GCSE Results thread and starting 6th form

[WitchofScots]

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.

We're off to the doctor tomorrow if I can get an appointment. Still lots of big white blobs on his tonsils.

DT2 is determined to talk to his chemistry teacher tomorrow. He's already exhausted by the amount of homework she is assigning. Much more than any of the other teachers. He reckons that he'll not manage if this pace keeps up. I'm hoping that she's one of those who eases off after a while.

DT1 managed to talk to his teachers today and is fairly confident that he won't fall too far behind. Of course, he needs to actually be in school so that doesn't happen.

School avoids the issue of the kids not doing anything during study time by requiring them to be in school for 8.30 registration whether they have a lesson that day or not. DT2 told me that a couple of Y13s were supposed to have a maths lesson today with the head of department but it was cancelled. They still had to turn up for registration and then go home again. Rather ridiculous if they live a fair distance from the school. We're in North London and I know of at least one kid who comes in from Welyn. They have some pretty draconian other rules as well. For instance, if homework isn't done the student isn't allowed in to the next lesson. Not sure how that is of any benefit though the head of 6th form claims it usually only happens once and the student sees the error of their ways.

I do sometimes wish that the DTs had gone to a 6th form college but this was their choice so they will have to abide by the rules.

Chemistry is a lot of work, and one of the subjects with a big jump.

DD's old school requires them to be in for registrations, although not necessarily in year 13. College just requires you are at everything you are timetabled for (which includes extra curricula activities). But DD is pretty good at working on her own.

Yes my two have to be in every day for reg.

At present there are no free periods as the timetable is very full. All study has to be done in the evenings/weekends. Perhaps that's why we're feeling overloaded?

Apparently U6 have study periods.

MEgirl, when I did Chemistry back in the Dark Ages, it was a huge jump and loads of work. Not a good choice for me at all!

DD's school require them in for registration every day too. Not sure if that equals study, but better than lying in bed!

No public transport to ds school so once ds is there he is there for the day, so far thinking it might be a good thing as he is doing the bulk of his homework during his study sessions. Is that not an option for dc ME

Although the I am about to battle rush hour to take his trumpet which is sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

Dreading going in, still not got over having to beg for a place after ds in sixth form after he failed to secure a c in English by 1 mark. Head of schools words are still causing the bile to rise everytime I think about it. Eventually in our meeting without coffee I was told in front of ds that even if he had passed English and he had been obliged to offer an automatic place that ds was the very type of student he didn't want in his 6th Form.

Backstory ds gave up trying with rs which he just couldn't stomach and I failed to sell as something that needed to just be accepted and gotten through. He did no home work for the last two terms and consequently was on after school detention every week for two terms. We did request for ds to be withdrawn but told this was not possible. Apparently this appalling attitude to marks home out as a trouble maker and likely to be a never-do-well. Didn't know till afterwards that before he hadn't just been a pe teacher but had also been a rs teacher before his headship

May have said a few disparaging things about the benefits of rs study...

Idefix - it's not that he's not the sort of student they want then. It's that you're not the sort of parent they want .

DD is in college all day, due to buses as well. I think it's a good thing for her, as she would waste the time otherwise. They only have registration on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

DD changed her timetable (for a good reason) and as a result only has 2 hours on a Wednesday, then can come home.

If they don't have any study periods then they must either get a lot of teaching or be doing a lot of subjects. Both of which could lead to over load.

I think DS has 4 free study periods and he's doing maths, physics, biology, further maths and economics (although I think he said they start further maths next year.)

mummy I don't actually know how many teaching hours they receive . What would be usual?

DS is doing 5 A levels/pre-u. But he has already taken the AS in one of them. DD is doing 4.

But they still have assemblies three days per week, I think. So lessons might start later than is usual. And they have sport timetabled still. Plus speakers come in one day. And community work.

That said, for all I know, study periods may well appear in due course. But if they don't and study has to be done in the evenings/weekends, I will definitely need to keep an eye out for overload, you're right.

Phew avoided rush hour, trumpet tutor is loaning a trumpet to ds.

You may be onto something HSM I feel that I am officially "that parent"...for some reason school really brings out my inner tiger mumness . Although I was a little bit astounded by how vitriolic the head was really.

i stopped counting the number of times that I mustn't think that he was saying all this to be nasty by the fifth time this statement tripped off his forked tongue [sceptical]

5 A'levels is a lot! (unless one is further Maths). Normally Maths and Further Maths take up the time of 1 1/2 subjects. But having to do sport and community action, probably takes up another couple of periods at least. Which is really why it seems so over loaded.
For DD's college Sport happens in period 6 (which is basically 4-5 and after the normal day), and is optional (but if opted for they have to be there). DD has choosen 4 extra curricula activities but only 2 are timetabled at present.
DD has 1 free on a Monday, 1 on a Tuesday but she will be seeing Student support then, 3 on a wednesday, 1 on Thursday and 2 on Friday.
They also do a pattern of short and long lessons, so she gets 2 long breaks, but she also has two things timetabled in her lunch break.
They don't have assemblies, and only tutor group once a week, but also get appointments with their tutor individually.
Fitting one more a'level would pretty much take all of her frees.

(I have her timetable as they had to change it and emailed the new one to me).

One is FM mummy and the AS already taken is (normal) maths. So that should be fine, I think.

As you say, it's the other shizzle that is taking up time that could be study periods. Plus there is general studies and critical thinking. I'm assuming that these things have timetabled lessons too.

DD seems to have quite a lot of study periods in her timetable - about ten or so (but they do have short lessons - including one day everything after break and lunch (once a fortnight) She seems to have been using them well and not having heaps of homework in the evenings - but that may just be first week
Anyway I've told her to keep on doing this (unlike my own sixth form behaviour - with too much chatting in the common room) as it is sure to help her stay on top of things
One other thing ... one evening she was messing about with her younger DBro in the corridor like a pair of puppies letting off steam, and made me realise no timetabled games or PE in 6th form could be a bit of a problem.
Also apparently they now have to pay something (modest amount) if they want to use the gym. I do think this is rather unfortunate given the need to keep young people, and especially girls, physically active. Will be trying to encourage DD to sign up for something, and maybe ask about it at parents evening (not that I know when this will be)

I've pulled out the email from school and it says that lower sixth pupils receive around 25 hours of lessons per week. And that they should do around 15 hours of study on top.

Gosh i'm getting worried that dd is only doing 3 - Maths,Biology and Chemistry and wants to do Medicine.Her GDST school are advising 3 A levels only.She has just been told she doesn't need Further Maths for Medicine by the Maths teacher.Given that she has pretty good results i'm wondering at the differing advice between schools.

Idefix well done for arguing your Son's case.I used to be one of those Mums.The Headmaster of my childrens Junior School used to run away every time he saw me coming.Thank God my kids have changed schools.

DS has started this week and wants to drop geography.

Had lessons every day this week which seem to involve a lot of reading pieces of work and then analysing.... Which for a very severe dyslexic is tough!!!

This college malarkey is not going well. They have her the Year 2 instead of Year 1 timetable. So she had double maths yesterday anf the all over again today, tge same lesson. But still not had a media lesson. That should finally happen tomorrow.

Then the sad bunch of Losers who were horrible to her at Middle school were shouting about her as she got off the bus. Tiny chance it wasn't aimed at her but given what she heard was stuff they used take the piss about it's a fairly safe bet they are starting.

DS came home, curled up under his duvet and sobbed, says he hates everyone in school (the middle school where DD had a hard time).

I really don't feel where we live is working for my children.

On the plus side, DD has enjoyed her new found freedom at college. Tomorrow will be critical I think, all depends on how she likes the media lessons. Thank goodness school have left the door open for her.

That doesn't sound like a great combination Eve
Geography was ds 4th A level but got dropped before he started.
Does ds have access to support?

Really feel for your ds as a fellow dyslexic this type of study is hard.

He will have access to support, just getting it all in place at the minute. He's doing product design, combined science BTEC and maths. Will change geography to graphic design.

Wants to be a quantity surveyor afterwards, so no specific course requirements.

Sadly stuck at with DC school for the next two years Getoff it this or boarding school the boat has long sailed on that option

Ds is not aiming for uni but he is only doing 3 A levels too, all three sciences.
Have you looked at or spoken to admissions of contender unis for what they want?

I was told but could be wrong that the 4 often drops to 3 and it is just to give flexibility on what to drop?

Sounds like a good alternative Eve at least he has realised early on :)

Sugar - hope your DD settles down soon.

Went to sixth form parents evening tonight. Met DD's tutor. Found out which of her subjects are affected by the new AS / A2 levels. Mock exams January, so not long. Apparently she already has predicted grades. It was mostly stuff I already knew, but a couple of interesting points.

SugarPlum, my sympathies. How horrible are those Losers? And your poor DS. Is the school a bit lacking on the anti-bullying front?

DD had a panic today and is very worried that the school are not good on the pastoral side, which is coming out as shouting at me and DH that we don't understand. I think it is very different to her previous school and this in a way could be good as she will have to manage without as much/as good support, but only if she is able to step up to that IYSWIM.

HSM, already has predicted grades Based on GCSES I guess?