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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSEs 2018

998 replies

DoNotBringLulu · 12/08/2017 16:19

Hi all, I am sure many of us with dc going into year 11 this year are trepidatious about teachers and pupils thrown in at the deep end due to the new GCSEs.

There is one thing I can do which I hope will help my ds (even though he thinks I'm mad!), which is to get hold of this year's GCSE English Language and English Literature papers, read the books and work through the paper myself - I studied English Lit at university over 20 years ago. I will know for myself after I've done this how difficult the exam papers are at least - I'm not sure who I can ask to mark it for me though!

Can anybody tell me how challenging the Maths and English papers were for their dc? I understand these were the two subjects introduced with the new format.

OP posts:
TheDonald · 13/10/2017 13:09

Dd has English maths and re exams straight after half term but then the proper mocks in January.

Hoping parents evening next week will give her a kick.

drummersmum · 13/10/2017 14:22

kingscote we have mocks in Jan too... Yes, very merry xmas hols ahead!!
Apart from this, they're been having constant tests in some subjects like any other year. For example, he has a Latin test every two weeks. I guess it's to keep up with revision.
Mock History essay (coursework) done. Now onto the real thing.
I have also confirmed that DS will only get the 1-9 new grades in Maths and Latin. Everything else is the old fashioned A*-G. I am getting better at finding out what's going on Smile University admissions and future employers are going to have a party trying to understand the grades jumble...
loose 3 subjects with coursework? Ouch. Music, Art and IT?

charlmum60 · 13/10/2017 14:52

In a bit of a flap over 6th form because so we have not been able to attend one evening yet because of other commitments ...however this didnt include her own school (Indie) and the 6th form that appeals to her most...I would have liked to have looked around a few more.

I assume you can apply to several and then arrange to have a look around at a time that suits you too?

Lots of blurb coming out from school about GCSE's today(see below)...I actually dont think my DD is actually doing 1hr on each subject every week...although I maybe being unfair because I know allot of the homework has been revision for tests and one of the other subjects has been top heavy with homework. Should get an update on process in the next week so can then hopefully steer dd to spend some time to specific subjects...

On average, the girls should be aiming to complete an
hour per subject per week and be using weekends/half term to organise notes and complete any
outstanding tasks. It is also important that they are getting proper sleep and rest, if you are concerned
please do talk to your daughter, we would recommend that they have a few days totally “off” over the
holidays to recharge their batteries.

drummersmum · 13/10/2017 14:56

Those of you looking at 6th forms, is it because your schools don't offer a sixth form? Or is it a question of subject choice? Just being curious...!

BlueBelle123 · 13/10/2017 15:06

DS wants to start with 4 A levels(to keep options open for as long as possible) and then the one he decides to drop he'd like to take an AS, so will have something to show for that year.....current school won't give a clear answer whether this will be possible.....what with all the cuts most 6th forms round here want them to do 3.
Hence why we will look around, DS would prefer to stay put..doesn't like change!

LooseAtTheSeams · 13/10/2017 15:21

drummers you ask a very good question - we still don't know quite why DS1 fancies a change since his school has a sixth form and offers all the subjects! And it's only a short walk from our house. And his teachers like him! On the other hand, you have to wear a suit in sixth form unlike the others and the music department is small in comparison. It's an excellent backup option for him but its entry requirements are the same as the college and the other sixth form he likes.
Yes, music, art and computer science (so the programming project but thank goodness they do that in class and not at home!) A lot of homework at the moment is revision for tests or maths practice.

I would prefer him to start with 4 and drop one if necessary.

TheSecondOfHerName · 13/10/2017 15:22

Those of you looking at 6th forms, is it because your schools don't offer a sixth form? Or is it a question of subject choice?

The other sixth forms have slightly lower grade requirements for the subjects DS2 wants to do. So it's a back-up in case he narrowly misses the grades.

WhatHaveIFound · 13/10/2017 15:23

drummersmum We're looking at others because of recent issues at DD's school though having had a meeting with the deputy head yesterday i'm feeling all together more positive.

DD was the one who asked to visit the other schools so i think it's only fair we consider her options despite the fact it would be easier to have both DC at the same school.

charlmum60 · 13/10/2017 15:43

Looking for quite a few reasons - maybe a change to Coed, change from Indie to State...a school that may offer more choice with subjects (DD unsure about what she would like to do although Physics/Business Studies and DT are in the frame).

traviata · 13/10/2017 16:49

DD is looking outside her school 6th form because she would prefer a more grown up atmosphere, less 'schooly' and will probably manage well in larger groups and with more independent learning.

TheDonald · 13/10/2017 16:52

For us it's because the school sixth form is tiny (55 on roll) and dd is ready to move on to the bright lights big city.

She's quite alternative

and very political and i think she thinks she'll find more like-minded people in the large sixth form college.

It's an hour each way travelling but her dad lives in the city so she won't have to do it every day.

OnlyTeaForMe · 13/10/2017 17:16

For us - looking at other 6th Forms in case DS doesn't get the grades to stay at his indie school.
Also because the local college offers arts courses which are more in line with what he wants to do at uni.

Sadik · 13/10/2017 18:29

Do your dc all have a fair idea of what they want to do in 6th form?

DD is struggling as to whether she should go down the biology/life sciences route (would take biology/chem/physics/maths A levels) or maths/physics (physics/chem/maths/further maths).

There doesn't seem an obvious option that keeps open both the possibility of maths/theoretical physics at uni (assuming applying to unis that will want FM) and the option of biology/life sciences/biochemistry (needing biology & chemistry).

Sadly the one thing she is pretty certain she doesn't want to study at uni is chemistry!

Oddsocks15 · 13/10/2017 18:31

Mocks start second week in after half term. DD’s Homework is mostly all revision for half term with some
essays thrown in for good measure.

6th form open evening is end of November, I assume they will have just received mock results by then.

charlmum60 · 13/10/2017 19:03

I do wish at this point schools would hold combined 6th form and careers events ....give the children the opportunity to speak to companies about what they do etc.... My dd's school had an event last year but dd didnt want to go because she felt it was too early (Yr 10). My dd has just done an aptitude test but we wont have the results for a few weeks - I'm hopeful that this will help with her decisions.

AlexanderHamilton · 13/10/2017 19:08

Dd is looking st 6th forms because she attends a specialist government funded dance school & a condition of the funding is that the school auditions all internal & external applicants in the same way & gives no priority to existing students.

She's also looking at places that offer A levels, btecs, diplomas or a mixture.

drummersmum · 13/10/2017 19:16

I see, txs for answers. DS knows he wants to do music but as for the other A levels, they remain a mystery! His recent personality / ability / interest profiling by careers advisors shows so many options it's stressful to look at it. I am finding the whole thing overwhelming because he's so busy he doesn't have time to sit down for a chat or to look at sixth form choices. His school offers so much support but you need time or you just end up inundated by information you don't process or even read.

KingscoteStaff · 13/10/2017 19:27

DS wants to carry on at his current school, but will need good grades to stay.

I printed off the 6th form prospectus for 4 local schools/colleges where he doesn't want to go and left them casually on the kitchen table.

Cue a noticeable increase in revision...

Stickerrocks · 13/10/2017 22:04

DD has 2 weeks of mock exams at the beginning of November. We are going away at half term, but taking a big stack of books with us so she can revise in the mornings.

We looked at 2 sixth forms in the summer and will take another look at her first choice again over the next couple of weeks. She can only take 3 A levels and plans to take maths, history & politics. She has had a day trip to Oxford as part of an Aim Higher programme.

WishfulThanking · 13/10/2017 23:07

Looks like sixth forms have gone back to the three A level days. My son had a talk at Cambridge university and they said doing four would not give you an advantage over someone doing three. We need to find out what the score is with Further Maths, bc I believe that's not considered a full A level, so would my son be at a disadvantage doing that as a fourth while others are doing three?

others are just doing three?

WishfulThanking · 13/10/2017 23:09

My son is due to sit an ABRSM piano exam in the next few weeks. We've not been given the date yet. Does anybody know what would happen if the date clashed with his mocks? Would they let us change it?

WishfulThanking · 13/10/2017 23:14

Sorry for the extra line in my second to last post Hmm

charlmum60 · 14/10/2017 01:46

Late night working ...makes me question lots of things ....Is it important that our children sit so many GCSE's or would they be better just sitting say 8 ?
My DD will get decent results mixture of A,A's and a few B's and a C *if she continues with one subject which she doesnt want to study (school insist)- sitting 10. She's now got a Saturday job which gives her experience with social media , dealing the with public ..working within a small team in an innovative company - which I think is a much better skill than a few of her GCSE's which she will never ever use again in her working capacity ... she's also focused with the job , earning money and really enjoying it....so again I question perhaps whether when our children are 15/16 we should try and get them into a workplace for a few months(not a week) to give them a taster and experience of real work rather than getting them to revise, revise and revise subjects that they will drop 8 weeks after they have sat those exams (exception of English and Maths).

LooseAtTheSeams · 14/10/2017 07:25

Wishfulthinking abrsm will try to reschedule if there’s a clash of dates but it will depend on whether they have any slots and it might not be the same exam centre. The best thing is to phone as soon as you know.
I’m not sure DS would want to drop any of his subjects but I must admit I worry that it’s too many. I think 9 with more time scheduled for each one would be better but that would possibly hit subjects that are already under pressure like Music, art and drama.

LooseAtTheSeams · 14/10/2017 07:56

drummers DS is working on a ‘long list’ of A level options and I really don’t think he’ll be able to decide until he sees his gcse results. I think it’ll be similar for your DS as they don’t have time to stop and think at the moment!
He just had a maths test that he found very difficult and I suspect the poor teaching last year means he still has gaps. Current teacher is fab and will make sure he does well but it’s stressful as he wants to do maths. Music is still on his list, though!

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