GCSEs 2018 (4 already)

[Stickerrocks]

Following on from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3152060-GCSEs-2018-3

Banana yellow & blue here too, I only drove by last week.

MMZZ we are here for each other until the end of August at least.

After the umpteenth conversation with Ds about why he's dragging his feet about revising, I think I finally got to the bottom of it this morning:
naivety.
He's at a comprehensive and that means all abilities and all attitudes to the value of education and the point of qualifications. He's in the top set for everything and I thought that meant he more or less adopted the attitudes and habits of the rest of the top set. But no, apparently not. He says the top set are now immersed in revising, and some of the second sets, but otherwise year 11 students are resisting doing any work.
As an example, one of his subjects has low uptake, so the class has more mixed attainment levels and DS sits in a row of 4 boys. Every time the teacher says that they should be doing x,y or z in their own time to prepare for the exams, the 3 boys next to DS all start swearing at the teacher and refusing to consider it.
So, DS thinks that he's doing more than most and I'm unreasonable to suggest what he's doing is inadequate.
Technically, he's right: he is doing more than "most", its just that "most" includes a lot of people with low ambitions.

TBH I feel sorry for the teacher. You can bet that next month, those boys who've been ignoring the teacher's pleas that they pay attention since September 2016, will expect the teacher to give up their free time in March/ April and May and by April, when they learn that they are on course for low grades, they'll be loudly proclaiming that its the teacher's fault and that the teacher is "fing sht".

Hi joining in and realising that in 4 months they'll all be over. We have had a German Exchange student here this week and needless to say her English is definitely better than DS's German despite an 8/9 prediction!!

Phew mmzz is here

Phew mmzz is here

umm... am I being too opinionated?

Definitely not, all opinions & the odd bit of controversy welcome.

Hello Allthebest. I don't think modern languages are a particular strength for many of the DC being discussed here, but it is definitely embarrassing how the standard needed to get a stellar grade in the UK would be pitiful in another country.

Thank you sticker for new thread!

Picked up DS and friend from orchestra rehearsal this morning and dropped in ‘So, just nine and a half weeks til that first exam, then!’

Stunned silence and a VERY focussed afternoon ensued!

Allthebest German grammar is much harder, though! And she'll have started learning English earlier.
I honestly can't tell what the right level of revision is so I refuse to panic. I think mostly it's going ok at this stage. I just keep boggling at the sheer number of subjects and wondering if DS can keep all the info in his head long enough!
mmzz DS2 is very down on the fact that history and geography aren't set at his school. I've told him I'm pretty sure they are for GCSE, though!

DD thrives on being un-set for history & geography, as she loves coming top rather than just being averagely top (if you get my drift) in maths etc. Then again, she l8ves the subjects & teachers, so would probably revise those regardless. Now RE is another matter...

At DS's school none of the GCSE options are set due to timetabling I just don't think its possible and he's at a school with 1500 pupils.

250 per year group here.

Kingscote you are mean!

Ds is set for everything, its just that the subjects that some subjects were available in multiple columns when they did their GCSE choices in year 9. The upshot is that whilst 90 people chose History (for example), only 35 chose it in the second column, so that only makes one class and they are all in one class together.

I can't say either of my DSes thrive in mixed ability sets. DS2 is delighted to suddenly find the pace of the work so easy that he can get above the midway point without any effort at all. Ds1, apparently, uses some fairly lax attitudes to studying from those who typically get 2s and 3s as his benchmark. For the subjects that they aren't good at - art etc - they just found it disheartening to contemplate how bad they really are.

Nooooo way mmzz missed you on this new thread

Hello all, have been keeping up with everything but not been in a position emotionally to post as my own health conditions have relapsed over the last week or so and poor DD is back on antibiotics due to a further flare up.

Really taking comfort in reading about your experiences, good and bad, as it does prove we’re not alone in this stressful time.

Sending best wishes to you all.

Dropping back into the thread. Not much happening in the way of revision this weekend after hockey match yesterday and rugby training today. DS1 has had homework though so I think that counts.

Feel for you with all the emotional stuff happening with DDs. DD1 is 14 and it's already pretty tough - I dread to think what she'll be going through in 2 years time.

Hi to snozzlemaid and Allthebest.

Hope everyone's health improves - DC's and Mums....

Beginning to realise that my DD is all talk and little action she likes to impress me by looking like she is focused but still running on 1st gear (but I guess I should be pleased that the engine is switched on).

DD did do two hours homework this afternoon (plus French this morning) but I think she has a stopwatch which times to the second of when to stop....

School are very hands on so I think an email may go into form tutor or HOY just asking them for a gentle nudge in right direction... or maybe reviewing her revision timetable each week just to see whether she is doing enough and keeping up...so I can just stay in background.

Hiding wishing you and DD good health, this process can be stressful enough without the added complication of health worries

Thank you stickerrocks for the new thread and welcome to the recent arrivals.

DD has her GCSE options evening this week. DS1 is waiting to find out how he did in his A-level mocks before accepting UCAS offers. DS2 is plodding on with the GCSE revision. I'm on an repeating 2 year cycle of helping my children jump through educational hoops.

(I haven't forgotten DS3, but his school has a three-year KS3 so no decisions to make this year)

Or even KS4. I'm trying to fill up the new thread single-handedly. 😂

Very positive chat with DD just now. She's got an action plan for breaks & lunchtime tomorrow and she is absolutely determined to remain confident in class, smile and answer questions as usual whilst sitting between 2 of the little madams. I've got a day off tomorrow as I worked today, so she can text me if she has a wobble. She's not going to discuss it with anyone and if any of the former friends mention the text from hell, she will smile sweetly and ask if they feel better for sending it, before walking off in a dignified manner (then running into the toilets for a quick blub!)

DD is using the post it notes I bought her.... it’s the small things...

Last mocks next week, pass the

The2nd what does DS want to take & where? Looking forward to hearing what typical offers are these days. I had to get ABB or EE. Ended up taking the pressure off & going for the easy option. At least all the offers from college for most of our DCs are very generic except for maths.

Good luck to your DD Stickerrocks - just let your DD be prepared in case the girls change seats ... The QB in DD's friendship group fell out with my DD last year and didnt speak to her for 3 weeks (DD handled it well because most of the group sat on fence and didnt take sides and in fact Dd's closest friend did the same to QB in protest over the way she was treating DD). However QB decided to really push a button when things were not going her way (flock didst follow) and moved seats to the only other seat in Maths leaving DD sitting on her own with no where to move too which did reduce my DD to tears.... Girls !!!

I dont now how all you mums cope with 2/3/4 DC's one is enough !