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Original poster

GCSEs 2018 (8) Dozens of DCs, 1 DH and Flashcards in the fridge

999 replies

mmzz · 16/05/2018 21:35

Previous thread

OP posts:
cubscout · 21/05/2018 22:03

Checking in, at work until 9 and ds had a day off exams today. Busy rest of the week though with English Lit, Geog, Physics and Maths, the last 3 of which are A level choices so he's desperate to do well.

BlueBelle123 · 21/05/2018 22:05

But if you cut the number of GCSE's that they take they will have to specialise at a ridulously young age.......personally I think the rise of the apprentership is a good thing, too many have gone down the University route only to get to the end with massive debt and no graduate job at the end of it.

There should be more value placed on the alternatives to A levels, so they're not seen as a lesser option.

Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:05

Yep stickerocks she's doing A level math, biology, geography and psychology. Though this may change.

Original poster
mmzz · 21/05/2018 22:07

I've written before about DS's dysgraphia. Actually both my sons have it. The sum total of all the SEN help they got in school was the forms submitted for extra time and being permitted to type in class ( as long as I provided the device, keyboards etc). To be fair, some of the teachers were also willing to email the work they had prepared electronically for the white boards.
I'm not sure of what else was needed, though. Or even could have been made available in a world with of infinite budgets. I researched it, learned what was needed and provided it myself. (Hence knowing exactly what matters in a pen, for example). I would have liked someone to tell me what to expect, give me a bit of guidance but it was all up to me. I even had to get the diagnosis independently. The school just described the symptoms of the problem and then left it up to me to research and resolve.

OP posts:
Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:07

Totally agree bluebelle but with advent of the super 9 /10/... The stigma will always be thereSad

Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:09

Yes a bit like what we had to do mmzz

Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:10

I'm sure hell do well cubscout as will all our DC who can't fail as they gave living and caring parents/guardians/family.

BlueBelle123 · 21/05/2018 22:11

Not really Sostenueto GCSE's soon become pretty irrelevant so long as it gets them to the next stage.

BlueBelle123 · 21/05/2018 22:11

Not really Sostenueto GCSE's soon become pretty irrelevant so long as it gets them to the next stage.

Teenmum60 · 21/05/2018 22:11

I don't think you have to cut the subjects studied - just the number of exams they sit ... they have to choose just 3 or 4 at the end of Yr11 to take further so why make them sit 10 exams - pointless.

BlueBelle123 · 21/05/2018 22:12

Oops Blush

Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:12

Loving lol! Not living. Of course your all living though some of us feel half deadGrin

androbbob · 21/05/2018 22:13

Evening to you all!

Not a good day for DD today - fortunately no exams, but she has chest pains into the night - burning sensation, etc. So a quick nurse appt this afternoon - heartburn / indigestion and probably combined with a panic attack. So she spent the day at home, even though there was a full set of revision lessons today. Four more days of the week left.... with 5 exams.

@sostenueto - hope dgd is feeling better now

@LooseAtTheSeams - dd read through your English notes and concurred - she is looking forward to the English Lit exam tomorrow!! Been reading a bit today and watching some videos, so hopefully all well.

@HesMyLobster - no exam leave here - can kind of see why and maybe they know how these kids are and prefer them to be in school. Being in the garden with drinks on tap sounds good though

Glad that those who had exams today are now another step closer to the end! We will be on thread 299 by then at this rate. Wonder how many bottles of wine and gin and other drinks we will have consumed by mid June ?

Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:14

To prove they are brainy enough to do A levels??**teenmumHmm

BlueBelle123 · 21/05/2018 22:14

So only make them sit exams in the subjects they wish to take further? The trouble with that at a school like my DS's is there would be an awful lot of messing around if they knew they weren't going to be examined!!

Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:16

androbbob hope dd gets better soon and thanks dgd much better.Flowers

Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:18

Be like Finland their children don't sit any exams at all till the age of 18! I'm all for that!

Stickerrocks · 21/05/2018 22:19

androbbob can't be doing anyone's stress levels any good in your hiusehold.

We've decided that the advantage of NOT having study leave is that half of the year didn't turn up today on their exam free day, so DD had undivided attention from her teachers if she wanted it and could get stuck into English all day. Add in an hour of coaching in a thunderstorm and a quick geography recap and I think she has had quite a productive day.

Sost good choices.

Teenmum60 · 21/05/2018 22:21

No, let them sit fewer exams (maybe 7/8) but must include (English/Maths)..I don't see the point of sitting 10... it's too many...DD would have probably dropped 2 at the end of Yr10 ...GCSE's soon become pretty irrelevant so long as it gets them to the next stage

Original poster
mmzz · 21/05/2018 22:25

If you were an employer, even offering the most basic of roles, you'd still want someone who can read, communicate in writing and with a good enough grasp on numbers to get by.
eg if I was Tesco, I'd want to employ people who stick those multi-buy special offer deals up to be able to spot the 90p for one / 2 for £2 deals, and who'd then take action, rather than just sticking the sign up anyway.
So, apart from whatever you want to take further, I think English and Maths are essential. It doesn't have to be level 5+ though.

OP posts:
BlueBelle123 · 21/05/2018 22:25

Teen personally I think with these new exams that is what is going to happen......I've been so surprised at the number of pupils at my DS's school ( in top set) who are electing not to revise certain subjects as they can't cope with trying to revise 10.

Sostenueto · 21/05/2018 22:27

Roses are red
We are not half dead
Just wishing we were in bed
No exams or multitasking just resting our heads
For tomorrow is English lit
(Not looking forward to that one bit!)
Romeo's flowering whatsit been a big hit
And Frankenstein ran away throwing a big hissing fit
So goodnight, sleep tight
And don't let those bed bugs bite!

Original poster
mmzz · 21/05/2018 22:28

Cross posted with Teenmum.

I guess the point of 10 in one sitting, is it's another test in itself. It's easy (ish) to do well in a small handful of subjects, but much harder to do well in a large number, all taken at the same time, requiring a range of skills. So, a good set of results indicate things like resilience and steadiness as well as intelligence in one area.

OP posts:
Teenmum60 · 21/05/2018 22:29

On a VERY positive note, DD has started to have aspirations Glitterball- she quite fancies aiming to become a Paediatrician ..so providing Chemistry GCSE results are OK- A-levels will most probably change to all three sciences (she was intending to take Biology/Physics anyhow).

BlueBelle123 · 21/05/2018 22:29

Sost that will definitely get you a 9 Grin

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