Starting Yr11 Gcses 2020 Support Thread [Edited at OP's request]

[OrangeCinnamon]

A continuation of a Year 10 support thread
previous thread

Last thread was great and supportive as some of us tried to navigate year 10 and some very helpful peeps steered us through.

crazy I would look at how she did at the end of Yr10 mocks/exams across the 10 potential GCSE subjects she had chosen.
If Latin is 'out of kilter' with her other grades then perhaps it may be best to drop it.
DD is doing 11 at the moment but her peers whom were doing the same have dropped a subject now and DD is making noises about Geography but I've said wait until the mocks proper- in January- and if you're not happy then drop it.
Do you think there is a 'grades race' going on?

You mean wanting to drop anything that might not get her a 7 or above? Definitely! I think she got a 6 in Latin in year 10, but that wasn’t her only one. However she does seem to struggle with it and isn’t enjoying it at all. I’m thinking it probably is better to get nine good grades and have a bit less pressure. She’s a slow worker and not a great multi tasker.

DD (leafy comp) only doing 9 , triple sciences end up with 10. I think is quite enough (also have music grades 7 and theory test grade 5 this year).

crazy I feel-rightly or wrongly- if they have 'juggled' x amount of GCSE subjects for a year and there isn't one that is seriously 'out of kilter' grade wise with the rest it is worth carrying on until the mocks proper-which if January isn't that much longer.
Then make the decision to narrow down if needs be.

I think 9 is fine - we had DD drop Spanish as it was making her miserable and she's quite dyslexic so that didn't help. Personally I think they are under so much pressure that having them do something they don't enjoy, aren't doing as well as they'd like and don't need is a waste of energy during a super pressured year.

At ds's school (leafy comp in MN terms) 9 is standard, only a few do 10.

DS is doing 10. 3 weeks into the school year and it's already a tad shouty here. He has assessments next week across all his subjects and it's hard to suppress my inclination to nag. Especially when I see unopened, pristine revision aids that I have thoughtfully provided him. Could be worse. My BF's DD is in love with a boy - they're both in Y11 too so plenty of distraction and relationship trials/tribulations for her. June 2020 cannot come sooner in for both of us. Pass the gin!

Proggy I tend to agree, especially as mocks are Nov. But she wants the time to revise properly for her other subjects. And to be fair the mocks matter as she applying to external sixth forms (grammars) with high entry requirements. I just feel a bit sad about Latin, I don’t know why!

Sansou, sorry it’s getting stressful already! Most of my nagging/shouting is reserved for year 9 ds, I’m dreading his GCSEs!

crazy November is sooo close! I would feel the same if DD wanted to drop her Latin.
I do think it's easy for them to get 'sucked into' the 'grade hype' with peers. At DDs school some have dropped subjects where they hold entrance awards.
I'm pleased DD is carrying on with her Geography as she really hasn't made her mind up what she wants to do.Hopefully come January she will and if she wants to drop it so be it.

Last year DD dropped from 11 down to 9 - Spanish and Further Maths went. She's already going to early revision classes nearly every day, and about 4 hours of homework a night.

Its bonkers, and I hope it slows down after mocks (hollow laugh).

I still feel strangely sad about Further Maths but I know it was the right thing to do...

Where that is truly bonkers!
DD is doing 2 hours on week nights and Sunday 3-4 hours.
No revision classes
She is also sitting FM on top of 11 GCSEs
She doesn't do sport or have a hobby-socialising and parties are her 'downtime'

*2 hours homework

DS is taking 10 GCSEs.

There are no extra classes being offered outside of school hours (perhaps this might change by next spring).

He does use Seneca learning regularly, so we have started paying a subscription for him to access more material, and he is finding that useful.

He does approx. 30-60 minutes of studying a day, including set homework. I'm happy with this amount for now, but will expect to see an increase in the Christmas holidays (in preparation for mocks).

Mocks before October half term ... 11 subjects and DS doing about 12 hours a week since going back to school, inc any homework. No extra stuff in school yet - after Xmas I think. Mocks are ridiculously early. I can't imagine he will drop any subjects as his "extra" ones are the subjects he really likes ie history, geography, etc. If only he could drop maths...! He swims for 10 hours a week (down from 15 hours normally) at the moment but no other socialising really. Am hoping it will calm down a bit after half term until Xmas. They're cracking on with the curriculum as started GCSEs in year 9. Stress levels building by the minute ... well, mine are anyway. Roll on 24 June...

Wheresthebeach, that's a crazy amount! I'm not sure dd would find that sustainable from now until May/June?!

At the moment she seems on top of homework, but there's no time for revision. She's thinking if she drops Latin now she'll have those lessons free to do homework in.

estherfrewen
That does seem quite early for mock exams.

crazy, DD talked about dropping Latin at the start of last year and I felt sad too - I think because it's feels like a 'special' subject that only a minority study.
She has stuck with it, although she finds the grammar difficult.
DS started Latin in year 7, was doing really well but his Latin teacher is an old school task master and nothing DS did was ever good enough, so DS pleaded to drop it at the end of last term (year 8). Again, I was sad and tried to persuade him to stick at it, but he was adamant he'd never enjoy it while being taught by this particular teacher ( the only Latin teacher in the school), so we agreed he could drop it to take up German.

Also, I think you're right, it feels like a special subject and a privilege to be able to take it. But it's not related to what she wants to do in the future and she struggles with grammar generally so at least dropping it would allow her to focus on her Spanish grammar.

Totally irrationally, it also feels unfair as ds will have to do at least 10, quite likely 11 (depends on year 9 science results as to whether he has to do double or triple) and I'm not sure whether his school allow any subjects to be dropped. I can just imagine the moaning in a couple of years time when he's struggling with 11 and wishes he could drop one!

DD's Latin is going OK (causing her less stress than e.g. Maths or English). They had a test this week (part of a past paper) which she found straightforward. It's a state school but has a strong Classics department and all of the Latin teachers are good.

Yeah...I don't see how she won't be on her knees by then . I've waded in before about homework and it was cut back, so I will see if they calm down after half term and if not, wade in again. HOY has been great in the past in terms of sorting out it out and getting it cut down, just seems that the teachers rather run amok with it!

Wheresthebeach, does your school operate a homework timetable? Dd's doesn't seem to be using one this year, so the teachers have been setting a lot. It's erratic though, so last weekend she had 11 set from Thursday/Friday, but then she hasn't had much Mon-Wed this week.

Averaging 2 hrs per night here - mostly HW which might include some revision. Lunchtime subject clinics have already started which is better than before/after school ones imo. The talk this week is his friend’s 16th party which involves a sleepover. He hasn’t been to any which has got out of hand. Yet. I don’t even want to think about YR8 DD’s turn - she’s more stubborn and less compliant!

Anyone else being badgered about prom dresses - or is it just me ?