Year 11. Does your child have work set for the summer term?

[snoopy123456]

My sons school seem to have chucked them out of school with no word of any work/studying to do next term. My son seems quite happy with that but 6 months of nothing doesn’t sit well with me? Does anyone else have this problem?

It’s Easter Sunday.
Wait until term starts.

My DD has been given bridging work to prepare her for A-levels, including reading lists, project work and essays. They are also supposed to be mentoring and supporting younger children with their school work through a teacher run buddy system.

We've not had anything yet, (and that's fine by me) but are expecting work after the holidays. Nothing too onerous though hopefully. Making sure they've finished/mastered the GCSE syllabus for the A levels they want to do mainly I think.

We still aren’t really sure about the gcse marking though are we?

In what sense Lordfrontpaw? The cut off for producing new work/data for GCSE assessment is passed - the school will be working with historic evidence. Children may not know if their grades mean they are going ahead with the same A-levels at the same 6th forms, but they can work towards that.

My DD has alot of work that she is working through , her school set it via firefly.

My ds has had some work before the hols. His friend (different school) has had nothing

I have a friend who is a tutor and he said that ‘the Union’ is saying that it’s based mocks, school work and teachers input, and possible work done over the holidays (assessments set) - but that it’s not set in stone.

It’s all a bit worrying - DS did appallingly in one mock (I thought his teacher was going to cry) and he managed to start getting decent grades just before the holidays so god alone knows what that will mean for him. Most of his teachers were saying ‘he can do it when he pulls his head out of the clouds...’

My DS has been set A Level bits and pieces to prepare him. The school I work in does not have a sixth form, it is a feeder school for a local one. We have worked with them to set appropriate work that will link to A Levels.

@Lordfrontpaw your friend who is a tutor has obviously not read the guidelines. The 'union' has had no say - it's all come
From the government and is based on a number of things. There is a clause in the documentation about continuing work

DD's school has not set any work since 20 March. Y11 were asked to hand in their textbooks on the last day they were in school. The implied message from the school is that they have finished Y11.

DD finished off the last bits of the GCSE courses herself as best she could (using CGP revision guides) and now plans to do some pre-reading for the A-level courses she hopes to start in September.

My son will have 2 weeks consolidating/finishing GCSE courses and then moving on to A level syllabus. Feels like it's meeting the school's emphasis on education rather than teaching to the test and will set him up well for September.

Surely everyone is currently on holiday and it's too early to tell yet?

We had a letter from DC's school saying that Year 11 should absolutely not plan to do nothing between now and September, and suggestions that there would be some work set by school. I'm assuming we will find out what form this takes when the holidays end in a week's time.

We're planning on doing some prep work for Alevel.
There is no point in doing any further GSCE work as it can't possibly count towards a grade as it is not reliably their own work.

Our school will be running ‘get ready for A level’ courses online - dc can sign up for each A level subject and courses will run until the end of June. The expectation is that work will be completed if students sign up. They’re also running alternative shorter courses for those who don’t plan to go to take A levels.

No more GCSE work or assessment though.

Nothing has been set by school at all and because DS is moving onto a vocational course at college I can't see him doing anything until the lockdown/social distancing ends.

I really think he'll need to get a job but that option has been heavily criticized in the media over the last few days. Not sure what he (and other yr 11s not taking A Levels) are going to be able to do

DS has done nothing, and has been given nothing. We've had an email from one of the colleges he's been given a provisional place at, to say they are putting together a plan of ideas of things YR11's can do in prep for starting in September

What have the media been saying @Richlyfruited ? DS is hoping to get a job when/if this calms down

Year 11?
The focus will no longer be teaching them but working out the grades to send in to the exam boards. Apart from that the focus will be shifting to y10 to ensure they stay as well prepared as possible for next year.

What your y11 can do:

Get him to do some pre-work for A levels if applicable.

If doing a science A level then whether or not doing Maths keep going at any applicable strands.

If passing Maths/English Language at the required grade might be an issue then keep going with these in case 'resits' are needed.

If doing a BTEC contact the relevant college and ask for guidance.

The should is creating. Diploma that will relate to what the individual is going on to do next. They will be awarded at prize giving in October.

Ds1 had some general work set, 2 exams for mocks, and some i media coursework that he was asked to finish.

They are now off for easter now. As they should be.

I'll see what happens when they go back.

I suspect there may be a difference between schools with their own 6th forms, and schools that finish in y11 (like most here in Hants.)

It was articles like the one below @namechangenumber2 If PT work isn't an option for them (and I do understand the concerns) then I'm genuinely worried it might be up to 6 months of Xbox and Netflix for DS - not healthy at all

//www.google.com/amp/s/inews.co.uk/news/education/gcse-a-levels-coronavirus-supermarkets-summer-job-2532848%3famp
https

Job wise - I presume Year 11s are still "officially" in education until June so can only work a limited number of hours at the moment anyway.

None of the supermarket type jobs round here will take applicants under the age of 18 at the moment.

DS did have a summer job lined up (working in kids club) but that is now dubious as well.

DS's school sent home a letter telling them that they needed to keep engaging their brains over the next few months - this didn't have to be school work, but could be learning a new skill such as how to cook or DIY.

After the holiday I will be creating some "rules" around what DS does and insisting he does something constructive with at least part of his day.

On the subject of DIY , DD has painted the bathroom and helped me with the hall, stairs and landing
It has certainly helped to lift her mood but she hasn’t reported for duty as yet so I’m wondering if the novelty has worn off

This is all really helpful thank you. I haven’t used mumsnet before. What is DS and DD? We fall in to the category of 6 months of potentially doing nothing too which seems so wrong. I’m really happy for him to have one or two months of down time at some point but 6 months can’t be good for them at this age and then there is the concern that they are missing out on the experience of sitting official exams. I wonder how this will effect them in the future?