Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Anybody else got a year 11 fretting about gcse results, how are you keeping them calm whilst stuck at home?

14 replies

SisterSist3r · 22/03/2020 09:01

Ds royally screwed up mocks, had a shitty couple of years with MH so data will be all over the place. From good/ ok to low.Was under CAMHs. Bright kid who had everything set to pull off what he needed in exams which we are pretty sure he would have done.Had worked hard on MH and started revision, was working hard and was starting to pull everything together for the revision period at home. Was looking forward to being away from school and cracking on with things. Exam measures in place.

He is in such a state as looking at the data we’ve got it’s clear he may not get what was needed for Alevels. The GCSEs of 2 of his Alevel courses will be good we think. 7s maybe 8s but he needs a couple of supporting GCSEs for 2 subjects that should be fine fingers crossed, but maybe not. He also had to get 8 GCSEs and we’re thinking there is a high chance he may end up only with 7.

He’s in such a state and all the good work we’d put into things I fear is going to be undone.We’ll be at work so he’ll be home fretting without us to rationalise things. Can’t say look at the bigger picture as escalating CV world worries on top won’t be helpful and I’m trying to keep scaremongering at a minimum, limiting news etc.

Somebody on another thread suggested studying for retakes to deflect things which is a good idea but we don’t know which would need that and it’s a bit soul destroying iykwim.

I’ve said 6th form college will be understanding but can’t promise that.

Anybody else in a similar situation and what are you doing to get through the next few very long months of inactivity and worry?

Just to say I get there are bigger things to worry about but teens are teens and MH isn’t something you can just get them to snap out of.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 22/03/2020 09:16

Can you get in touch with the 6th form he's going to, explain the situation and get them to send an email saying they will be flexible? Because they will be.

There is no way in current circumstances they're going to not let him study for A-levels because he only has 7 not 8 gcse's or they're slightly lower than required. It's not going to happen. He will be able to go to 6th form.

To stay busy he should concentrate on studying the subjects he needs to support his A-levels, not because of grades or exams but because he will actually need that knowledge/those skills to help him through his A-levels. That's what education should be about anyway, actually learning stuff not just learning the bits you'll be tested on.

Beyond that, find an indoor hobby or two and concentrate on those. Make sure he gets virtual time with his friends. Get out the house for a walk and fresh air where possible.

justchecking1 · 22/03/2020 10:19

Isn't anyone unhappy with their mark able to do an exam in August? I know this might not happen depending on where we are but it's worth focussing on that for now.

Also, sixth form are likely to be pretty flexible especially if he only misses the grade by a little bit

SisterSist3r · 22/03/2020 10:51

Have heard anything from Aug to Jan re retakes. Anybody know which it is? He has such a range we don’t know which to study for.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 22/03/2020 11:22

He can keep studying for all of them and then drop to the ones he needs to resit when results come out in July.

Or he could bet on the ones he’s most likely to need to resit, study those, then drop and pick up subjects as needed in July. That will still be a while before any exams.

Whatever calms him more.

SisterSist3r · 22/03/2020 13:14

He just suggested sitting 4. The 4 he doesn’t want to go through life with shit grades in ie 3 sciences and English.I mooted keeping everything going on your suggestion and that was a def no. Might be a bit overwhelming and he’ll be on his own managing it all.Bit of a gamble as to the 4 being the right 4. Will try and get a bit more information but I’m guessing nobody really knows anything.Do we know when the resits will be?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 22/03/2020 13:19

No, we don’t know anything!

There will be time between getting results and the exams to revise other subjects. It will be fine!

SisterSist3r · 22/03/2020 21:06

Thanks that’s reassuring to know.. Do you know if lessons are supposed to be continuing for kids like this online? Other year groups are having lessons and year 11s would have had a few weeks after Easter. Would be helpful for preparation. Ds seems to have one next wed but not other subjects.Confused

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 22/03/2020 21:10

My school isn’t setting anything for Y11. They should have any revision resources they need already, tbh.

They are suggesting bridging work for kids who want to take A-level in particular subjects, but that’s not GCSE revision.

I don’t know if that will change - our Y11s had left school by the time the advice came out.

SisterSist3r · 22/03/2020 21:17

Wondering if we should print all the resources off the school website before it gets wiped or will they keep everything up for a while? All feels a bit weird planning exams without support iykwim.

OP posts:
Devlesko · 22/03/2020 21:18

I keep reassuring her that what ever happens I fully support her. Even if that means paying myself at a later date.
Not that I think that will happen but to show all bases are covered.
Mine has been following her timetable for 2 weeks at home now. Last week online lessons were set up in groups with their teacher.
It was funny hearing some teachers getting to grips with it, and hearing dd telling them to turn their volume on Grin
If they still have work to cover I think it's easier for them to find the motivation, to carry on.
A level options were due in too, so that's something mine is just considering.

noblegiraffe · 22/03/2020 21:45

The last thing schools will be doing right now is deleting resources from their website.

SisterSist3r · 22/03/2020 21:55

Ok that’s good, just assumed now they’ve left school the platform with all the revision materials would go for year 11.

OP posts:
ChloeDecker · 23/03/2020 18:04

Received this today from an Exam Board. Obviously a lot more information to come but this should help calm your DD down for the moment:

Summary:
If your DD is not happy with her grade, she can either:

Take an assessment in Autumn 2020 or summer 2021

Can appeal the grade she will have been given, from July

www.ocr.org.uk/news/coronavirus-advice/

Bliiiiiimey · 25/03/2020 16:18

My son's school is starting to teach the y11s A Level material on an opt-in basis, which is great because it is helping DS to see it as an opportunity to get a step ahead for next year.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread