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

DD was wavering between the 3 & 4 A level choices thing because she is genuinely interested in politics and wanted to take it at A level as a new challenge. Then she went to the taster day and realised that they had to bring everyone up to the same level first, so there would be a lot of "The House of Lords does X and Holyrood does Y" which she would find boring. She decided to stick with 3 A levels and then do an EPQ in something political along with something different (who knows what) for an enrichment activity.

I think a lot of colleges have such a broad scope of subjects that it almost feels like one of those big tubs of sweets at Christmas, where you are tempted to try the lot in one go. Hopefully doing something different as a side option will keep her enthusiasm going, whilst she has confidence from background knowledge she has gathered from GCSEs in her main choices.

Meanwhile hmc perhaps your DD can do something similar with the arty, creative stuff at SFC alongside her A level choices. I'm fairly sure things photography, sculpture etc can be taken for enrichment to give her something to get excited about, whereas something like sociology, classical civilisation (good field trips!), Italian (more good field trips!), theatre studies (good days out!) as a 3rd A level would help to keep her options open if she change her mind about art at a later stage.

Stationery: Paperchase have a club which is offering back to school discounts on Scandi back packs apparently. DD has stocked up on lots of notebooks which have inspirational feminist quotes on the front, some popper seals plastic folders from carrying loose bits & bobs in, some new folders, both lever arch and ring binders and a stack of gel pens. Highlighter pens in every shade possible, obviously. However, I had completely forgotten that we will now need to provide all paper. so I had better add a load to the Sainsburys shopping list, as that is far to dull for a 16 year old to consider buying.

Whistl If your DS is like some of the teenage boys I know, he probably does genuinely love a subject, but it is so ingrained in what he does that he doesn't actually see it as a subject to get excited about, it is just part of who he is. There are several posters with DSs on this thread who have got a great natural talent for maths (I can't remember who had the A^ shorts a few days ago, as there were so many posts to wade through). and who have taken part in maths Olympiads and so on. I think their maths and computing abilities are an intrinsic part of themselves and they don't see there being anything to love about those subjects because they are part & parcel of their personality. You don't discuss maths for fun, whereas you can discuss history, books etc for fun, so it's easier to say you love those type of subjects.

Yes there is definitely something exciting abour buying stationery, I think for me its because it symbolises new beginnings and all the excitement that entails.........DS despite my asking several times says he doesn't need anything stationery wise for 6th form, he will just grab a pen out the draw bung his calculator in his bag and off he'll go..........hopefully in trousers, no joking he has out grown all his trousers/jeans and due to the lovely weather has been living in shorts!!

Don't worry, I'm still here - I love stationery! Unfortunately DS is only interested in a shiny calculator for A level maths. I think that means I can go stationery shopping on his behalf! (Any excuse!)
DS2 is the master of not showing enthusiasm for anything. I'm hoping he grows out of it.
Thanks for all the BTEC info, that's really useful to know. I think they sound excellent for students who really don't cope well with exams - a lot of my Access students crumbled under A level pressure but are happy writing essays and doing their research projects.

That's good advice Sticker - she can indeed explore those areas in the enrichment activities. Thank you

Meant to say OneTeen from a few pages back - my dd has those Doc Martens!

On the direction of the thread lately - yes hopefully it will calm down soon. I've been reading "Dd devastated with GCSE results" on AIBU, initially to offer advice, but since then I've been reading it for therapy because its good to read posters saying that B/6 is a good grade (my dd has three of 'em). Another poster on there said they had read this thread and its like an alternate reality. I felt a bit protective of everyone on this thread at that point but its food for thought. In RL I think my dd's results would be seen as pretty good (7 at A and above and 3 B's) but here I feel like the lustre has been taken off them. I do own that is probably my issue though. I am happy for those dc who have done so well though I hasten to add!

I've got a lot of good stuff from this thread - warmth, humour, support, advice and I love the way that when we have a difference of opinion it is so darn civilised.

This weekend, dd has been writing thank you cards for each of her teachers with personalised messages. Some of them are getting essays in their cards, but the Physics teacher who really wasn't terribly good (Dd more or less self taught herself) has been damned by faint praise, something along the lines of "Thanks for teaching us physics". The Maths teacher by contrast, who dd deeply resented at times for pushing them so hard, has got "Dear Mrs X, thank you so much, I would not have got a 7 with any other maths teacher, and I owe a lot of it to you. You were absolutely right to be a slave driver :)"

Had a look at cost of books for A level. My did will have to put in for bursary as some books £30 or more. but heyho we will get through.

I'm finding the worry about league tables a bit ironic. I did enter into the discussion, I just love stats! Sad that I am, must be the ASD in my family.

I work in a grammar school but I am politically and morally against grammar schools. It doesn't bother me that others on the thread aren't. I used to work in a challenging comprehensive, with some inspirational teachers.

My DS2 has quite severe ASD which affects his ability to do well in both exams and coursework but his general knowledge is amazing! He has done fairly poorly in his level 3 BTEC.

My DS3's GCSE results were on the lower to middle end of this thread but that doesn't make me envious or sad. The country needs brilliant scientists, doctors, teachers and artists in the future. If we have them on this thread that's fantastic!

It also needs to be a world that values the abilities and talents of those who are less academic. I think this thread does that too.

It doesn't have to be a thread 'aiming for university.' The Y13 thread has lots of DC going to uni, but includes those doing gap years, apprenticeships, entering the world of work and my DS2 with SN.

I'm staying.

Sost I will be looking for 2nd hand copies of the books DD needs to save money as there are usually several years between editions. I will also get them as and when she actually needs them, rather than going on a book buying blitz in the first couple of weeks.

Did you know that Waterstones have a student loyalty card which will give then 5% off all purchases?

it was me that started with the tables and now I feel awful sorry everyone!

Yes now its onwards and upwards (hopefully not finding the step up difficult) and all back on track to preparing for new term. I am desperate to get a First Day at 6th Form picture in his suit but suspect I'll be chasing DS round the kitchen to get it!

I will also feel the need to make a collage of first day at school, first day at prep, first day at upper and first day at 6th Form Collage to post on facebook and further embarrass him!

Please don't feel awful Reservoir

whistl DD's new school actively discourages their students from taking 4 A-Levels but will allow them to start 4 and evaluate at October half-term/Christmas. Most take 3.

DD is taking English Lit, Philosophy and History (and starting Theatre Studies, hoping to finalise her 3 A-Level choices by October half-term and complete an EPQ in an area of interest for the A-Level she 'drops'). She did underperform in two subjects at GCSE so I the school are concerned about her biting off more than she can chew. I think she will thrive in 3 firm choices plus the EPQ (and all her extra-curricular drama and music).

I am sad that some people feel the thread is becoming a bit competitive with all the talk of league tables - also disinterested in paying Mr Murdoch, but am fascinated to see how the top schools rarely change from year to year if DD's school will appear on any of them (and start preparing for any pressure expectations that might be created by this).

In the meantime, I hope you all manage to enjoy our grey, cold and rainy Bank Holiday Sunday!!

I'm more than happy to advice anyone one the different routes into the accountancy world in the future. We have got some very talented young people, but those talents range from mathematicians through to the artists, dancers, sports fans and bakers. I'm really looking forward to seeing g how ow socially inept bunch blossom over the next few years.

I think the initial burst of results were from those we anticipated would have stellar results and this may have given the wrong impression to anyone popping in for a look. I think we celebrated everyone's personal victories, I know I tried to. I wasn't interested in the grade boundaries/ league tables debate because we were given no access to marks and I doubt if the Times would know how to spell our Comp's name, but it would have meant something to those of you with schools which wouldn't have been in the muddle in the middle. I'm sure our pace of post will quickly decelerate and it will be so much easier to spot the mundane matters of first days and option swaps. I NEED to know what happens next - It's going to be the equivalent of What Katie Did Next or a Harry Potter sequel. Please all, don't leave me twittering away to myself!

hmc at your lovely, honest DD - how thoughtful to write to her teachers (even the rubbish ones!)

You don't discuss maths for fun
I'd disagree with that.

Dd1 definitely discusses maths for fun. She had a (male) friend from aged 8yo through to about 13yo that their entire social life was round discussing maths. She's year 12 (going into year 13) and although she doesn't see that chap any more she has several friends, both male and female where they do discuss avidly. They ask questions and send each other pictures of their solutions on WhatsApp and things like that.

But then we are a mathematical family and do have heated discussions round the dinner table about the concept of infinity or the best way to consider complex numbers.

I am a lone accountant in a world of social scientists witchend. I have learnt to smother those tendencies over the years!

Stickerrocks thanks for the tip on the Waterstone's loyalty card! If DD was at all interested in accountancy, I know I'd turn to you for advice too

She's started to get into her 'bridging work' for A-Levels and has shared her own 'modern translation' of one of Hamlet's soliloquies far more enthusiastically than I was able to receive it! She has also started writing a script for a Pirates of the Caribbean prequel that she's convinced Disney will snap up . Latest obsession is collecting those Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts minifigues - she's bought a display case and is buying and trading online for ones she hasn't got yet. GCSE results already seem to be accepted and she's moved on. Didn't expect that to happen so quickly.

Like PPs have said, I hope to keep hearing about your DCs pathways/interests - we're a little like an extended family on these epic threads and it's brilliant to be able to share and support.

I have decided that this thread is the education equivalent of the whole _chat thread, simply concentrating on a bunch of 16 year olds and their assorted families. We are about to move onto the horrors of driving lessons, which will give us a whole new topic to discuss. Think of the number of retakes the brightest may have there!

Hellooooo!
I'm very late checking back in, but thought I'd add our update!

DS did brilliantly (for him) and exceeded our honest expectations He did a mix of GCSEs/iGCSEs and basically got the equivalent of:

3 x A*s
2As
2 Bs
2 Cs (one of which is being remarked as 2 UMS off a B)

We were thrilled he got an 8 for English Language as he has dyslexia and struggles with spelling (so prob got no SPaG marks!)
Also got a 7 for Maths which is fab since he was in the bottom set and had no confidence/self esteem until he got a new teacher at the beginning of 4th Year.

He has been accepted into his first choice 6th Form (which is part of his current school).
His happiness has been slightly overshadowed by the fact that two of his friends will not be joining him in 6th Form. One is apparently going to boarding school and the other didn't get high enough grades in the subjects he wanted to study .

Now we can get on with all the stuff I'd been putting off until after results like buying suits and 6th Form ties.

Well done everyone else whose DCs did well. And if things didn't work out as planned I do hope you manage to find some good Plan Bs.

ReservoirDogs Don't feel bad, you were only responding to me when I was noting that the school hasn't put their results up on the website this year like they usually do. So, if anything, I started it.

hmc I laughed out loud at "you were right to be a slave driver". I bet that teacher will cherish it, after a bit of a double take!!

Driving lessons!!! Argh! This is the point where I become glad that DD1 is summer born and we have a few months to avoid thinking about that.

Thanks farangatang . I am loving your dd's creativity on the Pirates prequel btw

Sticker - you make me laugh!

Well done to your ds Wonderwine . I am particularly impressed with the 8 in English Language - that is no mean feat with dyslexia to contend with. I bet that feel sweet! Its a shame about your ds' two friends but hopefully they will stay in touch

'felt' sweet

Well done Wonderwine's DS.

Thanks Chicken - I suspect that won't be the only double take