Year 10 Revision- how would your do feel about this?

[BertrandRussell]

Ds has a statistics GCSE on June the somethingth- 26th I think.

Today was a revision day- so they did nothing but stats all day- 5 solid lessons one after the other. How would yours cope with that? Does it sound like a sensible approach to you?

Mine's just grabbed the dog and gone for a run to let off steam........

That seems a lot bert but it might make more sense than offering sessions in dribs and dribs - logistically I mean.

When my DC have gone in to school for hour long sessions, they've always seemed a big of a faff for not much actual revision time.

It depends how it was structured. I suspect they probably mixed it up a bit and did different aspects of the subject in different ways.
Heavy going but probably helpful.

Apparently just a normal day but every lesson statistics! He missed the message yesterday that they were allowed to bring sweets, but people shared. I feel sorry for the teacher!

Sounds like something that would be covered by the Convention of Human Rights.

However, it probably depends on the child and the teacher / teaching. As a 14 / 15 year old I would have withered with boredom after the first hour, but then I was not a Stats-type pupil. DS would cope better IF the teaching and revision methods were engaging, inspiring, varied, stimulating.

All day drama, biology, art, etc, I can see being more absorbable, but all day stats?

Is he back with the dog yet, or still letting off steam?

Mine's doing GCSE Stats too but they don't seem to be getting the support that year 11s are getting.
Tbh I don't see him revising much so I'd be happy if school was kicking him up the Arse.

My DS would have liked that. Work hard (but only at school) & play hard.

All day drama, biology, art, etc, I can see being more absorbable, but all day stats?
I don't see the difference to a child who is capable of being entered for GCSE Stats in yr10

"Worst day of my school life yet. Worse than the day in year 2 when I tried to strangle John and I had to sit in the head's office until you came to fetch me and the teachers took turns telling me off"

Well if it's a worse day than when he failed to strangle John, that's quite an indictment of the programme.

Mine would hate it, even the ones who really like maths.

I think that even for year 10s they should have tried to vary things a bit , and maybe even have a bit of fun? 5 ordinary Maths lessons one after the other would surely be a bit much for the most Maths-y person.

AnecdotalEvidence: because other subjects involve moving around, doing practical things.

Poor RussellJnr.

At about that age i attended a 2 week physics camp (!). They broke things up with enforced physical activity between every session - and even I will admit that was a good idea. Perhaps something to feed back to the school; it is not difficult to get everyone out for a 5-10 minute kick about, or throwing a frisbee, or somesuch, and will improve concentration and focus no end.

because other subjects involve moving around, doing practical things.
There is no reason why Stats couldn't involve practical exercises and moving around.
I'd have happily done a full day!

Mine is a maths geek, so I think he'd probably be quite happy. It does seem a lot in one day, but on the other hand, if they have had a chance to get a complete over-view of the subject in one day, that's something that doesn't often happen, and could kick-start or consolidate their revision, and help them decide what else they need to do between now and the exam. As long as there was some thought and effort to make the day varied and interesting, rather than just blah-blah-blah at them, I should think it might have been quite enjoyable or at least useful. Having said that, I would rather gouge out my own eyeballs than spend a day on stats!

Doing GCSEs in Year 10 is almost always the sign of a school that's playing games with accountability measures without concerning themselves with the children. I hope the entire cohort gets an A* in maths, that's all, because otherwise it'll definitely by game playing.

Bolograph; the results of year 10 GCSEs will not be included in the league tables, only the results from end of year 11 are now included which is why so many schools have stopped early entry

Is that correct cricket?

I thought schools were still free to have students sit early but are now bound to include the first grade achieved, as opposed to the best after several attempts?

GetA beat me to it: I thought the new rules were that the first sit counted, irrespective of re-sits. So the gaming has moved on to pointless subsidiary subjects.

statistics is a pointless subsidiary subject?

I don't think stats is a pointless subsidiary subject confused

It is if the price is less than an a* in maths.

From the school's PoV, a+a>a*. Reality is different.

Statistics and math are completely separate GCSEs -- or have been for DS anyway (did stats in yr10 & finishing math now in yr11). How DS did in stats will not directly affect his math grade in yr11. It was part of a programme that let DS do calculus in yr11 (FMSQ): this is good for him, extending him in one of his strong subjects, and giving the would-be engineers an early start, too.

DD's school (different secondary) is still doing GCSEs that finish in yr9 or yr10. I think this will suit my DC and most the local parents I speak to about it say it's a very positive strategy.