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

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Eep.

Ah shit. Big meltdown at bedtime when I asked dd to plug her phone in on the landing. She has done it but apparently I've got it in for her and I don't undrerstand how hard she has worked today.

So now we are not speaking.

Le fucking joy.

DS1 wasn't allowed to have his MenACWY on the original date because he had a slight fever. It's rescheduled for this morning. He has needle phobia, so he (and I) will be glad to get it over with.

DS couldn't have his MenACWY as the jabber was off sick, it's another two weeks before the rescheduled date. It's then or at the GP I think because I can't see that they will have the chance to reschedule again before we're into exams.

I can't believe how many arguments we've had over phone charging - you don't trust me/I always charge it THERE/Dad's taken the best charging cable/X unplugged my phone to charge his. I am still wearing my halo from sorting it all out before Christmas. I bought a six port USB hub (if you're thinking of doing this - six is not enough), new two amp cables and a docking station. It holds Kindles, ipads and phones and everyone can charge their tech at the same time from one electrical socket. At the same time I tidied up ("hid") all the other chargers and cables that I could find. I also ordered a powerbank which will charge a phone or kindle while it's in their bag/pocket. That's mine but I'm good at sharing.

stress comes out in the smallest of things doesn't it.

Hope it goes well TheSecond and also that you and your dd are talking again this morning Exit. Sunday nights are rubbish.

We have a lot of conflict over phone charging too knitting. It's doubly hard with the DSC who were previously at their mum's in the week and not used to any policing of phones at all after they'd gone to bed. DSD is dreadful for late night messaging then being too tired for school in the mornings. We've gone for it charging beside her bed, rather than in it now, so we can at least check that it's there. But that's not ideal. She'd sleep better with it outside her room but DH isn't prepared to be the bad guy and implement that, and I'm not doing it alone.

DS and DD are mostly OK with theirs but knows I'll take them away to charge downstairs if they're on them late at night.

We don't attempt to police DSS (17, L6) as DH feels he's old enough to decide his own bedtime .

Trouble is I often go to bed before her these days. She knows the rules but chooses to ignore it if I don't mention it. And if she is in bed before me and her phone is not on the landing then I get accused of waking her up when I go in to retrieve it. There is so much information on how iphones etc disrupt sleep and I am fed up of her moaning she is tired.

Yes we managed a few civil words before she left for the bus, and I have said I will collect her after history revision instead of making her get the public bus

awww, you softy Exit! (I took dd in this morning because they were made to go in in their pe kits today and so I spared her the humiliation of going on the bus in it)

Icouldbeknitting usb hub is genius!

Plug sockets are a major issue here.

Grr Just had an email from DS's school saying there's a compulsory extra 2 hour chemistry lesson next Tuesday to help them finish the syllabus. Seems there was a full third of the syllabus that they only started after Easter

Have written a very cross email to the school asking how on earth they've only just noticed they're running out of teaching time, and how students are supposed to revise when they've not yet covered the content. Some students will have to miss a revision class for another subject in order to go to the extra chemistry class. I have a lot of concerns about some of the teaching in DS's school.

How on earth could they let it get to that point Bluelilies? Your poor ds.

I don't know kitten! The school's not had a great couple of years. They had an requires improvement Ofsted, then took about 18 months getting rid of the Head, with a temporary Head, who is now permanent. Some of the teachers are great, but there's a few where they just don't seem to know what they're doing - whole classes getting Ds or below in coursework, etc. No idea what's gone wrong with chemistry though as the teacher's not new AFAIK, so don't understand how she's misjudged the pace of the course so badly.

Not good, your poor DS.
DD has a similar issue with Chemistry though - they suddenly had a different teacher last week (previous was an NQT) who has told them they have a lot of gaps to fill and 'hopefully' they should just about get to the end of the course in time.

She has also found out this week that her English teacher has left! No explanation, No idea why. But her class will have a succession of supply and cover teachers for the rest of term which isn't an ideal situation at this stage

dream bonne chance for your DD, I'm sure her French is far better than mine :)

Blue that is a tough one and completely undeserved for your DS and all the other DCs affected. Wish I could offer something more than just sympathy.

Ds1 has a hospital appointment tomorrow meaning he is missing a lesson. Normally not a problem.
Tonight he told us he is spending all day tomorrow prepping for a biology practical! He seems to think he can catch up but as I think it's fairly important i don't know whether to cancel or not. Aaargh.

Bluelilies that's so unfair on your DS.

Does being 17 make a difference to iPhone usage?

Have had similar issues with some topics not being covered. There have been substantial changes to the cie igcse biology syllabus for example. Only discovered this when DS sat the mock and was adamant he couldn't answer some of the questions as they had never studied that topic - and he was right :(
Think they have now all been covered, but students don''t need this extra stress.

There have been substantial changes to the cie igcse biology syllabus for example.

It seems to me that they changed the syllabus half-way through the course, which seems a bit unfair. There's a load of new stuff on immunology, microbiology and genetic engineering. As if the course wasn't hard enough already.

Only 15 days to the ATP exam.

Also a lot of the topics which were only on the extended paper moved to core :(
There have been changes to the igcse physics and chemistry too, but no where near as many as the biology changes.

Dd has a drama performance today so normal lessons have been cancelled.

Her first English GCSE is in two weeks. Very scary. She walked out of her Y10 mock because she said she couldn't read it because of her dyslexia. She could, but it was hard for her. She got a B in her Y11 mock so I know she can do it, but if she panics she might walk again.

DD has the first part of her Photography Exam today, she was still taking photos at 9.30 last night which I'm sure was unnecessary. Second part on Friday, and Exam books handed in then too. It feels like half her workload will be finished!

Also preparing for French speaking on Thursday

Sending good luck vibes to all those with practical sessions in the next few weeks.

Hoping DDs gynormous wind turbine and the attendant folder will be finished today. It is the first year the school has done this particular course so there is a concern that the examiners may want to see the pieces in the flesh rather than photos.

Good luck to everyone with exam this week!