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Original poster

GCSE Results thread and starting 6th form

1000 replies

WitchofScots · 16/08/2015 11:04

Follow on thread from the GCSE exams and proms thread. For hand holding and recommendations of wine/chocolate/biscuits to get through the post results stuff.

OP posts:
Draylon · 08/09/2015 12:00

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Horsemad · 08/09/2015 12:08

My DS2 is probably a safer bet for better grades too! Smile He's always lived in his big brother's shadow academically, but he definitely applies himself better.

It is interesting to see the difference between them. Smile

bigTillyMint · 08/09/2015 13:00

I hear you too Draylon. Not because DD is a slacker - she worked hard enough for her GCSEs (not a swot, but did a sensible amount) - but more the stress/emotional side. Zero to 100 in the click of your fingers.

And yes, agree about those lucky MNers who haven't yet had any problems with their teensEnvy!

HSMMaCM · 08/09/2015 14:22

Draylon DD is enthusiastic about sixth form, but I am also nagging, as she fell short of many predicted grades at GCSE, due in the main to lack of revision, rather than inaccurate predictions. Trying hard to stay positive.

MossAgate · 08/09/2015 14:24

Most parents have a problem at some point with each child. Even if they work hard or get good grades there is usually some niggling worry. Sometimes it is the social side, other times it is organisation and life skills or worries about drinking. A lot are struggling financially too.

Don't feel too glum. They often grow out of problems and even if other people appear to have perfect dc's. they generally don't.

mummytime · 08/09/2015 15:06

Draylon - why don't you read something like "Mindset" by CArol Dweck. Sorry but he may be not doing any work because he is too scared to try and fail, so he'd rather just fail. So you really need to change his mindset, that working hard doesn't mean he's not clever, and that no one just does A'levels with no work.

I'm saying this as a mother of a Son who dropped out twice from Sixth form - so I don't have perfect kids. (DD is slightly liable to work herself into the ground for the same reasons, and I'm trying to work on their mindsets myself.)

Fairenuff · 08/09/2015 16:50

My dd was a breeze, studied hard, self motivated, made a study time table and stuck to it, got fantastic results.

Ds on the other hand does 'enough' but doesn't challenge himself, leaves his homework until last minute, won't plan or share with us how he is organising himself (or not) so it's completely different.

I would say that his gcse grades were, on the whole, slightly lower than predicted but remember how tired they all were and how drawn out the revision time and exams were, that was a lot to cope with.

They may find just having the four subjects easier to manage. I'm going to step back a bit because he hates me telling him what/how to study but I'll keep checking in with him to make sure he's not slacking.

It's a hard balance isn't it. I woud feel awful if I just let him get on with it and he failed everything but I also want to show him that I trust him to do his best. Tricky.

Draylon · 08/09/2015 20:48

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mummytime · 08/09/2015 23:25

2 hours on Maths at this point is a glimmer.

I think someone with no originality might struggle with Engineering - its also brutally tough (i don't get the maths, fortunately as a scientist I didn't have to ).
Lots of people I knew at Uni "didn't work" but that just meant they worked to a different timetable, often starting at 10 pm or so.
Most people can't cruise A'levels like they can GCSEs (hence my sons problems).

MEgirl · 08/09/2015 23:44

All started well for us. DTs has induction day last Wednesday, lessons started on Thursday, right in to the thick of things. One hour of homework per hour of lesson. Both are doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.

All falling apart already as one of them has been home for 2 days with tonsillitis and the other one is telling him to get his butt in to school tomorrow or he's not going to be able to catch up. Keeping fingers crossed for a quick recovery and a healthy winter.

getoffthattabletnow · 09/09/2015 09:01

Dd1 started sixth form today in her ' business dress' /finery.I'm not worried about her but about my 3 others also starting at a new school.I was all wound up like a spring yesterday.My patience runs out at the end of the holidays and taking 4 kids for back to school shopping was troublesome to say the least.

Sympathies to the posters with errant teenagers who don't want to work.I think i will have one like that in years to come.My brother was like that,though very bright when young.He wasted so many chances but 'found' himself in his forties and is now very successful.So there is always hope!

bigTillyMint · 09/09/2015 10:53

Great to hear all the positive stories.

MEgirl, DS (Y10) is struggling along with a bad cold ATM - not great at the start of the year.

I have been and am still holding my breath - it seems to be going OK so far. DD managed to face her anxiety and read out some work in class on MondayShock and went back to her old school yesterday to meet her BF and see old teachers. I thought she might say she wanted to go back, but she went off bright enough this morning.
And DS has turned over a new leaf and is trying really hard with everything school-wise. When DD went in yesterday, apparently all the teachers were amazed and very pleasedSmile

But it's early days!

MEgirl · 09/09/2015 16:26

DT1 went in to school this morning but had to come home again as he wasn't feeling well at all. It seems fortunately, due to the way the units are split between different teachers, that he hasn't missed too much. Keeping fingers crossed. We were off to such a good start after a chaotic GCSE history.

mummytime · 09/09/2015 16:55

It is a good idea to contact teachers if he does fall behind, they can help him plan and prioritise on catching up - rather than panic and cause himself to get ill again. With some hard work, quite a bit of work can be caught up, especially with teacher help (and my DC have always had teachers who are willing to make sacrifices to help).

Draylon · 09/09/2015 18:16

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SheGotAllDaMoves · 09/09/2015 18:21

Draylon he's worth a bob on (as we say up north) Grin.

BTW how much homework are our DC's getting? It seems to be a lot here. Is this part of the 'hit the ground running' stratagem, or is it just par for the course in sixth form?

mummytime · 09/09/2015 18:40

It is a lot of work, they are expected to do at least 1 hour (often 2 hours or more) for every hour they are taught, and there is no gentle start.
After a while some teachers might ease off a bit to allow them time to do "private study".
DD seems to be coping so far - except for the stinking cold.

bigTillyMint · 09/09/2015 18:43

I have no idea how much homework DD is getting - she has always managed her homework herself. Although I knew ALL about the holiday homeworkWink

Just been to a Parents meeting at the sixth form - there's certainly no time for slacking! They didn't say at least 1 hour for every hour they are taught, but I bet you're right mummytime. I definitely didn't work that hard when I did mine!

HSMMaCM · 09/09/2015 18:51

DD has always got on and done her own homework. No idea if she's had any from Sixth form yet. I have told her to use her free periods.

SheGotAllDaMoves · 09/09/2015 19:01

Thanks everyone.

I saw an email some time ago, and I'm sure it said 15 hours of study per week was expected. I'm assuming that included homework and not on top.

Dunno. It is what it is. What I will need to keep an eye on is how much extra curricular stuff there is on top. DD is a notorious over scheduler and wants to be in everything. But what was doable in years 10 and 11, may not fly in sixth form.

HSMMaCM · 09/09/2015 19:20

DD had plans to be in house dance, global rock, house drama, main school production and who knows what else. These will all mean her missing her school bus on top of eating into homework time.

spudmasher · 09/09/2015 20:09

BigTillyMint the cold! The back to school cold.......it's a bugger.

HSMMaCM · 09/09/2015 21:20

DD has the back to school cold too.

MossAgate · 09/09/2015 23:05

Not meaning to be over competitive but we have had the back to school vomiting bug. One day back, next day off.

mummytime · 09/09/2015 23:16

MossAgate - Oh no! I'll happily stick to the cold.

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