GCSEs 2018 (18) Well that's all over, let's get the party started

[Stickerrocks]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3341060-GCSEs-2018-17-What-will-be-in-your-coffee-cup-on-Thursday

I love the "A hat" thethird! I showed it to DS thinking he'd appreciate it, but sadly not!

We had fancy cakes to celebrate! Same as when DD got her GCSE results 2 years ago. she let us take happy photos of her, DS wasn't having any photos though!

Witchend don't worry about solutions - just helping me recognise that this is potentially part of the issue is very helpful indeed. I appreciate your candour.

Are the league tables out this Sunday in the Sunday times? I don't subscribe to the times so can't see the articles but wouldn't mind getting the paper.

thethird and cubscour

We gave ds1 and dd £200 for effort

Its been put to shame by 1k

(Though having said that there was no way ds1 would get a clean sweep of A* and dd 9s so i think my money was quite safe)

Dgd competed first bit of psychology A level homework....3 online assessments where she had to score 80% out of 100 to pass. She got 100% . she did not do GCSE psychology and she said questions were multi choice and just common- sense.

neither do I, eaglefly, but you can subscribe for £1 for trial which would be less than buying tomorrow's paper.
Just remember to cancel it quickly so you don't get stuck with having to pay a quarterly subscription (as DH did earlier this year)

Thanks whistl didn't know that

from the times T&C's:
You can cancel within 14 days of the start of your subscription without giving any reason and we will refund all payments received from you.
.

iv) If you wish to cancel after the first 14 days of your subscription, you will not be entitled to a refund and will be committed to an initial 3 month subscription.

Hi to everyone and sorry to arrive so late, it’s been a turbulent 36 hours! DD predicted 6-8 and got a range of 7-4 maths and English were 5’s. Unfortunately though her 6’s and 7 aren’t in the subjects she wants to do at A level, so although she has the entry criteria for three different sixth forms they won’t take her as she needs a 6 instead of her 5. She’s gutted and now has to wait until a WEEK Monday to have a meeting at her usual school to see if they’ll let her do her choices, before starting the following morning. I really think it’s horrific to make a 16yr old wait that long for a discussion! How the heck can we plan anything??! If anyone has any ideas or suggestions on how we can appeal to them then I’d be so grateful.
Congrats to everyone who did so well, dd should be pleased with 10 A-C equivalents but just can’t be

ConfusedandFrightened - that's awful. Our school was open today for those discussions and Tues, weds, Thurs next week for those who couldn't get in. You're right - she has a great set of results overall and shouldn't be under this stress. Do you think they might accept any evidence of how she was doing throughout the course to show that the 5 was a blip on the day?

That is a long time to wait. I guess the relevant teachers are still on holiday though.

DS3 was lucky that his 5s in English met the entry criteria and his 6 in computing matched the minimum needed to do the A level. He's starting with 4 subjects and I always thought he'd end up dropping chemistry, but it might be computing.

confused a week and only finding out the day before starting is incredibly harsh. Sorry I’m not sure what to suggest but just wanted to say that sounds so difficult.

Can you use some time exploring a plan B? A friend’s DS got rejected by school, went to college and then to uni.

Thanks ReservoirDogs for the heads-up about The Times' League Table

She wants to do English lit (6 marks off a 6) and biology and chemistry (6-5 in double) so really close but don’t think they’ll let her. She would take psychology instead of chemistry as now we’ve looked at the raw grades (which was a challenge thanks to AQA not publishing them with the results!) she managed a 6 in her biology p1 and p2 so I’m hoping they’ll take hay into account? What’s so difficult is two really good six forms offered her places but then said she had to change her choices, wouldn’t even consider extenuating circumstances on appeal so she’s had a few hopes raised and dropped suddenly and it’s so horrid to see her go through it. We were going to Oxford shopping tomorrow to buy books etc and just have a fun day, we can’t even do that now

I’ve tried going through plan b and c with her, even discussing BTEC extended or college but she’s heartbroken and just can’t see a way out yet.

I've spent most of today with a hangover. Thought I was still a bit drunk when I got to page 7 and found some speculation that CherryBurn might in fact be Cheryl Baker

Confusedandfrightened - our head teacher will often put himself out to contact sixth form colleges on behalf of outgoing Y11 pupils who have missed their grades, and he will be an advocate for them; pointing out their mock results (where these were better than actual grades), mid term tests and predictions etc. I believe he has had success with this for some pupils. Will your school help with this?

I also get where you are coming from Peggy. I know for a fact that my dd could have achieved higher grades were it not for dyslexia and poor working memory, however I am fortunate that she is a very grounded girl and she's as happy as Larry with her results and is going around (at home only) declaring herself a genius (in jest - I think...). ..At the cinema yesterday someone accidentally walked into her and she turned to me and said with mock indignation "Do they know who I am?"

To be honest if she had a grumble about her grades I would probably be low on sympathy/ give her pretty short shrift: I think two A*/8, five 7's/ A's (including one last year), two 6's and a 5 are more than enough. She doesn't want to go to Oxbridge or be a Medic or a Vet which are pretty much the only doors that are closed to her, I think?

To clarify I was talking about my dd in my last paragraph and giving her short shrift - not your dc!

Confused - It must be heartbreaking for your DD but I think the colleges set their requirements based on old data and therefore dont want any DC to waste time on a course they may struggle with and drop out (I had a long conversation with the DHT of a SF about this - he said he found rejected students really difficult but in the long term it was in their interest....Its even more difficult when the predictions are wrong because it leaves DC's so stressed.

I would have thought the SF would give your DD good advice on her options so at least she has a definite fall back now and then see the school has planned ...?

ReservoirDogs Have you got a link to the league tables? I can't find it on the times website.

(sorry about typos)

Although I was clumsily (as usual - sorry) trying to draw a parallel that all you can do really is reassure your dd that her results have not closed (m)any doors to her. I've probably put my foot in my mouth and said all the wrong things - but I think my bloodstream is still 40% proof if that is any defence....

found it www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-08-23/news/top-private-schools-lead-the-charge-in-gcse-results-fp6q53cfj

Evening all from a very cold tent. I've gone to bed wearing a hat to keep warm [santa]

Dd has so far today claimed she shouldn't have to empty the dishwasher because she got a 9 in Maths, shouldn't have to help unload the car in the rain because she got a 9 in Maths, and should get the better sleeping bag because she got a 9 in Maths

Other than being let off some of the above there won't be any rewards here. I bribed her with meals out every Sunday through exam season if she'd stuck to my mmzz's revision plan that week so that was her reward.

Kick I'm flattered (i think!)

You should be