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.

I've got an appt with dds HOY tomorrow which I'm a bit nervous about. Dd is convinced one of her teachers is picking on her and I'm going in mainly to discuss this.

Dd is fairly aghast and thinks I'm going to make it worse because HOY will obviously tell the teacher concerned. But seeing as Dd is crying and not wanting to go into school because of this teacher I don't see how it can get worse.

There's been a few incidents over the last few months and then last week another kid in the class through a piece of metal at Dd (she had a real scrape and bruise on her face). Teacher knew what had happened, didn't tell the boy off. Told Dd to get on with her work, dd said no because her face was hurting. Teacher "screamed" at Dd. Dd very upset by the whole thing.

Have anyone else been given a timetable for the summer exams yet? My DS was given his today. 22 exams overall, from the 15th May to 16th June....

Yes Galaxy, got the timetable last week. Parents eve tonight. It's got serious now!

No timetables here but it's on the school calendar - runs a total of about 6 weeks. I don't see that as a bad thing, it allows DD to time her revision. We're getting her a revision app so that when she has her full timetable she can work out what she needs to do and when, and when she can afford a small break. I want her to have some rest during the summer half term so am going to negotiate half days of revision max on the Bank Holiday weekend.

ds has got his timetable. The exam period looks horribly long doesn't it?

Great parents evening so all on track atm.

Hi. Any English teachers about?

My DS has been told that they must pass both English Language and English Literature in order to pass English and not repeat it. Is this true? I thought it was the English Language that they must pass, along with Maths.

Language is AQA and Literature is Edexcel.

No it's not true - and actually either lit OR language now counts as a pass in the league tables, or to not require a resit. Individual schools or colleges may require students to resit lang if they don't pass, though.

DS has to be in school right up until the exams start. His seem to be over a month rather than the six weeks (seems like many exams crammed into quite a short time-frame, IMHO).

RalphSteadmansEye oh, thank you . I was so worried as DS doesn't seem to have as much enthusiasm for Literature as I'd like.

When he came home and told me that both Literature and Language had to be passed, my hair kind of stood on end!

teddy My DS doesn't start his study leave until the May half term, which is a bit odd considering most of his exams are before half term, but anyways...

galaxy617 I think our DS is doing the same, although I hadn't realised that they do actually get a week's respite from exams (although not revision), with a break over half-term (that's useful!). Pretty sure that when I was at school, our exams didn't start until after the 'Whit' half-term?

Dd has 2 exams scheduled before study leave starts on 12th May.

Dd hasn't been to school for a week.

I had a productive meeting with HOY on Friday and they're going to put stuff into place to support her returning. Safe places, time out cards, she can change form if she wants to. So hopefully she will return on Monday.

Also found out that school have decided to repeat English and maths mocks in a couple of weeks. Girls at school have texted dd and told her so she was sobbing about that last night.

Oh I hope she manages to go in on Monday, Possum. Just a few weeks left really and then she can move onwards and upwards.

Poor you possum & her of course.
Ds has completely dropped the little effort that he put in for the mocks & is spending the majority of his free time on the Xbox. I had hoped the mocks would kick him into reality & cant work out wether he really doesn't care or he's burying his head in the sand. I'm really struggling to engage at all with him and feel really disappointed in him to be honest. He finally filled in his A level choices yesterday but It is not yet in his school bag. Last night he asked to use our laptop at bedtime (he's broken his) to do a piece of hwk after assuring me all weekend that he'd not got any. He admitted that he lies to stop me nagging. I feel like I'm quite breezy about things and try to bring things up in conversation to remind him as I know he forgets. To be honest I feel like giving up on him & letting him totally work it out on his own.

readyforsunshine

I could have written that post myself. I am totally fed up with my ds at the moment. He's non-communicative and stroppy and all I end up talking to him about is school stuff and being ready for school on time (which he NEVER bloody is!!!)

Trying to talk to him about other stuff is pointless as he doesn't engage. Forgets everything, loses everything then gets pissed off he can't find it and is doing bugger all work at home. Spends all night on his phone (surprisingly hasn't touched the PS4 since Xmas ). Getting more demerits for lack of homework etc than since before Xmas and I have no idea what his 'plan' is for these GCSE's - if in fact he has one at all.

So......after that mini rant, I just wanted to say - I know how you feel.

And possum - sorry to hear about the troubles your dd is having. Sounds really difficult this close to GCSE's I hope she managed to go in this morning with all the support measures in place.

At least ds is going to school I suppose.

pasanda I'm really struggling with how I feel. I'm trying to stay cool but when I think of the kids that care for disabled parents or those less advantaged who work so hard for their education I honestly feel like I could start yelling in his face & not stop until I lost my voice! He has so much support from us & school & I feel a bit played to be honest. Mocks results back this week.
Ds doesn't usually bother coming downstairs in the morning until he hears the back door close as Dh & dd leave. Most mornings he unsurprisingly leaves something behind or is rushing around last minute to find something. Beyond time checks I've given up as he just yells, I get stressed & it fails to make a positive difference anyway. I just can't understand why he won't take the advice & help to get organised to make his life easier I swear the dog learns faster!

Very behind here. Hope your ds and dd are going along ok and you guys are too.
Dd here is a bit wobbly. She so needs the holiday. She is not focusing brilliantly on lessons and dragging her heels. Stick with history although wanted to drop it we got them books! We're a c+ on the assessments for English going along ok. Just wishing for the next 3 days to fly!

Dd has been back into school this week which is good news.

well my dd is being a complete idiot. We've had a few discussions about her phone use, being a general arsehole & staying up half the night. She's still kind of working - but only because there's a party she really wants to go to on Saturday & I've already said I won't take her unless I see evidence of useful work.

I got a pitiful text (via a friend) this morning saying she'd had her phone confiscated & could we 'angrily call school ' ... err, no, obviously. Sometimes I think she doesn't know me at all!

Oh that's funny. Could you "angrily call school" ? Like you, I'd have laughed if one of mine said that!

Very glad your DD has been back in school Possum