Poor year 11’s seem to have been just forgotten about

[lovelylegs2019]

Hi all just looking at all these changes and updates from Gov and lots of school ages mentioned but having one DS who was due to being sitting GCSES now, it’s just like they are a forgotten school year. He’s looked at the news and is quite angry and sad that it’s just all done and dusted for them. He’s going to college so has no relevant set work I can get him to do! He is busy with various projects & has p/t time in a supermarket. School have been vague on a prom, leavers book or the hoodie. I just feel so bad he’s not going to have any of the normal experiences / rites of passage his older peers have done previously & even not sitting an exam that has a consequence. How are you all dealing with this?

Empathy isn't a competitive sport
This, a hundred times

Each year group has it tough in its own ways, of course some will be fine but for some this will pinball them off onto a different trajectory - potentially a worse one. That's incredibly sad.

A thread feeling sorry for Y11 doesn't mean we can't also feel sorry for other years groups - or indeed people not at school.

It's also a worry that those that are going on to take A Levels will have never sat formal exams before they take A levels in 2022. Ds was highly anxious about Gcses and was in a smaller room and not the main hall but he won't get that experience of the real thing. Oldest Ds was saying you can sit lots of mocks but nothing is the same as sitting with a paper in front of you with the actual date on it. .

That’s very true, hasn’t considered that.

It's not about showing empathy. I have a very disappointed yr11 DC at home as well. This is about OP and her DS being 'angry and sad' because year 11's were not mentioned in the latest updates. They are angry that other year groups were mentioned but Year 11 in particular wasn't (despite previous announcements). The anger & sadness seems to be around the fact the usual leaving rituals did not get a mention which is ridiculous because there's nothing the government can do about that and its not new information, that's been the case for weeks.

We already know exams are cancelled, we also know how grades will be calculated. Other year groups also deserve to have their questions answered and their anxieties about the near future mentioned. Year 11 has had its shot, most have COMPLETED the yr 11 curriculum if not all, so we are lucky wether you agree or not.

People need to stop being so self absorbed and realise everyone is affected and announcements and updates cannot revolve around personal needs.

Instead of OP indulging petulant anger she should be the voice of reason for her DS helping him to see that actually, though its been a crap way to end the yr, his year group are still better of than others e.g yr 10/Y12 and those yr 6s perhaps preparing for 11+.

Bit harsh, that!

Instead of OP indulging petulant anger she should be the voice of reason for her DS helping him to see that actually, though its been a crap way to end the yr, his year group are still better of than others e.g yr 10/Y12 and those yr 6s perhaps preparing for 11+. Thank you shimy yet again for you opinion 🙄🙄

I’m surprised year 11s are still focusing on school related disappointments as it’s a long time now since the bombshell was dropped. At the time my dd was disappointed at not having the chance to do GCSEs, celebrate at the end, have her prom etc. This was followed by even deeper disappointment at the cancellation of the camps, D of E expedition and other activities she had planned over the summer. It’s definitely important to let them grieve over this, as this was going to be their long fun summer.

However all of these things are ‘old news’ now. Dd quickly started to see some positives in the situation - no long months of revision, results would may well be fairer, the chance to rest and do lots of things she’s not had time for before.

Like others have said, I don’t really think year 11s are worse off than others. They get GCSE results with three months less effort than all other years and a really long extended break! I feel more sorry for other years trying to work at home and worry more about my year 9 who’s missing parts of his GCSE content but isn’t going to be prioritised like the year 10s.

I think for all of us - kids and adults - there will be disappointments. We all need to focus on seeing the positives. For most young people there are some. My son is able to sleep in instead of having to be out the door at 7.15.

I acknowledge that for many adults there are no obvious positives to this situation. But I think we should encourage our young people to look on the bright side if they can.

My y6 was very very upset about what she would miss. So was I.

She’s moved on a little. I haven’t. I’m still horribly upset by it. Perhaps it’s because I can’t fix it, when part of being a parent is trying to ‘fix’ things.

The feeling of helplessness lingers with me, even when she’s feeling better. Maybe others are just feeling the same. It’s ok to express it.

I totally get what you mean OP my Y11 DD is so upset with it all and missing out on everything makes her upset how ever much we try and help her. Her friends have been brilliant wots it maybe your ds friends can help support him with it all? It did feel weird watching the news and no mention of Y11’s anywhere my dd noticed that- a lot for then to process eh? Least he has work etc. Shame some mnetters are less tolerant of posts eh? Lots of support mainly

I have a Yr12 (mine) and a Yr 13 (fostered) plus a first year uni student. It's tough for all of them.

The Yr13 hasn't done any uni open days and wouldn't have been able to even if COVID hadn't happened - very difficult background situation. Has worked hard, is glad that their work done so far will be taken into account because Yr 12 didn't go great for them whereas Yr 13 when they were here has gone a lot better.

Yr 12 is getting work set and is keeping up well. Has already picked her top 3 unis based on the course she wants to do - it's a shame about visits but she considers them non-essential.

School is going to try to do prom/6th form leavers ball in the early autumn if at all possible.

My first year uni DD is missing her friends and her life at uni, but is doing exams online (no more lectures) and has had her halls rent returned for the third term without having had to pick up her stuff in a rish. Her new landlord has dropped rent for second year accommodation too.

We've been very lucky.

Why would the government be mentioning year 11'as they have effectively finished there education at school level and more will be on about colleges etc for sept later , proms and all the fun stuff will be down to the schools to maybe do next year if safe to do
I know our school has mentioned they will look at doing something for year 11 if and when safe to do so
But the government clearly only going to concentrate on those who still actually should be in school.
I have a year 10 ,I wish he was year 11 as personally it's year 10 and 12 who have it slight tougher as it stands they still have to sit exams next year yet likely to over missed several months of school and gcse topic
But this situation is rubbish for all of us and everyone is missing out on something

You're welcome lovelylegs2019.

There really isn't anything that could be done for Y11 at the moment. Their classes have finished. Proms, parties etc can't be done obviously. Yes, it is sad they have missed out on a fun end of year, but it would be utterly ridiculous to bring Y11 back to school, just to sign hoodies and meet up with their friends.

I do feel for 11s and Y13s, it must be an unsettling feeling for them to not have finished school in the way they were planning.

I worry about Y10s (my DS is one). Government guidance wasn't very clear, so not sure what is going to happen after 1st June and then what will happen with GCSEs.

There is another thread about Y7,8 and 9 as they haven't been mentioned at all, at any time, as unlikely Secondary schools are opening properly this term.

I understand

Youngest DS was due to sit his GCSEs as well and no Prom (not that he is the type to go but still), leavers hoodie , everything they look forward too
He does have a place in College though so hopefully he, and the others, will get to start in September.

I feel sad for him though .

Some schools are doing stuff for Yr 11 and 13. I don't know if it's just private schools, but they seem to be offering introduction to A Level remote teaching with live lessons and work and something similar for Yr13 with introduction to uni style learning. They seem to be getting several hours a day and live tutorials. Perhaps they are trying to justify their fees!

It's true though that Yr11 will have never done external exams until they sit A Levels. I guess the end of year and mock exams will be especially important for them.

They've all lost out indifferent ways.

My year 11 is still doing practice papers (one a week in ten subjects) for 'evidence' for GCES grades. Still has to sign into school every morning and has zoom lessons and discussions thrownin as well. Due to start A level prep in the next couple of week s and we haven't been told how much longer this will go on for - 'til the exams were due to start or. until the end of term... At a small independent school so is it fees justification???

Unfortunately I agree the have been forgotten about.
My Child has no idea what school they will be attending in Sep and other schools are not being very forthcoming about their 6th forms which they applied to.
It’s all very well saying about resits but that doesn’t help when they don’t know where they will be.

I do think they should give GCSE and A Level results earlier then the ‘normal’ time to help these poor children.

spfp Ds's headteacher said in a newsletter they are are now internally moderating the results that the teachers intend to submit. Ds last did any gcse work on the 18th March. He has done none at all in lockdown.

I think you may be right about justification of fees.

I feel for them too, they've had the prospect of September resits dangled in front of them and been told to keep GCSE subjects ticking over just in case but it has all gone quiet about that now. Can't do 6th form / college transition properly. Many will have had holidays of a lifetime or other big celebrations for after the exams cancelled. Unlikely to find part time work over the summer as all the usual places, cafes, shops, fast food outlets are going to be restricted. No proper exam experience (although mine did a couple of BTEC exams in Feb and is very grateful for that now). Then the things that apply to other years too such as no sports or group hobbies, can't see their friends (well, one at a time now). But if like us yours goes to a school with a huge rural catchment those friends are miles away. Even in September school / college are unlikely to be anything like they expected with social distancing measures.

My niece is in Year 11 and her school have started teaching their A-Levels early. Seems like a good idea to me.

Has someone checked that the planned new entrants' schools are also offering teaching (on the same topics) for their own current year 11s, or is it a school which doesn't have many new joiners at year 12, so it won't be a major issue to 'catch them up' if they haven't covered the same (or any) material when they arrive in September?

Marching we have heard nothing from Ds's prospective sixth form. They take only a handful of external pupils though so I guess it's probably not a priority to send work out. Ds wasn't impressed with what his current school sent so at the moment he's doing a very small bit of A Level maths that we have found online. He finds studying at home incredibly hard so we are hoping that even 45mins a day will keep his brain slightly active and help with what will be a difficult transition for him in September.

@Magic2020 the grades are not guessed at. They are probably more accurate as to what they are capable of than normal GCSEs as there’s no going blank due to exam pressure!

@Punxsutawney dd is doing nothing at all at the moment, except watching Andrew Marr's History of Britain very reluctantly with me! I'm fairly sure their brains won't deteriorate too much by September! She also has work set by current school but as she's not staying she doesn't see the point.

I think it's a good opportunity for them to do other stuff - whatever that may be. For dd, more music, decorating her room (and lots of TV!).

This experience has illustrated to me how ridiculous the current (pre Covid) education system is. Dd was out every day from 7.45 til 5 (ok, a longer day than some) and then spent most of the evening doing homework or revision. Even weekends taken up.... Why are we pushing 15-16 year olds so hard? Most adults don't work those sort of hours?!

Previously we'd have asked if she wanted to watch an episode of something in the evening or play Mario Kart on the Wii and she'd have said she didn't have time. Now she's so relaxed, we have our evenings back. I'm dreading her going back to the treadmill in September!

crazy we are only encouraging a little each day for Ds as he struggles massively with motivation especially for learning. He wasn't doing much revision at all before the gcses got cancelled but that was more because of his autism than being just lazy. His obsession is his computer so the small amount of learning each day gets him off that as well!

I do agree about the pressure of exams though. Ds has poor mental health and had an awful year 11 including his autism diagnosis at the start of the academic year. Dh and I had already told the school as far as we were concerned his mental health was far more important than his exam grades. He wants to stay in lockdown though and has school anxiety so I have genuine concerns about ever getting him back to full time education.