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Secondary education

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

Original poster

GCSEs 2018 (4 already)

999 replies

Stickerrocks · 24/02/2018 20:56

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

OP posts:
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14
sandybayley · 14/03/2018 17:47

DS1 finishes on the 19th as well with OCR ad maths. Probably the most challenging exam for him but I fear he will have run out of steam by then.

The bulk of his exams are before May half term - first is history on 2 May. It's one of his strong subjects so a good one to start with.

MaisyPops · 14/03/2018 18:55

LooseAtTheSeams
If you teach FE resit you are a saint in ky eyes. I teach post 16 in an 11-18 school so we have 1 resit class of 10ish.
Friends of mine in FE tell me horror stories of massive classes of students who can't be bothered and don't because the colleges don't seem to have any procedure to make it possible to teach properly. They're jaded and cynical about the whole thing and say students are seen as pound signs so get bums on seats.

TheSecondOfHerName · 14/03/2018 19:02

DS2 finishes on 21 June (AQA F.Maths certificate) but hopes to be well into intensive clarinet practice by then.

LooseAtTheSeams · 14/03/2018 19:36

Maisy I'm very lucky as my class is similar to yours. I work in an unusual FE college that was about to be swallowed up by just such an institution as you describe! We have narrowly escaped but I know how lucky I am, especially as I also teach Access to Higher Education.

Sostenueto · 14/03/2018 20:16

1st of May till 15th June

Sostenueto · 14/03/2018 20:16

For my dgd exams.

TheSecondOfHerName · 14/03/2018 20:19

DS2 (GCSEs) is working hard, revising effectively, keeping his sense of humour about it all. Maths Olympiad tomorrow.

DS1 (A-levels) is DOING MY FUCKING HEAD IN.

Sorry.
I do feel slightly better for that though.

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 14/03/2018 20:35

Wine Gin or whatever else takes your fancy Thesecond

OP posts:
sandybayley · 14/03/2018 20:36

Thesecond you have my sympathy. I sometimes think in families there is an 'understanding' between siblings that at any given time one will give the parents hell and another will be model child. If there is a 3rd they assume the 'under the radar' role.

The roles aren't fixed and can change at anytime. It may even be an evolutionary device to keep parents on their toes but avoid tipping them over the edge.

TheSecondOfHerName · 14/03/2018 20:49

He's the eldest of four, so his milestones are my first time helping with those things as a parent (A-level courses, driving lessons, UCAS applications, 18th birthday parties etc) .

By the time we get to 2020 (one sitting A-levels and two sitting GCSEs) I'll either be a relaxed expert or a nervous wreck.

TheSecondOfHerName · 14/03/2018 20:55

Also, DS1 is the type of person who leaves everything until the last second.
Example 1: He finally settled on his A-level subjects in the November of Y12.
Example 2: He started writing his personal statement for UCAS in the December of Y12, the weekend before the school deadline.
Example 3: He started writing his A-level coursework on Friday, the deadline is tomorrow (was meant to have started before Christmas).

BlueBelle123 · 14/03/2018 21:01

Thesecond I feel for you that was me last year with DD, but despite all the odds she is at Uni and all the stress has vanished its definitely a case of out of sight out of mind.........hang on in there its not much longer or though wouldn't want to relive results day again in a hurryShock

Teenmum60 · 14/03/2018 21:03

Second - WineWineWine

LooseAtTheSeams · 15/03/2018 08:23

Second I feel your pain - that's pushing the limits!Thanks I have a feeling DS could be similar with A level choices but I hope not!

AlwaysHungryAlwaysTired · 15/03/2018 09:06

Feeling like a really terrible mother now. I don't know the start and finish dates of DS1's exams. I need to find them out, write out a timetable, stick it on the fridge etc.

Second if it makes you feel any better about your DS1, my DS has done absolutely no revision for GCSEs since the mocks in January. He didn't really revise for them either, if I'm honest. I'm crossing my fingers that they are doing a lot of revision at school and that he will perk up nearer the time and start doing something.

My DS also has Maths Olympiad today. Reading your post reminded me so I have texted him good luck. Good luck to your DS too.

JufusMum · 15/03/2018 09:33

DD finishes 21st June (German) only two exams that week so I'm taking her to see her beloved Johnny Depp play with the Hollywood Vampires the Saturday before.

mmzz · 15/03/2018 10:00

DS1 has the Olympiad today too. He's done virtually no preparation for it (despite my numerous futile attempts), and it will be a miracle if he gets anywhere with it.

AlwaysHungryAlwaysTired · 15/03/2018 10:07

OMG! Now feeling like an even worse parent. Didn't know they were supposed to prepare for the Olympiad, I thought it was just something they do at school? They do it every year don't they?

Sostenueto · 15/03/2018 10:10

Good luck to mmzz andthesecondofhername DC in the olympiads today! They are Stars

drummersmum · 15/03/2018 10:24

loose DS has opted out of the June 19 OCR additional maths. Ironically, he is covering and working on all the add maths content because of the set he's in, but has decided he doesn't want/need to take the exam as he's not choosing Maths A-Level. He'd rather concentrate on the Maths GSCE and get a good grade on that.

Oratory1 · 15/03/2018 11:32

Oh and thanks for the prompt mmzz - User 920 is no more !! DS also debating whether to take further maths (AQA). It is a full week after his other exams so I guess he may wait to see how he feels then and try some more papers in the meantime and see how he does. He has been assured though that the syllabus for this one is similar to the GCSE he is doing so work on FM is helping with the harder gcse questions - I only hope that's right !

mmzz · 15/03/2018 11:59

@AlwaysHungryAlwaysTired Not a bad parent, just hands off (and who is to say that isn't a better way?)
If your DS qualifies for the Olympiad year after year, then that is very impressive as only 500 per school year get through

Some schools prepare their students for this sort of extra-curriculum thing, other's don't. DS's does not. Maybe yours does.

LooseAtTheSeams · 15/03/2018 12:53

Yes DS will be able to opt out of the add maths if he wants to - the teacher is covering all the material anyway in class and he says it's helped a lot with the usual maths. He is still intending to take maths A level at the moment!

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 15/03/2018 14:15

Add maths in DD's school is an after school session once a week. I think she will take the final exam simply so that she's got something to show for 5 terms work.

OP posts:
Teenmum60 · 15/03/2018 17:16

Goods news Biology and Physics now finished and next few weeks are just revision...

Spoke to DD about English Lit and it seems the only quotes they need to remember on IGCSE syllabus are from 'Of Mice and Men'.

So I think its just Computer Science/Chemistry and maybe some DT that have not been fully completed.

Hope Olympiad went well for Second/mmzz Ds's.