GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

[mmzz]

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

Hi slinkyme yes he just went round local businesses but the one with success was actively advertising for staff and is notoriously short under staffed

No summer prep worked issued by DD's current school but the back up school actually ran lessons on all days in the A level subjects and gave out work to be done and also text books.

Not sure what my thoughts are on your DS's school mmzz. I can understand why parents may want to send their DC's to the school if the results are so good. However, there approach seems to be teaching the DC's to pass exams in the last year of school which is not necessarily a good education....not sure I would be keen for my DD to attend an exam factory type school.

Still not heard from DD (apart from first night text to say all OK) ..so I trust she is enjoying NCS

OddSocks our DDs sound similar! As all the prep work is for the subjects she loves, I'm surprised she is so reluctant to get started! Doesn't bode well for the A Level courses (but she does like to be instructed and tends to compartmentalise 'work' to during term time...)

DD has done all prep work for both possible sixth forms (loads and loads and loads of it), no homework given by college.

She has a trial shift at v.v. posh restaurant tomorrow night!

Jufus she's very dedicated! Good luck to all the dcs with work and volunteering.
I know DS has done a lot of reading for psychology. I will suggest he looks at some maths before term starts but I think that's about it.

I think it makes a lot of sense to leave the maths until the last fortnight, as it is just a series of skills that need sharpened up again after a long holiday. From what I understand, the main skill needed for taking into year 12 is to solve algebra problems.

No homework for BTEC but a letter with dates that work experience is required and a form to return when we have arranged it (for April)

Saying that, my chances of getting DS to do any algebra this holiday is nil. he might be willing to be taught some calculus if e=he thinks most other people will have done FSMQ

No work given by DS state grammar, where he'll probably stay, or by the local 6th form where he could go and get up later, be home earlier and save me loads of bus fare money but doesn't have friends.

Thanks also for the suit suggestions. We got one from Dobell. Now the shirts!

Somehow I can't worry about GCSE results at all with A level results looming next week. Anyone else feel like this?

Really good shirts that are not too expensive if you buy in the sales : www.tmlewin.co.uk/sale/mens-shirts/

No work given from state sixth form college.

Phew 6th form clothes question solved! The picture is obviously NOT DS, but for illustration purposes, the "look" he's gone for.
We spent 6 full hours in Westfield hunting for suits, shirts and ties during which DS somehow decided that every suit made him look like a middle-age salesman. So final decision was to forget suit, go for suit jacket + smart chinos combination and I must say he looks very cool and fitting for a 16 year old. He fell in love with an m&S jacket, bought two m&s flat front skinny chinos, a knitted tie and a gorgeous smokey shirt from Moss Bros to every now and then break from white shirts. For years he hasn't cared what he looked like but now he has very strong opinions!

School has given summer prep homework for the first time since y7. Lots for French A level, reading for English, even for EPQ! You'd think they would give them a break after gcses... Oh well.

Very easy uniform at our school: black skirt and shoes, black jumper if required, striped shirt, tie for boys only. There was a suggestion last year that they move to suits but the students stamped on the idea ferociously, and the HT listened - so no change which is very good on the purse strings and also in terms of comfort. The idea of home clothes is too horrible for words for different reasons (lots of changes, much more washing etc etc, competition as to who wears what etc etc).

That's interesting - at DS school the sixth form were pushing to change to suits rather than uniform - just shows you can't please everyone

You are doing well with the brogues, Brainmelt. DS dismissed them out of hand when he needed a semi-smart casual outfit. Eventually, and with great reluctance, he accepted a pair of chinos, a shirt, a denim jacket and chelsea boots.

(Suddenly, I am learning the names for men's clothes! i've managed half a century without knowing that the shoes with holes on the top are called brogues, but given DS's fussiness I'm learning the actual names as a shorthand way of discussing what he will/ won't wear!)

Brain - that looks very stylish.

DD School is no uniform or suits - basically live in whatever you want. So jeans and jumpers and tshirts. DD is still only halfway through organising her wardrobe.

Reassuring to hear that only 4% of students actually do their summer holiday work Stickerrocks. I know dd has some work set for Art but not sure if she has anything for biology or psychology - will ask.

mmzz - is your ds definitely staying at his current school then? I remember some suggestion that he might go elsewhere?

Good luck to your dd Jufusmum on your dd's trial shift at a posh restaurant. I do wonder if I should give dd another little nudge to try again on the paid work front. She did, at least, recently do a week long work experience for a Visual Merchandiser of some renown who wins contracts to do the displays for the Oxford Street flagship stores (and apparently makes a tidy sum doing so) - so at least that somethings useful on her cv (she is looking for work in the creative field ultimately)

Nice clobber Brainmelt

hmc - No, he's probably moving. It depends on getting a 7+ for Physics. DS has more or less decided that he'll move if he can though it has taken a lot of persuading that change can be a good thing.

I've just realised that you were asking because I was describing how the current school pushes for Y12 preparation? We - both me and DS - still get the emails because he hasn't told them he's leaving yet. He isn't doing the work, because its mainly maths and physics that applies to him and he can do it in the last 10 days, if he decides to stay.
The (hoped for, new) school doesn't set holiday homework.

Oh good - I hope he gets that 7+ for physics. On the basis of what you've posted on here it seems like a move would be really good for him

mmzz ha ha not brogues yet but they may come later when his present shoes don't fit anymore. Like you, I never had to think about men's fashion in detail before! Your DS smart casual choices sound v good.

Brainmelt love that look!

Drink of water I'm with you on the all -consuming wait for A level results.

DD completed most of the holiday prep in the first week - I suggested it would be a good idea to get it done early and she actually listened!
I think she still has some reading to do for psychology and some vocab to go over for French, but Chemistry is definitely all done.

She had some for each subject, given during the taster lessons on induction day.

Apparently one of the teachers hinted that if a subject required grade was slightly missed, and it came down to head of department deciding whether to still accept for that subject or not, they would look more favourably at dc if homework was completed as it shows the desired attitude for 6th form.

Brainmelt a very Chic look!

I'm also glad that DD has a uniform albeit looks like a suit because its skirt, jacket and shirts (although they do tend to wear their school hoodies into/out of school)....although they do not have a short sleeve shirt - so with this heat its not going to be easy.

I'm just counting the days until DD can learn to drive and take herself into school living in a rural village with very little public transport.

My students are post grad though. They all know there is nothing we can/will do if they haven't done it!

Anything goes for dress code at south coast colleges. I would have hated to wear a suit at 16-18. How many of us wear a suit to work each day? I don't think I have any suit jackets left in my wardrobe.

DS was dead against wearing a suit. He hasn’t actually worn the school blazer for over a year so it would be a lost cause. Preferred sixth form doesn’t have any rules apart from not wearing a hoodie.
Brainmelt love the chino and jacket combo - he has good taste!