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Secondary education

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Original poster

Starting Y11 support thread

999 replies

AtiaoftheJulii · 05/09/2016 13:02

(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 Sad 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.

OP posts:
Fleurdelise · 07/09/2016 09:56

Laniakea I fully agree, I can't see why this would motivate them to up their game. The ones stressed already will be even more stressed and the ones who don't care will just think "meh" and move on.

bigTillyMint how is the school reacting to your DS dropping IT? I'd like to investigate but I am too scared of them. Grin They are all expected to do 10 GCSEs so I can't believe they'd go, oh ok, you can drop it. DS hates it though as it isn't what he was expecting.

Original poster
AtiaoftheJulii · 07/09/2016 22:13

Well, ds went in today, for his half day, in at 11. Seemed okay when he got home.

We had a long chat yesterday about going to a new sixth form - we'll definitely look into the options available. I'm not really sure what to think about it!

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t875 · 07/09/2016 23:16

Does anyone know any great websites forums books to help did with GCSE maths?
I know of math antics on u tube which is great. Just wondered if there was anything questions answers related where we can mark it off so she's sees how she's doing??
We already know about byte size.
Also the same question for GCSE history?

Thanks everyone.
The lady that was saying about the panic attacks in year 10. We went through a stage of this. If you haven't already I'm sure you have. Discuss with the school about it and see if they can give her a card so she can show the teacher and leave the class and go to sen before she gets to a panic attack. Also if they have a school councillor it might be an idea for her to see them and talk through what could possibly be affecting her and with the tests if she could take them on her own or by the door or where she feels comfortable x

LIZS · 08/09/2016 07:07

Back today. She only got the feedback on her essay plan for English coursework yesterday , it's due in on Monday.

RalphSteadmansEye · 08/09/2016 07:27

Is dd doing iGCSE, LIZS?

bigTillyMint · 08/09/2016 07:32

t875, agree with all of that re Panic Attacks.

Any website recommendations for any subject welcome here!

DS has an "interview" for his work experience tomorrow and is a bit nervous!

Laniakea · 08/09/2016 07:41

Glad he got in okay Atia :)

t875 we use a combination of Khan academy on youtube, tassomai & various worksheet sites for maths. I've never managed to find anything that is perfect - the school have mymaths which dd hates but other people seem to think is okay.

DD had a really long day yesterday - there were train issues getting home & ended up stranded for an hour, she managed to get her homework done at the station though. Yesterday seems to have been mostly exam related admin, sorting out ISA & CA dates etc, she was supposed to get feedback from her geography CA at the end of last term but that hasn't happened, she reluctant to chase it so I'll have to nag. She looked exhausted this morning.

ChairinSage · 08/09/2016 07:52

I've also got a bright but slapdash DD starting yr11. I'm slightly concerned that she'll put all her efforts info the subjects she likes and will get good grades in (maths and sciences) at the expense of her least favourites (RE, English and French). She's had a rude awakening after cocking up her sports studies coursework already!

LIZS · 08/09/2016 08:23

Yes it's igcse Ralph.

Original poster
AtiaoftheJulii · 08/09/2016 08:28

Does your dd use mymaths at school? (Or anything similar?) You can use that for your own revision and practice, just click on the non-homework link. Otherwise Hegarty maths mathswebsite.com is excellent.

I used to use schoolhistory.co.uk back in the day when it was free, and it was very good then, don't know what it's like now but it's the only history site I've used.

OP posts:
KimKsButt · 08/09/2016 08:35

Just marking my place, im already feeling like im behind! Checked the school calendar last night and saw a french written assesment on the horizon Shock

Laniakea · 08/09/2016 08:52

trains are still messed up! Late enough that dd missed her bus & had to wait 35 minutes for the next one. I've had a flurry of increasingly pissed off texts from her and she's got PE today which will be bleep tests. Life is tough Grin

(I have made sympathetic noises & she has a free period today so not all bad)

minesawine · 08/09/2016 12:47

DS started back at school yesterday and I received a letter about a compulsory meeting for all Year 11 parents. I am anxious to see what they will be talking about and how we can support our children through this year. I will share any nuggets of wisdom tomorrow. Nervous.......

Madhairday · 08/09/2016 16:18

Checking in as well. DD started Y11 yesterday. She's quite nervous about the exams, she's dyspraxic and slightly dyslexic so uses a laptop and is hoping she'll pass the criteria to use it in the actual exams - she has good evidence of having used it since Y7 so it should be OK - I hope. If not, she is going to really struggle as her wrist strength is low and she just can't write consistently for two hours or more.

She's predicted a mixture of grades between a C for Art and 8 for maths/7 for English. She's bright but slapdash and disorganised. Sigh...

Anyone have experience of dyspraxic dc through GCSEs?

QueenofQuirkiness · 08/09/2016 17:42

Well the bus was extremely late this morning so DD was late for her second day Hmm but she tells me it's fine because she missed the 'boring' assembly Grin she's already swamped in homework from English, Maths and French and has been told her mock exams are in January....the Christmas holidays are going to be fun

Original poster
AtiaoftheJulii · 08/09/2016 19:04

Ds left on time today Smile (He cycles, so nothing to delay him except himself - last year's form tutor and I were on first name terms as I was in touch with her so often to let her know he'd be late.)

No knowledge of dyspraxia I'm afraid. When will she know for sure about using the laptop in the exams?

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Laniakea · 08/09/2016 19:32

as per usual dd has very little homework - she did geography while stranded last night & English during her free period, she hasn't been set anything else. Despite more train problems she managed to get home at a reasonable time tonight. Love public transport.

She's in a shite mood & had a massive strop about some French vocab she has to learn. She had hockey today which probably didn't help.

meh. Roll on the weekend.

errorofjudgement · 08/09/2016 20:26

Catching up on all the messages.DD has had no homework yet but they've only been back 3 days and she's had dance, drama and PE too! History teacher has spent time talking about exam technique which I think was lacking in Y10 so that seems good.
I will be contacting school tomorrow to arrange a meeting re dropping a subject so will ask about a card for panic attacks - thanks for the suggestion.

RaskolnikovsGarret · 08/09/2016 22:02

So much homework already, and it's just week one. Sad For DD2 in Y9 too. A bit rubbish, and a sign of things to come? On the plus side, she is coming round gradually to the idea of giving up one of her two instruments. She has this mad idea she has to keep both going, but I am keen for her to reduce the pressure on herself.

Fleurdelise · 09/09/2016 09:05

DS hasn't got much homework yet, he seems to have come around regarding the lack of social life for a while, or reducing his social interaction by not going out as much. While others are giving up extracurricular activities this year we managed to convince him to pick football up again to have something relaxing to do. He started to think about what A levels he wants to do and talking about taking English and Geography (plus another subject) Maths and sciences are his strong subjects but somehow he got 8 in his mock last year in English and he believes it is a sign. I am trying to encourage two sciences and geography but let's see what happens.

Meeting at school next week for parents of yr11, I am stressed thinking about it.

BertrandRussell · 09/09/2016 09:12

Gosh- are people really making them give up extra curricular things? Help!

On a lighter note, I realize how much ds's teachers must dread my intervention, because both of the teachers of the subjects he took this year asked him if his mum was pleased with his results..............Grin

Fleurdelise · 09/09/2016 09:19

Bertrard a lot of DS's friends are giving up extracurriculars unless they are really sporty or musical and they will study these going forward. But the ones that are doing it as a hobby (some of them) are giving up for a while or at least some of them. DS refused to do anything extra since year 8 but now he agreed he'll need something to help him relax outside academics.

Grin about the teachers asking if you are happy.

Anybody knows what is the procedure regarding ISA exams? DS did his last year and we are happy with the result but apparently they'll do it again this year and the highest mark gets submitted. Is this the case?

BigSandyBalls2015 · 09/09/2016 09:21

Pleased to see this. I have two who have just started Year 11. One self motivated, doesn't get stressed, she'll be fine. The other capable but can't be arsed, goes to school for a bit of a jolly, but does get stressed about things.

They had the results of their RE GCSE yesterday, which they took at the end of year 10 - one got A*, thrilled for her. The other got a B, which I'm also thrilled about - however, she did little to no revision so I've no idea how she managed this. Even her teacher was amazed, and I'm worried that she now thinks she can wing all her GCSEs.

Original poster
AtiaoftheJulii · 09/09/2016 09:23

We had a parents meeting last year when they started y10. I thought it might be about the courses, controlled assessments, new GCSEs, etc. Instead it was ten minutes of that and 50 minutes on how to support them and protect their mental health. Rather sobering.

Ds not quite so bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning. Left late and was probably late into school. He's got a new form tutor who does know what's been going on previously, but I don't know how sympathetic he is! Ds has never had any interaction with him before this year so they don't know each other at all.

Some homework - including one that he got last lesson yesterday and then has that lesson first thing today. He stayed late for a sports club yesterday, got home about half seven and didn't do the homework. Hopefully he had a chance to get it done in form time Hmm

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 09/09/2016 09:25

I'm in complete denial that I'm supposed to be in the year 12 support thread and not this one Grin