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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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
Sostenueto · 18/02/2018 19:12

For my A level art I screen printed material with my design and my friend who was doing needlework A level made a two piece suit out if it and as we both had to put an exhibition up as part of A levels we both used it in our exhibitions!

Stickerrocks · 18/02/2018 19:34

We had a leaving do in the school hall catered for by the home ec students in the year below. When I did the catering I had to dress up as a rabbit (bunny, not bunny girl!) to waitress, as it was closer to Easter than to leaving school. In the 5th year our dress code for the party was along the lines of "what you would wear to an interview" so I had a black suit from Dotty P's with shoulder pads just like Dynasty. It was only 2 years later at the private boys school I went to for 6th form that the full blown Laura Ashley ballgowns were out in full force. It's still upstairs in the roof somewhere.

Oddsocks15 · 18/02/2018 19:36

mmzz yep i feel sorry for girls too, I would have hated the pressure of looking good in a prom dress.

Not Y11 related but you guys are ace! Any advice for my DTs (both boys), who both have a low reading and spelling age and a mild learning disability. We have been pushing school for support and they now have an online reading intervention (Lexia) and SENCo looking at getting a laptop to use in some lessons with a view to using it in their exams. They are so horizontal about their learning and soooo different from DD. Any advice?

lljkk · 18/02/2018 19:44

(Sorry I can't comment on the twins or reading behindness)

yr11 DD is not aware of any date when teaching stops & they go on pure study leave.

Being foreign, I can only say that DC cover about the same material (or same difficulty, for English & history) in their lessons that we did in 1980s, at same age. Much of the science is well advanced, they learn things in primary that I didn't learn until university. Our parents were pretty invested in how we did.

Prom was big deal but I couldn't figure out how to do it so didn't bother. DD is looking forward to her Prom, hugely! Plan to take a VBFF as her date since forever.

(DD just asked me when I got my Univ degrees... up to some mischief)

Stickerrocks · 18/02/2018 19:54

Odd This won't help in pushing them at school, but I would suggest starting to build up a folder of achievements for them both, whether that is a "star of the week" certificate, taking part in anything in school or outside, or simply trips, volunteering or outside activities they have enjoyed. I found DD's college & headgirl applications stressful enough when she had a wealth of interesting things to include and I can't imagine how tricky it would be to deal with 2 at the same time.

Then start to talk about what they want to do next now, whether that is a vocational course or an apprenticeship. Begin to look at the options available and try to build up a portfolio of skills which will support their choices. So if it's catering, get them to start baking cakes & take pics of the results, something arty, do the same, something more practical, jot down when they've mastered building an Ikea Billy bookcase and so on. It will give them something to talk about in interviews and help them see where their talents lie.

Teenmum60 · 18/02/2018 20:12

Oddsocks - think Stickerrocks advice is good.

What are there interests - are there any computer games that would engage them in some type of reading that would increase their vocab ?
Buying magazines about things they are interested in - anything to engage them in reading more - little and often.
If you can afford too - maybe a tutor (I cannot tell you how much I value Dd's French tutor - we turned around a subject DD was not engaged in and about to drop to a subject she is sort of enjoying and will probably get a decent GCSE grade in now).

Someone said to me ages ago that the hardest role as a parent was enabling your teenager (girl), to leave school with her self esteem in tact - I think its so true ! Dd does volunteering at Brownies and its one of the best things I have engaged her in because it really boosts her self esteem... Materialism is so in your face at DD's school that it is so easy to forget how fortunate you are compared to allot of people.

Oddsocks15 · 18/02/2018 21:02

I knew you would ace it, DT like computer games, will try that avenue. Thanks teen and stickerrocks

Original poster
mmzz · 18/02/2018 21:25

@Oddsocks15 how old are they? And what is the learning disability (if you don't mind saying)?

The thing to do is to keep them reading for pleasure, which might be easier said than done. Finding books that interest them is the trick. I found audio books really helped keep the interest in books. I used to put them on in the car and they'd sit in complete silence listening intently. I've been doing that since Ronald Dahl but they still like them now. I can say which books my boys liked, and I can recommend some good books but it's a matter of taste.

I used to test their spelling on car journeys too. They've always liked quizzes though.

If you can't get them to read books, then articles are better than nothing. DS1 reads the BBC sport website every time he gets a chance, for example.

I can't think of anything that will cure being laid back though! TBH, I'm not sure that it is something to want to change.

OP posts:
Original poster
mmzz · 18/02/2018 21:28

Insignia by sj Kincaid is a good book for ks3 boys who like video games...

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Stickerrocks · 18/02/2018 21:39

Yes to audio books. DD still falls asleep some nights to a collection of Horrible Histories which came free with a newspaper years ago. I'm sure she sneaks in Paddington and Winnie the Pooh sometimes too!

HidingFromTheWorld · 18/02/2018 21:59

Stressful half term here for various reasons. DD had revision homework and has completed most of it ready for return to school tomorrow.

She thinks most of the curriculum will be taught by Easter, so just over 5 weeks. They don’t have study leave at her school, so they’ll be doing revision during lessons from April onwards.

She has been awarded discretionary study leave once the examinations commence in order to manage her health, which she will need as she’s already struggling. Very mindful of her mental health, particularly as it’s only two months since a school acquaintance killed herself. Am reassuring and acknowledging that, while this is an important time, it’s not something to fall apart over.

We tried to use the Scholastic 9-1 revision app earlier which sounds good in principle, but is perhaps a little lacking in practice as it’s still very new. It downloads revision content based on the exams being taken and the dates, but we couldn’t easily identify how to amend revision dates easily without having to adjust each day manually!

Has anyone else used this app?

Oddsocks15 · 18/02/2018 22:25

mmzz

First ever appointment with secondary school SENCO before half term and that was because I requested it. they are in year 9!! Shock and are 14.

SENCO sent home a report over the weekend and it says “cognition and learning. MLD”

Will try audio books

Hiding got a few revision apps but DD doesn’t use them but so sorry to hear what has happened at your DDs school.

Original poster
mmzz · 18/02/2018 22:32

Try the insignia book. It's about a boy gamer who gets plucked from nowhere to go to an elite academy where he can hone his virtual reality video game skills to win inter-continental wars that are being fought in space.

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Oddsocks15 · 18/02/2018 22:39

mmzz thanks Flowers for the tip, your description of the book made me chuckle. I read it in a very matter of fact way.

Original poster
mmzz · 18/02/2018 22:43

I've listened to so many of these books, I have become inured to them. You should hear my summaries of football matches though... they ran out, kicked the ball about a bit, red team scored, blue played attacked red player and it looked vicious, must have hurt, half time, back again, nothing else happened. Match over.

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Teenmum60 · 18/02/2018 22:45

Maybe some family board games too that are word based ?

Oddsocks15 · 19/02/2018 17:39

How is it going for everyone DCs now they are back to school after half term?

Sostenueto · 19/02/2018 17:58

First day back and dgd comes home with 3 lots of homework. Don't know if she will have time to revise tonight and she's now throwing a strop about it!

drummersmum · 19/02/2018 18:29

Revision? Not here. We've come back to Latin test and oral MFL mock, but mainly to school musical, rehearsing till 10pm tonight which means DS will have spent 14 hours in school today...and everyday the rest of the week...(is that officially boarding Grin?) Friday night I will pick up the pieces, put him together again with glue and love, and then see him off to jd early Saturday morning, always watchful of any signs warning it's all too much.
sostenuto that's a heavy start... With so much homework, forget revision!

LooseAtTheSeams · 19/02/2018 18:44

Oh my word, drummers - that sounds very full on! It's going to be a great musical, I'm sure but I can see why you're keeping a close eye on him with jd as well.
DS is doing band practice and lesson tonight so no revision here.

AlexanderHamilton · 19/02/2018 19:15

Half term has just started today. We are currently packing as we are off to London tomorrow to watch Hamilton. Dd is currently upstairs singing ‘Burn’

She’s got an English paper to complete so I guess she will have to do that Saturday when we get back.

Teenmum60 · 19/02/2018 19:23

Alexander - hope you have a great time in London and enjoy Hamilton.

Drummers - hope musical goes well.

sostenuto I think I would be stroppy with so much homework on first day back

Dd at dad's tonight so only said quick hello when I dropped of PE kit...she seemed in good spirits ...

BlueBelle123 · 19/02/2018 19:59

DS has no homework so he has just sat down to do an hours revision.

Over diner I was saying that its unfair for those DC who can't afford the revision guides or whose parents think that its the schoo'sl responsibility to provide everything but he said at his school if your parents won't get the guide then you get given one, apparently it comes out of that department's budget.........I was really heartened to hear thatSmile

Sostenueto · 19/02/2018 20:10

2 and a half hours doing homework
If this carries on I will have to get in touch with school and see what the heck is going on!

Teenmum60 · 19/02/2018 20:22

Sostenueto - Is most of it science ?

BlueBelle123 That's good news about revision guides.

Dd's school didnt seem to have a formal policy on revision guides ....We were just recommended to buy the science revision guides (over 2 years ago - 3 yr program). The school sent out a request to parents if they wanted to order the Maths guide at a reduced price via the school. I contacted the Computer Science teacher to ask if they did the same for CS and was told NO and go out and buy it if I felt the need ! DD seems to be using a few from school - I think I have seen the French revision guide floating around and oddly enough an AQA English revision guide from school (they are doing Edexcel exams?) I purchased the wrong DT guide but the material is similar and a few other bits and pieces.