Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms

[HSMMaCM]

Good luck to those still taking exams.

DS is another one wavering. He was going to do English, but a. he probably won't get his amazing teacher, and b. he's seen who else would be in his set, so he's changed his mind. I think it's for the best as he doesn't read novels: he prefers facts, hard facts. His wonderful teacher brought out his understanding of literature and poetry, but didn't manage to inspire him with a real love of reading the things for pleasure - so I had been thinking he might struggle with all the reading. So he's now thinking of an EPQ involving computing in some way.

And probably German not Chemistry, which I am pleased about as he's good at German and it's more unusual to do a language these days. He'd be one of only 3 in a (large) selective school compared with 6 in my year at my middling comprehensive.

The grades by subject are here

Actually looking at that nationally ICT isn't that different to computing, that must be a local thing.

I'm not sure that those statistics are very meaningful without knowing the calibre of the students taking each subject. 'Harder' subjects tend to have higher proportions of A* - they're hard but less likely to be taken by weaker students presumably.

Lynette, I would ring ahead of Monday to smooth the way.

Sparkling I agree with Errol, maybe a sciemce or Maths? Someone I know struggled with the jump between GCSE and A level Spanish. She worked so hard at Spanish last year for AS that it dragged the rest of her grades down and she has to drop it and had loads of resits this summer.

I always give a bit of a warning about Psychology, it's not what some people think. Friends son is doing Spirts Science BTEC amd wants to be a personal trainer. His patents announced he'd be doing Psychology A level as he 'will need to know how people think' I said to both separately that've won't learn that doing Psychology A level . They ignored me. Asking how it was going further down the line reply was 'he hates it, not what he thought', which was sadly a bit predictable.

DD has been firmly warned off it as it is too structured for her and I know she will hate it and the statistics in it . It's fine in my opinion if they have two subjects on the Facilitating subjects lists and want something a bit different. Does teach useful skills in writing up experiments and studies and develops essay writing.

Well I'm childless this morning! It feels very odd, particularly as the aliens have been around so much on study leave etc since Easter.

I'm going to drop off the dog at kennels then we're off to Sussex. And it's not raining.

DS has induction day on Monday , he's already decided not to do physics, thinks it will be too much.

Currently he has graphic design, product design, maths and physics. He wants to do quantity surveying , construction mgt sort of thing.

Hes thinking of changingphysics to geography or business.... and dithering over graphic design as it might be too wordy for him with his dyslexia.

DD went to a Taster Day yesterday with her friend and liked it, and she also managed to find someone to talk to about the Pastoral Support and found that it sounds good, so that's great. She has a Taster Day for her first choice in 10 days - hope it goes as well!

SugarPlum, DD wants to try two new subjects at A'level - Economics (DH's subject and Psychology. She and I have talked to loads of students doing/who have done Psychology and all have loved it, so I am hoping she will!

DD has enrolled at sixth form today and got some summer holiday prep work to do. She was not amused. Books to read, essays to write, etc.

YY HSMM DS1 got a load of holiday prep too, so they can 'hit the ground running' in September. He was suitably .

My dd has to go to school next week with money to buy a maths workbook to do as homework

Prom tonight, and although her face is fairly clear, two big spots have sprouted on her chest, that won't be covered by her dress currently sitting in her room with toothpaste smeared on them, although I said sitting in the sun was best.

Has anyone else's dc gone to a induction day where they don't know anyone? Feeling very nervous for her ( but trying to remain upbeat)

dingit is it possible there will be people there she will know but doesn't know it yet IYKWIM?

DS1 was thrilled to see one of his footy team mates appear at the 6th Form Induction. Mate went to a school that has no 6th form and is transferring over-didn't think he would know anyone. Mate was so happy to see DS1. DS1 introduced mate to everyone.

DD didn't know anyone today, and for both it's been a new experience finding her way there. She still isn't sure which college to choose, they both have good points. She has homework from both, and it's not even to read the same books!

dingit, DS didn't go to his yesterday at all

i feel somewhat out of the loop now that DS is staying with his dad. feels really weird. i hope his dad can help to sort out the stuff he has going on in his life. first time for everything i suppose.

Sparkling, she knows three girls, two that live in our road, but they went to different secondaries. Hoping to get a bit of a lift rota going! ( 20th August permitting)
She had some of her art on display the other day at parents evening, and a couple of people have complimented it, which make me a little more confident of her Grade A!

Poppy, I feel for you, even though dd lives with me and dh, we've hardly seen her, I am surplus to her requirements! They are growing up I guess...

BTM I think your DD will enjoy it as has looked into it. Where it has gone a bit wrong in people I know is where they have an idea in their head what it will be like but don't bother to look into it. I enjoyed it a lot when I did it.

i just feel like he must hate me stupid selfpitying moment

Poppy it must be really hard.

dingit, we got an email about DD's school art exhibition in a couple of weeks - I would like to go so I hope DD will too - might offer a meal or something afterwards as a sweetner

Sparkling, it was a bit like that when DD started secondary - although she went with 6 from her primary, she bumped into quite a few who she had known from other activities. She is still great friends with one of the boys from primary, but all her other friends are "new" I am going to remind her of that a lot over the summer as she will definitely be going to a new place almost certainly without her close friends. Would that help your DD to feel more positive, dingit?

I've assured her she will probably make some close friends Tilly. A lot of the girls that go there are Asian, and they are very work focused and don't really tend to be party animals ( neither is dd). She will still have friends outside school.
I am bummed we missed the art exhibition, we were too busy enjoying Wicked

poppy, I'm sure he doesn't hate you, but they are weird creatures at this age.
Do you have a reasonable enough relationship with his dad to get some input from him?

Poppy

DD had her fancy prom hair do done at the hair dressers, then decided she didn't like it, so I've redone it.

Prom tonight! No after party now, one was arranged, but the person backtracked, so collecting him at 11pm.

Really looking forward to seeing him all dressed up

Poppy. I don't understand what goes on inside their minds sometimes and I'm not entirely sure they do all the time either.

HSM, snap! Except DD's Friend is redoing hers, she doesn't trust me plus there were tears involved.

His dad and I get on Ok but whatever Ds has said to his dad, he will believe without speaking to me. it's caused a fair few problems since we split up 9 years ago.gullible adulterous eejit I've had to work very hard to keep Ds and his dad in contact in the past. I just hope he keeps him safe and steers him to make sensible choices.