Gcse 2018 (10) The one with half term

[Stickerrocks]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3256691-GCSEs-2018-9-Will-we-get-to-half-term-for-never-was-a-story-of-more-woe-than-this-of-Juliet-and-who-is-Banquo

Oops. Can't remember how to link nicely, so this will have to do.

Yes most people would say they would like to earn more, but not everyone would put a large salary before job satisfaction and working in an area they have a genuine passion for........I think an awful lot of people really value a really good work life balance over a large salary......Plus we need a diverse workforce with a multitude of skills so any that are lost I think in the long term will be to all of our detriment.

Both DH and I did social science degrees but have gone in quite different directions career wise. He has gone into financial services and earns twice what I do. I'm in a Comms related discipline so write and speak for a living. I probably could have had a more lucrative career than I do but have had lots of flexibility and breaks to have the DC and spend time with them. Occasionally I have a pang of regret but on the whole I'm pleased with the way things I have worked out for us as a family.

Just checking in - so sorry to hear about your mum hmc

All this talk of grade boundaries and how results are calculated etc...makes me realise that these exams won't be 'over' on the last day of taking them - there's still a wait for results (although by that stage I very much doubt DD will want to think about anything to do with GCSEs ever again!)

As long as she gets her A / 7 grades to get to do her chosen subjects at A Level...and there's no reason she shouldn't! And that's now completely out of her control.

Two ill children in the house today. Both have caught the very nasty cold/virus I had all last week. At least there's no exams this week, and DD2 doesn't have to face her GCSEs for another 2 years...when DD1 is doing A Levels. Eek!

Thanks for the hand hold everybody - it did make me feel better. So many of you have been through or going through similar or have lost parents to other causes - I guess we don't talk about this sort of thing routinely do we? Sending back to those of you who have lost parents or are watching them decline in front of their eyes (Rosie, Teenmum, EllenJane, Sticker, Sandy, mmzz)

Re the employability of arts graduates - I agree it depends upon the adaptability of the person. I did a Politics degree but ended up in senior NHS management.

On the new art GCSE mmzz, my dd struggled with the very issue that Loose describes. Its not enough now to produce interesting, skilfully crafted art you have to explain how you personally engaged with the subject (dd was asked to produce art in response to the concept of "natural forms" for her first sketch book and concluding piece, and then for her second sketch book and final piece she had to respond to "contrasts"). You have to write about your 'journey' in terms of how you responded to the theme and described how your ideas evolved and your emotional and other reactions etc before you hit upon your final piece. Dd is accomplished at Art but did not do this bit well and may not get a top grade despite her technical skills. Not sure that all established artists work like this - I'm pretty sure Tracy Emin would pick up an empty gin bottle from 'My bed' and chuck it at the examiner

Glad to hear that your vertigo is now much better Sost - horrible to feel sick and dizzy all the time, and well done to your dgd - 85% in a practice paper 2 must have been a confidence boost.

Hope you enjoyed the Rolling Stones concert Sticker, a friend went and said that they were phenomenal

And Sticker - rooting for your dd given all the sadness at school and now her grandparents decline

HMC I lost my mum in January and my dad is 400 miles away and struggling with loneliness. It would have been their golden wedding anniversary on Friday and I'm feeling really sad but trying to keep things normal for DD1's sake. It's tough juggling two needy generations at the same time and I feel for you.

One thing i have discovered is just how many people I know are going through similar. It feels like I've joined some sort of perverse club. Have you been over to the Elderly Parents topic on here? If not, it's a good place to let off steam with people that get it.

Fair point mmzz but I think there are still may careers/jobs which don't need specific knowledge learnt in a degree but just the maturity and general skills acquired from getting one.

Big worry is that lower GCSE take up leads to lower A level take up so schools won't be able to keep teachers with low take up - or they will choose to leave without the pull of A level teaching. Further reducing the opportunities for DC.

DS loves drama (tho not doing GCSE) and has a brilliant drama teacher for extra curricular drama but there are no takers for A level next year - will she want to stay ?

Bigger issue in state sector though where funding is tight

Haven't managed to catch up as was working a lot yesterday and this morning but I just found this and was www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-44251216

hmc I had to go back to find your post as I see references everywhere. It must be so hard for you and your poor DF
mmzz so many good things have been said about your DS situation. I feel he will make a great start at the new Sixth Form where he may meet similar souls.

AChickenCalledKorma - so sorry for you loss, you must still be reeling. I can well imagine what it must be like - do you find that you are having to make the 800 mile round trip on a more regular basis to support your grieving mother? The logistics of distance alone are difficult enough without the emotional burden on top. Thank you for the pointer to the Elderly Parents topic - it hadn't registered with me that there was a topic for this and I shall take a look

Brainmelt how astonishingly unfeeling of the exam board. Surely of all circumstances this case is deserving of a flexible approach. I realise he could repeat the year and take exams next year - but most teens would really baulk at this prospect and he has had enough to contend with as it is

HMC yes, I'm visiting for a weekend every month or so at the moment and we speak frequently on the phone. Thankfully both our homes are reasonably close to an airport! It's tiring though and I feel really powerless to make a real difference.
The elderly parents topic is under "other stuff". I dip in and out depending how things are going.

I never had parents. It was not until I was 45 that I knew I had 11 half brothers and sisters and 1 full blooded brother. They are strangers to me, I tried to keep contact up with my brother but like me he suffered terribly in childhood so after a couple of years we drifted apart again. Neither of us capable of forming a bond. What I found out about my biological mother I wish I hadn't known. So even though I was a music teacher I decided to go into care. Maybe to look after the elderly as if they were my own. Who knows what psychological reasons people do things. But I survived and now my little family are my treasures. Maybe why I go above and beyond for them. I know what it is like to have no one and why I'm so resilient!

brainmelt my ds showed me this last week - utterly horrifying. Poor lad.

Sostenuto you sound like a strong person and the way you support your family comes across loud and clear.

Sost you are just amazing. With a horrible start in life you could so easily have gone a different route (off the rails etc as so many understandably do), but instead you are a grandmother nonpareil - and always so kind and helpful to everyone on here

Chicken thank goodness for the close airports in your case - although I am not downplaying what a commitment and how tiring it is doing the journey so frequently. Whilst you really put yourself out for your mother I expect you worry about her and the long lonely 3 weeks or so between visits. My parents chose to retire to a small seaside town 70 miles from the airport - which means I drive the 600 mile round trip. I've tried to persuade him to come back with me for a weeks 'holiday' but he feels he should visit mum daily (she wouldn't know either way) to ensure that she is being properly looked after

That poor boy in Enfield. Just a 16 year old in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yes Kingscote. What an absolute disgrace on the part of JCQ. I hope the publicity will shame it into action. I've know independent school kids get their predicted grades for far more tenuous reasons, although that was admittedly before the tightening up of the rules. Shocking.

hmc I have every sympathy.

Wow, I've missed so much. I didn't see the post about your mother hmc but I have huge sympathy as dh's mum has th start of dementia and he lost his grandmother (who brought him up) to it.

Not much to report. As a family we obviously value the arts. Dh and I both have music degrees (I also took drama and English electives) and we have managed to make a decent living.

Dd is hoping for good grades. She feels that she won't get her 9 in RS due to it being her first exam, she got the timings wrong and has since changed her revision strategy. She is really hoping for an 8 in English and a 7 in Maths (depending onhos Paper 2 goes. She feels French went well and thinks a 7 would be wonderful but will settle for a 6.

I think she just needs 6's for her choice of A levels (maybe a 7 in English). She needs to do well in RS as school are making special provisions for her to be able to take Philosophy & Ethics.

She thinks that Tassomai & some video called Primrose Kitten are the reason she is going to pass her sciences. I darn't ask what grade shes hoping for.

That poor boy in Enfield - I cannot believe the judgment. It's cruel. I see MPs appealed on his behalf as well.

Hmm...DS did 2 hours of geography at school, came back, cadged money out of DH for the cinema and lunch ('lost' wallet and cashpoint card) and has escaped!

I can sort of understand it in that some schools predictions are way out.

But what JCQ should do would be to ask for all that schools candidates predicted grades, then compare them against their actual achieved grades and moderate the boys predicted grades up or down accordingly.

I guess thats too much trouble for them but this poor lad has been through so much already.

Have been lurking a bit. DD has ADHD so finding and keeping focus is tricky and she needs lots of scaffolding from me.

This comment from mmzz made me smile as I thought she was talking about pressures in my life rather than grade bounderies

Maybe the dual pressures at the ends of the spectrum will create an odd inflexion point

mmzz et al - I don't want to even think about grade boundaries! It all seems far too complicated and unnecessary.

to hmc and sos and anyone else who feels they need them!

I reckon my DD has averaged 3 hours revision on non school days and 2 days on Monday to Thursdays - no revision on a Friday ever.

It seems to me that we all have loads of stuff going on outside of these DC and their exams and it is lovely that there is support here for everyone. The threads are fast moving and it is easy to miss things, but good on you hmcAsWas shouting up for support.

DD on train to Manchester to go to some concert with some American boy band. Got a 'Meet and Greet' first as well - some daft price for a photo with them!

AND Peggy! Welcome to the thread!