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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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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bigTillyMint · 11/07/2015 07:40

Aww, lovely!

And I love your storage solutions on the wall behind - what a great idea!

Horse, SA will be fab - is he going on an organised trip?

Fingers crossed SugarPlum. I'm sure she will be fineBrew

auntpetunia · 11/07/2015 07:42

Oh sugar I saw that and also googled DS won't be there by then but scary. Am sure you dd wil. D find the Japanese know exactly what to do in these things.

spudmasher · 11/07/2015 08:22

Very nice Auntp. Hope he had a great time.
We are off to see DDs new college in action tomorrow. Hoping she still likes it. Seems like lots of DC have been having changes of heart/ wobbles at the last minute. We are committed to this one now, so hopefully she'll go in with a positive outlook and love it still.......

SugarPlumTree · 11/07/2015 08:27

Thank you all. DH has assured me that once these things are on a course they don't deviate by much snd I think it is past Japan now. I'm just being a slightly neurotic Mum. I didn't tell my Brother if there is a disaster he is responsible for evacuating her to Thailand as closer than UK, I absolutely didn't Grin

AP your garden caught my eye, looks lovely. Sent you a quick PM.

Horsemad · 11/07/2015 09:34

AuntP, what a lovely photo, he looks so smart! Smile

DS is going on a conservation project - a week in the Kruger and a week on the coast doing marine conservation.
Almost sorted with his kit list now, just last few bits to get. Smile

bigTillyMint · 11/07/2015 09:48

spud, fingers crossed with the college visit. On a Sunday!

AuntP, how did his prom go?
DD seemed to enjoy hers - shared a few stories yesterday with me before going out to a party. But she managed to get up for coaching this morningSmile

bigTillyMint · 11/07/2015 11:42

Have just sent the bug sprays off, AuntP!

switchitoff · 11/07/2015 11:42

DS' school didn't do a Prom, so I am looking rather enviously at all the lovely photos of all your DCs in their finery. The girls in particular look so grown-up and glamorous. DS' school is boys-only until the Sixth Form, when girls join them. If they look anything like the girls in the photos on here, I'm sure DS will be delighted!!

DS is just back from his first overseas work experience trip. Managed to get all his money stolen (eek!) but fortunately they didn't take his passport. He took it all in his stride, unlike his mother. He's off on his next jaunt tomorrow, so I am surrounded by laundry and packing lists.

Like Sugar I am also having a bit of a wobble, as I have realised that I will only see DS for 2 days over the next 5 weeks. He's still my baby!!!

SugarPlumTree · 11/07/2015 13:37

Hope college visit goes well tomorrow Spudmasher.

Switchitoff I think we are allowed a bit of a wobble, as you said they are our babies !

I'm ok again now and have surprised myself as to how ok I have been the last few days about it all. She isn't the most independent of 16 year old so I think this will do her a huge amount of good. I was not good last week though before she went and first few days though thought I held it together pretty well.

Will be interesting to see how all our DC'S change this summer with the various things they are doing. It feels like quite an important milestone on the way to independence.

Suddenly realised today that we still had big pink Maths stick it notes on the toilet door !

auntpetunia · 11/07/2015 15:15

Thanks BTM that's really kind of you, let know about postage costs. The storage is out of necessity where else do you keep a roof box and ladder? For years the roof box lived behind the shed wrapped in a tarp until one of the neighbours asked me about Trevor? And I was like ???what? ? Apparently this was what they called the wrapped up box as it looked like a body in a sheet ,ie Trevor Jordache from Brookie !! Typical scouse humour but prompted me to find a better place for Trevor the roof box, the name stuck.

Have no idea how the prom went he came home at 12.45 am and got up at 10.30 am and apparently it was alright, music crap and v v loud, couldn't talk to people. He went back to a friends for an after party but people started drinking so him and a few others left. 2 teachers cried and he didn't get an award, this is the sum of information I have gotten out of him. We've been shopping for a everything on my list and think he's pretty much done now for Japan we've got a Scout send of bbq with tv crew tomorrow so I intend to ask about money for the stop over am guessing dollars will be best.

switched I agree despite ds being 6ft 3 or so he's still my baby and I'm not sure how he's gonna cope, I've just bought a cash belt and belt bag for his stuff when in Tokyo, I actually told him to keep his money with his phone, he'll never loose that.

Only left to do is get gifts for his host family something light enough to pack but obviously from here, have seen some coaster with stylised pics of iconic buildings so Pier Head, the wigwam, Albert Dock our beach, think they'll do.

And after all the Japan stuff I go away day after him and have sorted nothing!!

SugarPlumTree · 11/07/2015 15:33

That is a lot of organisation to do for you all to go away as well, you'll be sick of packing !

DD decided to take a teddy with something British on, can't remember what. Just relieved she did as it will give her a bit of space o way home which seeing she might well need as she has 'got carried away in the Ghibli store 'Hmm

No lessons at weekend so she has been to the beach, McDonald's, shopping and off for a curry. Curry made her hiccup and the rest of them were laughing about how the Brit couldn't handle the curry Grin

bigTillyMint · 11/07/2015 16:59

AuntPGrin at Trevor!
Sounds like you've got it all under control. I hate packing.

SugarPlum, sounds like she's having a ball - how lovely for her (and you to know she's enjoying herself)

HocusUcas · 11/07/2015 17:42

Hello sorry to join in as my Ds is Yr 13 just finished, however he is doing a trip to Japan with some friends from school in September. I do have a BIL there who is advising but (and so as not to derail the thread) would any of you who have had a DC on a trip to Japan this summer mind me PMing for any practical tips ? I have been (many years ago) and at the moment what I can think of mainly is clean socks for the shoe removal situations. I honestly don't want to derail this thread so will start another if more appropriate but some up to date tips would be appreciated.

DS did not have a prom after GCSEs and I am just Shock at how grown up and glamorous they all look.

Horsemad · 11/07/2015 18:19

I would love to visit Japan. Smile

SugarPlumTree · 11/07/2015 19:35

Hi Hocus, I have PM'd you.

Horsemad, I was thinking earlier how fantastic your DS' s trip sounds.

I would have loved to do what some of our DC'S are doing. Do have very find memories of a couple of weeks with a friend and her family in the South of France though.

First night we found Simple Minds were playing in the local Amphitheatre so we climbed up the hill behind and watched from there - one of my fondest memories of being that age.

auntpetunia · 11/07/2015 21:57

Hi hocus will happily dm you when ds is back and I have some idea of what the hell to expect! At present I'm relying on sugar and her daughter.
Horsemad I would love to do your DS'S trip. I left school and worked all summer then went to college after college I had week in Portugal with some mates! And I thought that was dead exotic, but now its nothing compared to what some of our DC are doing.

HSMMaCM · 13/07/2015 13:17

DD has planned a house party for her 16th. Help me compile a list of rules ways to have fun.

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bigTillyMint · 13/07/2015 13:49

HSM, DD's BF had houseparty recently. And one for her 16th - DD heavily involved in planning both. About 100 teens in a 2 bed maisonette/garden. Both passed off with no major incidents!
Is yours going to be on that scale?

HSMMaCM · 13/07/2015 14:32

Oh much smaller thank goodness. No more than 20 DD says, so I will plan for 30. We are hoping to make use of out garage, to deflect a but from the house. DD is also aware we will be at home, but not be seen unless necessary. She's quite sensible and I like most of her friends, so I'm hoping it'll just be a bit of raucous fun, with bacon sandwiches for anyone left in the morning.

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HSMMaCM · 13/07/2015 14:34

Oh and 37 days 18 hours to results.

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ErrolTheDragon · 13/07/2015 14:55

Do you live in a fairly remote location? Garages tend not to be at all soundproofed (raucous fun can go down badly with neighbours!)

bigTillyMint · 13/07/2015 14:59

Oh 20 or 30 should be fine. Are they likely to be interested in drinking? DD was at a friends 18th the other night, and they had some drinks, but nobody was really drinking (or anything else) IYKWIM.

Warning the neighbours and asking them to come and tell you if there's a problem is good - then you can sort it immediately.

HSMMaCM · 13/07/2015 15:31

I will definitely warn the neighbours. They are not right on top of the garage, but I will give them a chance to moan if needed. They know DD is not prone to noisiness, I'm sure they'll all be fine for one night in 16 years. No babies sleeping nearby.

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HSMMaCM · 13/07/2015 15:33

I have told them no alcoholic drinks will be provided, but I am sure there will be some alcohol. DD is sensible and will let us know if there's a problem. Apparently they won't need food, but I'll leave some crisps etc out.

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spudmasher · 13/07/2015 18:57

She sounds sensible, HSM. If it's anything like the parties my DD attends, they will spend all their time taking pictures of themselves and each other.........

College visit went well, I think. It was heir end of year show. They all looked very grown up and the standard was very high indeed which left DD feeling a bit anxious. But these kids have been in full time performing arts college for at least a year, so of course they are good. Not many 16 year olds on her course it seems. We guessed about 5 in the current Year 1. The rest were older- 18- and some looked a lot older. I predict a period of very rapid growing up. Shock