GCSEs 2018 (2)

[Stickerrocks]

Pre-empting our 1000th post.

My dgds outstanding school recommends 10 GCSEs. There are some doing 12 but not many. One of my dgd friends is doing 12 and though she was on a par with my dgd except in English ( both) where her friend was predicted 9 s she ended up with 4 s and 5 s and only one 6! Apparently my DVD said she was very upset. I'm not surprised! 12 really is a lot!

My dgd spent the weekend doing masses of homework, said she would do biology revision this afternoon but didn't despite several prompts from me. I was not impressed and told her time is short!
Email from physics teacher saying revision classes in lunchtimes as no time in class to do as teaching syllabus right up to exams.....definitely NOT impressed with that! Doubly not impressed as he also said he only wanted to see parents of students who were not meeting their targets and those doing A level physics. The rest will have to lump it! He is only teacher doing this!

At parent evening this week I meant.

Someone is really behind on next instalment of art exam prep due tomorrow.
they do 10 at our school plus a 1/2 in RE and it looks like an extra in additional maths.

My dd has already done ICT Short course GCSE in Y10

This 'summer' she is doing:
Triple Science
History
Art
PE
RE
Maths
English Lang
English Lit

So I guess that is 10.

She did struggle to cover all subjects adequately in her revision over the Christmas period for her mock exams - and it did rather show in her results with a couple of underperforming 4's (although she got some good results too)

She has agreed to start revising for the exams 'proper' on 1 February since if the mocks have taught her anything it is that she has a tonne of revision to get through

Dgd doing......
English language
English literature
Maths
Triple science
Spanish
Geography
R.E. ( compulsory)
Art

10 maximum at DD's school option to drop the language if dyslexic and option this year just to do double science instead of triple science the later had always been compulsory until this year. No further Maths offered until 6th form.

Sostenueto - That's not great from the Physics teacher - some DC may still be considering Physics for A level.

There are only 89 girls in DD's year (normally 100-120 in each year but DD's year has always been under subscribed) so parents evening slots are never an issue. In some subjects there are just 8 girls (or less) and 6th form classes are smaller in some subjects.

I know teenmum really not impressed! He should make effort to see all triple sciencers and double sciences! I know my dgd not doing physics A level and is above her target through sheer hard work we would still like a word with him!

240 in each year in dgd school year teenmum the school is a large one!

Sostenueto would the teacher have a telephone meeting or could you email him with your questions?

Yes I could do that bluebelle. We don't have many questions as usually dgd gets glowing reports and our interviews never last long at all compared to some others! I can see from teachers point if view that he should see those who are not meeting targets especially if they are contemplating doing the A level and I know dgd is doing well but nonetheless it sort of devalues her effort really especially as she is not fond of physics. I suppose he thinks its not worth parents going to hear their child is great etc.

I suppose at least he is giving the parents of children who need support more time ...although DD's school always state if you would like to spend more time with a teacher let us know....(but I guess that's what we are paying for).....I have parents evening on my own this year - which is a relief :-)

Teenmum I always go to parents evening on my own, DH just can't be trusted last time he went was when DD was at primary next day she was moved down two sets!!! I had to have a word with the teacher and tactfully explain what he actually meant, she was then moved back up!

My dd is going to tackle parent evening this time as she has always had to work. I am taking her and she wants me to see English teacher, the rest she will deal with which is great! I shall sit in car with my pup so I still have a car left as puppy sitter can't do that day.

Ds2has told me that Hamilton is booking from tomorrow midday - availability Aug-Dec Hamilton. Yesterday we had footballl and today he's moved on..I think it is some kind of transference. A bit of history revision about Alexander Fleming etc and he got very cross when I asked him whether he was revising earlier..."I've been revising for TWO hours mum" said in stern voice.

Dd has suddenly admitted she might consider Eng Lit A level. As it is easier than some others I could mention...

Otherwise all is calm, lots of singing and screeching from various bedrooms. Ds1 was singing La La La and Les Miserables, Dd was singing A lloyd Webber solo and Ds2 was singing a faceoff between Javert and Jean Valjean. Otherwise all is a bit frustrating, not quite sure how much or how little anyone is doing, and I am missing family life - all we seem to do is think about exams and next steps..

BlueBelle123 - I have tended to try and be quiet at parents evening when DD's dad attends because he will "normally" say the opposite to me...however we had an occasion where he managed to get DD in tears 18 months ago towards the start of parents evening....I still cringe now In fact one teacher now asks DD how she wants to play parents evening if dad is going because DD gets so nervous !

Yes- the next booking period goes on sale tomorrow.

We got our tickets a year ago in the original pre-sale.

You did well to get Presale Hamilton We didn't get our tickets until the November release ....they are still my revision bribing tool ! One of my friends is taking her daughter during HT too..

Yes - we won't talk about my fruitless attempts to get 2nd price tickets then my what the heck moment when I pressed the best available button on Ticketmaster for premium.

I think I was exceptionally lucky - I tried for 3 tickets to include DD's friend who is also mad on Hamilton - no luck so I changed to 2 tickets and the best available button - ended up with Stalls tickets Row N for £90pp the tickets next to us were £200 - the seats arent restricted view either....I do think the prices are expensive - most of the tickets were £200pp but DD states they are much more expensive in NY.

We have tickets for Hamilton too! My birthday treat
DS doing 10 plus one a MFL he managed to fit in y10, that will be 11. No way he could be doing 12 this year. School - super selective - won't allow it anyway...
He's been all day on two essay based homeworks! No music practice, no time for anything. He just works and works. I know some people don't think that's something to fret about, but when I hear of kids going for walks, playing with dogs, playing at a computer, I feel very miserable that DS just seems to work all the time. I was the same at school and I ended up at a neurologist who told my parents "this girl has to stop all homework for the next two months and that's an order". He saved my life. OK, moan over I'm hormonal

Drummersmum we feel the same way about dgd. Yes, she is doing brilliantly, but it does not come easy. She has to work so hard and we feel so guilty about it because we really can't help her much. I know she said a few months ago how she wishes she didn't have to work so hard as others seem to be able to do it much easier than her. I said they have advantages you don't...professional parents, private tutors etc which makes your achievements much better as you are doing it all on your own... Its horrible being poor and not being able to help her much, life us such a bummer sometimes

I can imagine if your DC is working excessively it must be a real worry re: their mental health and generally just burning themselves out also IRL you can't really complain about it as most people are concerned that their DC aren't doing enough so saying how hard your DC are working may not necessarily be met with a sympathetic ear. That's the great thing about this forum you can post all your worries here

@sostenueto I don't know if this reassures you or not but I don't think a tutor would be worthwhile for your DGD, except maybe for a few English sessions.
She sounds like my DS and I wouldn't consider a tutor for him either. They have all that they need in their books and they just need to commit it to memory and practice answering questions. A tutor would help with understanding, but that's not at issue, is it?