GCSEs 2018 (4 already)

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

How did Olympiads go? Maths finished, geography finished, chemistry still 3 units. Physics one unit left ( dgd taught herself one unit) and biology 2 units. Art up to date, Spanish finished, R.E nearly done. English nearly done.
Have emailed Head of Science about my concerns in all the sciences. Its ridiculous how far behind the teachers are! I have also said that if it turns out to be detrimental to her grades in not only the sciences, but other subjects as she tries to fit in learning stuff not covered and not being able to revise other subjects with only a few weeks to go I will infirm ofstead!

Sorry should read...I will inform ofstead.

I don't mind you infirming them, to be fair! we keep being threatened by management with an inspection!

Write to the head of year and ask to be told where you can find a copy of the complaints policy. Just asking to be given details of the policy can sometimes be enough to get the other side to take action.
OFSTED won't care, but official complaints are a pain and its usually worth dealing with any problem before it turns into an official complaint, if possible.

The only question is whether its already too late to remedy things for your DGD's year. How many units are there in total? I thought only 7 or 8, so 2 or 3 is a big %.

Olympiad - hmmm, not great. Maybe he'll get a merit (if he's very lucky) but certainly no more. A merit is the first level above a participation certificate.

DS2 did not produce any full solutions in today's Olympiad but did attempt a partial solution (some steps) for 5 of the 6 questions.

Because he didn't manage a full solution, I think this disqualifies him from getting a certificate, but he did well to qualify in the first place and I'm proud of him.

He's already done fabulous mmzz! And its a great experience anyway. Whatever he gets is more than dgd got.
Yes it is a large %. But am angry with dgd too for not telling me before. I was aware about physics but not chemistry. Grrrr! I could have done something about it long before now!

Well done to both pur Olympians!

Busy few weeks and mocks finally over and only 60 days to the first exams apparently!

Planning a revision timetable to get to first exam and see how many of each lessons are left. Not entirely sure DD is on board, but is on an up for the past few days, so expecting a crash anytime soon, after stress and anticipation of mocks has gone and the next thing is the REAL THING.

DD decided she is going to the prom but still not handed in form.

She tells me the school is doing revision classes over Easter holidays, no further details.

I think that's quite normal - we get a timetable of Easter revision classes soon, I think. DS should go to the science ones (all help is good!) but not sure he'll do any others unless the teacher tells him to.

There are quite a few revision sessions going on at DD's school over Easter too...what is annoying is that a few are on the same day but I suppose it is difficult trying to coordinate (when girls do different subjects)and its good that the teachers are giving up their holiday.

A bit of an AIBU but I need to tell someone!
I’m feeling a bit annoyed following a conversation with my neighbour this morning. Her eldest is in year 9. I haven’t spoken to her for at least six months, but this morning I bumped into her in the street.

She told me, in a lot of detail, about her son’s GCSE choices, but she didn't ask after my sons at all. Then she asked me to arrange a coffee with her so I can tell her everything I know about what to expect regarding doing the new GCSEs. She wants her son to start revising every evening from September in year 10. I try telling her that its more usual to wait until year 11 for that sort of thing, but she’s not listening.

Finally, after half an hour, she remembers to ask if my DC are fine, and I tell her that I am really happy because DS1 has the place at the selective sixth form. She then calls him a “geek”. I say that's not very fair but she doubles down and then says she has to go but could I make sure to arrange that coffee with her so she can pick my brains?

Then she left and I stood staring after her wondering why she thinks its acceptable to insult my DC and then ask me for a favour?

Wtf? Mmzz. Tell her to go forth next time you see her!
Seriously, if she asks again, say sorry you have no time to spare to help other peoples children and walk off with nose in air!

Deep breath mmzz ...some people don't engage brain before opening mouth.

I'm having one of those weeks where everything irritates me ...I think I am moving from popping bubble wrap to being in need of a padded cell. I'm over-invested time in Dd's friendship issues (where I am a bit disappointed with DD but can also understand her actions - roll on exam leave). Also trying to sort out what she is doing for her birthday is driving crazy.

To be honest, she has form. When they were little, our DC played together. Her oldest is the same age as my youngest, so they were always playing together in the holidays and at weekends etc. The mother and I had coffee regularly and we would babysit for each other from time to time. I held a key for her and vice versa.

All was fine until one day 5 years ago, when DS1 got a place at the widely perceived better secondary school in our town. Its a religious school so her son would be unlikely to get a place, however, he would get into the school near our homes which also has a strong reputation. I met her in the supermarket a few hours after I'd received the offer email and i told her. until that moment, i had no idea that she had any view on it at all. Standing in the middle of the supermarket she let me know that she thought it was a racist system (we're both white british), and what did I have to say about the fact her child was unlikely to get a place there two years later??
I left shocked at the rant, but thinking it out of character. However, for the next few months she cut me dead in the street whenever she saw me. So, that's where our friendship ended.
She's only spoken to me on three occasions for any length since then (including today), and two of those times she wanted a favour.

Teenmum60 - how many more weeks?

She breaks up next Friday, sometime over Easter I am trying to arrange a Birthday celebration (but DD struggling with who to invite etc given all the friendship issues...they are quite a fickle complicated group). She then has 2.5 weeks in school before exam leave after Easter.

Go away for a few days over her birthday. Then take her out to a posh restaurant for dinner. That way, she can say she did something nice, but it would just have been impossible to arrange a party for her birthday.

I've got similar plans for DS's 16th as we've had a few issues come to a head this week and he could do without having his face rubbed in it.

That's probably why i mind what the neighbour said so much. I objected but walked away thinking that i hope that's not what other people are thinking, especially DS's peers.

Its tough with kids - my dd wouldn't mind being labeled geeky because I think she see's herself slightly in that vain (compared to others). I wouldn't worry too much about peers although I know your DS will if he is sensitive. Just think about whether he really wants to go to the SS though...its a wonderful opportunity but if it's not what he wants he may well flourish as well where he is because he will be happier.

DD is determined to do something with friends but doesn't know how to handle it and neither do I! She see's 16 has an important birthday so I want to make it special but without input from DD it's very difficult. She's torn between two friends who are not getting on - thankfully has it happens both are leaving the school.

I don’t think Geek is an insult, although your neighbour may have thought it was mmzz! That’s their problem. She was very cheeky all round, though!

mmzz I would use the line that the GCSEs her son will take will be so much easier than the ones ours are taking, because they will at least know what to expect, then flounce off. DD is proud to be a geek.

Teen As 16 is meant to be an important birthday in your DD's eyes, make it an important family occasion, so there is relatively little time left to fret over friends. I foolishly bought 2 lots of tickets to 2 big gigs for DD's birthday present, for her and former BF. Now I wish I hadn't, as it's really tough knowing that DD really wanted FBF there and has been totally let down by the whole friendship group.

I've finally received a reply from school regarding being dropped from higher paper to foundation in Physics and Biology, they have put him back up to higher for biology as when they put him in they hadn't had the result of his last test but now after my query they can see his last 3 results were E A A. Still in foundation for physics after results of F C C.
I'm so pleased I challenged this, hopefully now I know, he can concentrate on physics to improve by the end of Y10, it good to see he's made progress with each test though.

Sounds to me mmzz that your neighbour is jealous and spiteful. I wouldn’t be too forthcoming with any favours

Glad you're sorted mytime. I didn't realise you could do higher or foundation if you were taking triple science, as all the foundation students take combined science here.