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

[Stickerrocks]

Here we go again.

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

DD arrived homecoming Thursday night. She had a fantastic few days with her friend but she also got lots of French speaking practice in (exam next week). Her French teacher has just gone on sick leave (planned operation) so the exam will unfortunately be with an unfamiliar teacher.

Had a day off today. Took Dd to brunch at my favourite local coffee shop then a shopping trip. She was chuffed we found a jumpsuit she loved in Quiz for Prize Day but she’s just found out another girl has the same one. The other girl may wear it for the summer party instead (which is before Prize day & prom) as she has two in different designs.

Another one with a day off today. A well earned break 😀

Yes I can’t believe the next time they go back to school will be starting sixth form v scary but exciting too !

When do yours go off on study leave? We don’t have study leave at our school (boarding but DS a day boy) which has its pros and cons!

No study leave at vocational scho either. And when exams finish they go straight ing rehearsals. They also don’t leave school until mid July.

Snap / no study leave and expected to be in lessons right up until the exams in that subject have finished. Also expected to do games/extra curricular etc. It means some time will be taken up less useful lessons and distractions but on the whole think having the structure of the school day will help too. The four week Easter holiday has been quite tough to keep up the momentum. So pros and cons

DD working today so no revision either and I think it was a nice break away from revision...she has just started going to the gym (so second induction tomorrow morning....I'm hitting the Heat & Ice Experience at the same time .
DD breaks up on 4th May so she gets effectively 4 school days off but is then only in school for exams...timing brilliant because first exam 14th May and that week is her busiest with 6 exams.
She starts back to school on Tuesday but in school on Monday to finish some presentation paperwork...I understand they do not have to go to PE and I would rather DD use PE for study sessions although if I'm honest if all the girls do this not much study will be done!

Only 2 weeks of Easter holidays here and no study leave in a bog standard comp. They all have to come into school each day following their normal timetable except when they are in the exam hall. They will have lessons until the exams in that subject are over, then they are still expected to be in a classroom set aside for revision or in the library until they finish. I expect things will relax more after half term once they are in the habit of turning up in the right place at the right time and the more disruptive ones have essentially finished.

Grrr - who knew that prize day was going to be as much hassle as prom. Dd is now demanding to return the jumpsuit she fell in love with today because the other girl has decided to wear hers to prize day.

I’m glad she’s not invited to the summer party.

We have bought DS3's prom suit. He has the opposite problem to second's DS, large waist and short legs so I'll be having to take them up in due course. He's gone for a 'novelty' suit! Cheaper than a real suit and a lot cheaper than a proper prom dress. Can't see it getting much wear though. Looks like a Rubik's cube!

DS3 will have to continue going to all lessons up until half term, then only has to go in for exams. I think the school feels that too many of its pupils would do precisely no revision so prefer to direct their time for as long as possible. This suited DS2 (and probably will suit DS3) but DS1 was quite self motivated and could have done with more time for independent revision.

Not much revision today. I don't think BBC bitesize really counts, not detailed enough but better than nothing. We took DS1 back to university and made the most of the sunshine.

Study leave after may day bank holiday here. Back to school tomorrow. Dgd informed me she is 10 hours behind her revision schedule. When I looked at schedule I told her she was being a tad ambitious with the amount of hours and what she had done seemed fine and not to panic. She's not listening and is going to do 7 hours today. I said just concentrate on stuff you really aren't sure of ( sigh). She has had very limited fun in holiday and I said all work, no play is not conducive to good health. But she is in control she said and all will be fine considering her friends have informed her they have not done half the revision that she has. ( not sure if I would believe that). It will be with a great sigh of relief from all when exams are over. I have not great news to tell family but have decided not to say anything to anyone till after exams. I do not want dgd ( or rest of family) to worry till all is done and dusted.

According to yesterday's Guardian, the statement suit is in, as worn by Harry Styles in Glasgow. Your DS is on trend!

They will all go back to school tomorrow either saying they haven't done a thing or that they have been chained to their desk for 20 hours a day. Not a single one will own up to what they've actually done, as that would not be cool.

Sorry I’ve been awol, my FIL passed away after a short illness. Lots of trips to hospital, lots of tears and now the funeral arrangements.

I’m not sure how her revision has been going because a) been too preoccupied with supporting DH and b) DD told me to back off and things between us got heated and I ended up being upset. However DD and I went shopping yesterday to buy funeral and prom clothing.

Can someone give me a summary of the last few threads?

Sostenueto

DS also back at school till half term and then study leave.

DS2's school doesn't run extra revision sessions outside school hours and he starts study leave on 11 May.

Luckily he seems to have the revision under control. He has nearly finished making his revision notes for most of his subjects.

Oddsocks sorry to hear about your FIL

I think its stickerrrocks that good with the summaries I've got a memory of a goldfish so don't ask me!

Oddsocks15 sorry to hear about your FIL.

So sorry Odd. There's never a good time for these things to happen. That was so close to my situation 3 weeks ago, so I feel for you so much. We've missed you.

The general gist is that school holiday revision sessions have helped give structure, realisation & panic are starting to set in, some DC are working really hard, some DC are not and some of us are still in the dark. Most coursework (If they have any) is submitted, Maceth with Christopher Eccleston was enjoyed by the parents, RE is now recognised as an impossible exam to predict and some start study leave imminently. Meanwhile, I'm taking DD shopping later as she wants to spend her earnings from 4 days of hard labour rather than revising.

On another note, I went to a free screening of the Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society at the cinema yesterday and thoroughly recommend it.

Flattery Bluebelle! I was already typing as you were posting. Have I missed anything? There was so ethi g about revision guides by Let's & CUP in brown paper parcels like dodgy magazines, but I got distracted at that point.

Letts and CGP!

Stickerrock gets an A* for her summary or should that be a 9

Sostenueto and Oddsocks

Well it would be a 9 if any of us had a clue what was involved in producing one! As we don't, I'll just continue on my merry little way, hoping I'm covering what the examiner/Odd is looking for in sufficient detail with the occasional quote thrown in.

Sost I've caught up with your final couple of sentences. It's very difficult keeping things to yourself, so if you have decided against sharing your news with your family immediately, you know that you have a sounding board here who you can rant or rave at, ask for support or simply show pictures of your pup to. We may not even know each other's RL names, but we've shared a lot over the last few months. We're here for you (& Odd too), along with any other waifs and strays who care to join us.

Sostenueto I'm sorry to read this. Its a big burden to carry alone (the people on this board aside). Your DGD's exams are important, and I can see why you would want to protect her from the stress, but would your DD not want to know now so she can support you?

Oddsocks I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm sorry to hear that Sostenueto. I think mmzz speaks sense about sharing your news with your DD.

Sorry about your FIL, Oddsocks. Glad that he wasn't suffering for long, but when it's fairly sudden it can be quite hard for those left behind to come to terms with it.