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.

another day of studying is a bonus [Lizs] Good luck for her mocks!!

dh drove dd in today - no snow but very windy which seems to mean complete train shut down

She just texted her results - A*s for the 3 sciences, 7 for both English (she's disappointed), A for both geog & history, B for French (phew!) .... but 6+ for maths !!!!!! So 6th form application in now - if she gets the same grades next summer she'll be able to do the A levels she wants. Hopefully she can boost some up as well .... especially maths, she's so close to a 7. Should get her report emailed out today, then parents' evening on Monday.

I'm going to bake a cake now ;)

Laniakea she deserves a cake for those results! Well done to your DD!

Those are definitely cakeworthy results, well done her!

thanks! It's such a relief that she won't have to do any again, that maths has improved & that her A level options can go in. I got her report & she actually got an A* for geography - that's her reserve A level so that's v. good.

Oh well done to her (and you!)

Have been keeping up with this thread in fits and bursts, but not posted for ages. Sounds like things may be a bit up and down but generally most of our kids are heading in the right direction?

DS has been getting mock results back - they seem fine. He doesn't have his parents evening until the middle of March, which seems really late? Too late to discuss A level options (which have to be submitted by 27th of this month), too late to light any rockets that need lighting ...

Talking of A level choices - maths, further maths and computing are definites. If he stays at school he had thought of carrying on with drama, but now is wondering about doing an EPQ, computer-related. I'm a bit concerned that that would be too narrow a focus, but he reckons school would accept it.

DSs maths teacher was disappointed in hearing last night DS doesn't want to do maths A level. Not sure if I should try to convince him or stay out of it.

Fleur snap DD's maths teacher... She wants to study archaeology so really does not need A level maths.

DS doesn't know what he wants to do so he chose A levels based on what he thinks he may enjoy and is good at. Biology, geography and business studies. His maths teacher thinks he's really good but he doesn't apply himself so he'll join the two hours revision sessions a week. Therefore she was shocked as she assumed he will do A level maths. She was saying something like "what will you do in sixth form if you don't put the effort in now in maths" and when DS put her straight she was very surprised. Hmmmm...

Lots gone on... been off the thread for a while busy doing my tax return

Laniakea - amazing results!

Fleur - I would stay out of it! He has to be happy with his choices at the end of the day Would they really suggest dropping PE so late in the day? Surely it would be worth him doing it just to see what he can get?

We got DS's mock results today, A's in biology, chemistry & history, B in physics, D in PE and bit weird for maths and english in that they didn't give a number as they don't know what the results will equate to but gave a percentage mark (and beside that a class average mark).

Maths 28% (class average 46%), eng lang 66% (class average 67%) and english lit 54% (class average 56%).

I can't complain at all seeing as he hardly did any revision whatsoever! Maths is a bit of a worry, but they finish the curriculum in 2 weeks and he already has a maths tutor so hopefully he can pull that up to a 7 (target is 8/9 but I really don't think he will get that) by the summer.

Revision so far going ok but realising the plan we did last weekend is unrealistic so have changed it to just one subject a night on a 10 day cycle. Let's hope he gets to the end of each subject by the summer!

Fleur - ha ha at your ds putting the teacher straight!!

pasanda he didn't chose PE, it is one of his schools specialism (sports and science) and it is somehow mandatory. However we've been told last night that if he doesn't want to have a failed GCSE (potentially two but computer science can still be saved on the two hours after school extra he is currently doing) we can pull him out. That way he'll end up with 9 gcses instead of 10.

DS got 26% in maths and they marked that as a 4. Teacher said it was really hard, some topics still to teach but DS is top 5 in his set while his result was bottom 5. So she believes he found it hard and got disheartened and gave up. Which he kind of agreed. He'll do 2 hours a week after school and teacher believes he can get his 7 based on that. We'll see.

Oh and well done to your DS pasanda good marks for no revision

Well done on all the great results!!
Were not doing A levels DD is looking to go to college, she has applied to do child care level 3 NVQ and Art so we shall see.

DD has been doing maths tuition with my tutor (online) and she is doing great and her confidence has really grown with the subject!

I dont even know when parents evening is yet, weve not been told!!

Is anyone's child doing GCSE History?? x

Yes mine is t875 She's really enjoying it and will do it for A Level. They've done Germany, America and History of Medicine. Going to Berlin at Easter

My DD is doing History too. They've done The American West and History of Medicine but not Germany - they are doing a continuation of medicine instead, covering modern times and including the politics of health care in society.

DD is doing History at A level too, it's her favourite subject.

Can I join?

DD gets her mock results on Monday. She didn't do as much revision as I hoped as she was staying after school to complete coursework, still getting homework and then went into meltdown during the second week of the exams when nothing got done.

Teachers are starting to ask them to go back at lunchtime/stay after school for extra/revision lessons. Physics and art both clash with various music things she's committed to. She explained to physics teacher why she's doing the music group (if they take music they have to do clubs) and she understands. Just need to sort things out with art teacher.. DD is very musical and wants to do something music related as a career hence that's her priority.

parents' evening before A level options have to go in would seem to be more useful Atia! Is he thinking of computer science at university?

DD's doing history too - they're doing lots of Germany pre & post WWII, The Roaring 20s & civil rights I think. It's interesting

Here they apply for provisional A-level options when they apply to 6th form (mostly to gauge numbers), then there is a subject choice interview as the next step in the application process (parents welcome to attend).

Then final A-level choices can be made up to and including the first day of the Autumn term if they get the grades to stay on.

DS loves, loves, love History. Only really nailed-on A-level subject. Also thinking Maths, Music, Politics (or possibly Economics but they didn't exactly wow child or us at open evening).

Is he thinking of computer science at university?

Yes, although I'm not sure he actually has any idea what that entails!

Anyway, he came home today and we were chatting about A levels, and he's submitted Maths, FM, Computing and Biology as his choices which I'm very happy with

Hi if only 4 Sounds great about dd and the music? What is she looking to do in relation to that?

DD is doing history, but we seem to have gaps in knowledge of American West and medicine is there any revision guides websites your DD/DS's use? otherwise we might get her a bit of tuition but if we can save the money would be nice

DD come home and said she has moved from a c to a b for food tech so pleased and she was very pleased!!

Dd is doing History Gcse - Germany, Cold War, Vietnam, Britain1931-51 - but not A level. Still debating whether to go to an open evening at a different school in a few weeks' time, although don't really want to move her.

yay! Biology is a good choice ... has he thought anymore about whether he's likely to move for 6th form.

DD came home, ate cake & then fell asleep in the bath. Having a rest tonight, she's in bed now.