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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:
Thread gallery
14
Sostenueto · 28/02/2018 13:43

Thanks hiding am in Suffolk and yes must be heading for 20 cm here. No buses no trains no nothing. Dgd bored and stressed I'm bored of repeating myself and the pup is manic. Am worried about dd getting home from work tonight. There's no way I can get to her. It may look pretty in the snow but it really is not. Hope you OK your end hidingfromtheworld?

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/02/2018 14:43

Sostenueto that sounds bad - I hope your dd is able to leave work early or at least has a reasonable route back - it's really awful if the roads aren't cleared.
Clearly, pup is NOT helping matters! Thanks
My cat is completely spooked by snow. He has this awful habit of drinking rainwater from a compost bin lid on the garden - this morning he was forced to drink the fresh water I put down for him. He's really annoyed with me as I, of course, am to blame for snow.

LooseAtTheSeams · 28/02/2018 14:44

Hiding hope you're safe and warm Thanks

HidingFromTheWorld · 28/02/2018 15:35

Thank you Loose and Sostenueto - sun has appeared here now and, at last measure, we had 30+cm of snow directly outside the front door!

DD is persevering, but it’s all homework, rather than any self directed revision and she’s quite frustrated as she feels she’s not making enough headway.

Hoping to sit down and try and make a plan of action, as best we can, at the weekend. Also reassured her that it is, in itself, a form of revision, so not to panic.

Not a fan of snow, it was pretty to look at first thing, but I’d quite like it to leave now.

Sostenueto - hope DD has a safe journey home.

Oddsocks15 · 28/02/2018 17:03

Stay safe in the snow everyone

Sostenueto · 28/02/2018 18:31

Thanks loose et al. Am waiting for dd to finish work at 7 pm ( she is a senior in nursing home and works 12 hour shifts) and to ring me if taxi manages to get to her to take her home. I may have to go get her but have no idea his I'm going to that. I have kept car clear if snow all day just in case but everything now ice and wind chill of -10. She may have to stay where she is I did warn her yesterday and was told I'm just panicking. I bet she is panicking now!

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 28/02/2018 20:03

Message for Don't: the theatre has tweeted that all shows will go ahead without refunds, but you can call in advance to exchange your tickets for another date if worried. I don't think our paths will cross as I'll be leaving work a couple of hours before you get there.

OP posts:
mmzz · 28/02/2018 20:15

We've got 1cm of snow, but traffic is at a standstill. However, my mum phoned me from Scotland today to say that there is snow piled high against all her external doors and the drifting snow has obliterated all the windows. It's a bit like living in an igloo.
Our snow will be gone by the weekend, but I looked at the weather forecast and it's not due to go above freezing where my mum lives for about a week. So even when it stops snowing, it won't melt.
I hope she's got enough food in to last.

Teenmum60 · 28/02/2018 20:29

Hope everyone is warm and safe and your mum has enough food mmzz and your DD manages to get home Sostenueto

We probably have a few cm's here ...ventured into London today (have been putting off appointments all week) but was fine trains ran on time and was back home by 4.15pm.

Just hoping the roads are OK tomorrow...

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 28/02/2018 20:36

DD's school says they will let us know by midday tmw if they are going to shut early. Well that's useful! Either shut for the day or don't, so those of us who work don't have to rescue them part way through the working day.

OP posts:
DoNotBringLulu · 28/02/2018 20:52

Sticker thanks very much for alerting me to the twitter message, I've just logged on there.....

I completely agree about either shut for the day or don't, what a pain.

mmzz I hope your Mum is OK is she in a red weather warning area?

Sos hope your dd gets home

mmzz · 28/02/2018 21:22

DoNot yes DM is in the red warning area.
If I'm honest, I thought the naming of the storms and the red warning were a result of the Met Office trying to make itself more central to life in the UK since it lost the income from the BBC contract. However, I'm beginning to worry about DM (who lives alone and had mobility issues) and realise that the risk is not exaggerated.

mmzz · 28/02/2018 21:23

Sost, isn't your DD home yet?

androbbob · 28/02/2018 22:59

All caught up here!

Lots of similar stories - DD has mocks starting Friday and then all of next week. We actually have snow fresh in last few hours but the roads are not too bad. Tuesday school was open and I laughed saying even it if was shut they would ask Yr 11 to attend. I can drive her to school and its only a 1 mile walk, so not too bad. DS is still at primary school further away and that was open - we are coastal on NW and rarely get snow, and DD said they had a whole school snowball fight, including teachers. I can just imagine the teachers loving throwing snowballs at their least favourite pupils with glee.

Some revision being done - but not in great quantities but at least some being done.

Lets see what tomorrow brings with the weather. Stay safe people!

AlexanderHamilton · 01/03/2018 07:39

Ds’s School closed early yesterday & is closed today. I wanted Dd & dh to stop in the Travelodge last nUgh the but it was completely clear where they were so they came home. But the local roads are bad. They’ve set off this morning & Dd is texting me to say she’s terrified!

AlexanderHamilton · 01/03/2018 07:48

Sostenuto did your Dd get home safely last night?

Sostenueto · 01/03/2018 07:57

Had to rescue dd last night as taxi did not come and she had to get home. Took me over an hour and a half there and back. Was worried sick I'd get stuck. Dgd at my hone with pup worried too but got home safe but very very cold. Then as I hobbled through door power cut! But OK after half hour. I just went to bed so sorry I didn't answer anyone.
Mmzz praying your DM is OK.
Town still cut off here but dd got to work via taxi and took overnight bag just in case as no way I'm rescuing her again. Main roads are clear this morning dd says.
All keep safe and warm. Think the east has had its share of snow, its going to be Scotland and south me thinks.
Flowers to all.

LooseAtTheSeams · 01/03/2018 08:37

Sostenueto relieved to hear your dd is ok - definitely safer staying at work tonight if it carries on like this, so at least you and dgd would have peace of mind. Hope power cut over? Some of our taps have frozen but fine otherwise!
mmzz hope your mum is ok - very worrying for her and you.Thanks
Schools open here but notice tube into work is quieter than usual and I'm not convinced I'll see too many students in college today!

Sostenueto · 01/03/2018 08:45

Thanks looseFlowers all schools shut here and in Norfolk. Its the damn wind, everything frozen solid must be -10 outside. Poor pup cannot go for walk and is hypo with excess energy. Dgd missing her mum ( bless) loves being with me but I'm sure she is bored brainless.
One more day then dd off work at weekend and I can get a rest and dgd can go home to mum. ( I will miss her).

Teenmum60 · 01/03/2018 10:24

Snowing and gusting here pretty much all morning so far but still not too bad....DD at her dad's today and tomorrow - school is on edge of town centre so still open - roads clear (they do not like to close although would be surprised if everyone is in given that girls come in on bus 20 mile plus radius).

Just put some bread out for the birds ...they dont sound very happy all the berry's have gone off the tree in garden.

Stay warm and safe everyone .. working from home but contemplating whether to venture out to Costa for 1hr

DoNotBringLulu · 01/03/2018 11:24

School is open. Ds has gone in wearing black walking boots, I should think they will turn a blind eye at least they are black! It looks like we will miss the really bad weather here. All crossed.

Ds has 2nd English Lit mock - An Inspector Calls and the poems. He doesn't think he'll do very well, but he has been working on the poems just lately. He said that last time about RS and got a 5. Room to improve on that in the real thing.

I am just about to start a thread in a bit about History, he is struggling and says he knows the work but can't analyse the sources in the time he's allowed, and finds it difficult to condense the ideas into an exam answer. I did History A Level in 1989 and I can help him, thinking of suggesting a power hour for him, where you pick an exam question, revise it then time and answer the question while timing himself.

Sostenu glad to hear you got your dd home safely.

MaisyPops · 01/03/2018 11:29

School is open. Ds has gone in wearing black walking boots, I should think they will turn a blind eye at least they are black!
I wouldn't worry at a.
We were open Monday. We have a sensible uniform but strictly upheld. We didn't give a damn what was on their feet on Monday. No notes from parents. No 'permission' from school for different footwear just common sense all round. We had leather boots, active shoes, walking boots etc. Nobody cared.

Some of my students even bring fluffy socks in when it's freezing, take their shoes off under the desk and put fluffy socks on. I don't bat an eye lid.

FrLukeDuke · 01/03/2018 11:37

Last year dd wore trainers to school in the snow and they were allowed to keep them on all day. Today they have said they can wear suitable warm clothing and footwear instead of uniform. Usually strict uniform/no trainers

Teenmum60 · 01/03/2018 11:47

DoNotBringLulu DD has a similar problem with History but I feel she is under so much pressure because of slow hand writing (hypermobility) that she is not concentrating on what she has been asked in the question. The school have done lots of work in ensuring that questions are understood and how to answer questions so I do think its more to do with the pressure of finishing the exam...DD stated they finish the syllabus this week or next week so hoping there is time for teacher to spend a little 121 with the girls ...I have DD's mock paper so hoping that we can go through this and DD can answer the same questions again (more facts and less waffle). I'm wishing that I had pursued a handwriting analysis for extra time because its clearly evident from what the teachers have said that DD is having adjust the way she works because of slow handwriting (answering every other question in some classes). It hasnt made a massive difference to allot of subjects because she's bright but she definitely works at a disadvantage.

Hoping we get to see Paediatrician in next month so address issues with joints.

DoNotBringLulu · 01/03/2018 11:58

Maisypops that's reassuring, thanks! I think many of the teachers are sensible. On the school parents group facebook page some parents said they haven't sent their kids in today as the heating is on the blink. However, there are heaters in the classrooms that are affected....if the school is open my two will go in but it's nice to know there is some sense. They've said normal school uniform but I am sure there is respect for those kids who have made it in. It is snowing lightly here.

Teenmum60 my ds has a laptop in exams and 25% extra time. Even with these he is finding it difficult. He's written himself bullet points of how to analyse these sources. Great idea about the mock paper. I will ask his History teacher if we can have it.