GCSE 2018 (7) [wine][wine][wine][wine]

[mmzz]

A new thread to take us through the exams
Link to old thread

This thread is going so fast, we'll need a new name maybe by lunchtime tomorrow.

Any ideas? Any novel ways i can screw up a 3rd name?

Sorry, I've been lurking for a while! Am impressed by all your studious children!
DD is playing as much cricket as we will let her, while doing some revision in between, so she can get her 6 GCSEs to get into college to play cricket Shes actually really bright but hates school and sitting still. Shes pretty chilled so far, RE and sports have gone well, French she struggles with, and biology was 'hard'.
She'll have done a good number by half term which is great 😊

Those of you with conditional offers/high grade requirements to stay on in your 6th forms:

Do they broaden their range of subjects away from the traditional GCSE subjects to include sociology, psychology, accountancy, more MFL etc?

Hi Susiesue61

@Stickerrocks the maths will be a big help with the economics

DS3 has given up on any more revision tonight as well. He went to an after school session on chemistry, did some Tassomai and has done some computing. Now in the shower and will appear in his PJs soon. He says he's happy he's done enough chemistry. I'm not pushing it. He looks quite tired, TBH.

Yes

Ds hopes to do psychology Sticker.

mmzz Getting the (8) in there would be a start!

May I make an observation?

On the whole, the ethos of this thread seems to be about supporting people - a place to come to ask questions, seek reassurance and solace. I've found it invaluable. I'd like to think it's "inclusive" - welcoming people no matter what their background or the educational standard or expectations of their children. However, I see quite a few "barbed" comments about grammar schools and super-selectives. I appreciate that everyone has their views on this but please may I respectively ask/beg/implore people to try to consider very carefully the hurtful impact that such judgmental comments may have on people reading this thread, who have children at grammars and super-selectives? I hope those who come here to lurk, or post at such a stressful time, will have a mutual respect for each other's opinions/views and leave those judgements at the door, especially when we come here to support ourselves and more importantly, our children.

Everyone has value, everyone has something to offer and we all travel a unique path - please can we remember and respect that?

mmzz Economics is one of my specialist subjects. DD originally wanted to take a law degree or PPE, then I made the fatal mistake of saying how much I love teaching economics and she twitched towards English. Too many doors will shut in her face if she drops maths, especially as she has my maths brain. I see it as light relief compared to her wordier choices.

callitwhatyouwill I agree completely. We've been going since September and have managed to fill 6 threads without deviating from being supportive to each other and accepting of each other too. I've begun to feel like I know some of the posters and we've helped each other through ups and downs.

It would be a shame to see snide comments creep in just as we all need the support more than ever.

Thanks for the reassurance about lack of line spaces. Ds calmed down and I'm encouraging him to just keep looking forward not back!

The grammar near me does a lot of science and maths. They have lots of aspiring medics/vets etc and over half the sixth form do a combination of the 'classic five,' maths, FM, biology, chemistry and physics. They also offer economics and psychology, drama, music and art along with the usual humanities, languages and English but many take music or a language as their 4th A level along with 3 of the 'classic five.' Still fairly traditional subjects though.

Second I'm glad things have got better. I certainly felt the pressure lessened once DS3 started too.

Stickerrocks but you are going to do your best to make sure that she keeps going with it, aren't you?
It is hard for them when they are this young and have no experience beyond a general education. They don't know how challenging the work becomes at A level and university. That's when liking something and being a bit clever isn't enough, you need to have an aptitude too, else you'll struggle.

Gosh, thread moving quickly. That was for *stickerrocks.'

Sorry if I got a bit snippy re grammars. I have a lot of knowledge about my local ones through my job and can get a bit carried away.

EllenJanethickerknickers

FIVE A levels!

Stickerrocks DS's (selective) school broadens a bit and offers e.g. Economics, Politics and lots of languages. But no Sociology, Psychology, Accountancy, Business Studies etc.

Sostenueto has your DGD checked the entrance requirements for neuroscience? I thought a lot of universities required Chemistry for it?

Very well said - and I hope no one thought my questioning of 4 a levels was a dig. Quite acceptvthat bright children might do 4 or even 5 full a levels - it was a genuine question as to why some schools or parents suggest planning to do a fourth for a year

Not many do 5, just a combination of 3 or 4 of those 5. One of DS1s friends did 6! But he was bilingual for the language he took and is now at Cambridge doing natural sciences.

callitwhatyouwill great post.

Personally I think 3 is plenty and DS1 did 4 ASs then 3 at A2 when they were still linked. And an EPQ. But his offers from uni didn't include his EPQ. If a uni offered A A A for three they'd offer A A* AA for 4 which didn't seem worth it for the extra work. If you are super super bright and very dedicated, then taking 4 isn't a bad idea, but for DS1 it would have perhaps meant his overall grades would have suffered.

@Oratory1 I know what you meant and thought it was a perfectly reasonable question. Completely in the spirit of these threads.

Our 6th form warehouses are so vast they typically offer over 40 A level subjects, everything from the traditional subjects to classical civilisation to sculpture. Over 40% go onto RG universities and almost 90% take a degree in something. Around 800 take maths A level in a normal year.

I think schools sometimes suggest starting with 4 A levels is a good idea as DC are often surprised at the content of the A levels and can end up dropping one that might have been a favourite subject at GCSE.

Wow, stickerrocks 90% going to university. That's impressive.