Current Year 10 2020/2021 support thread

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

I can’t see a thread for upcoming new year 10s, so I thought I’d start one, as the long-running GCSE one I’ve been part of for DD has been a life-saver.

DS has opted to take history, German, drama and music, plus double science, maths, English x2, and RE.
He’s pretty bright and does well without having to break a sweat (much to my frustration!), but doesn’t really know what he wants to do in the future. He’s a music scholar at his school, so does a lot of music (DH and I are both professional musicians...or were, before Covid hit...) but loves history and English.

His school provided excellent online schooling and he was lucky to be able to go in 2 days a week for the last 3 weeks of term.

His sister has just finished year 11, so we are biting our nails, waiting for results next week. She has quite a different academic profile, having ADHD and possibly dyspraxia, and has had to work hard throughout the last few years.

I hope us parents of DCs just starting the GCSE journey can help and support each other over the next couple of years. 🙂

[RedskyAtnight]

maybe obvious, but I am also stressing to DD that, in light of this year's fiasco, that coasting through to Christmas of Year 11 and then starting to work properly (as her brother did in part) is not a good option. On the basis that teacher assessment might be used again at some point in the future, I think our Year 10s have to treat every piece of work as important.

[EasilyDelighted]

I'd like to join too, I've been an occasional poster on the current y11 threads. Mine is doing Latin, History, Geography, RS (compulsory but it is a church school). She is quite severely dyslexic but manages very well. Her weakest subjects were MFL but finds Latin easier as it has more history/culture content too. My older DS has more severe SENs too (has an EHCP, DD doesn't need one).

DD is arty and musical but has declined to take any arts subjects at GCSE as she doesn't find the theory side very interesting and doesn't much enjoy group work as the others mess around too much. She says she'd rather keep them as hobbies.

[KoalasandRabbit]

DD wanted to do triple humanities too but got vetoed by school in July (after applying in March) and she got made to swap Geography for computing for 'balance'. No idea how computing is more balanced when she has triple science and triple maths in there but guess it's a different box.

DD seems happy about it now, I was initially annoyed as she's predicted a 9 in geography and a 5 in computing but that's largely as highest grade the school got was a 6 and computing is mixed ability, three teachers in a year and DD had a computer that didn't work for a year as she was new to school. She's done the whole computing seneca by herself since for 40 hours or so and made lots of notes so think it will be OK. I was terrified at first as most subjects I can help with but computing is a mystery to me.

DD has just kept music as a hobby, she wanted is as an option in y9 but oversubscribed so had to change to drama and she had no drama in y7 as not taught at her then school and none in lockdown apart from things like write your own play with no guidance so we thought that too risky.

I have also said about importance of co-operating with teachers incase its teacher assessment. DD will do the work and extra but not communicate whilst on lockdown other than with the maths teacher. She's in adamant it won't be teacher assessment, I doubt it will but who knows. She does English Lang a year early, quite annoying as her weakest subject. Though at least she started reading (well Audibling) again over lockdown.

[KoalasandRabbit]

Good luck to all those awaiting GCSE results, most of the A Level ones seem fine but a few think as a model has been used.

[LiviLoggo]

DD has chosen History, Geography, German, and Economics, (as well as the compulsory - Sciences, English x2, Maths and Further maths) but is a bit worried it might have been better to balance with a more creative option as all her friends have, but she doesn't enjoy those as much so I've tried to assure her and I think the worry will pass.

She's my only child so have no other experience. She's a smart girl and puts lots of effort into her work over the years - extra work, etc.
Through lockdown, she's coped well but both my partner and I work so she's been on her own and hasn't seen that many friends so I think it's getting to her a bit.

She doesn't allow me to touch her things let alone try to put in my prefered system but she is very organised.

I think schooling will be quite normal by the time they have their exams, aside from general changes that we've had in this 'new normal'. I doubt there will be much teacher assessment but she has informed me that she will work doubly hard next year just incase - without me even telling her!

Does anyone have any ideas of anything that they would need (revision guides, resources etc.) as my DD hasn't mentioned anything but keeps asking me if she needs anything - I took my GCSEs a long time ago, things have definitely changed!

DD also not sure if she needs to revise through these holidays as she has written revision notes for the GCSE courses she started last year (Sciences, RE) but is stressing about starting to learn some of next years curriculum. I don't want her to learn anything wrong, if you know what I mean and then be confused when school teaches it.

Good luck to everyone receiving GCSE results. Fingers crossed for you all.

[LiviLoggo]

Sorry forgot to say, RE is compulsory at DDs school too although it's not a religious school.

[beenrumbled]

Thank you for starting this thread!

This will be my 3rd lot of GCSEs - DS1 had his Alevel results yesterday (which on balance he is happy with though potentially missed out on an A *. DD gets her GCSE results next week, and I am anxious about them now.

DS2 starts YR10 next month, He is ASD, but his GCSes are - triple science, English x2, Geography, Maths, Photography and Woodwork.

I think GCSes were always going to be a roller coaster with him, throw in potential school closures and all the possible complications and it's goingto be hell.

[KoalasandRabbit]

We've only been given a minimal amount of work over the school holidays from school - mainly read one book for English - and no revision. Though I would anticipate having missed end of year exams (well they have had some tests from home but not in exam conditions and school gave out participation rates and they were ) I would expect tests early in year 10. Not expected to start y10 curriculum here though any work DD volunteers to do I'm letting her. As long as its a resource following their exam board think it will be fine though good to have a break too. We haven't bought anything other than stationary, seneca subscription though free version is good and Audible subscription for books. DD has a few CGP or similar type guides we got before, not sure if they are just gathering dust though.

DD and DS haven't met up with anyone since lockdown started. DS is no surprise as he's suspected autistic, very bright but won't / cant communicate / goes silent at school a lot / won't use mobile / e-mail but DD is normally very sociable. No idea what is going on there, seems happy and says she wants to study rather than socialise. Unusual issue to have with a teenager but just going with what she is happy with, when she was socialising it was non-stop drama and everything was one extreme or the other and so don't miss that.

[Masterpiece123]

RE also compulsory at DS's school, so they do it as an extra half GCSE. But after lots of complaints, DS has decided that it's really quite interesting, and we had lots of good discussions over lockdown inspired by his RE work.

[nightshade1]

When it became clear they weren't going back last year the school sent out info regarding which exam boards and syllabus they are following. I've bought some of the cgp guides they recommended and some of the textbooks. I've encouraged Dd to at least familiarise herself with the topics they will be covering. She's also going to watch rsc Macbeth so she's at least got some idea of what's going on (she hates reading)

[EasilyDelighted]

We had an email with all the suggested revision guides earlier in the summer too.

The Corbett maths flashcards (higher or foundation) are great.

[KoalasandRabbit]

All our exam boards where in the options booklet we got with a basic syllabus which was quite useful.

[zighead]

Hi all! I was hoping somebody would start a year 10 thread so thank you @Alsoplayspiccolo

My DS has opted to do drama, latin, computer science, all three sciences, Spanish and then obviously maths and both English.

Like a pp mentioned ( can't remember who sorry) I am concerned about drama and did think about emailing school to see if he could switch to something else. Alas DS loves drama so much, so we decided to just go along with it regardless.

He's had no homework to do over the holidays but has been doing Duolingo Spanish and Memrise Latin every day.

All organised with stationery and folders and just keeping everything crossed that they go back full time in September.

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

zighead and others with DC taking drama - try not to panic about the issue of the practicality of social distancing etc.
DD is a member of a youth theatre group, and today they are performing The Tempest at the Willow Globe. Initially, they rehearsed via Zoom, then outside in a local park and finally, yesterday in a theatre.
She starts A level drama in September.

It’s more than possible to perform with social distancing in place, although things like big school productions with large audiences may be on hold for a while.
DS had auditioned and got a lead part in Sister Act and had started rehearsals ahead of the school production scheduled for July when Covid kicked in.

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

beenrumbled, you deserve a medal for endurance!
Like you, we’ll have A level and GCSEs at the same time in 2022, but I’m not sure I could do that twice!
That said, I’m really sad DD didn’t get to take exams this year, as it would have been a taster of things to come and probably a bit of a learning curve as to what to do/not to do to prepare.

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

Just to add to the revision guides list:
Yes to anything to do with Corbett maths - his videos and practice papers are great, as are the revision cards.
CGP books and science flash cards are also great.
Mr Bruff videos and revision books for English.
Seneca and Khan Academy for sciences and maths

We found the hardest subjects to find revision resources for we’re history and geography, but that may have been because most schools seem to do AQA but DD was doing Eduqas.

[Igmum]

Hello, can I clock in? (Waves) DD is starting Y10 and has opted for Art, Psychology and Drama. Mild SN so at stages we've wondered whether she could do GCSEs, but she's in a very supportive small school (no pressure, lots of emotional support) so keeping fingers crossed. She loves Art and is actually doing a fair bit of it unprompted so I'm really pleased about that. Good luck to all of our teenagers for the next few years!

[poshme]

Ooh hello I'll join.

DS is doing geography, history & food tech. Has to do religion, and dual science.

He's not doing any work this summer- lockdown was a challenge and he's looking forward to going back to school.

He reads a lot so we're trying to make him read a range of stuff. And make him cook some family meals to work in food tech skills.

He's totally disorganised and I'm trying not to interfere to much...

[QueenMabby]

Me too please. DS (our eldest) starts yr10 next month. Doing Eng x2, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Spanish and ICT. Quite a heavy mix and he’s not the best worker in the world - bright but lazy - so I’m a bit nervous. Will see how it goes. He started his sciences syllabi in yr9 and he found it ok - physics, maths and chemistry are his favourites.

[MirandaWest]

Hello - DD is going into year 10 in September and taking maths, English, RE, science (not sure yet whether it will be separate sciences or double science), drama, geography, history and Spanish.

She started GCSE courses in year 9 so has had a year already. She is clever but also tends to anxiety and found lock down difficult which resulted in her not completing as much work as she should have done. So not sure how things will be in September.

I also have DS in year 11 - he is currently pretty chilled about GCSE results next week although I suspect he’ll be less chilled by Wednesday. Am glad it’s him and not DD getting results though...

[MirandaWest]

RE compulsory at their school - but it also was for me when I was at school so feels normal to have to do it. Both DC enjoy it though which is good.

[MrsScrubbingbrush]

Hi. Twin DDs going into Yr10 in different schools.

DD1: English x 2, maths, triple science (had to sit an exam in Yr 9 as only top 60 girls are picked), geography, French, Latin.

DD2: English x 2, maths, triple science (would really prefer combined but not given the option), history, French, RE (compulsory), drama, food tech & nutrition

Have already been given the texts for English lit so I'm trying to persuade them to have a look before they go back. Will probably settle for watching Macbeth (with Michael Fassbender!).

We've been using Corbett maths at home to back up school lessons and will continue with that and may sign up for the iGCSEscience website as DD1 wants to study it at A level and possibly uni.

DD2 has been doing a lot of baking over the summer holidays - good practice for her but very bad for my waistline!

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

Hi I'm marking my place to come back and read the thread properly tomorrow!

My dd is also going into year 10, she is on the pathway to getting an ASD diagnosis and has struggled over lockdown with various things.

On one hand I think she needs school to keep her motivated on the other hand I think she's going to massively struggle with going back after such a long break.

[Haybo26]

My son has chosen IT, Computer Science and Product Design as his options.