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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

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

997 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 30/03/2016 14:53

Eep.

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABear · 04/05/2016 07:56

I don't do Twitter. What's the beef about the English exam?

needastrongone · 04/05/2016 08:39

Good luck Biology folk, and for any other exams.

The weather has turned very lovely here, hopefully the sun is shining on you all for the exams!

campocaro · 04/05/2016 08:44

Exit my DD said the 'buzz' on twitter was related to the fact that the iGCSE English language piece was about bees! She said it was good and her mates were pleased that they had to write a letter. That's all I now. DD exhausted after the build up but has stomped off to school ...

campocaro · 04/05/2016 08:49

*know

TheSecondOfHerName · 04/05/2016 09:20

The twitter comments are tagged #igcseenglish and many of them are actually quite witty.

muffinmonster · 04/05/2016 09:24

DDS said yesterday's iGCSE exam was 'good'. He's not a talker. Hmm

BitOutOfPractice · 04/05/2016 09:54

Good luck to today's biologers

Feels a bit flat here today!

ShanghaiDiva · 04/05/2016 10:40

DS and the rest of his cohort thought Biology today was easy so that's good news.
Day off tomorrow then Geography map skills on Friday.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/05/2016 11:13

Exit you don't need to use twitter to be able to search for hashtags - just copy it into google and it finds them for you.

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TheSecondOfHerName · 04/05/2016 11:16

Just dropped DS1 off at school for a revision session before this afternoon's Biology (different time zone to ShanghaiDiva). As he got out of the car I said "May the fourth be with you."

I don't think my children are appreciative enough of my sense of humour.

Icouldbeknitting · 04/05/2016 11:31

I said "may the fourth be with you" as DS stepped out of the door for the bus, I was expecting a response of "and also with you" and got a grunt. I try.

He brought home an unexpected school report a few weeks ago, I thought the one at Christmas was the last one so it was a surprise. His science target is Ba, his last report had him working at Bb and he's now working at Aa. That's an improvement of four sublevels in four months which is clearly down to the massive amount of science revision he's doing. Yes but no - he's not doing anything for science other than Tassomai.

FantasyAndHope · 04/05/2016 14:49

DD has being laughing at a meme of hitler about the igcse paper
She is very excited to be coming home to a new dog this weekend!

littledrummergirl · 04/05/2016 18:14

Ds1 is now on study leave! ShockConfusedGrin
It's all a bit surreal, I keep remembering his first day at school and wondering where my baby went.
I don't think he has quite taken it in. He likes structure in his day, now he has to plan his own I'm not sure he expected it to come quite so soon.
Tomorrow is going to be interesting.

Bluelilies · 04/05/2016 19:18

It is a bit strange for them the thought of whole days with no structure in isn't it?

DS has come back from school a bit despondent today as he got a D in a practice geography paper. Have had a look through it with him and can see why he's struggled - the questions ask one thing but marks are awarded for a whole different set of criteria. A bit like trying to do cryptic crosswords Angry. We've gone though what he needs to do differently and which questions can be answered in bullets and which need full sentences. He can't write quickly enough to do the whole thing in sentences so lost lots of marks for running out of time. Very frustrating for him as he does understand all of what he's been taught, just hasn't mastered the very specific skill of picking up the points in the mark scheme.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/05/2016 19:33

The answers they want seem to be entirely random bluelilies - I'm sure they aren't but they seem it. It is all about how to answer the exam and nothing to do with actual knowledge.

Gosh, I remember back to the first day of school. How little they were and how at the time it all seemed so grown up and saying goodbye to babyhood. Here they are now. I've started digging out old photos. Not good!

We have to see out the end of this half term before study leave starts. It seems like forever away still. I guess it isnt really!

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FantasyAndHope · 04/05/2016 19:37

DD study leave begins next Friday Shock DD is continuing to work hard I hope Hmm and is very much looking forward to having a new pal at home ( new dog)

Bluelilies · 04/05/2016 19:40

That sounds a fun distraction from exams fantasy. Is it a puppy?

FantasyAndHope · 04/05/2016 21:06

I wouldn't have bought another dog (have a pug 3yrs) but I heard about them (he's from RSPCA) and had a dream they'd being ill treated and it urged me to buy one, he's 5 months so a 'junior'

BitOutOfPractice · 04/05/2016 21:54

I have just finished an hour of testing / helping DD1 with RE revision. I hoped to find the answer in the textbook as to whether my reward would be in heaven. Instead I have resorted to wine

Coconutty · 04/05/2016 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BitOutOfPractice · 04/05/2016 22:10

With DD it was only the IGCSE yesterday. Nothing now till 16th

TheSecondOfHerName · 05/05/2016 01:00

A lot of the iGCSE exams are earlier, perhaps to fit in with a slightly earlier academic year in many countries.

ShanghaiDiva · 05/05/2016 06:07

Yes - we are in China and finish early July with some international schools here finishing on 17th June.
My son will be back at school before the results come out.

228agreenend · 05/05/2016 07:06

Hi, ds felt biology went okay yesterday, but I didn't question him too deeply. Felt slightly emotional dropping him off at the station. He admitted he was slightly nervousness 'because they were GCSES', and not just normal exams. No exams until next week, so he had an evening off.

Typically, as the exams set in, the weather begins to heat up.🌞

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/05/2016 08:01

It is typical with the weather isn't it! So now they can all do their exams sweltering with hay fever! Mind you, some exam halls can be arctic so a bit of warmth may not be a bad thing.

Coconutty, your ds' turn will come soon enough Actually dd doesn't have another now until the 17th. Time has gone weirdly slow again, so it feels like it should be friday already.

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