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Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms

908 replies

HSMMaCM · 17/06/2015 21:52

Good luck to those still taking exams.

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SugarPlumTree · 08/07/2015 15:46

Really sorry to hear that BTM, not easy any of this Flowers . She had a few interviews didn't she ? What are the others like ?

MissClemencyTrevanion · 08/07/2015 18:39

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spudmasher · 08/07/2015 19:26

What are the other options BigTillyMint?
Any chance of visiting them? It really is a gut feeling I think. Good luck.

auntpetunia · 08/07/2015 21:10

Oh the prom pics are gorgeous, BTM sorry your dd had bad feeling about the 6th form, makes me so glad DS is just going back to his school. No hassle with getting right grades etc, he had a taster day today and has now decided his A levels , biology, English and psychology. So his 2 best subjects and something completely new.

Prom is Friday and he's off to the barbers tomorrow for hot towel shave and haircut. Will post pics Friday.

bigTillyMint · 09/07/2015 06:27

Thanks everyone. She has 4 other offers (all visited before applying and then for interviews), but they are all a difficult journey away, meaning she would need to get up very early which she is not good at. One she particularly liked for pastoral care, which is a plus, but it is a huge sixth form college involving a convoluted journey. She might be able to go back to her "old" school, but we don't know yet, and she was hoping for a fresh start...

The Taster Day one has a good track record on results, but obviously a very different pastoral approach to her current school. It is over-subscribed, including for the Taster Day, so the students that actually go there may not be the ones she saw on Monday as you need very good grades to get in, and I think that maybe they don't have to try all that hard with the pastoral stuff as they are so over-subscribed. But what we need to do is find out more, so we are hoping she will agree to, and we can set up a little meeting to find out more.

AuntP, glad your DS is happy with his school and new choices - DD may swap Economics for Art if she does end up going back to her old school. The Art exhibition was last night and the all the work was very impressive.

Prom today! She got her nails done with her mates yesterday and they are getting hair and makeup done today then getting ready here before I drop them to school as they are being bussed to the venue. I too am hoping to get photos...

spudmasher · 09/07/2015 06:42

Hope it all becomes clear for her BigTillyMint. It's so important that they are happy with the choice. (When I went, in the West Country, there was no choice so the concept has been alien to me- steep learning curve!)
And PROM today! It's a beautiful day. Sounds like she's all set. Camera and tissues at the ready.

SugarPlumTree · 09/07/2015 13:21

It is really difficult to make the right choice but hopefully with all the legwork you are putting in the way forward for her will become clearer BTM. Hope she enjoys Prom.

AuntPetunia pack some insect repellant, bite cream and antihistamine for DS. DD just sent a sad face Snap Chat of her covered in bites, 26 if we're going to be precise about it as she was.

bigTillyMint · 09/07/2015 13:40

Oh no SugarPlum! We have LOADS of that really strong insect repellent left from previous trips to places with mozzies, etc. I could have sent you some. AuntP do you have some?

Littleham · 09/07/2015 13:45

My dd is back from her trip. I did get one text while she was away with Sad as she had got a bit sun burned. I go on about sun cream until I am red in the face

Anyway she had a great time away with her friends.

Horsemad · 09/07/2015 16:14

DS went to France last weekend and didn't send a single text! Shock The parent who had kindly offered to 'keep an eye on him' (footy trip) for me updated me over the weekend! Wink

spudmasher · 09/07/2015 18:52

Brilliant how quickly they have all forgotten the hell of the exams and last few weeks of school! DD and her mates are in denial I think! They are all back in school for the last ever vocational day tomorrow and attending every class possible........then they have a final assembly next week which will also be well attended.
I'm going to write a thank you letter to the school tonight so they get it before break up. Nicking Lynette's idea.

ErrolTheDragon · 09/07/2015 19:12

Tilly, you may find that if one of the schools with an inconvenient journey turns out to be the one she really likes best, that she becomes better at getting up in the morning. My DD was terrible in primary - we were always right on the last minute. So I was a bit dubious about secondary, for which she has to be out early to get the bus. But, it was very much the one she wanted to go to and so she essentially decided that the journey wouldn't be a problem and she's never missed that bus.

TeenAndTween · 09/07/2015 19:27

Brilliant how quickly they have all forgotten the hell of the exams and last few weeks of school!

Also in DD's case, forgotten simple useful maths. Grin
She's off to Spain at the w/e and I told her that £1 = E1.5 so she could see how much things cost. She claimed not to know how to do the conversions (despite being fine on it before her maths exam). I daren't mention which BTEC she is going to do next, let's just say, exchange rates are quite important for the industry!

bigTillyMint · 09/07/2015 19:57

Errol, thanks!

Well, I finally saw DD off to prom after a huge melt-down (because she wasn't happy with the make-up she got done and because she was so anxious) She looked lovely, as did her friends.

Is there any way of putting a photo up which only people I choose can see? Or PM me and I can FB friend you?!

spudmasher · 09/07/2015 20:09

Teenandtween that's made me giggle!

BigTillyMint, I couldn't work it out. Put it on my profile and it showed as a blue question mark. Someone might know, but it was beyond my technical capabilities (limited at best admittedly)
Hope she has a great evening. I think these occasions can be a catalyst for big outpourings of emotions, so meltdowns permitted and healthy.

auntpetunia · 09/07/2015 20:10

Oh no sugar something else to add to my list ! Have loads of anti histamines as DS is a hayfever sufferer and I got 6 months worth for £5 off Groupon at Easter. But no bite cream or insect repellent BTM and he takes after his dad all the bugs love him, they don't touch me or DD my DH reckons they wouldn't dare!

I've just been saying I need to set a snap chat sp he can send me pics.

bigTillyMint · 09/07/2015 21:02

AuntP, I am happy to send you some if you PM me!

We are all on whats'app - makes sharing photos very easy. And free if on wifiWink Haven't tried snapchat - don't think the teens would rate me being on there!

auntpetunia · 09/07/2015 21:28

Oh BTM that would be great if you didn't mind I'll PM you, if you need me to send you any cash for postage let me know. I've just asked DS about WhatsApp and he doesn't have it bit will load it so we can communicate, my only problem is I'm actually in northern Spain when he's in Japan and might not have wifi on the campsite! !

I've just spent 2.5 hours sewing on all his badges to his new troupe shirt

Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms
SugarPlumTree · 10/07/2015 14:32

Sorry to add to your list AuntPetunia That's very kind of you BTM to offer your spray.

I wanted to do WhatsApp after a friend recommended it but DD was very insistent on Snap Chat Hmm

DH was supposed to sort a mobile for DD to take AP but it doesn't work there , something about having turned the 2G system off.

Also laughing at T&T ' s DD !

The exams do feel some time away now. Just really looking forward to the end of term. DS has transfer day today with his new teacher so hoping that goes well as he has been a lot happier recently and would like that to continue.

SugarPlumTree · 10/07/2015 14:43

Live Japan update just in. Having a ball, wishes she was there for 3 weeks not two. Really glad it is a positive experience for her .

Horsemad · 10/07/2015 15:23

Glad she's enjoying herself SPT. We are getting ready for DS1 to fly to S Africa next week. He's just started complaining of deafness and a ringing in one ear - silly boy was up at the local airfield all day yesterday photographing RAF jets, and did not wear ear protectors Hmm so I'm hoping he hasn't done any lasting damage, especially as he will be diving whilst abroad Shock. Bloody kids, there's always something...

ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2015 23:11

So glad it's going well for her, sugar.

Wow, South Africa, there's some impressive travelling!

We're grounded because DH has to get a hernia patched up next week. But we had an interesting day out today, Sheffield uni open day.

auntpetunia · 10/07/2015 23:14

Prom here tonight. He's only agreed to let me put this on if I hide his face. Was lovely to see how smart they all looked.

Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms
HSMMaCM · 11/07/2015 06:00

Very smart auntp

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SugarPlumTree · 11/07/2015 07:00

He looks really smart, love the colour. South Africa will be amazing Horsemad, what will he be doing there ?

Sodding great typhoon headed fir Shanghai. My geography is rubbish so there was some rather frantic Google g just then to see if she was anywhere near it's path. Not as far enough ad I would like is the answer as far as I can see but am sure it will be fine

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