sweets from poundworld/land
minion socks from poundworld/land
make your own balloon gloop and tube from Hawkins bazaar
something else I've forgotten

Only 2 items were more than £3.

(Plus a new leather small shoulder bag for birthday reduced from £85 to £16)

oh yes
bubble bath from Boots.

T&T that sounds lovely.

HSM - hope so. Luckily DD only has 15 exams not the 20+ some others have. Hope your DD's drama goes well, DD's was straight after the Easter break.

T&T that is so lovely of you. I fear I have neither the time nor the energy to source that much, but I might take a trip to the pound shops!

A trip to poundland might be in order! I did get DD supplies of her favourite conditioner, shower gel and an Impulse spray the other day, and I've got a tub of jelly beans (you know, the ones with loads of flavours) stashed away to give her, probably friday evening. I've got to get up early Saturday morning to drive ~4 hours to get to my brother's wedding, return home on sunday. Fortunately DH has (re)learned how to shop and cook of late though he still tries to pretend domestic incompetence at times, but he wouldn't think to get sweets.

Oops! I found a jewelry box of dd's today, ad in a box that had a necklace her uncle bought her, all presented in a nice gift bag. I left it on her bed as it was randomly in a drawer un the spare room
Not only did she think I'd bought her jewelry as a random gift but the necklace wasn't even in it. He he

QOD now you'll havebtonplaybsome other funny tricks, like a plastic mouse in her shoe or something.

Makes note to go to pound land. DD loves random body sprays.

I think those little gifts sound lovely.

DD and I have ordered lots if clothes ( things she needs; pumps, shorts, tees etc) and hoping lots of random packages keep her cheered.

DS considers a bacon sandwich a treat. So I shall stand by the grill.

Both mine at home today. I think they were hoping for a lie in but our cleaning lady was clattering around at 8am. She has a year 11 of her own and thinks I'm far too soft.

Playing some funny tricks could go badly wrong with DD

But she likes bacon butties!

Anyone else's dc doing this exam tomorrow? Compulsory at dd's school but no time or lessons to prepare for it so no idea what to expect. Just tutor time.

www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/work-and-life-skills/aqa-certificate/preparation-for-working-life-short-course-4800

Crikey, just looked at the paper - it covers a wide variety of areas, doesn't it? I'm not sure I could answer all the questions correctly!

They don't do it at my DC's school, AFAIK