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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSE Results Day 2017

979 replies

justmumof1 · 21/08/2017 06:45

Hard to belive that I was here 5 years ago sweating it out for the results of his secondary school offer!

Only a few days now bwfore the GCSE results come out. DS is starting to get nervous....as am I!

OP posts:
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DrMadelineMaxwell · 26/08/2017 11:03

I have no problems with Welsh bac in the respect that it did have dd writing up reports and assignments like I had to do in uni. But had not been taught to do. It's just a shame that it means she can't choose 4 a levels to do.

MsHarry · 26/08/2017 11:07

I have one very driven child who has just got 11GCSEs at A* and A and a younger DD who isn't as gifted in that area. I support them both equally. I hate the attitude that you can't ask questions if your DC is a high achiever. You just have to shut your mouth and be grateful. I haven't 'bragged' to anyone about DD's results because of this attitude and my DD wonders if I'm ashamed.It's a different kind of pressure at that end. My DD worked her backside off, it didn't happen on it's own. I don't claim any responsibility for her ability, it was apparent at a young age. What a bizarre attitude we have in this country to success.

LoniceraJaponica · 26/08/2017 11:15

MsHarry how do you manage to raise a child to be that driven?

lljkk · 26/08/2017 11:18

There are a lot of MNers worrying about medical school, it seems weird to keep holding that up as so important.
It's weird, I'm seeing little here about timing of GCSE sittings. Sheffield is only school that mentions sittings (6 in one sitting requirement). Is that list very out of date or incomplete?

I'll be pleased if DS gets a C for his GCSE he finishes at end of yr9. And that will probably only be with a huge amount of hand-holding from me (even though it's a Mickey Mouse GCSE being phased out, I think still in letters not grades). He still will benefit from doing the GCSE early so he can practise at what is it like to do a GCSE before the big ones that count for much more.

MsHarry · 26/08/2017 11:22

I haven't. I am the least ambitious person person as is DH(neither been to Uni). I was a sahm. DD2 came along when DD1 was 2.5. There was no hot housing, we read to her, I taught her the alphabet song, to write her name, count to 20 etc before school. She's a September child, not sure if that makes a difference.

noblegiraffe · 26/08/2017 11:23

What about the kids for whom that GCSE does count, lljk? The ones who want to go to a top uni or sixth form which counts A*s? What if they want to do it at A-level but can't because they did it in Y9, got a C and haven't studied it since?

MsHarry · 26/08/2017 11:23

Sorry DD2 came along when she was 3.5.

LoniceraJaponica · 26/08/2017 11:25

"Sheffield is only school that mentions sittings (6 in one sitting requirement). Is that list very out of date or incomplete?"

No, it is very current.

Peaceandl0ve · 26/08/2017 11:27

OK I will come clean, I am one of those mumsnetters, my son is very able he did fantastically well with his early entry gcses, all A*s and As. I am v v proud and dare I say boastful. Perhaps because I dont tell anyone in real life, when other parents ask I say he did really well. However, he is bright, prob got most of his braincells from his dad, but he did well because he is motivated and lucky to have parents to support him.

There you go, shhot me down in flames, I feel better now. I hope that when he co e to make his med school app there will be lots of students in the same boat and the med schools will make allowances.

MsHarry · 26/08/2017 11:33

when other parents ask I say he did really well
I did this 4 times yesterday Peace and I feel bad for my DD, I am hiding the extent of her success because I want to save other parent's feelings.

ProfessorLayton1 · 26/08/2017 11:35

Dd1 is very driven and had 11A* s - she worked hard through out the year and have always been like that since primary school years.
Dd2 is only 9 but a different kettle of fish.
She loves dancing and is good at Art but is definitely not like my eldest.
Dd1 would read books for pleasure Dd2 only as a bare requirement from school but is really creative in writing.
We both work full time and are very happy with supporting whatever they choose to do.. definitely not someone who will hothouse their children.

LoniceraJaponica · 26/08/2017 11:35

"but he did well because he is motivated and lucky to have parents to support him"

DD is lucky to have a lot of support as well, but she still could do with a little bit more motivation. How do you magic that up?

ProfessorLayton1 · 26/08/2017 11:37

MsHarry- ha ha I have done the same thing.
I have only told to two of my friends when they specifically asked for her grades otherwise I just say she did well.

MsHarry · 26/08/2017 11:43

Lonicera As Professor says, I also have another DD who is not like DD1. It's just who they are. I had no idea really until a year 2 parent's evening when I asked if she was where she needed to be for her age and the teacher looked at me strangely and said, " Errr yeah she's top 5% material." We were both Shock

Thegiantofillinois · 26/08/2017 11:44

Some kids are very driven, so m e aren't. I suspect Ds naturally brighter than Dd. I predict Dd with perform better because she us already v competitiv and wants to get things right, whereas ds drifts about in whichever historical period he is currently interested in. I get Dd, but am baffled by ds. He does , however, remind me of a fair few students I have taught.

MsHarry · 26/08/2017 11:47

wants to get things right,
Sums up my DD. She is also extremely untidy and infuriating at times! Nobody's perfect.

ProfessorLayton1 · 26/08/2017 11:52

MsHarry- We share the same child!!

MaisyPops · 26/08/2017 11:59

Those with clutches of Cs, maybe a smattering of Bs, the odd A : they get overlooked : the 'meh' brigade. I feel sad just writing that.
On paper that would have been my y11s this year, but they were anything but 'meh'. I love teaching the 'meh brigade' groups. They're not as stressy and obsessive as some of your top set types (not saying all top group students are like that) and don't tend to have the same level of excessive intervention thrown at them like the weak or badly behaved/lazy groups.

I love giving them a bit of TLC and making them feel special and valued.

lljkk · 26/08/2017 12:00

Thanks, Lonicera. So all these people saying that 8-9 GCSEs must be sat in one sitting for medical schools... might be mistaken..?

Not sure it's desirable to design an education system to best suit the needs of the top 3%, NG.

Peaceandl0ve · 26/08/2017 12:02

Have no idea about the motivation bit come about but I have an inkling that seeing hs DSis ladk in motiviation and her subsequent struggles to get to vet school had something to do with it. Also think it is just how he his.

Witchend · 26/08/2017 12:09

I'm similar, MsHarry, I have only told the grandparents dd1's actual results. Everyone else has got "she's pleased and I'm really proud" type answers.
On fb, I've noticed similar. People who are giving the results out are, often excellent compared with predicted, but not top grades. My friends who have children who would expect to be getting mostly A, A* are quiet/putting statements of pride and no results. It could be because they're all ashamed of the one B, but I don't think so.

For dd1, she is her total motivator and always has been. It sounds great from the outside, but she puts huge pressure on herself.
I really and honestly didn't mind what results she had, but was dreading her being disappointed. She would see through any bland platitudes because she knows her information about what she'd like to do etc.

I suspect dd2 is as bright in a different way. She's more like me though and a bit inclined work only at what she likes. I suspect her results will be much more mixed bag, and I will be less nervous about her results as she's much more of take life as it comes.
Ds it's hard to tell, but if it's not a ball or computer, he's not interested!

noblegiraffe · 26/08/2017 12:11

Not sure it's desirable to design an education system to best suit the needs of the top 3%, NG.

Then you'll be against early entry. No point in entering a DC early for an exam they'd get a much better result in sat at the proper time.

Piggywaspushed · 26/08/2017 12:21

maisy it's nice to hear that but they are the group of children who do indeed receive next to no 'intervention' (for which at DS's school read attention) are in the largest classes often, get no mentions ever anywhere : some are happy with that and thrive and I am glad you love teaching that ability (I do too) but the system overlooks them, they're allowed to coast (my DS is definitely now on their underachieving hit list : bit late now!) , go on and do those A levels some people sneer at and perhaps do a bit 'meh' in those. I guess it all works out in the end though! And it's not like all those kids have 'something else' they are brilliant at, or an fulfilling hobby. It's often a boy thing , that generic drifting. Bless my DS, he can't even muster that much pride in his Spanish result!

Kaybush · 26/08/2017 12:23

Saving for later Smile

MaisyPops · 26/08/2017 12:35

the system overlooks them, they're allowed to coast
Completely. To use a Mumsnet phrase I hate 'it boils my piss'.
People see them and think they're doing ok, they're not a C/D borderline and they'll get reasonable grades at the end.

I'm glad I've found some else who loves the middle and feels the same way as me about it. Sometimes people I've known prefer the middle because they think it's easier (and are usually those teachers who let their nice easy middle group bob along without being challenged).

I got some 9-7s in my group this year and I nearly cried when I saw their faces on results day.

Hoping that with progress 8 people will realise that middle kids getting a C when they could get a high B is actually a massive issue.