Parents of Year 11DC support thread. The final term.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Eep.

I would just accept all sixth form offers, they don't share to my knowledge.

We have paid a deposit on two private sixth forms, one is a fallback depending on the exam results which we won't have till August- there is a risk she won't qualify for a conditional scholarship and if she doesn't get it, the other school is more worth the expense if we have to pay out all that money anyway. We aren't going to know which until results day, though I think she will get the required As in subjects she wants to do at A level for the scholarship.

One advantage of all this was it was her decision to apply and to sit for the entrance exams, though I suggested it and helped her register etc., and she was so amazed to get offers, it has really put the ball in her court more to study for her own sake, not because mum and dad are nagging. But we still do.

We have no intention of letting either school know she's not going to one of them- I'm sorry that will cause some reshuffling for others at a late stage, but dd was so worried she might mess up her exams that we agreed to do it that way. I'm sure the schools overbook and keep waiting lists anyhow. Why do they give out the results so late? Other countries get it done much earlier in the year.

We also have registered her to stay at her current school, that costs us nothing. I really don't think there will even be a ripple in that pond when she goes elsewhere, the teachers don't even know her name.

I think there's always a last minute scramble around for places and people switching choices. DS's likely sixth form doesn't start back until around the 12th September, which I presume is to give time for them to actually know who they'll be teaching.

So sorry for your loss Exit

Just catching up on the thread again. DS went back to school today but seems to have become quite depressed now. Things were quite positive at times over the holidays but he is back to being determined that he is going to fail everything so what is the point of even trying.

He also seems to have fallen out with a significant proportion of his friends. Nothing is making him happy at the moment and I can't seem to get him out of his room. We went to the cinema a few days ago and that is about the longest time he spent outside for the entire two weeks of the Easter break - the time it took to walk to the cinema and back. Right now sixth form feels a bit pie in the sky.

Thewolfsjustapuppy
This is the hardest part.
I really think that the bit before the GCSEs is the very hardest to go through ever in our whole lives - and I do tell both my own DC and my pupils this.
My DS2 is in this place now - it is dark and scary.
All we can do is give food, and quiet acceptance, reassurance that we a re her, we love them, home is a haven, and occasionally, gentle reminders that in 2 months will be all over... And he can spend the whole summer gaming if he wants to

I think the first day back after the holidays is always tough though wolfisjustapuppy - hope your DS gets back into routines and picks up a bit in his mood soon. Maybe more family trips out would be good for him if he's not getting on with his friends?

DS's school have finally sent round info about the study leave period - they start from 13th May, and after than can go in for optional sessions, or a few compulsory sessions and for some kids some extra targeted ones too, which seems good. DS is keen to have some structure and doesn't like the idea of just revising at home on his own so says he'll go in for most of them. They're telling students they should be revising 2 hours a day, and are also giving them 50p off the price of a prom ticket for each revision session they attend. DS was planning to go to the revision sessions anyway so he's quite pleased. I've told him I'll pay the other £20 and he can pay the remaining £10 through revision sessions. The school have also been telling parents to warn students not to repeat the performances of previous year groups in their end of term antics leading to bans from the prom and criminal charges apparently DS says they nicked all the clocks from the classrooms, which seems an odd way to celebrate leaving . DS isn't the sort to get caught up in that sort of thing though so I'm not concerned. I'll save my worries for when impulsive and keen-to-impress-peers DD is that age

Meanwhile DSD has been off on a school trip which has included falling over on some rocks, a trip to A&E and three stitches in her nose :( poor thing. Her school's not back til Wednesday though so she'll have tomorrow to recuperate.

Thanks for the support, this thread is proving a lifesaver for me at the moment. DS has always been a glass half empty personality and the pressure from school is making him even more so. I hope it is just the exams and not more serious, I am wondering if I should talk to a GP about it.

dream BBC bitesize is a bit too easy and does'nt really cover the material needed for the top grades. I quite like the multiple choice type quizzes here www.docbrown.info/page05/page05.htm cannot guarantee it's fully up-to-date for any changes to the syllabus but it's quite a good fun if your dd enjoys quizzes and puzzles.

I think Dreams, that although it was an awful incident, it is better if your dd can look forward now. The next few weeks are crucial and she needs to try and focus on them.

The key thing is that she regains her composure for her exams at this point so you are right to encourage her to move on from it.

Lucky 4 leafed clover socks in h&m. DS has to wear school socks - but I've bought him some anyway

Exit Hope you and your DD are ok.

DS has just got an A in his history mock but screwed up a question, rather than not knowing the information. Seems a bit of a theme, so hopefully this will be ironed out for the real thing.

I am a bit annoyed re his D of E though. He now has to re-do his practice expedition, as although he navigated well and played his part, 2 of the other team members really didn't want to be there, got the group lost while they navigated, wouldn't walk at pace and generally moaned and complained the whole time. So they were well over time and not on route. The explorer leader has tried to plead the case for the 3 that were willing and able, but it's a group effort, and therefore the group failed. So that's a full weekend he will have to repeat. It won't be before his exams, but it is annoying.

needastrongone Will the moaners stop at home the next time around?

The leader is going to talk to them, advising them they need to think hard about whether they really want to be there, but I don't know knitting, if they choose to continue, they will have to change their attitude significantly.

He's done all the other tasks, the voluntary work, sport and skill, just needs the expedition to sign off. He really ought to have been more assertive, but that's not his strongest point really.

He's now wavering about his Gold, as that's a lot of work, but that's his call.

It's always the same with group work (GCSE drama, I'm looking at you) in that you only need a couple of clowns to scupper the hard work of everyone else.

Oh Strong one I feel for you!
The expeditions are hard work - the packing, preparation etc not to mention the actual walking and camping. What a pain!

Talking of drama group work, DD had her final practical exam today (finally, after it was cancelled 2 months ago!) she's really pleased with how it went so a big relief! The group she worked with for this second piece were ALOT more motivated and organised than the lot she had to work with for the first practical exam.

That's it now, the last 'before actual exams start' thing ticked off the list! Now it's all about the revision!

DS has given up on DofE. He'd done everything including the practice expidition, except he missed the actual expedition because he was ill. I arranged for him to do it privately but it would have been this weekend and he's just got too much on, so has pulled out. Also not helped by the teacher who was organising it appearing to have dropped off the planet and nothing's got registered, with DS having no proof he's done anything. It all just seemed too much stress when he's got lots of issues with GCSE coursework, revision, etc to worry about at the same time. We also figured he can always talk about the things he did towards it on is UCAS form when he comes to apply to Uni if he wants (as he did on his sixth form application), and actually getting the award isn't really going to make much difference to his life.

Dd just says she is really tired.

No signs of stress here. He's so confident that he's going to do well that he doesn't feel the need to revise. There's been no sign of any MFL revision at all although he's covered everything else now. He's been bringing home good results on mock papers so perhaps he's right and he really does know it all. I still have my doubts and think that overconfidence will be his downfall. This is probably because I am full of self doubt and always looking for things to worry about and he has bags of confidence and has no problems at all with self esteem.