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

997 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 30/03/2016 14:53

Eep.

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TheSecondOfHerName · 29/04/2016 08:58

I can predict that there will be questions on "stuff", "the usual" and "same old, same old".

Similar to the answer I get from my younger children when I ask what they did at school. Smile

Bluelilies · 29/04/2016 09:37

That's interesting catslife - where I live neither the state nor the private schools are doing AS exams (except for unreformed subjects, obviously). The private schools are allowing pupils to start 4 and they will either continue to do 4 full A levels, or drop one without anything to show for it, unless they want to enter themselves privately and revise in their own time. The state schools are only allowing 3 to start with, unless they're doing double maths, and not offering AS levels.

When I did A levels (early 90s) AS levels were for if you only every planned to do half an A level - so you could study more subjects in less depth, or pick up a new subject in upper sixth if you realised you needed it. I don't know why they can't resume that kind of role again. I think restricting them to only 3 subjects is very restrictive, and will make it hard to take risks with new subjects.

Icouldbeknitting · 29/04/2016 09:46

It's probably for the best that he doesn't go into more detail because when he does we usually end up with a heated discussion. We had two last night, one on "An Inspector Calls" and the other on phenolphthalein indicator. It's all fun all of the time around here. My problem is that I don't follow the marking scheme so my analysis of social climbing within the British class system (in particular the importance of a knighthood when you are a mill owner, old money vs new money in social standing) was deemed to be invalid. My pronunciation of phenolphthalein was grudgingly accepted in the end, I didn't have to beat him around the head with my degree certificate but it was a close thing.

I like "stuffy stuff" needastrongone, I'll have to use that myself. We have no kindling, I had to start the fire last night with the sticks that the dog has been bringing home. There is enough wood for a fire for one evening which is no good at all because I could do with baking the dog in front of it now. This late cold snap has caught us on the hop.

I am looking forward to the three day weekend, DS is off out for a "history revision session" with a friend. He must think I was born yesterday, it will be half an hour's revision and four hours mucking around doing stuffy stuff.

Dreamgirls234 · 29/04/2016 10:14

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blearynweary · 29/04/2016 10:26

god I had forgotten about prize giving. If dd doesn't get the history she will be gutted. Obviously not openly and in RL, she's cleverer than that, but privately she will be.

campocaro · 29/04/2016 11:28

De-lurking- thanks for useful thread-keeping me sane during this time. When asked about how exams go by DD always answers 'fine' (sigh of relief from me) then after a short pause: 'apart from the final 3 questions' (etc insert number of problematic questions as applicable). She gets me every time!

ExitPursuedByABear · 29/04/2016 11:35

Snowing like the clappers here. Had to take DD to school this morning as the bus was running very late (can't cope with the hills).

As they move up the school prizes do tend to be results based at DDs school, which often means the same person getting lots. At least lower down the school they give for performance and for endeavour which tends to spread it about a bit more. I think I said a few posts ago that giving out prizes at this point in Y11 could be really disheartening for those who expect but don't get.

I don't think I have ever read An Inspector Calls. Not sure if it is worth the effort as DD is unlikely to listen to any of my views.

ShanghaiDiva · 29/04/2016 13:16

At ds's school they have prizes for progress in a subject as well as achievement which is fair and means that even if the same child wins for achievement more students have a chance at the progress award.
Prize giving is beginning of July for us which means it won't detract from revision.

DS also studying an Inspector Calls - Exit and it was one of my set texts for O level over 30 years ago. DS seem surprised that I knew all about it :)

raspberryrippleicecream · 29/04/2016 13:19

With ASs State here is split. DD state is mostly still AS, except for a couple of subjects. English Lit being one, they had to choose whether to do AS or A level at options. Drama, they can decide after Christmas. The rest are sitting AS.

campocaro · 29/04/2016 13:25

DD at new school after we moved from outside the country. The awards were before Easter -which was a good motivation for DD during the holiday revision sessions (not that many as she was exhausted and needed to catch up on rest). Prizes seem to be awarded for effort as well as achievement. She won one for improvement in Maths which made us laugh as in the past this has been a terrible subject for her. Also for best in form and they read out lovely statements from staff about each winner. She is in a very large year group so awards ceremony was only for Yr 11. They were told if they were nominated before so I got the impression that only potential award winners and families turned up.

catslife · 29/04/2016 13:28

dd also studying An Inspector Calls. I haven't read it either but have seen the recent BBC TV programme. English Lit O level was optional at my school so didn't take it (chose Latin instead).
School newsletter arrived today by email. Looks as if we find out next week about booster and revision classes and whether our dcs are being granted Study Leave or not.
We attended awards events in Y8 and Y10 at dds school. The school made sure that as many dcs as possible received awards. For each subject there were 3 levels: achievement, effort and commendation. There were also other awards e.g. for resilience. It wasn't dominated by a small number of dcs at all.

campocaro · 29/04/2016 13:42

catslife great that they award resilience Smile

oldmum22 · 29/04/2016 14:44

I don't know when study leave begins at my son's school . Now that you have reminded me , I will get on and do an email. I read "An Inspector Calls" a million years ago (alright, about 30 +) for "O" level and like a lot of posters have said , I was met with surprise that I was familiar with the book and I had been to the theatre to see the play, about two years ago
I am looking forward to the end of June, when the exams are all over .

ExitPursuedByABear · 29/04/2016 14:47

I think I studied A View from the Bridge. And the Scottish play.

Icouldbeknitting · 29/04/2016 15:28

In 1979 when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the internet didn't exist I did Macbeth (I am not a thespian - I don't care) and To Kill a Mockingbird which are both on my son's syllabus. I did at least two other books and numerous WW1 poets, I'm sure we were expected to do more actual reading than he has done.

ExitPursuedByABear · 29/04/2016 15:36

Well I did mine in 1975 when the primordial swamp was still available.

We did loads. A couple of novels, poetry, a couple of plays at least. They don't have to read anything these days. And DD is considering doing English for A level

Icouldbeknitting · 29/04/2016 15:47

DS has english lined up for A level. His creative writing is good, he can analysis texts and pick apart meaning but he does moan when he's required to read a book not of his own choosing. The more local sixth form with the good results was dead in the water when we realised that they didn't offer straight english A level, only combined language and literature. He'd rather spend an extra hour a day on the bus than do more literature.

ExitPursuedByABear · 29/04/2016 15:53

Tut. He could be spending that hour reading a book.........

Dreamgirls234 · 29/04/2016 16:11

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HesMyLobster · 29/04/2016 18:10

Awards evening at dds school is a very hush hush thing. Only the winning students and their parents are invited, the rest of the school seem to know nothing about it! It's just for year 11 and year 13. There are 600+ students in year 11 and only about 20 awards.
I do agree it could be done in a fairer way. Although they do have separate House Awards for each of the 8 houses, where many more are presented, but no parents to those so not quite the same sense of occasion.

HesMyLobster · 29/04/2016 18:11

Awards evening at dds school is a very hush hush thing. Only the winning students and their parents are invited, the rest of the school seem to know nothing about it! It's just for year 11 and year 13. There are 600+ students in year 11 and only about 20 awards.
I do agree it could be done in a fairer way. Although they do have separate House Awards for each of the 8 houses, where many more are presented, but no parents to those so not quite the same sense of occasion.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/04/2016 18:24

dds school do it in a very quiet way too, just inviting a very few from each year group and then more, but not loads from Year 11 and Year 13 - a mix of achievement, sporting stuff and generally being a good egg. It's nice. Those who don't get anything don't get their noses rubbed in it. There are also end of year subject certificates just done within the year group. Not done on achievements.

Sounds like just a silly argument Dreams - exam stress and all being squished together is bound to make tempers fray. It'll blow over by the end of the weekend.

OP posts:
Tia1973 · 29/04/2016 18:37

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OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/04/2016 19:09

I've now reported several threads for spam. Grrrrr.

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Bluelilies · 29/04/2016 19:13

I much prefer the idea of a low key prize giving. At DD's school they make it compulsory for some year groups and it takes up an entire Saturday morning. Much better to do it really just for those who have won something.

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