GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

[mmzz]

thread 14
The next step of the all new GCSE journey.

Leapt, not leap. I do wish auto correct didn't exist & we had an edit button.

Matt Haig not Hain. I will now stop re-reading what I have already posted.

TheThird what does your DS2 need to stay on for the sixth form? Which ones are you nervous about?

He needs:
A* in Further Maths
8 in Maths
7 in Physics & Chemistry
5 in English
Average point score of 7.5 in best 8 subjects.

I think he will probably get these, but the grade boundaries (other than Maths & English) are such an unknown.

stickerrocks being intrigued by the book title you quoted had a quick look on Amazon to read the description and reviews. Looks like you have struck gold with exactly how I’m feeling this morning. I’ve just ordered it

I can't remember if I posted this or not, but I had a conversation with one of DS's teachers for next year recently.
He still hasn't decided which school he wants to go to in September so, realising that there's a huge gap in our knowledge about what the current school does to help students get into the most competitive maths courses (including Oxford etc), I asked for a description.
The short answer is they have never done it, and if any individual student wants to do it in the future, then they'll point them at a couple of websites but that's all. No preparation for STEP or anything like that.
The teacher then described a very able student who nearly sat the STEP paper last year, but gave up in the end. She thought it was disappointing ( in a nothing to do with the school sort of way) and I was thinking that without support or help then the boy probably just felt overwhelmed.
It's an Outstanding comprehensive with an outstanding sixth form btw.
I suspect that this is the real reason Oxbridge has a disproportionate number of students from the independent sector. Can you imagine a parent at Eton being told that if their son wants to get into Oxbridge then the school will only help by giving him the names of two websites where he can learn about the process and download past papers?

Just skimming through the thread. Seen lots of references to NCS. Couldn't interest DS in this. Read too many poor reviews. He's not really doing anything much at the moment.

trimmer Regarding Sitges - I went there a few years ago and loved it. There were very few British people there, no rowdy groups, it's a popular gay resort. Very easy to get to Barcelona.

The third the grades for maths and science aren't too bad if he wants to do these A levels, but the 7.5 average in the best 8 is really high!
What type of school is it?

mmzz I’d walk away from the school, to be honest. It doesn’t sound supportive at all. Apart from the fact that they have acted really weirdly already, it sounds like they were almost pleased the previous student gave up. I might be a bit annoyed with DS’s current school (another outstanding comprehensive) over the non-induction day, but they had at least one student starting a maths degree at Oxford last year. They would encourage any student with a chance, send them on summer schools, arrange visits and have an Oxbridge applications liaison teacher.

Sticker I'm a big fan of Matt Haig. I re-read Reasons to stay alive last week when I ran out of books on my kindle and had limited wifi. He's also good value on twitter.

I'm saving his new one for the plane home.

mmzz it's a state school. The Y7-Y11 bit is partially selective (25% of places on academic aptitude, 10% of places on music aptitude, the rest for siblings and children living close to the school). The school is oversubscribed (approx 6 applicants per place).

Third it sounds very sought-after! What A levels does he want to do? I know requirements for further maths can be very high, for example.
I’ve lost track of what DS needs but I know it’s 6.5 or above to do four subjects (usually the fourth is further maths but he’s wondering about taking philosophy).

DD needs a 7 to take maths and at least grade 5 for English and 5 GCSEs at at least grade 4. Zero pressure here.

Back to Matt Haig, I deliberàtely took the book to read on holiday when I didn't want to leave my Kindle alone by the pool, knowing that we would be pretty much WiFi free for the week. I missed not being able to look something up instantly (I almost ordered an iced choc thick shake instead of a hot choc as my Norwegian is non existant) but I didn't miss my email or the need to post jolly pictures of us having fun on FB. I actually keep a detailed journal when I am travelling, for my eyes only, and I love re-reading the trivia in it. I did misskeeping an eye you lot though! I thoroughly recommend reading his latest book if you have niggling anxiety or ever feel you or your DC are being swept along by life in an uncontrollable way.

Those grade requirements are for 4 A-levels (Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry). The requirements for 3 A-levels are lower.

Third - I think I know what school your DS2 is at one of the girls from DD's school moved to the associated girls school...am I right in thinking you virtually have to live within 1 mile of the school to get in. How;s DS1 feeling? Not sure what date the A Levels come out although I know they are before the GCSE's.

Thankfully got call from DD just after midnight last night to say she was safely in her room ...its hard not to worry although I know she's very sensible.

mmzz - Thats quite sad that your DS's current school doesn't make the effort with Oxbridge applications ...I have got the impression its more worried about GOV statistics than the actual children.

Have to admit I’m already way out of my depth with advising DD. Both DH and I left school at 15 and didn’t stay on for 6th form. He did an apprenticeship and I started working full time as didn’t do well in my exams and due to family circumstances didn’t get the chance to go to College.

DD has asked about her cousins experience of applying to Oxford Uni.. if she does go down that route, I’ll be here asking for advice as not sure what advice school will give

Teenmum60 yes, it optimises on gov statistics, and gets lauded for it. You can't achieve that without helping the students along the way and it seems to be an excellent school for low and mid-achievers, particularly mid-achievers.
It's not about deep learning. It's about having a superficial understanding and being able to deliver the right sound-bites at GCSE. The school does extremely well at GCSE and Is highly regarded by parents. I don't think many have cause to scratch below the surface, as I have done.
I may have been naive, but I didn't expect what I discovered.

mmzz - I dont think your DS's school is different to a lot of the high achieving state schools. I was only thinking last week if you have a reasonably bright focused DC then they probably have a 1 in 3 change of them being offered a place at Oxbridge by paying for their education from an early age of 7 in one of the very good Independent schools - so education in many respects is still geared to the affluent who can invest £200k plus in a child's education.

When we were away on holiday DD was mixing with a lot of European children and I think a (15 yr old) Swiss child was already working in a hospital on some form of two year program which would then give him the opportunity to go on and study medicine further (Uni etc).DD found it really odd but I guess if more degree apprenticeships are offered in the UK then it would be similar albeit 2 years later.

Teenmum60 do the schools begin with W? If it's the same place, in the last few years the distance to get in has been less than 500m (unless you get an academic place, music place or sibling place). The girls' school is slightly more flexible about the entry requirements for sixth form.

Teenmum60 thank you for asking after DS1. His results come out a week earlier than DS2's, which is good because we can celebrate whatever DS1 has managed to achieve before DS2 receives what might be a string of 7s and 8s.

DS1 is just waiting to see if he has got into a middle-ranked university or a low-ranked university. It's likely that he'll be going to the low-ranked one, but you never know.

The support given to state school Oxbridge applicants seems to be a bit hit & miss and can often depend on whether they have a teacher who is willing to be involved and proactive.

DS2 is interested in applying to the Physics course at Oxford. The first level of selection is a Physics Aptitude Test. At the open day, they showed statistics about total applicants vs successful applicants. The majority of successful applicants had tutoring for the PAT or attended a "PAT preparation club" at school. I can't imagine that most state schools have enough Oxford Physics applicants to run such a club.

DS2 has researched how he can prepare for the PAT independently and is making a study plan for next summer. However, he will need some support from school (e.g. willingness to register as a test centre) in order to apply at all.

@third Yes it looks like its the same school...500 metres Wow! Sounds like your DS2 is preparing himself well and obviously is passionate about Physics too which I gather is so important when it comes to interviews etc.

Totally agree I think some state schools have proactive teachers others just dont have the resources...it would be so lovely if all DC's had the same opportunities and education was a level playing field. I know there was an initiative to get the Independent schools assisting local state schools in order to keep their charity status but there appears to have been a U turn which is a shame because offering assistance with Oxbridge potential candidates would have been good.

It gives the lie to the word"comprehensive" though, doesn't it?
Yet the provision of anything else is patchy and selecting on ability on anything, but particularly ability, always provokes a highly charged political debate.

mmzz if you mean DS2's school, it's not a comprehensive, it's partially selective.

When DS2 was applying for secondary schools, out of the six schools closest to our home:

• One did not offer triple science GCSE and had very little music provision (e.g. no orchestra).
• One only offered places to Catholics (we are not Catholic).
• Four were partially selective.

Two new schools have since been established in the area with a comprehensive intake.

There has already been criticism on one of the prequels to this thread about DS2's school and its admissions criteria. I'm starting to get déjà vu.

1. Most of my local state schools are not comprehensive but part of a group of partially selective schools (S.W.Herts consortium).

2. I didn't design this system and I have no influence over the admissions criteria for these schools.

3. The school DS2 joined in Y7 was the only school in the area suitable for his educational needs (e.g. extensive learning support department and experience of ASD).