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.

Would love to hear your evidence that there's no point doing FM unless you dream in maths, and also that FM male students don't shower. Those were specifically the two bits of information that I think are bollocks.

Atia, btw I missed your post before about MFL - read it now, very helpful, thanks.

My dd2 is doing an MFL degree and considered Cambridge - rather than being encouraged by the high acceptance rate, she thought it would be worse if you were in the 50% that didn't get in, rather than the 80+% for some subjects! Not always the most optimistic outlook on life, that one

Where did she go in the end?

I'm more than happy to disagree with you, but I will still comment in future if I think you're offering unhelpful opinions or peddling unfunny offensive stereotypes.

Raskolnikov she's up in Newcastle - decided she wanted to do more languages and less literature than Oxbridge offered so didn't apply in the end - and absolutely loves it. Has just had her first lot of exams, so waiting to hear results!

Anyway ...

Ds seems to have settled down a bit, far less anxious and miserable than he was at the start of the school year. Seems to be putting more effort in at school, although has hardly any homework! He still has no idea whether to stay at his school sixth form or take up his offered place at sixth form college.

His attendance is pretty awful (88.8% atm, I was just looking), but recently I've been able to give him a lift most of the way to school each day on my way to work, and that has been working well as he gets up as he knows I can't wait, and I know he's out of the house. (Also having an extra 10 minutes or so just to chat is really nice.) Days when I'm not in at the usual time have been a bit trickier, but this last week I was in late on Tuesday and off on Friday, and he was up and out and in school on time both days, which felt like a massive achievement

He's not revising for the summer yet, but I'm gently encouraging him to start thinking about when he might start the process, lol.

W were told at parents' evening that their science mocks covered the entire curriculum. And yes, some of the modules had not yet been taught. DD got Bs and an A in biology nevertheless, and her Bs were borderline As. So I reckon the triple can be done, as long as the student in question has been putting in their revision time on the older stuff.

The grade boundaries for science do tend to be low. (Disclaimer - please check post boundaries for your own exam board!) Error and dancer - any further thoughts about your dcs' situations?

They do. In the new maths GCSE I suspect they will also be low.

^past boundaries

Hi Atia, we have decided to sit very firmly on the fence until after the ISAs they are doing at the moment.
The mocks DD took were definitely core and additional science only- no other questions.
DD is taking the humanities/drama route at A level so won't need the triple science, BUT it's a shame to pass up the opportunity if she could cope.

Newcastle sounds cool. Looks like DD/we have a lot of research to do.

So... finally got my DS's results from his mocks today - took a while considering he did them in November!

English - 8
Maths - 51% - that's all they've given him - any idea on grade?
Science - B
RE - A
Computing - A*
French - A
Geography - A

They seem quite good grades, considering I didn't see him do any revision. He's got A*'s in both Science CA's as well. Had parent's evening and sixth form open evening this week. He has about 5 subjects he wants to do, now he just has to decide which 3 or 4 to take.

galaxy my DD got 75% in maths and was told that was an 8 close to a 9.

Good results! No idea I'm afraid on the maths, but the other ones are excellent

Eeek! Got the exam timetable today!

DD1's tutor group is the only one that does not have their mocks timetables yet. Because her form tutor is useless.

Amazing results galaxy

No revision done in this house for the past 2 weeks! But he did get an a* in his Business Studies CA (38/40) so am chuffed with that.

He's lost his motivation and I'm not going to nag but I hope he gets it back after half term.

Mocks timetable is in - it all kicks off after half term...

pointy.......again!

Can't wait for it all to be over tbh!!

DD is having lots of targeted intervention too, and school definitely knows for each subject where the weaknesses are. What I like is that everyone is focused on - it's not just about getting the pass, it's about everyone getting the best possible.