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Original poster

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

999 replies

Stickerrocks · 23/08/2018 14:17

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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LooseAtTheSeams · 26/08/2018 12:59

Reservoir please don't feel bad - I feel bad now!Thanks

TheThirdOfHerName · 26/08/2018 13:33

Stationery purchases so far:

Lightweight ringbinders for carrying to school.
Lever arch files for storing notes at home once topic is finished.
Dividers.
Hole-punch for handouts.
Loose-leaf A4 lined and squared paper; DS2 can't tear a page off a pad without ripping it.
Pens: DS2 will probably be the only sixth former in the school with a Stabilo Easy handwriting pen but luckily he doesn't care.

The head of Maths has advised them to use their GCSE calculators for now. The school will do a bulk order of A-level calculators at a discount.

sandybayley · 26/08/2018 13:49

I'd like to be buying stationery but I'm in the seventh circle of hell that is buying school shoes for DS2. I'm sure I had a good reason for leaving it until today. There's Dunkirk Spirit at the moment but I fear the mood may be turning.

Don't wait up. I may be gone some time...

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 26/08/2018 14:28

I was only discussing the need NOT to buy school yesterday. 3 smelly pairs of Converse and 2 pairs of Timberlands currently reside on the shoe rack & they will do nicely. I'm refusingvthe deremoniously dump last year's final pair of school shoes though, because after two epic fails with pairs which lasted days not months, I spent a fortune on a pair from Dune for her and they are still very presentable. University interviews are only 15 months away! I actually bought my oldest pair of shoes from Ecco for work in 1999 and they still regularly see the light of day. I'm a great believer in cost per wear (accountant streak showing again.)

OP posts:
Original poster
Stickerrocks · 26/08/2018 14:30

Shall I try this gibberish again? I was only discussing the need NOT to buy school yesterday. 3 smelly pairs of Converse and 2 pairs of Timberlands currently reside on the shoe rack & they will do nicely. I'm refusing to ceremoniously dump last year's final pair of school shoes though, because after two epic fails with pairs which lasted days not months, I spent a fortune on a pair from Dune for her and they are still very presentable. University interviews are only 15 months away! I actually bought my oldest pair of shoes from Ecco for work in 1999 and they still regularly see the light of day. I'm a great believer in cost per wear (accountant streak showing again.)

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AlexanderHamilton · 26/08/2018 14:31

I had the school shoes hell for Ds trip yesterday. It wasn’t too bad (he’s ended up with the exact same pair of Geox he had last year just a size bigger)

Dd has been sent a stationery listvehich consists of 2 A4 ringbinders, plastic pockets & A4 paper. She’s also bought several inspirational quote notebooks from Hema (she has a stationery/notebook addiction)

Bless her she spent this morning name labelling her underwear with a sharpie as her landlady warned if she didn’t knickers would be mixed up in the communal wash!

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 26/08/2018 14:37

I bought DS3's school shoes back in July. He can wear brown for the first time since reception so we've gone off piste and not bought them from Clarks! He's only a size 6 1/2 still but has got a nice pair of tan size 7 slip on shoes from Schuh. He's got terrible fine motor skills and can't manage laces (or open a crisp packet) and has had the same style of Clarks slip ons for the past 3 years! New trainers too, I just get elastic laces for them.

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 26/08/2018 14:48

Hema looks like Tiger. I did not know such riches existed! Now do I tell DD?

I l9ve Schuh, especially when they give you a voucher for buying school shoes which forces you to buy something for yourself.

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AChickenCalledKorma · 26/08/2018 14:53

Hema is just like Tiger but without the overcrowding or enforced route round the store. And the range of liquorice/aniseed sweets is second to none, if you like that kind of thing. (I do!)

AlexanderHamilton · 26/08/2018 14:56

Dd was introduced to the delights of Hema on a school trip to Holland. She now raids the one at Euston Station every time we go to London.

Oratory1 · 26/08/2018 15:14

DS success has led to a bit of pressure to do further maths but I think he'll resist and stick with the three as unlikely to go down the engineering route - more probably a computer science apprenticeship of some sort - any thoughts whether FM useful for coding and CS ?

So probably a light load compared to some with just maths, physics and CS and no EPQ. It was a conscious decision as with his dyslexia and working memory issues things take him much longer and he gets very tired and he also wants to spend time on the bands and play etc, ie the things that make him love school (as well as gaming at weekends !). I'm thinking those things (CCF, lead role in play, band leader etc) will hopefully give some credit in job applications perhaps as much as the EPQ/FM with no exam pressure at the end.

Oratory1 · 26/08/2018 15:16

Things also ramping up here on the back to school front and he's going to be boarding so other things to add to the stationary and clothes collection. I'm sure we had a handbook when he joined as a day boy at 11 which said what they needed but goodness knows where that is.

eaglefly · 26/08/2018 15:17

Pulling my hair out thinking why oh why did I leave school shoe buying for DS till the last week. Am really good usually. Also off to google Hema for stationary. I love stationary but had no list from School as yet. Must invest in some squared paper - where's best for this?

brainmelt · 26/08/2018 15:52

whistl at DS' school they encourage students to take 3 A Levels as they have a whole program of compulsory extras and non-examined electives which fills their schedule. DS is taking 3 A levels plus EPQ.

I missed the polemic on the thread but I'm glad people are exchanging flowers again Smile

LooseAtTheSeams · 26/08/2018 15:54

We had school shoe buying today and nearly got stuck in a massive queue till I realised DS2 needed to be in men's shoes not children's. It was quiet and we were very lucky to find a style that was wide enough and fitted. He has the most awkward feet! I still have to get rugby boots but will order online. DS1's smart shoes and his trainers fit him so he just got a sweatshirt.
I also spotted a Hema so am planning to go back without the rest of family and stock up. I did get a very nice school year diary for me, though.
I take the point about calculators and will wait for school recommendations.

LooseAtTheSeams · 26/08/2018 16:03

Sorry forgot to congratulate Wonderwine on the English language triumph over the odds! Star

Wonderwine · 26/08/2018 16:08

Thank you Smile We were/ are thrilled for him.

Oratory1 - given your son's dyslexia and time needed for processing (sounds similar to my DS2!) I would really recommend that he NOT add Further Maths as a fourth A level. My DS1 is just going off to uni and did it and it really added to his workload and stress. Several of his friends have just gone off to do Computer Science at great unis on the strength of 3 A levels such as the choices you describe. I'd argue it's better to concentrate on getting a better grade in Maths than adding a fourth A level.

Oratory1 · 26/08/2018 16:13

Thanks wonder that’s great to know - and will remind me to resist when his teacher next week will probably be telling him to do it !!

Oratory1 · 26/08/2018 16:22

Of course in theory we should now be able to send them off to buy their own school shoes etc 😂 Do we dare !

ReservoirDogs · 26/08/2018 16:36

DS bought his on his own but did send me a picture on messenger to 'approve'!

TheThirdOfHerName · 26/08/2018 16:41

"Oratory1* 😂
When asked to choose clothes, DS2's response is always "It's all the same to me - I have no preference".
If I sent him to buy shoes, he would grab the first pair he saw (without trying them on) to get the process over and done with as quickly as possible!

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 26/08/2018 16:43

Wonderwine half of the post grads I teach would get no SPaG marks so your D'S is in good company! Great news for him.

Oratory I didn't take FM and it did me no harm! The pressure to continue to perform whilst under pressure may dull his enthusiasm, which would be such a shame.

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Wonderwine · 26/08/2018 16:44

Oh, don't remind me.... I asked DH to pick up some size 10-12 black socks for DS as he was going to M&S. He came back with a pack of size 7-9s as apparently there "weren't any 10-12s" and now he expects me to take them back! Hmm

bpisok · 26/08/2018 16:48

@Oratory1 - it depends where your son wants to do CS. If RG/Oxbridge the recommendation was to def do FM. In fact Maths and FM instead of a CS A Level would be preferred by a lot of Unis.

My DC was given that advice at a school where all of the CS A Level kids went to study CS at Uni and went to Cambridge and Imperial

At other Unis it isn't required but it is liked.

Wonderwine · 26/08/2018 16:58

bpisok - I think Oratory1 said her son would "probably [do] a computer science apprenticeship of some sort" in which case FM really wouldn't be necessary.
Apart from Oxbridge, I really don't think RG universities offer on the basis of FM any more, since so many state schools and sixth form colleges don't offer it. Of my DSs friends, they are going to places like Durham, Bristol, Southampton etc based on just 3 A level results and some of them didn't take FM. Some computer science courses ask for an A* in Maths though, so better to concentrate on getting that IMHO.