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Secondary education

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Original poster

please please help urgently; English gcse set texts.

62 replies

RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 29/05/2015 22:23

Ok, long story short my foster son has been massively let down. After a tumultuous two years he had just a few weeks in school to do enough to get through a few gcses. Turns out they didn't cover any of the higher science so poor lad had 5 days and revisewise to try and get through it. Now we've realised that the only thing he's done towards English is coursework and looked at one poem. Add to this that they haven't told us which exam board he's under and I simply can't help him. I was hoping to pick up everything I can tomorrow and make the best we can but I don't know where to start now!

His exam is Tuesday 9am. Can anyone suggest what we need to look at? Any ideas for cliff notes type things?

Whilst I'm pretty cross right now I don't really blame the school, they simply aren't used to dealing with kids who want to get into college and are happy to do extra work. The poor lad is aiming for a medical based career so this is a big deal for him Sad

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 29/05/2015 23:05

Lots of "OPs" there. Blush

LynetteScavo · 29/05/2015 23:09

Well, it's not the end of the world if he does a level 2, and retakes Maths and English while at college.

Original poster
RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 29/05/2015 23:12

Piece, the school haven't given a printed timetable with the exam boards to me or dfs. They have posted it to his mum who told him she'd burnt it. As for sorting this weeks ago, he wasn't in school weeks ago. I had a boy dropped into my life weeks before gcses having missed most of the courses and a long term school refuser. On balance I think I've done pretty well. Not as well as dfs though who has worked his rocks off. Sadly the school simply isn't set up to support him because this is not the usual situation. Even in school he's mostly done past papers because they don't run the courses he needed. It's been a nightmare time of learning on the fly for everyone.

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 29/05/2015 23:14

Poor boy. I hope you can get a new timetable from the school on Monday. Some people don't deserve to be parents.

coolaschmoola · 29/05/2015 23:15

Op I teach English GCSE and Functional Skills in college. It's nothing like school, if he has to do another year he should be fine; he'd be doing it alongside the subject he wants to do.

TongueBiter · 29/05/2015 23:19

Gojimo is another good revision website, and BBC bitesize of course.

Hope he does ok (but it's not the end of the world these days if he doesn't).

coolaschmoola · 29/05/2015 23:19

If you are in the North Lincolnshire region I'd happily come and tutor him tomorrow, this is a shit situation and he clearly deserves the help. That or Polperro region on Monday (going on holiday on Sunday!)

TheFallenMadonna · 29/05/2015 23:21

He's been in school just a few weeks? The school is going to struggle to support a student in year 11 who has just arrived there. Very difficult situation for everyone involved.

Higher tier Science does not have vastly different content to Foundation tier. There isa bit extra, and it does not require extra facilities. Does the school really enter nobody for higher tier?

TheFallenMadonna · 29/05/2015 23:23

I missed it was an inclusion unit, sorry! The higher tier Science bit still applies though. I teach everything to all my students, and decide on tiers of entry in Feb of year 11.

Original poster
RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 29/05/2015 23:24

Sorry Blush Oh for an edit function, feelings are running high right now but that's not the fault of anyone here Blush

Thank you so much everyone, we'll keep pushing on! I'm so pleased he could still progress with just language, that really helps. I think he'd be better getting onto a course next year even with some retakes simply because he needs to see a reward for all the hard work he's put in. Up till now he's not seen a lot of that.

OP posts:
pieceofpurplesky · 29/05/2015 23:27

Red, apologies. Hats off to you - I just know from my experience in a PRU we sent copies everywhere, especially foster carers as a legal requirement - I forget not all schools are as efficient! Where are you? I have lots of stuff he could use. I am in the north west. Info SHOULD be in school website (even in a unit). College will also look at what he has done.

Original poster
RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 29/05/2015 23:28

Madonna, no they don't enter anyone to higher, he was only in because that was the track he was on in his last school.

Coola that is such a lovely offer thank you so much! Sadly we're not in either of those areas but I really appreciate it! Smile

OP posts:
pieceofpurplesky · 29/05/2015 23:34

North west? Cheshire area?

TheFallenMadonna · 29/05/2015 23:50

No, I see now that it is an inclusion unit so a much smaller cohort. Sorry for not reading properly. What was his provision before he started in his current setting?

Original poster
RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 29/05/2015 23:50

No not those either piece. I'll pm you Smile The school have sent the timetable to me and dfs in the post apparently, then again when I said they hadn't arrived - still nothing. Tbh I'm torn between them being terrible and them being brilliant under the circumstances! I will take a look at the website, I hadn't thought of that thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 29/05/2015 23:54

Madonna, before this school he was in mainstream but had been excluded, he'd been through many mainstream schools during the gcse years. He came to us from out of area so it took a long time to get him accepted into our area inclusion unit (is that even the right name?).

OP posts:
MissMillament · 29/05/2015 23:57

OP, have PMed you.

Charis1 · 30/05/2015 00:08

contact the college, they will still take him in these circumstances.

Original poster
RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 30/05/2015 00:34

Thank you again everyone. I've had some lovely helpful pms and we have a line of attack ready for tomorrow.

If anyone can pull this off dfs can. He managed to answer about 75% of the science questions - obviously no idea if they were correct - but I think taking a decent stab rather than going to pieces shows an amazing level of fortitude and determination Smile

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 30/05/2015 10:03

I wish him lots of luck in his exams. It's a pity he didn't come to you earlier.

mumsneedwine · 30/05/2015 10:19

Hi. I think you are doing a fab job. Just a thought - has anyone let the exam board know about all this. They can take extenuating circumstances into account when grading - and it sounds like he's had a pretty rocky road to navigate. He sounds like he's trying so hard it might be worth a try. Good luck

Original poster
RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 30/05/2015 11:31

Do you know, I hadn't even thought of that mums! I'll get hold of the exams officer on Monday about that too thank you! Smile

Thanks bunbaker, I think it's taken him a while to realise that he doesn't have to be "the man" and deal with everything himself. He's getting there though Smile

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 30/05/2015 14:31

Just want to wish your foster son the best of luck for his GCSE's. He sounds great, as do you. Smile Flowers

JacobWrestling · 30/05/2015 15:04

I'm an English teacher. PP are right - it's language on Tuesday.

Regardless of the exam board, it will consist of reading and writing.

For reading, he will have to read some non-fiction texts and answer questions on them. He will have to show understanding of the content, identify some language techniques; and probably compare them. He must manage his time carefully. GCSE Bitesize is useful.

The writing will be 'functional', and he will probably have to do two tasks. He needs to know the features of formal and informal letters, reports, speeches, and leaflets.

Please feel free to PM me if you / he have any questions.

gaslamp · 30/05/2015 16:10

I don't have any wise words to offer but rooting for your dfs on Tuesday. Very good luck to him