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Secondary education

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

Parents of Year 11s - the end has been and gone

999 replies

BitOutOfPractice · 27/06/2016 10:59

The thread that got us all through the exams is now full so here's a new one to get us through the nervous wait for results

Well done to all our brave Y11s and wish every last one of them all the best

Link to the last thread

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
FantasyAndHope · 30/08/2016 18:44

oh
Blazer was £86 and has the tiniest logo on and doesn't even fit her properly skirt was £53 and she needs 2. All adds up

FeckinCrutches · 30/08/2016 18:47

Fantasy I feel your pain. Another £300 for stuff we hadn't got round to yet. Sizing is just awful, I had to get an age 11 skirt today for my DD.

needastrongone · 30/08/2016 18:47

Ouch Fantasy.

Ewww at the mud literal mud flinging at your DD Exit. We live virtually at the site, so get residents tickets, hence the attendance of DH and DD (who is 15, he went with her Saturday, then she went with mates Sunday). So, we too get preferred camping and bar etc. DH said the mud stank. I collected various folk over the weekend, my car looks like it's been on safari Grin.

Brilliant news Cloudy, I remember the initial angst, such a relief.

Grin Hooray re Ddog Knitting. My 2 are young, I can't even imagine how it feels. Fingers crossed.

I have now also ordered Level Arch files for DS, plain black. This will go with the plain bag, and plain pencil case, and plain pens, there's a theme if you look carefully.....

TheSecondOfHerName · 30/08/2016 19:02

DS1 got back from Greenbelt this afternoon, slightly sunburnt. Day 1 of Operation Maths began as soon as he got back. Test on Monday.

FantasyAndHope · 30/08/2016 19:05

feckin
DD is broad and big busted. So the size up fits round bust but massive everywhere else. Same with skirt fits waist massive round legs. I can't win

FeckinCrutches · 30/08/2016 19:12

It's so tricky isn't it? Mine is very slim so could get stuff in Topshop in a size six, but nothing in there that matched uniform regulations!

raspberryrippleicecream · 30/08/2016 19:15

Icouldbe Flowers and Wine

Brilliant news cloudy

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 30/08/2016 19:18

You say practical, I say resigned to the inevitable! Grin

Luckily DS1's school know him very well so they'll be expecting exactly this! I think DS1 is the type that needs to learn from the (repeated) experience of being unprepared so that eventually, gradually he's slightly less unprepared prepared for things. Hmm

needastrongone · 30/08/2016 19:19

Wondering how Dreamgirls DD got on? Anyone in touch still?

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 30/08/2016 19:19

Good news cloudy. I bet you're relieved.

TheSecond: hope operation maths goes ok.

Icouldbeknitting · 30/08/2016 19:21

Cloudyday - brilliant news, I'm glad that someone there showed a bit of common sense in confirming that they would honour their commitment early enough for you to get the benefit from it. That must be a massive relief to you all.

Do I win the award for being the first to get details of a school trip?

I think DS needs some more canvas shoes (Vansalike) and then he'll be good until he starts growing out of things again. I really should measure him because he towers above me now, I know I'm only 5' 4" but of late I seem to need to crane my head more when he's close.

FantasyAndHope · 30/08/2016 19:22

feckin
She's slim but curvy she's a size 10 with curves.
Dd has gone to sulk because I refuse to buy a £45 topshop bag. Her school bag lasted 3 years but with the cost of uniform and stationary I've given her the following options
A) bag but taken off birthday allowance
B) cheaper folders
C) no bag
But none of the following options were good enough
My budget is £25 any suggestions? She'll only have a handbag

FeckinCrutches · 30/08/2016 19:46

Bloody hell I've been having the Topshop bag argument for what feels like years, and probably many years to come. (3 girls) I put in a max of £25 then they extra has to be paid for themselves. She actually got a really nice one from Next today, I think it was £28, and the youngest got a really smart but trendy back pack from New Look. There was some slight trouble over a pair of shoes they both wanted today as well Hmm

cloudyday99 · 30/08/2016 20:23

Thanks all

Knitting, no, we had details of a sixth form ski trip a few weeks back, which I ignored as they'd not then confirmed his place. But now that we've been through considering private schooling and finally had the place at the state sixth form confirmed,i think we'll have trouble saying no to it.

They've also asked for a voluntary contribution of £130, as they say their funding's been cut by 20%+. I ignored that too whilst they were faffing around about whether to let him do his subjects, but have now coughed up, sad that it should be necessary.

DS is happy with any practical bag, but after many rows with DD about bags, put them both onto a new allowance of £60 a month that has to include clothes, non school shoes and bags Grin

FantasyAndHope · 30/08/2016 20:28

feckin
Think we might have similar DD's. Shoes I'll pay as DD needs expensive shoes as she has multiple foot issues and she knows new look type ones cripple her., so no argument there. Thank god.
Ill get her to check next.

HeyBells · 30/08/2016 21:00

We are off to get shoes and trainers tomorrow. DS has to wear a suit which DH bought with DS in July before induction days. It's dry clean though so I'm thinking of getting a Next £79 machine washable one as well-so much more practical.

DS starts on Monday. Now he knows where he's going he's made a start on the transition homework. He'd already bought himself paper and folders and I bought other bits for his recent birthday. Bag will be the old one.

Cloudy such a relief for you to know what's happening and preferred option too.

NicknameUsed · 30/08/2016 21:35

"Wondering how Dreamgirls DD got on? Anyone in touch still?"

I have been wondering, although I suspect she is still posting but under another name.

228agreenend · 30/08/2016 22:02

Ds has never been bag fashion conscious, but bought him a Supedry one to start six form with.. At £34, didn't think it was too pricey. Hope it lasts.

228agreenend · 30/08/2016 22:03

Suits was purchased prior to induction days.

HesMyLobster · 30/08/2016 22:27

Cloudy that's brilliant news! Delighted for you and your ds, what a relief!

Knitting Flowers for you, everyone in our family knows that my favourite child is the dog! I hope he continues to improve.

DD has made her decision re: timetable clash. She is going to drop drama and keep Maths, French, English and History.
It makes me feel a bit queasy just writing that, I'm not convinced she won't end up regretting it, but she has made her mind up and I'm proud of the amount of thought she put into it.

HesMyLobster · 30/08/2016 22:28

Nickname I suspect the same!

EllenJanethickerknickers · 30/08/2016 22:37

Me three! isn't it obvious? Grin

FantasyAndHope · 30/08/2016 22:46

hes
Your DD has a similar combo to mine

228agreenend · 30/08/2016 22:52

Typical, just read on another thread that re-marking will be done differently due to concerns about the increase in re-marking requests in recent years. Apparently, only errors will be considered rather than different interpretations ( or something lie that). ds did linear (ie, end of year exams. Not corse work and regular tests), and now this. The odds are stacked a gaits him.

HesMyLobster · 31/08/2016 07:21

228 I read that too, but talking to some of the staff at dd's school, they still seem pretty confident that re-marks will come back with higher grades.
Everything crossed for your ds Flowers