GCSEs 2018 (14): the aftermath

[mmzz]

Following on from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3275972-GCSEs-2018-13-Untwisting-our-knickers-lucky-for-some

Ah thank you. It’s actually a jumpsuit. She boaught one originally that was very distinctive then found out another girl was wearing the same one so we had to return it but I think I actually prefer the second one anyway.

Well, finally all finished here after FM. D's feedback was that paper was 'fine and he finished in an hour apart from one question which he had to re work twice (sounds like your d's lljkk.

Feels like an anticlimax now but ds and I have been our for a curry (dh on a work trip and delayed). Few days off before 6th form induction, and then blessed holidays for 3 weeks!

Multiple random apostrophes there!

Lovely photos

I must say......the cake was good. 🍰

All done here too. A bit of an anticlimax really but dd just came home and went to bed. I expect she'll get up in September

Thanks to all of you for all the support and advice. I don't post that often because I can't keep up but it really has been invaluable

Phone went funny last night but just wanted to say lovely photos from Aragog and congrats to Kick and dd for getting to the finish line!
everyone!

Really lovely to hear everyone letting their hair down.
Well done to the prize winners.

Cblue it's so hard making a decision isn't it? I have found the discussion about your dilemma helpful. Without Hermione's time turner to do a term in each and then decide it's impossible to actually know.

We are wobbling over huge FE college, sixtg firn college in another direction and there is local indie but DD has hated school and indie is more school.

DD not going to prom afterall. She has virus and was really feverish yesterday. She wasn't sure anyway so that has tipped it.

Hello Sost

Woohoo we've all finished, I can finally relax knowing everyone made it through

Lovely dresses alexander and aragog

cblue the only think I would add in relation to a contextual offer it is generally only a 1 grade reduction overall ie AAA would be reduced to AAB.......not that I think that was a consideration in your case.

@PeggySchuylar - after all the wise words yesterday I checked various Uni websites and most said up to 2 grades. The most informative (as to qualifying schools/postcodes) was Edinburgh. They have a whizzy tool where you input where you took GCSEs, A Levels and postcode and this said she would qualify and that it was a max of 2. Another web site said they reduce offers but never below an AAA (so no A*). I must admit that I was surprised since we live in a nice area (the south of the borough is somewhat different to the north) and GCSES were at an Inde but the SFC is a target school apparently.

I am now hoping that she hates the taster day .

I think there were a few prom goers last night. How did it go?!?

DDs prom is tonight and she has been persuaded to wear a dress. Now she hasn't got any appropriate shoes - told her that her converse trainers were most definitely not appropriate.

I have the day off work and we are going shopping (which we both hate) - expecting to come back with a pair of purple DMs or something equally ludicrous to wear with a sequinned long fishtail dress.

Assuming she lets me photo her I will post a pic later but don't be surprised if I crop the photo at the knees!!!

And breathe 😊it’s finally done. Relaxed mode certainly aided by a sunny few days in store !! I ll take my lead from DS as to whether he wants to chill for a few days or get sorting, burning and job hunting - that’s when he finally surfaces this morning. No prom here they had a year 11 dinner after mocks.

I don’t envy your decision blue. In general I think it’s usually helpful to experience a bigger environment and co Ed before uni but sixth form study is so important (more so than gcse s in terms of uni entry if that’s what she wants) so it may be too much of a risk to make that change now if your not sure the college is right. DD2 moved from a small all girls indie to a big coed boarding school but we were lucky to have both close by so could make that choice.

DS school has low entry requirement s to get in to the sixth form (5 passes) but sciences require at least a 6 for A level and maths at least a 7) good luck in you choice I agree taster days are v helpful

Have a great revision free weekend all and best wishes and thoughts to all those facing ill health

@BlueBelle123 - ooops. Sorry. It was you that posted the contextual offer info not @PeggySchuylar !!

Prom tonight for dd too (leavers assembly & the ice cream van comes to school first).

She’s also wearing fishtail sequin dress cblue. Her shoes are plain black m & s suede. Very high heel because she’s only short.

Oratory that's my experience too - the entry requirements for the sixth form DS likes are 5s but then when you get subject specific all sorts of other factors come in to play. That's why he was keen to do well in maths, English and Biology because they are all possible A level options and all important for getting on the popular Psychology course, which is his first choice. It's a very large and very well-regarded sixth form with good results (no contextual offers!)
On contextual offers - also agree that we're usually talking a slight adjustment in the offer and it's not guaranteed.

@AlexanderHamilton - my DDs short too (5ft which is even smaller than me) but left to her own devices she would wear a pair of jeans, a Star Trek tshirt and a pair of trainers.

Looking at your beautiful girls with their nails, hair and make up makes me realise just what a scruff bag she can be!!!!

Wish your geeky DSs were around so she might be interested in boys

Lots of the girls at DS's old school wore converse with their prom dresses.

Also as regards the contextual offers for certain 6th Forms please be aware that the unis will be looking at specifically where the DC took their gcses too and if at a high performing state or indie they personally may not qualify for a contextual offer.

Many people leave our local indies to go to local state 6th Form thinking it will be better for uni applications and fail to realise that they will look at where they gained their gcses and this will be a factor too. (Didn't mean to be Debbie Downer).

Well holiday season is definitely kicked in. Ds finished on Monday but was still up before 9 every morning but today there is no sign of him yet).

@ReservoirDogs (or should I call you Debbie-D ). That's what I thought too and it makes more sense. I also want to assure everyone I am not try to 'play the system' - I barely know what the system is hahaha

....and for converse with posh dresses....
What are they all thinking???
Oh, I am so old

In a way converse with posh dress doesn't sound too bad.
At DD's prom a lot of the girls were shoeless half way through the night as their shoes were fancy but uncomfy. DD had sparkly sandals but also fold up ballet flats from the internet to change into - she was very grateful I'd suggested it.

@TeenTimesTwo - ballet pumps, now there's an idea. I might manage to get her to agree to a pair of them.
Thanks. Now off to the dreaded shops

DD has (fake) converse to wear with her full length prom dress.

The idea was she'd change when they started dancing but I suspect she won't even make it as far as the venue before she changes.

They were both really cheap so I paid under £25 for the two pairs. High heels from Schuh £8.99 and pumps from office £15.00.

Our issue before Saturday is to find a suitable bag for her to take them in. Apparently a carrier bag is a stupid suggestion

Dd can’t wear converse or similar as they are too flat & not deep/wide enough though she does wear Vans with an orthotic insole.

Sketchers trainers are best for her feet.

Kick glad I'm not the only one that makes unsuitable suggestions.....on occasions I thought DD's eyes might actually pop out with some of my very helpful suggestions

Its definitely a case of the grass is always greener......DS has been invited to the prom after party by the cool crowd(of which he is not a member) and I really wish he wasn't going......its in a random field somewhere and I will not get a wink of sleep as I will be worrying what on earth is happening......he's not use to alcohol and I will be imagining all sorts........he's clearly not planning on coming home till the morning as he's taking his tent!

I wore a cocktail dress with DM boots to my Freshers' ball.

We need to stop discussing inexpensive shoes & fake Vans or it might attract the plimsoll troll. 😂

Though she was glammed up yesterday her dad to day clothes are jeans, t shirt and hoodie, with trainers. Minimal make up and brush through her hair. She's not normally fully made up.

BlueBelle - aargh - yes, the 'after-prom' nightmare.

Unsurprisingly, no parents have offered to host one for 130 over-excited drunk teenagers, so apparently, they are going to a park. At midnight. Several miles from the prom venue ("so how are you getting there?")

We've said we don't think it's a good idea, but of course "everyone is going" Not sure yet how we're going to play it. Thinking of offering DS a chance to bring a couple of friends back here for a sleepover and a 'post-prom' slap up breakfast instead...