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

[Stickerrocks]

Here we go again.

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

Thanks for compliments on patio all. Just wish I was a bit younger then I could finish it quicker!
Dgd now informed me she got an 8 in latest Spanish mock which is great! 3 weeks to real one, 2nd May oral and presentation and answers to all 5 subjects learned off by heart. Fingers crossed because oral is her weak bit of exam!

Teenmum that's good that she has a back-up offer.

It is unbelievable lobster that in a few weeks 11 years of school all over and the DC are young adults embarking on the next stage if their lives, whether it be 6th form, college, apprenticeship or even work. To all I wish the best for their futures and in a few weeks we can all go out on the razzle to celebrate the dcs real coming of age!

DS2 received mixed results today.

Merit in the Intermediate Maths Olympiad (He's a bit disappointed he didn't do better, but I think it's an achievement to have got through in the first place).

Distinction in his English language speaking & listening NEA (which he said has to be done but doesn't count towards his grade).

He also enjoyed his first orchestra rehearsal. He knew a few of the people there, and said that everyone was nice.

That's a very good result in the Olympiad, Second.

DS had 'smart day' for prom decorations at school today, which I only found out about last night. Sigh. He borrowed one of DS1's going out shirts.

His back up sixth form offer is at his current school, 4 grade 5s and 1 grade 4 to include maths and English, but needing a 7 in maths for FM, 6 in chemistry. And there's always college. Most FE colleges expect last minute applications. To do a level 3 BTEC just requires 4x4s including English or maths at our local college, even lower to do a level 2 BTEC.

Great results Second and congrats on the offer, Teen!

The Olympiad results are out? DS hasn't heard anything about how he did. That's either a bad sign, or, equally likely, the teacher hasn't bothered to read the email from UKMT (it typically takes about 4/5 days for her to do it).

Thesecond I would say that was excellent news all round, well done your DS he's clearly a

DS seemed remarkably cheerful after his first day back, I wonder if it will last to exams!

DS has said that for geography paper 3 they are given a pre release resource document a number of weeks before the exam for them to go over, he still hasn't been given his if your DC are doing geography do you know when these are handed out?

Thesecond well done to your DS - fab news

DD was in school until 4pm today hardly a day off but bless her she has just done a DT past paper too...feeling really chilled with this subject and judging by her marks she can leave the revision until mid June (last exam)....she's also just received the Prom tickets she designed and they do look amazing.

Its back to school tomorrow and her birthday on Thursday!

Bluebelle - which board is this Geography?

Its AQA

Silly question but where you are holding a 6th form offer - have they asked you to accept the offers...I'm not quite sure of the formality and funding issues. DD's offer is for another school (11-18) - we are also out of catchment and under another Local Authority (different county).

Thesecond I was so busy being irritated with DS's school for not being interested enough to open the email, that I forgot to say congrats. So... congratulations! It is à noteworthy achievement.

Yes, DS was asked to accept. But we don't have to pay a deposit and that makes a difference.

No deposit here because its a state funded school ...although that also gives me a social conscious because I know the school has struggled with the government funding ratio's in the past (although that may have changed and I know there Yr7 Pan is due to increase in 2018/19). Effectively they do need bums on seats and it doesn't feel right to sit on a place until 23/8...but I would like DD to at least accept offer and go to induction days (given she has nothing to loose).

That's a fantastic achievement Second, well Done to your DS! Just getting through to the Olympiad at all is an impressive result.
Congratulations for all the mock and coursework results received today. Sounds like a positive start back.

DD has provisionally accepted her conditional place in the 6th form of her current school.
It's a state comp so no deposit, and currently no real back up.
We live fairly rurally so it's the only local 6th form option.
If things go really wrong she has a place at the local FE college but it's a completely different route with completely different subjects and she's refusing to give it real consideration unless she absolutely has to.

We just have to keep everything crossed that she meets the conditions. (6x4s including maths and English)

AQA geography's case study is about a reservoir in Oxfordshire. It was released a couple of weeks before Easter (the school sent us copies so we would know what they were doing).. DD has a pack of potential questions prepared the school which they were meant to be working through over Easter. There were lots of grumbles about how boring the scenario is compared to the ones they had seen in their mocks.

HesMyLobster we almost have the opposite problem, as DD can't stay locally.. Our nearest 6th form was taken over by a young offenders rehab charity a couple of years ago and now only offers vocational qualifications in car mechanics and nail technology. The choice of more academic 6th forms is excellent, but they all involve long journeys. DD's 1st choice sends a bus to collect them at 6.55 and doesn't arrive at the college until 8.40. It is only 20 miles away by direct route! We're going to have to bite the bullet and pay around £1000 for a season ticket for the train so that she can avoid 2 extra hours sitting on a bus each day.

Oh wow Stick that's a crazy journey!
Our only other choice of 6th form is 2 bus journeys and an hour and a half away - I thought that was bad! 2 hours each way is ridiculous! What a long day it would be.

Such a shame your local 6th form was taken over.
I'll remind DD how lucky she is when she's moaning about her 25 minute walk!

I stopped DS working at 8-something tonight, after he'd been working for 12 hours with only short breaks. He started school at 8 this morning, an hour for lunch, a compulsory revision session after school, and then when he got home, he started immediately on the homework that he got today, that's due tomorrow. He had a short break for dinner and, when I went up to his bedroom just after 8, he'd just finished the homework and was about to start revising.
So, the school made a 12 hour day mandatory, and expect revision on top.

If this keeps up, DH or I will intervene and address it with the school. I can hardly believe that this is what the school intended.

Thanks Stickerrocks I'm not sure when DS's school intends to give out the case study

mmzz it sounds like your DS's school gets everyone revising via homework! I would contact the school if its hindering your DS's prep for his exams.

mmzz - The DC are going to be burnt out by the time the exams come....I think some schools do verge on the side of being an exam factory where results become more important than the children.

Well I committed DD to work a full day most Saturdays and a couple of days over half term yesterday in the run up to her exams. She will be coaching in the mornings, then she can get her revision notes out in the afternoon if things are quiet. I have told her that she can cut back if it gets too much for her, but I think that she would have a complete breakdown if she faced the hours mmzz DS is being pushed to do by his school. By cutting the available hours down, DD seems to spend less time faffing. mmzz this isn' a "bog standard" comp is it? Around half of the top sets are staying for after school revision and nothing is compulsory at DD's school. It's a tough enough job getting everyone through the gates in the morning without trying to keep reluctant learners after school as well.