Starting Y11 support thread

[AtiaoftheJulii]

(Yeah, I'm procrastinating ....)

For all those with one or two (or more?) offspring going into year 11: controlled assessments, coursework, practicals, performances, GCSE revision (or not ...), being guinea pigs for the Maths and English 1to9 exams, choosing what to do next - schools/sixth form colleges/college/apprenticeships/BTECs/A levels and more - and generally being 15!

It's a tough year academically - in some ways harder than sixth form I think because there are just so many subjects and exams - and a tough year emotionally - not always mature enough to organise themselves, too old to have organisation imposed upon them!

Ds still has an MFL CA, a couple of science practical CAs, and two assessed drama performances, plus coursework to do for History I think. I can't see there's going to be much let up and he's definitely feeling the pressure I think he'll probably end up staying at his school for 6th form (he's very mathsy and his school is a good fit) but we may well look at a couple of sixth form colleges as he's already talking about whether he can go somewhere that won't feel quite so pushy.

DS has just told me they have their first round of mocks in early November. He has only been back 2 days, eeeek!

pasanda I did want to ask if DS moved in with you.

Well a mixed couple of days for us!

DS went to his dads on Monday night who informed me that he had done 5.5 hours of homework whilst there. . Excellent I thought (all the while thinking why the fuck can't he do that here ).

Tuesday night when here, I know he had Physics homework to do and after football training and watching the Arsenal match, at 9.45pm I got stroppy and told him to get on and do it...which he did.

Great again I thought, except I then I had a quick nose at his phone (I do this sometimes unbeknownst to him!!) and saw photos of someone elses physics homework, which he had quite clearly copied

Today was his parents evening. Just before we went in, in front of a group of his laughing mates, he owned up to looking up something dodgy on the internet during a Chemistry lesson - he said it was about Hitler and when the teacher found him doing it, told him off for being involved in terrorism and that it was a safeguarding issue . He was convinced his chemistry teacher was going to bollock him in front of us and wanted to forwarn us of this possibility! In the event the teacher didn't mention it and ds is now gutted that he owned up to something he needn't have!

Otherwise, a reasonably positive parents evening, just the usual too chatty in class and needs to focus more (been hearing this since foundation so no surprise there!)

This is a typical 2 days in the life of my ds and I have got months and months left of it!!

Pass the

O well, what is the big deal going to a party till 10.30pm, and having an assessment 2 days later. (I wasn't aware of the assessment till I picked dc up from school, and just before he went to bed)

pasanda had a similar experience with DS end of last year, our ended up with being called into school and him having to be given the speech by the deputy head teacher. It shocks me how otherwise clever kids seem to go completely stupid in certain situations.

all around, we need it (not so early in the morning though).

Ds came home yesterday with the timetable for his mocks, starting on 14th November. So 6 weeks to revise! He thinks they might be talking about planning revision during tutor time today, otherwise I've offered to help him make a plan. I'm hoping he will put all his good words into action regarding the revision, despite the recent acquisition of a girlfriend!

Year 11 info evening at dd's school tonight. Still trying to unravel the mystery of what is going on with the geography CA.

Dd came home with dates for study leave next year (May 12th) and some of the actual exam dates. It's getting a bit stressful.

She's got a stinking cold but didn't want to miss school, I've excused her from hockey today & tomorrow. Getting drenched & cold is the last thing she needs. She's actually at home this weekend & has an inset day next week. She's got a couple of maths papers to do before Wednesday so will probably do those.

They're really early gnome, dd's mocks are in January.

Gnome, DS said his start 6th November (can't be as that's a Sunday!) - they only went back after Work Exp on Monday but we haven't had a letter yet. I know there will be November mocks as that's when DD had them. Plus more before Feb half-term IIRC.

It's very soon, but the plus point is lots of opportunities to revise and lots of practice with exam technique. Gulp!

DSs mocks are end of November, mock results 16 December. Just in time to ruin our Christmas

They start 28th November here

21st November here. And more mocks in March too!!

DD's mocks are in January - merry Christmas us
She had her speaking and listening assessment for English today, which she thinks went well, so fingers crossed for the distinction! However she has lots of tests to revise for over the weekend and of course she can't stop moaning about them

I thought they were early. But I'm thinking it might be so there is some time to do more if needed! And clearly other schools also do them in November too. No mention of when they get the results though. January mocks are rubbish, you gave my sympathy QueenofQuikiness!

Have not gave. Sorry!

Gnome, the early exams then more later system seems to have been working well at DS's school for the last few years - fingers crossed for it continuing!

As well as November mocks, DDs school then follow it up with a big Y11 assembly where they are given an envelope with their results in to mimic results day in August.

I think that getting the results in a single envelope is an essential part of the mocks experience. Getting results back in class can make it seem like just "another test", with yet another to come in 6 weeks or so. Opening the envelope and seeing the overall totals can be more sobering (I hope!).

Same at DS's school, mock results in envelope in assembly, then they are somehow separated into groups by results, those who are flying high to be congratulated, those who are doing as expected (predicted B getting B as an example) but still time to improve therefore to reiterate what resources they have and those who can do really well but the results came with a big gap (predicted B getting Ds as an example) , to give them some proper bollocking. I suspect DS will be in this group! Or in the flying high one. He has no middle ground, he can only do extremes.

It will be so refreshing (I think) to have DD in secondary, she seems to be more balanced. At least now, at the age of 9.

As they take 2 (or less or more ) GCSEs in Y10 at DS's school, they have already had the results in an envelope experience, and IIRC from DD, they don't do it for any of the "mocks." DS certainly seems to know this year is "for real" this first week back - just hoping he can keep knuckling down and get the results he would like.
I pointed out that he has 5 weeks till the first "mocks" start last night!

I don't think ds's school make a performance out of mock results - hope not! He's already saying he doesn't want to pick up his actual results next year, I think he might actually be quite upset if they made such a big deal out of the mocks.

Neither of his older sisters' schools did anything like that - just results in class. Which was just as well for dd1 who did no revision at all for her mocks.

DS's school start exams next week. They are being tested on what they have learned in science since Sept. I think it is crazy, they have only been back 4 weeks but I guess they want to make sure they are on track. He is now revising instead of doing his other homework. I am leaving him to get on with it. For now!!

Eeeek, mines!

DD has had a couple of English tests sprung onto the class with no warning.
Ironically DD does better if she doesnt have time to get stressed thinking about what might go wrong.

We have had an extra pressure added this week. DS has been captivated by the idea of a World Challenge trip to Nepal (£2600). Commitment and deposit by 21st Oct, with regular ongoing payments. Only problem, if you go you a different school for 6th form, you lose all your money. Currently, no information available on 6th form options. 6th form evening not until late November. Aaagh!!