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

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

DS2 was given some Maths at the beginning of the school holidays. About 25 exercises, mostly on algebra, published by Edexcel.

There'll be a test in the first week of term.

Reasons DS2's school sets a Maths test at the beginning of the A-level course:

It's possible to get a 7 in Maths GCSE (and therefore sign up for Maths A-level) with 139/240. If there are big gaps in understanding (e.g. algebra) they need to know this before starting the course.

It encourages the students to practise some Maths before they come back in September so they can hit the ground running.

I guess we have three years to really work on getting DD2 find her own path and stop defining herself with reference to her sister. As someone said, rewarding effort is problematic because the honest truth is that she doesn't like to work hard!

I'm going to chime in here as a regarded less academic middle one. Dsis seemed to achieve everything with a bit of effort. Dbro I was told frequently was exceptional (although dm denies that now).

I didn't put the effort it because it was easier on my ego to tell myself that if I'd put some effort in then I'd have achieved as well. If I put the effort in and still didn't achieve then I was clearly inferior.

Looking back now as an adult, I realise that actually I wasn't less bright than the others, although I always thought I was. I was less of an all rounder than dsis, but better at my main subject (maths). And I was more of an all rounder than dbro and still better at my chosen subject.
I thought that the only thing I could do was maths and I wasn't really as good as they were at that.

Even when I achieved better than either of them did at GCSE (and got into a higher rated university) I felt that I'd been lucky and wasn't as good.

I regret that I could have done better, but I was scared to try.

Please could you consider that when you consider that she doesn't seem to put the effort in.

Back with slight name change after over sharing

Many congratulations to all the DC who had achieved splendid results. Some amazing stories here.

Commiserations to people with D.C. who have had a blow to their plans or self esteem by not getting what they hoped for or needed.

We find ourselves somewhere in between. DD with dyslexia, ADD, school and exam anxiety (but not extra time ) got all As and Bs. She more than got the 6 Bs she needs to get into college to do the BTEC. She looked at her results, was silent and said, “I’ve got into college.” Then she didn’t really speak for 20 minutes.

She got As in subjects where she could show her abilities - English lit, Lang, History etc and Bs in her beloved sciences where her processing issues and thinking style just don’t match the mark scheme. She was in the top set of the triple science stream, so top of the top. Her friends who say she is the smartest in the class all did better.

Do these results reflect her ability to do the GCSEs at the moment, in this school with her special needs. Of course. Do they reflect her underlying intellectual ability?

So I feel bad. Bad for her having neuro bloody diversity. Bad for sending her to a school who aim for 5 gcse A*-C and have no interest in bright kids who are unhappy and just assume lack of effort.

I have been here before with DC2 who retains the honour of worst GCSEs. They have done really well doing an apprenticeship. They recently moved to a new company. I said what about uni? They said they were looking for a company where they could do a PhD. They have only gone and bloody found one, doing really well at interviews and scoring top scores in the assessment centre.

So I DO KNOW it will be OK. But a bit of my heart is breaking for my bright, sparky girl who has a gap between what’s in her head and what she can produce in an exam.

I know other kids will have it much worse and if you are on this thread and would give anything for my DD’s results, I am so sorry if I have offended you.

Witchend thank you, that really does make a lot of sense. DD2 has occasionally admitted that she doesn't want to risk admitting to what she knows in class, in case she's wrong. There are definitely self-confidence issues. So what you say makes slightly uncomfortable reading, but also a lot of sense.

Thank you TheThird that makes perfect sense re maths. Hadn't thought about the kids at the bottom end of the 7 band. And yes, it's an incentive to practise maths, which he might not have done if left to his own devices
this is why I'm not a teacher!

Peggy so much of what you say resonates with me. My Ds is probably the opposite to your Dd. He will fly maths but English just isn’t set up for his way of processing.

Huge congrats to your Dd & I hope that at college she will be able to show her true abilities.

Just catching up from France. Congratulations to all those with fantastic results (both relative and absolute) and really sorry to hear about those whose results weren't what they expected/hoped.

Our two were pretty much as expected, an A* in Modern Hebrew and a good solid A in Biblical Hebrew. Something went a bit funny in the writing section of the Modern Hebrew (he only got 82/100) but since he got 100% for both the oral and the listening and 97% for the reading that didn't matter, even if it was unexpected.

He was a bit disappointed with the Biblical Hebrew as he really wanted the A. . On the other hand he only really started working after the mock in January and we pulled it up from a B to a really good solid A. If he had started in September or last year, maybe we could have got the five extra marks he needed. He got the A (91%) in the Language section, just 83% in the language section, and so was five marks off the A*. Silly for him to be upset but he just sets himself really high goals.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am absolutely exhausted - spent half the day cheering up DD over her grades and talking her through plans and backup plans. So pleased for everyone but I also get a little wobbly and wish it was all a bit easier for DD.

I think the education system has really beaten her up, actually. It's been awful for her mental health. She's not quite ready to return to college, but at the same time I think the settled structure and new people will really help her.

Sixth form interviews are next week and though I think she squeaks in, it isn't a sure thing. Getting stuff together over the weekend to prepare for the conversation. I haven't told her about the Maths re-sit, I think that might break her!

peggy I hear you.

Aw thanks Alex and Rogue. It is hard to talk about in real life as extended family pleased, especially given her suffering.

I’m exhausted too Rogue. And tearful which is partly relief too. What a roller coaster everyone.

And next it’s 6th form, college, training, work. New friends (hopefully) new challenges (definitely).

I think I was a bit of a stressed out mess on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but, today, I feel much more like myself again.
It is a shame because I thought yesterday would be a day for celebration, but I spent most of the day trying not to cry through sheer stress!

Alexander our experience of lodgings is that a box room is fine. DC’s don’t take much stuff (mainly tech) and mostly lie on the bed. Atmosphere in house more important.

AlexanderHamilton you should see how tiny some rooms in university accommodation are!

Just remind her not to take too much stuff; you can always bring more stuff later in the term once she knows what she needs.

Peggy

I got back into work mode but somehow wished I had stayed at home on a bank holiday Friday (5.5 hours sat in traffic today when it should have been 3.5hours)...oddly enough the topic of conversation with my client was GCSE' s and he paid his son £500 for getting 10 x B's and above...I replied that DD had gone to get her nails done (I didnt actually pay either DF did)

£50 for a B. What would he have paid for an A*?

In "fairness" it was B and upwards...

Friend of dd got £100 per 9

So 1k

Yes its algebra based. I think it is just to get their brains reengaged. The school got 80% A*/9/8s.

Maths results as follows:

178 sat exam
120 grade 9
40 grade 8
15 grade 7
2 grade 6
1 grade 5

They only allow you to take Maths if you got an 8/9 so maybe it is mainly to get them in the swing so they can crack straight on from.day 1.

AChickenCalledKorma problem is I can't offer you any solutions there.

If my parents had told me I was as good (though to be fair I think they didn't think I was) I wouldn't have believed them, and thought they were offering platitudes.

I wouldn't have felt any better if they'd praised effort, as I would have seen it as "well done dsis/dbro they're just brilliant, and Witch tries really hard, but really can't expect..."

If they'd said that I would do as well if I'd worked then I still wouldn't have worked in case I didn't.

I only as an adult can articulate how I felt and realise how I chose not to work and why.

Friend of dd got £100 per 9

We have DS2 a hardback book he had been wanting and I bought him this to celebrate his "A hat" (Further Maths).

DS's school has been a bit slow to publish GCSE results this year. Usually, they have details on their website within hours, and on the twitter feed. Always they are good results. But not this year.

There was one story on the school's twitter about one student who got straight 9s and that was all.

Could it be with the new 9-1 grading that they are waiting to see what looks like a good result before committing to publication? There's another local school that always gets stellar results too. The two schools tend to switch back and forth between themselves as to which gets the best results in the county each year. I've just checked their website and they are coy about the results too, although they did give one statistic.

to the £100 per Grade 9! I bought ds a gym membership at the beginning if the exam season as a reward for working hard. I tried very hard to treat him to something yesterday but we just had a nice lunch at his favourite Thai restaurant. Apart from family he has not told anyone his exact results- very modest and doesn't want anyone else to feel bad about their results.

I'm shattered today too! Thought I would sleep last night but didn't and was back in work early today

Weĺl the Times League Table based on gcses is out so they may be on there whistl

DS's school was the top rankeed co-ed and they have proudly announced it.