Gcses 2019 support thread 5

[Iambuffy]

Hi :)
Hope this is ok as we are at 1000 posts on thread 4!

Well no prom either, but the prize day was yesterday, so it felt a bit like a goodbye, end of an era, and quite sad. Very interesting about the prizes. School clearly doesn't have a lot - there was one prize for maths, one for science, one for creative arts, religious studies, one for MFL, three for most improved, one all rounder - for each of KS3, KS4 and KS5. Then there were three prizes for B'TECs, a cup for each year in sports, two music cups, a few additional prizes such as an endeavour prize, some good behaviour/good character traits type prizes and a few additional certificates, and that was it. Most of the parents we met there said it was the first prizegiving they had been to. The head boy spoke and said it was the first prize giving he had been to (and he didn't get a prize). They did say that they gave some more prizes at the Year 13 graduation in May, but they listed all the names, and it was only around 10 or so.
The other thing that was noteworthy was that they didn't only give the KS4 prizes to Year 11s, it was spread between Years 9, 10 and 11. There was a Science prize, which was the one that I thought DS might have won if anything, but that went to a Year 10, as did the creative arts prize (again, he might have been in the running for). Really not clear how they decided who got what, although it did feel like it was strictly one prize per DC. Seems like the departments had had a think, and then discussed more widely. The headteacher did seem to suggest that they had put a lot of time and effort into deciding who got what prize, it clearly wasn't about who had the top score in any given subject. Quite a lot of work for a £15 book voucher (albeit that we had to go off to our local bookstore and buy the book, and give it in, so it could be written in). I also think that touch was nice, as it means that at least the DC could choose the book and get something they might want.
Very different to what went on in Primary School, which was a lot more traditional, as I remember it, and was done at the graduation assembly, all parents and children were there, nobody knew beforehand, and the DC got what they got.

Triggers - really feel sorry for your Dd, must be heartbreaking to be penalised harshly for being so honest. Hopefully she will have done well on her other papers💐

Bimkom - sorry your DS missed an award! There’s often many reasons behind them. DS school also gives vouchers ahead of the ceremony to select books. No awards given at Dd school!

Arewedone - no DS got an award - for maths! We were just surprised, as there were other DC who are head and shoulders above DS in maths (DS got a 9 in his mock, but scraped, as he is likely to do if he manages a 9 in the real thing, and one boy got 100% in the mock and couldn't think of anything he got wrong in the first two exams, at least). We were just surprised it was maths rather than science, were he did get the best grades for science in the mocks, and he was top of the (admittedly very small) art contingent. As mentioned, it does seem like it was a prize per DC, so if maths decided he got maths, then science might have been told to find somebody else. You only get to go if you or your DC wins a prize, that is why it was a first for us (and most of the other parents there).

Ohhh! Then big congrats🍾
We only had awards in Y7 and a similar thing happened with the girl who is a national maths whizz losing out to another girl! But how fantastic to be recognised for something you weren’t expecting

triggers that seems rather hard handed tbh. Hope the appeal works.

Ds1 has his 2 induction days one after the other next week...

I've been trying to prepare him for getting some summer reading/prep but I'm not sure he's taken it on board!

He's also now wondering about changing his 3rd a level choice...politics instead of biology.

The 6th forms seem quite open to changing the options thankfully.

oh triggers that sounds harsh... I'll keep fingers crossed for appeal and hope if its not upheld that DD is not too gutted. If she needs if for A-level (apologies I can't remember) can the school write a supportive letter (if she's not staying on at school).

End of work experience week here - DD has really enjoyed it and surprised herself I think. She was in a law firm and got given meaningful tasks to do rather than just shadowing etc. She says it will be a bit odd not to be going there on Monday!

We are finally done! Dd has had her introduction days and has decided to go back to her original choices and do classical civ instead of textiles. She's got a good few books to read over the holidays including Howards End and the odyssey. She has to do an epq and is keen to do gold DofE which i think might do her good, although it's expensive so I'd be glad if she changed her mind!

That’s so harsh triggers - it’s not exactly going to encourage her to admit mistakes in the future is it? Fingers crossed for the results (I wouldn’t rush to mention anything personally but that could be me taking the chicken way out).
Dad will miss taster day as she’s on NCS but she’s going to email the school about handouts/reading lists, although we don’t have much free time either!

Black suit with a formal shirt for smart occasions. Daily wear is the skirt with any top.

Annoying - that’s what the dress code is. Very few for boys, huge list for girls including no collar bones on show......🙄

DDs is anything as long as "safe" and "respectful", the second is particularly aimed at students respecting the large Muslim contingent - which means they don't get the short shorts/skirts and crop tops of other places - without actually banning them. My old DD did go in pajamas one day though!

Induction day seemed to have gone quite well - she spoke to other students, and found her way 1/2 way back to the station.

respectful

Blimey. Respectful to whom?

If you aren't Muslim then you can wear short skirts surely?

The dreaded sixth form (boys only) is a suit and the school tie. DS's current school for boys is a suit, but any tie, and summer uniform they can ditch the blazer and tie. For girls is it way more complicated, not too short, not too hugging, - at least twith a son his time we don't need to negotiate that. If DD (Year 8) stays for sixth form, then we may need to deal with the complexity then.

Fibbike - it means you should be thoughtful about if your clothes will offend others (can also be commented on if unpleasant slogan T-shirts were worn). To be honest the students dress like students - mainly jeans, trackie bottoms, trousers (with the odd skirt) and t-shirts etc. Lots of dyed hair. But on the whole they look comfortable, which to me seems a good look for study. And the teachers teach rather than comment on clothes.
A few come quite dressed up at the start of the year - but pretty soon lack of sleep leads to a fall in sartorial standards.

Now at parties (official or otherwise) they do wear short skirts and crop tops etc.

Just sent ds off on his first college introductory day - it's his 'insurance' choice, quite a bit further away from us than his first choice, and an early start so he's not in the best of moods

He has had a good, fun summer so far; no prom or anything like that but lots of parties and his first festival yesterday! Oh to be 16 again!

Well.
Dsq shoulcbe going to his 2nd choice 6th form open day today.
Except hes broken his finger a s is in a lot of pain.
So off minor injuries I go...

We have some school 6th forms nearby that require workwear but dd's is a 6th form college so more casual, I can't see a dress code written down and never needed to refer to it with ds. dd is loving the freedom to dye her hair but isn't a short skirt and crop top kind of girl.

We are a little early but as dd isn't quite clear what she wants to do after college (two main paths in mind) we went for our first university open day on Saturday, she loved it but it is slightly aspirational for her (Loughborough), she would really have to knuckle down at college to get the grades. We have Prom, NCS and a couple of big performance art events before that though.

Our 6th form dress code is simple: no belly buttons, no ripped or dirty clothing, no offensive (read racist/sexist/homophobic etc) slogans on shirts. That's it. And yes, they do all look like students.

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. Dh is back from Glastonbury today so we'll discuss when to tell her.

Dds open taster days went well and she has chosen her A levels which are English Lit, French, Psychology and Music. She'll drop one after a term
Dress code is fairly relaxed mustn't be able to see up it , through it or down it, plus natural hair colour.

Oh triggers, that is bad luck about the exam.

ds sixth form (same school) is smart casual, not jeans and shirts must have collars. He has induction days next week and currently doesn't own any clothes which are suitable apart form his prom suit. I keep suggesting we go shopping, but apparently I'm nagging!
one pair of trousers and 2 polo shirts, just go and get them for next week!

DD has the "not up it, down it or through it" rule, and they have to be "modest" but any kind of casual is fine. They also have the "collarbones" rule, which is frankly bonkers, they have challenged it, but school are still going with the "it's distracting" line, which is pretty Victorian if you ask me.

I must admit, I find it a bit old fashioned now, with so many schools/colleges still towing the "business smart" rule, when so many businesses, particularly the new industries, no longer have a dress code. DH (IT), probably only wears a suit one a month now, the rest of the time he wears shirts (no tie) or polo's and trousers. Several of DD1's mates have gone into grad jobs where T-shirts and jeans are the norm. It will be interesting to see if there is a general further relaxation for our DC's generation.

Anyway, soapbox over, DD2 gone back into school today to join in U6 muck up day, which is always fun, then helping at Sports Day tomorrow, keeps her busy . Prize giving is tomorrow, then we are officially free, hooray !

Just catching up with all the proms and induction days. DD and I spent a couple of days in London last week and it was great to relax a bit. We went to Bodyworks which was great fun.

I noticed a few dc are doing NCS , dd was meant to be but a week and half before told her she was wait listed despite having a place confirmed in Nov. She had rung up and questioned whether her recent medical form had any impact and they said no. Her friend enrolled yesterday morning and was told to tell if she got there by 12pm they might have place but when dd got the message it was too late. She rang NCS and the lady told her that she had been taken off due to epilepsy so we are now back to I can' do anything anymore.

on a different note , I saw that a lot of your dc have preparation for A Levels. Is this just for people changing schools and is it no=science subjects. As dd has finished and not received any preparation work although starting to think what she might do for EPQ.