It's tricky isn't it, finding the right balance for each student, that doesn't make them feel like they're being made to do un-necessary work or activities just for the hell of it, whilst keeping them just ticking over with just enough motivation to move onto the next stage after such a shit, abrupt end to Y11.
DD here is really grateful for the couple of hours of scheduled stuff she has on, with her teachers doing a fantastic job of treating them accordingly, adapting to the circumstances they're in. She's found the relationship with them more personable, and respectful of the fact that this has mutually affected them all, so they'll muddle through together. And some things may need to be done differently, dependent on the child.
She has many friends from all educational sectors and is really shocked at how differently schools have reacted. From a very highly sought after boys school making them sit actual 'real exams' for all GCSE subjects next week (including timetable), to others having 3 hour subject lessons as before as if nothing has happened. And obviously some who have been cut loose altogether. Couple of her friends from the boys' school had been threatened over the easter hols (allegedly, via phone so no paper trail) that not preparing and sitting the forthcoming exams could affect their exam grade rankings. They were livid, thought about a formal appeal but resigned in the end to the knowledge that the school holds power in not submitting marks yet. This could all also have been over-dramatised, as kids do when gossiping, and is coming from a high achieving environment where the differential between those achieving 9's vs 8's is marginal...not our world thankfully, but has made me think what is actually behind some of these big 'brands', and thank god we're not in one.
DD said she could so easily become a full time gamer if she'd allowed herself, and whilst this is a total anecdotal generalisation, it's most of her male school friends that have fallen into the 13.00 - 03.00 ave gaming cycle, with no motivation for much else. And getting quite down with life in general. She thinks it's also because they know they are in the profile where whilst all bright, they were relying on the post easter revision to get their desired grades, and that has back-fired on them, I add in their opinion.
Our biggest challenge so far has been the lack of decent exercise for her. Moving from 15 hours weekly sports training to intermittent bike rides and 15 mins core workouts in our minuscule home where you can't swing a cat vs access to a 24 hour fridge. I'm having to tread really carefully on what I say and when...
They would have been on official study leave from tomorrow, sitting first exams from Monday. How long ago does all that feel?