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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSEs 2018 (3)

999 replies

mmzz · 28/01/2018 08:40

Following on from:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3113917-GCSEs-2018-2

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
AlexanderHamilton · 09/02/2018 20:32

No coursework for dd. She’s got too Lit exams in May. Mist of her subjects are AQA just Edexel for English

Teenmum60 · 09/02/2018 21:12

That explains why there is a difference I think ...40% of DD's exam marks are coursework. I have sent email to exams officer just to double check though ...

LooseAtTheSeams · 09/02/2018 21:51

I have tickets for the NT Macbeth screening in May and very much looking forward to it!
TheSecond those are brilliant results Star

TheSecondOfHerName · 09/02/2018 22:10

DS2 is going to see the NT production live at the end of March. The school managed to get tickets for the whole year group (not all on the same night).

Original poster
mmzz · 10/02/2018 07:05

DS1 has been offered a place at the selective sixth form! It is conditional on some good GCSE grades, but he's likely to get the grades they are asking for.
I burst into tears when i saw the email...!

OP posts:
Stickerrocks · 10/02/2018 07:37

Well done!!! Smile

Original poster
mmzz · 10/02/2018 07:47

Thank you. I'm (unfortunately) a glass half-empty person and I've spent the last week going over all the reasons why he might not be offered a place, to the point that I was beginning to convince myself that it wouldn't happen and I was preparing for the disappointment! So the relief was huge!

The glass half-empty bit makes me good at thinking through what might go wrong and working out how to maximise the chances of avoiding it but it doesn't make for a contented life.

OP posts:
DoNotBringLulu · 10/02/2018 07:48

Well done to your ds mmzz

BlueBelle123 · 10/02/2018 08:48

Well done to your DS mmzz and you can finally get a good nights sleep! What grades does he have to get?

BlueBelle123 · 10/02/2018 08:54

mmzz more importantly is your DS pleased?

HidingFromTheWorld · 10/02/2018 09:00

Congratulations to your DS mmzz but what a week of stress filled anxiety for you! I hope it soon eases off and you can enjoy the news.

I've always been a glass half empty person, mainly due to past experiences, but it definitely makes for a head that won't switch off and will consider all possible negative results to things.

I guess, in terms of risk analysis in my life, I've pretty much got it covered! There's generally nothing I won't have considered.

I'm trying to improve, particularly as I've noticed my DD having to reassure me more and more lately and that's not something I'm overly happy about (see, I'm doing it again!).

We're starting half term with a poorly DH who's been suffering with gastroenteritis since Wednesday and seems to be getting worse, instead of better. DD and I are keeping our distance and sharing her bathroom, leaving poor DH to the ensuite I've lovingly renamed the 'contamination zone'!

Enjoy your half terms 🙂

LooseAtTheSeams · 10/02/2018 09:39

mmzz that’s brilliant news and well done to him,. I’m sure you’re relieved. Hiding oh no! Hoping for a speedy recovery.
DS is still slightly behind on coursework. He has almost finished the set composition in music so I’ve told him when he goes in for the art exam workshop he should get his ideas signed off ASAP and then run round to the music room to finish off! It’s the coursework that gives me stress rather than the thought of him doing exams.

Original poster
mmzz · 10/02/2018 09:54

Thanks, everyone. He needs 8+ for maths, 7+ for physics and four more at 5+, including English. When they say English, I don't know if they mean literature or language or any one of the two? (he should get both anyway, so it doesn't really matter).

He's currently predicted to get 10 GCSES with everything at least a 7, but more typically 8s and 9s, including 9s for maths and physics, so it should be ok.

OP posts:
notsomanky · 10/02/2018 10:30

Congratulations to your son mmzz & second

DS1 is currently shouting at FIFA 17, and due to go out to referee 2 matches. He has assured me he will do revision when he gets home.

He has 2 English mocks next week, then the rest after half term.

Just as he is coming to the end of his GCSE years, we have had to support DD through her option choices to select hers! The next few years will be interesting!

BlackPeppercorn · 10/02/2018 10:37

We're showing Lang 1 and Lang 2 AM on 5th and 8th respectively too.

TheSecondOfHerName · 10/02/2018 10:49

mmzz that's great news!

Sostenueto · 10/02/2018 11:34

Great news mmzz! Told you it would be fine! I'm sure D's will get grades as he's super intelligent. Dgds school only stated English language grade wanted for 6 th form as they said if you get grade in language you will get literature grade which IMO is rubbish as dgd better at lit than language!CakeWine

Sostenueto · 10/02/2018 11:36

Yes eng lang 5th and 8 the here along with geography 1 and 2.

drummersmum · 10/02/2018 12:29

mmzz well done, very pleased for him!
loose good luck with finishing composition. No jd today but DS woke early to work on his second composition only to find out the school system was down and he couldn't access his files. I do hate digital life. I am taking him away from revision to play some badminton today.
He has finally chosen Music, English Lit, French and EPQ. Also two extra courses on creative writing and rethoric. I had a parent hinting to me that I was letting him down because being very academic he should be doing maths and sciences. Why do people not understand that there are alternatives in life and not everyone wants to take the same path even if they're able to? Who am I to tell my child what he MUST do with his life?

BlueBelle123 · 10/02/2018 13:44

drummersmum ignore them, its just there is a concerted push for DC to do stem subjects no doubt in a few years time if the push is successful there will be a glut of people with stem subjects and some other subject will be the one that all DC should do!!

Besides I thought we are very short of DC doing languages!

LooseAtTheSeams · 10/02/2018 14:36

Drummers I love his A level choices - and all of those are very academic subjects! And very intellectually rewarding. I think languages have the reputation of being among the hardest subjects at A level and are very much respected.
The person who made the comment about STEM really doesn't know what they're talking about. Obviously, dcs who love science should do sciences because they will be motivated to do well at them and be great at it. Dcs who love other things should be doing those.
I really like the idea of doing creative writing and rhetoric. I think DS's enrichment activities are going to be focused on his music diploma!

Stickerrocks · 10/02/2018 14:37

I do think that any 6th form (super selective or otherwise) insisting on a grade 8+ for a GCSE is potentially going to miss out on some really strong students. There is going to be no rhyme nor reason to who gets stellar grades this year or next, as the schools all have so little to go on. Putting extra pressure on this year seems very unfair, especially as students getting a 7 for maths are still more than capable of getting top grades at A level.

Sostenueto · 10/02/2018 15:11

Tend to agree with stickerocks about super selective 6 th forms. They want the higher grades so the school gets better results. Figures matter more than the DC. All are like that.

Teenmum60 · 10/02/2018 15:46

Well done to your Ds mmzz. I thought those minimum grades were OK ...although 7'+ for Maths would have been nice ....Dd working today she wasn't meant too....but it's some pennies in the bank on a grey day.

We have agreed two hours revision a day apart from today - working, tomorrow because session with French Tutor and Monday because in school for DT.

BlueBelle123 · 10/02/2018 16:19

I have to admit I was surprised at the grades mmzz DS has to get, as they are lower that what I would have expected.If you look back at last years maths grade boundaries for Edexcel to get an 8 you had to get 65% and a 7 52% and if you look at the percentages, to get 65% in an exam to be admitted to a SS, I personally do not see that as onerous. You have to remember that the grade 8 also takes in to account the top of an old A so theoretically it should be easier to get all 8's than it was to get all A*'s. Personally I think the selection took place on the day they sat the entrance exam, hence why the grades asked for are very reasonable.