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Secondary education

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

Original poster

GCSEs 2018 (5 & a puppy, but no kittens)

999 replies

Stickerrocks · 22/03/2018 22:48

Here we go again.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3177476-GCSEs-2018-4-already

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Clavinova · 09/04/2018 11:56

mmzz
Great news!

LooseAtTheSeams · 09/04/2018 12:15

good news mmzz - glad there's a solution!
DS and I went through the school revision timetable and he's worked out when he wants to revise at home and when he's going into school. Tomorrow is just for the afternoon but it's quite full-on after that. It's a juggling act just trying to schedule revision for 11 GCSEs but he can really only do his best.

HesMyLobster · 09/04/2018 12:45

mmzz glad there's a solution for your ds, been thinking about him and his workload. He sounds extremely conscientious, and deserves to do well.

DD went back to school this morning with a skip and a smile, hoping she's still as upbeat when she gets home.

She's sent me a text with mock results that she got back this morning and it's all good news so far.

English is the subject that has caused her the most trouble over the past 2 years - mostly through teaching issues,
(unqualified teacher for whole of yr10, resulting in a level 3 in end of yr 10 mocks. That was the average grade for a top set English class predicted mostly 7s and 8s. 7 different teachers so far in yr 11, but finally some consistency for the last half term with head of English taking over their lessons)

But she's just found out she got a 7 in the recent mock, and only 2 Marks off an 8!
She's over the moon!

mmzz · 09/04/2018 13:30

@HesMyLobster Thank you, that's really kind of you to say that about DS.

But wow! Your DD is doing extremely well to get those grades against the backdrop of such a high teacher turnover.

JufusMum · 09/04/2018 14:34

Lobster - I feel you.

DD has had 17, yes 17 English teachers since year 8. I've employed a tutor for an hour a week and she went from a 4 to a 7 in two months.

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 09/04/2018 17:48

How is 17 even possible?!

OP posts:
mmzz · 09/04/2018 17:51

17 is shocking, isn't it?

Sostenueto · 09/04/2018 21:01

17? That should be reported to the media!Shock then to OfstedAngry that is absolutely disgusting!Shock

Teenmum60 · 09/04/2018 22:37

Not sure but assume my DD is probably the only one on this thread who is doing coursework for Eng Lang/Lit. I know the coursework is being marked/moderated by English department using Exemplar papers sent by exam board...but I was reading some information from another source that stated that coursework is normally marked and returned to DC before being sent off to exam boards but not sure at what stage this is done ...I suppose it could have two consequences a boost if the marks are good or the opposite if marks are not as good as expected...does anyone know whether coursework is returned before exams? I assume so given that DD will not be in school after the 4th May.

Jufusmum/Lobster - well done to both your DD's at turning things around when circumstances are out of their control...

Oratory1 · 09/04/2018 23:59

DS did course work too. I’m so glad he did given his struggles with exams and he worked hard on it. It was all done in year 10 so got it out of the way - tho disadvantage being they were a year younger and may write better or in a more mature way now. in answer to your question he was given a mark but that was the teachers mark so we know there is a risk it may yet get moderated down either by the school or the exam board so not relying on it.

Teenmum60 · 10/04/2018 00:22

Thanks, Oratory ...I think DD has been working on her coursework over a 2 year period so a mixture of work has been submitted (I think 4 pieces in total). I think DD stated that NOT all work is submitted to the exam board (I think there are 87 girls in yr). There was a risk of her work being moderated up or down; by the school or exam board. Boundaries could be high/low if exemplar papers used to mark the DC's papers were regarded by the school marker has below or above what they would expect for the given grade. I guess this is why grade boundaries are higher for an exam that involves coursework and still subject to the coursework being inline with grade achieved in the final exam in May/June. Still happy to have 40% of exam out of the way given DD's hypermobility :-)

JufusMum · 10/04/2018 08:18

All...yes 17. Some teachers only stayed for a week or just one lesson. That's why we are running from that place as fast as we can after GCSEs. They actually asked her why she hasn't applied to Sixth Form there? Really? 3rd from bottom in league tables and beaten by two SEN schools and the Pupil Referral Unit! The place is a real mess.

BlueBelle123 · 10/04/2018 08:43

JufusMum wishing your DD the best of luck for her exams, this process is tough enough let along when your school just doesn't measure up!

What's her 6th form option like, are the entry requirements achievable?

Teenmum60 · 10/04/2018 08:56

Jufusmum - I hope exams go well sounds like you have done everything you can ...there does seem to be some schools with a high turnover of staff - seems to be on either end of the scale, the poor performing and the highest performing for different reasons.

DD's interview today and I'm definitely more nervous than DD... it is just a backup school but it would be nice if DD was offered a place to boost her confidence. In many ways, I think it performs better than DD's current school in terms of it's not selective but still manages to get an achievement 8 of 61.5 and the progress 8 is very good...I think she is expected to be there for 2 hours!

LooseAtTheSeams · 10/04/2018 08:58

Jufus that’s just awful but huge respect to your Dd for turning things round. That is a shocking state of affairs at school, though.
DS doesn’t know how lucky he is! I won’t say all the exam prep was done yesterday because it wasn’t, but enough to be able to ignore it until the end of the week and he can press ahead with other revision now.

LooseAtTheSeams · 10/04/2018 08:59

Teenmum just saw your post - good luck with the interview today!

JufusMum · 10/04/2018 09:02

Teenmum - good luck to your DD!

Bluebelle - well she has chosen the highest performing Sixth Form in the next town to us, so very hard to get into. But the kids there are way more academic so that suits DD as most at her school are either trouble makers or coasters. She needs an average of a 5 to get in plus a 6 in English Language and a 7 in RE. RE is totally doable - it's her best subject. English she got a 4 in the first mock, a 6 in the second and an 8 in the third. So who knows? Private tutor is mega though(but expensive). 30 places available for out of catchment kids in chosen Sixth Form and they have approximately 70 applicants per year. It's a bunfight. They are also the last school to send out offers so sitting in tenterhooks.
She has an offer from second choice so if first choice don't offer she does have an option. Also an offer from the college but they only do BTEC not A Level and she would rather do A Levels.

BlueBelle123 · 10/04/2018 09:08

Fingers crossed that your DD gets an offer, she's clearly able given how she's managed to turn English around in such a short space of time.

On the plus side I think your DD's school experience will make her a lot more driven and resilient than the average teen which will stand her in good stead for the future! Smile

BlueBelle123 · 10/04/2018 09:09

Teen good luck to your DD I am sure she will wow them! Smile

Oratory1 · 10/04/2018 09:10

Keeping fingers crossed for you today teenmum and for all those hoping to move schools. Grateful that one thing lessening the stress of these exams is there is nothing riding on it re sixth form and we're both looking forward to next year. Under no illusions that A levels will be easy but hoping the work ethic and interest in subjects he has found over last few months will stand him in good stead even if he doesn't get the results he deserves in the summer.

Teenmum60 · 10/04/2018 09:43

Thank you - I am almost certain that DD will be staying on at present school too (DD's DF is adamant about this even though he doesn't have parental responsibility). I'm more open-minded, DD would benefit from staying on in terms of she has a very good relationship with the teachers and she knows the A-level teachers very well...but on the negative side she is mixing with a lot of very wealthy children and it would be nice to save ££££'s in fees and have DD in a more grounded environment...without compromising the education.

areyoubeingserviced · 10/04/2018 10:00

I have enrolled my dd in Easter Revision classes at an independent school.
She is finding it really useful as it has ensured that there is some structure in her day.

JufusMum · 10/04/2018 11:16

areyoubeingserviced I wish I had done that. I just suggested that DD that she may like to start some revision and I got a mouthful and a door slam! I wish I drank alcohol!

RosieLig · 10/04/2018 12:43

I’m so impressed at your children and how well they’re doing!

Today my son has done an essay for English Language (he has an online tutor as he failed his prelim). He looked over one of his geography papers/did some bbc bite size(paper 3 which he finds hard with all the data sampling). He finished a maths paper 1 he started yesterday. We marked it together (going over his mistakes) and he got 55% -does anyone know roughly what grade that is? It’s a big improvement over his previous marks. I’ve made a list of the areas he needs to work on and will keep chipping away at it. He’s got extra maths and English prelims next week so we’re doing a bit of Maths and English each day this week.

KingscoteStaff · 10/04/2018 12:47

That’s a great start on the Maths, Rosie. Could you get him to colour code the topic list with red, yellow and green highlighters so he can then target the red topics on Bitesize?