Year 11 support thread - keep on keeping on!

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Just getting this ready!

Following on from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2936097-Yr-11-support-thread-the-scaffolding-is-holding-up-well

Good luck to those with exams today 🍀

I don't know why, but I am feeling a bit emotional today. It has been such a massive build up to these exams and I have never rowed, argued, confiscated or screamed at my DS as much as I did in the last month. But it is now over, he has accepted places at his school and a sixth form college and will make his final decision after the taster days (and his results - fingers and toes crossed). But either way it is a new start for him and me. During 6th form I wont be on his case as much as I have been, he needs to get his shit together and not rely on me to organise his life, revision and exams.

But my baby is nearly 17, his is about to start the next chapter of his life and I feel a bit weepy. GCSE's are definitely a milestone, albeit a crap milestone, but its over and I am feeling emosh.

"Mum you are acting weird" is the response I got to my request for a mummy hug. Oh dear!!

Ive watched these threads roll along but not joined in until now. DS is sitting DT now and that's it over. No real idea how it's gone but it seems to have been one long slog from Christmas until now with mocks being split over 6 weeks and course work ruining Easter break. All I get is fine when I ask.

He's off to a belated birthday party tonight, sport for the weekend then another party on Sunday. He will have a better social life than me in the next few weeks.

Dreading August but I can't do anything about it now. In two years time is both A levels and GCSEs at the same time and then again two years after that so lessons learnt just now should come in useful.

Just wanted to say thank you everyone. You have allowed me to download when I was missing my lovely Mum. It has really helped.

Awww littleho yes this thread has been a fantastic source of support. Well done to all our dc.

And we're done!!! Had a call from a very happy son, DT went very well, design question a bit tricky but ok. He's off out with friends, I am having a celebratory ice cream in the garden! Also feeling strangely emotional, he will move for 6th form so that's the end of our time at this wonderful school, starting in 2009 with DS1. Wrote emails to some of his best/most inspirational/hardworking teachers this morning and have had some lovely responses. Hats off to all of them.

Thank you to everyone on the thread for the support, let's hope all our DC do really well. See you all back here in August on results day?

GCSEs all done here. AQA Physics today was good, apparently. No idea whether ds only said that because it is over and he wanted to go out. He really wants to go to his school 6th form. Only got the letter today about an induction day but we are on hols. Between NCS and both GCSE and A level results we were struggling to fit in a family holiday, so too bad. Not sure he will get the grades, though. He needs a 7 for Maths which he was well capable of but doesn't think he has done enough. I know I need to forget all about it but I don't think I will fully exhale until August.

minesaswine - me too, very emotional today. I even looked at him and had a little tear earlier. He is so grown up and whether results go well or otherwise he will not be going to his school sixth form so whatever happens it'll be a big change (his and our choice as he's never liked the school). How did my baby end up nearly 6 foot and grown up?? And mine will never go back into school (apart from results day) so he really has left school now - I really do understand you.

Slightly at all those whose DCs have finished...

DD says both her exams were fine today - when she says fine, that means fine so happy with that.

Two more to go, Monday and Friday next week.

OcelotnotGiraffe I am so glad it is not just me going a bit gaga. Although next week he does have prom and leavers assembly, it is over. I think the build up to the exams, the massive pressure, the nagging and resistance have really taken their toll on both of us and now I look at my baby who towers over me and feel both relief and sadness. However, the little tinker has taken advantage of my weakened emotional state and got me to agree to hold an after prom party at home next week. I must be mad

Nearly 17... Mine isn't 16 for another couple of months and still not officially old enough to go to Reading without an over 18. But no more school uniform in this house now. Time to stock up on 'smart business wear' for the second time.

Well done to everyone's DCs who've finished and not long to go for the remainder. It's such an endurance event particularly with the hot weather.

If anyone's got an Edexcel Physics person handy could they ask if there was a question about radioactive toothpaste? They're talking about it on Twitter, and ds is panicking that he missed it.........

minesawine I couldn't have put it better myself and I am so relieved to read your post - at times the shouting in this house has reached deafening levels, yet we have come out of it friends. He has stayed far calmer than me and, I hope, done himself proud. There's one more exam to go next week, but we're nearly there - and just when I thought he would crash and sleep (as he has done every afternoon when there has been urgent revision to do), he has decided to tidy his room. What's that all about?! It would appear he is ready for his next steps and I am joining you all in a few pangs and private tears. My baby is all grown up.

Sorry Bert just checked and my DD did OCR Physics. Anyone else do OCR?

Ontopof DS is 16 end of July so just in time to make it to Reading.

minesawine I feel emotional as well. We were the other way around, massive shouting and fallout and nagging before the exam but I feel the exams have brought us together somehow as he suddenly showed he cared and I could see his stress. But yes, I keep pulling out photos from his first day at school and I actually don't know when I blinked and ended up with a 16 yo.

Bert sorry I can't help.

Sorry - OCR here too. And ds too exhausted and relieved to give me any details about anything now . Thank goodness they're over!

6 marker on radioactive toothpaste edexcel P2

Bollocks!

Oh well, he only needs a B.........

Bert,dd did igcse Edexcel and doesn't recall a q about toothpaste!

This is Irish, but you may find it resonates...

www.independent.ie/life/family/family-features/gin-is-an-important-part-of-our-coping-strategy-irish-dads-tips-to-get-through-the-leaving-cert-with-your-sanity-35832631.html

It's definitely not an igcse. And definitely higher.

Oh well. He has decided he isn't going to think about it until results day. Which seems entirely sensible.

Well, last day of exams and school and I tentatively brought up the subject of getting a part time summer/saturday job (not straight away) but AIBU? Because apparently I am and have ruined DD's last day! The thought of 3 months of her doing nothing will drive me mad. We are going away for two weeks beginning of August.

Oh pilates I have been on my DD's emotion rollercoaster today and we still have next week to get through.She flys off the handling within half an hour it's like nothing happened. Are boys easier? She's been trying to get a job since she turned 16 in September! I got a job by walking into a shop and asking but these days they have to give in a cv!!! We've given loads out and heard nothing, it seems the day of the Saturday girl are over as all shop workers have to work weekends now. Dropped one into New Look today as they are looking for staff so fingers are crossed firmly. I will go mad by September if not.

Handle not handling. Flipping predictive text!