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.

Has anyone tried hypnotherapy or counselling to help their DC to cope with exam stress and revision blockage. It was suggested by a teacher today but I have no idea where to even start. Grateful for any advice. Thanks

I'm very confused by DDs history result. She was told last week that she had got an F. Which is a shame as it's crap but not surprising as she doesn't like the subject, is missing parts of the coursework and didn't revise.

However we were told yesterday that the papers were marked incorrectly, they've been remarked and she has now achieved a B!! Impossible. I don't get it at all.

Possum they aren't crap results at all. Some are pretty good, even if they aren't what you and DD expected.

These kids are under so much pressure. DD has a mouth full of ulcers, can hardly talk or eat.

Sandy tbh the marking error doesn't surprise me - two of dd's papers were marked incorrectly (well both marked properly but the the totals were added up wrong - one of those was maths!). She had a friend go up two grades in geography because the teacher forgot to mark her long answer question and anyone who got an A didn't actually get it because of a computer glitch that missed all the s off! F to B is impressive though

Apart from a bit of maths dd isn't doing much revision, she's completely snowed under with homework. She did finally start her 6th form application though - grudgingly put geography down as a reserve (she wants to do earth sciences/geophysics/oceanography at university) as she despises human geography as they insisted she put one in. Hasn't started the personal statement beyond "I love my physics teacher & chemistry is lit"

She hasn't done any French revision at all - ever - has far as I can tell. Feeling a bit stressy about that. She got the highest mark in the year in physics though ... beating her nemesis by 1 mark overall

I'm lucky this time round with ds as he is very laid back and doing well. I think it helps that he has seen three older siblings go through GCSE's - learning from their mistakes!

It is just as well as we have a shed load of stress elsewhere in the family (family member very ill).

Tell all your dc to pace themselves as it is still a long time until exams. for anyone struggling.

Sorry to hear about your dd possum. My ds has a history of overdose (year 9) so I know how bloody hard that is

I don't think her results are that bad though. Remember the mock results don't count and I am sure plenty of students pull it out of the bag when it really matters. They will be doing so much revision stuff at school and there is plenty of time.

My ds got a level 4 in maths (28%) and is predicted an 8/9!!! So you're not the only one

sandy no 'official' results back here but already had 2 subjects changed . Yours do seem spectacularly extreme but it's given me a boost as Ds managed an E in history when predicted an A. Awful as he wants to do it for A level & is interested yet STILL didn't motivate him to revise!
He's gone off with Dh to look at the alternative sixth form tonight, the one he'll go to if he doesn't get his grades. I'm a bit concerned he might like it actually! He does agree that the relaxed environment won't suit him. I have no idea how I'll oversee getting him in for lessons whilst working rather than the full school day that his current schools sixth form offers.

Meanwhile I've just been to dd parents eve. Without exception all teachers given glowing reports on what a delight she is to teach, how diligent & conscientious she is, how she's exceeding targets, etc, etc. What a bloody lottery it is! I'm going to pretend for a minute that it's down to my parenting skills while I enjoy a glass of wine

Ready - that's exactly my worry. The 6th form at DDs school is quite structured and for Year 12 they're expected in for a full school day regardless of lessons. If DD ends up at other college it will be odd hours here and there and if I go off to work leaving her in bed I'm worried she won't even go.

And I also have another DD who is no worry at all, passed 10 mocks with good grades and id happily leave in bed in the morning, knowing she'd get herself up and out, on time. Def personality rather than parenting

I think it is a maturity thing as well as personality.

One of mine has been a trial and if it is any help she gets a little bit more organised with every year that passes. Sometimes they can't see the bigger picture until they hit their twenties.

Sorry to hear about your dd , possum. Hope she recovers soon.

Off to collect dd from last mock exam shortly. Most of her year still have a exam on Monday, rescheduled due to snow last week, but fortunately she gets the weekend to relax although dance rehearsals will take up most of it. Results are next Friday lunchtime but she's straight out on a trip that evening so she'll need to email them to us.

Dd refused to go to school on Weds. Went yesterday but was sobbing. Went today but was crying and saying she wants to kill herself and wishes she was dead.

I really want to take her out of school but that will just fuck her GCSEs up beyond belief.

So sorry Possum. Hope she gets some help from somewhere. Look after yourself too - so worrying.

Possum - have you been to the GP and asked for an urgent CAMHS referral? If she's overdosing, crying constantly and saying she wants to kill herself please do get help. I was in the same situation with DS1 a couple of years ago and like you, didn't want to rock the boat in the run-up to GCSEs. Frankly, I left it until it was much too late and he was an absolute top-priority crisis case. He's now been on anti-depressants / counselling for 18 months and he freely admits that it was the only thing that kept him alive for the first few months.

In other news, DS2 now has his GCSE exam timetable. First exam 2 May, last exam 20 June. That's a very long haul, isn't it?

They really are a long, hard slog. An endurance test.

Dd refuses to go to the GP. She's refused to do any revision today and me asking her if she was going to do any descended into her screaming, crying and swearing at me. I genuinely think I will give up. She can do what the hell she wants. If she chooses to fuck her entire life up by not bothering she can.

She reckons because she spends her 30 minute lunch times revising (so she says) then she doesn't need to do any revising at home!

How many of your kids get study leave after Easter? Dds school reckons they don't do study leave any more. Though I think once exams start they only go in for exams. But they used to have a few weeks off for revision before exams started and have stopped doing this now.

Ours do study leave from mid May.

Tbh possum I'd be inclined to let dd have a few weeks off revision. Her mental health has got to be priority for now.

Yes, you're right. Sadly I don't think even in a few weeks she'll be revising.

Possum, did she do her mocks after Christmas? If so, of course she should have a break from revising. This thread worries me. Surely no child should be properly revising from now for exams in May and June. They will be revising at school and through homework, of course, but surely we shouldn't expect anyone to start proper revision for a couple of months - at the very earliest after half term. It is a slog once they get into the exams and they will burn out and be bored beyond belief.

She did her mocks before Xmas and spent the holidays not doing anything. Which I was fine about. I was thinking she ought to start revising again now though if the exams start in 12 weeks. Maybe it is too early. I don't mean loads of revising, justblittle and often.

Must be more like 16 wks surely? Middle of May at the earliest? I think ds has 13 weeks of school left, if I counted properly. And I agree with sunset - I don't think either of my daughters were revising at this stage, beyond school and homework (even the ultra diligent one), and my son certainly isn't. I think half term is a reasonable time to start - to at least get yourself organised.