Year 11 GCSE support thread 5 - finishing off the exams

[HSMMaCM]

Only another week to go for DD, but I know some of you have two weeks.

Good luck today everyone.

Hayfever kicked in properly here so ensuring everyone appropriately dosed.

3 to go, THREE! Can't wait.
DS has History (American West) this morning.

Five more to go here, it seems to have been forever.

DS doesn't actually leave school until the 25th, they are doing various life skills classes and at the last minute it has been decided that they will all be doing their ECDL. DS is quite excited about it al so I'm pleased.

DS's prom suit arrived on Monday, it is as bright as he hoped but slightly tight - it will do as long as he doesn't pig out before the 26th!

What colour is his suit OddBoots?

Blue, very similar to the Mumsnet logo (by chance not design).

We've got History this morning too Horsemad.
Ours is 1939 to 1975 with lots of "sources" to respond to.
So not much to remember for that, right? (sceptical, sarcastic face)
Possibly may do last, summary question, first, and then go back to all the others. If so, hope that works out for her X
Good luck to all for today

History today for my two, last iGCSE ever, hopefully unless they've failed.

So glad DD dropped history after mocks. Though I did find Medicine through Time and American West quite interesting.
I'm letting her sleep as long as necessary this morning, as only final physics on Fri pm to go.

Sounds lovely Oddboots, I love seeing them dressed up in a suit. So smart.

Just a biology revision session this afternoon here. he's tried to get out of it a few times but he doesn't revise at home much so it would be better to go. Not due in until 1 and I have instructions not to wake him until 12!

OddBoots, DD's school haven't announced a leavers date and another parent told me that they can't leave until they have taken that ECDL exam which DD does NOT want to take
Blue seems very popular for mens suits this year - lots of them about. I bet he looks lovely in it

History here today is Germany. Fingers crossed for everybody!

I don't get this whole school leavers thing. DD is not even 16 and has officially left school/ on study leave. She has one more exam. She is allowed to access school facilities while revising if she wants to, but doesn't have to go in for anything.

Are they legally allowed to not attend after the exams? As 90% of schools have a leavers date before/during the GCSEs I am guessing that it must be legal?
And what if they haven't had an official leaving date - are they breaking the law by not attending?

They can leave school on the last Fri in June as long as they're 16 by the end of that year's summer hold apparently.
According to a .gov website but I can't link, sorry.

DD has history this morning. Seemed happy enough.

DS is countering away about Latin. The grade boundary for an A* is usually 90% or above which is 'evil' apparently.

Summer hols.

Good luck to all dc doing exams today. We just have physics to go on Fri pm. I have told dd to veg today and do revision tomorrow.
all dc at our school have left now apart from going in for exams and a 6th form taster day if they are intending to apply. Makes it tough for younger ds who is not the most motivated to attend school. He thinks he should only go if the weather is to poor for anything else!

I was reading that if students are allowed study leave before the end of June then the school has to mark it down as authorised absence which can then trigger an ofsted inspection. I suspect schools that are trying to avoid being made into academies want to keep ofsted away as much as possible (rightly or wrongly thinking that ofsted judgements aren't always fair and may be political).

I think demographic makes a difference too, we are inner city with high poverty, early study leave may mean groups of bored and hungry teens hanging about giving the impression of trouble makers even if they are behaving. Telling some children they can leave and keeping some back would be divisive and tricky to manage.

In a more rural area with a spread out student population and with fewer dependant on free meals things are probably very different.

Can I ask a prom question (will take my mind off history and the fact that DS2 seems to have broken a big chunk off his tooth this morning...sigh...)?

What is the general opinion on corsages? I thought the boys were supposed to give the girls a corsage for their handbag/dress but when I mentioned this to DS he looked like I'd suggested he repeat year 11 . I don't want him to be the only one giving/not giving a corsage but if he is, I'd need to get it organised soon.

Dd is a bit deflated at the moment, the maths exams really knocked her confidence. Yesterday's physics was a bit different as well, dd said there wasn't much physics in it and it needed a lot of writing. She finished just as they had to hand them in, quite a few of her friends didn't finish, so a few tears there.

1 week left for dd, really looking forward to the end now!

Which physics board was that, BobOmb?

BobOmb The Maths will probably be better than she thinks as pretty much everyone I have spoken to hated the maths exams. Student room is the same. Wait to see what happens on results day - grade boundaries may be a lot lower.

Nobody gives corsages around here!

Just History today. She seemed happy enough this morning now that she can see the light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel.

Nothing until Friday and then the last exam!We've finished this year - only another 3 dc's to go.

Littleham I did feel for you yesterday.With 4 children plumbing always seems to have issues.I was one of 4 ( and have 4 myself) and my mother was always unblocking toilets and coping with flooding ones.

Another one who's daughter hasn't had to attend school outside of exams.The school have had extra revision sessions but they've been optional.Dd feels she works better at home by herself without distractions and I trust her ( she's far more organised than I ever was).

History for DD today. She looked really tired this morning. 5 exams last week and one a day this week starting to take its toll I think. thankfully she finishes after History next Tuesday. She was in a pretty vile mood last night , when generally she has handled the stress pretty well.
I had my first exam result day dream the other night ! Anyone else ?

They all give corsages at DD's school.