Current Year 10 2020/2021 support thread

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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. 🙂

DS has just told me his friend who he sits next to in Spanish and walks home with has had a positive test. Waiting for contact from the school to say he needs to isolate.

We’ve had school closure this week already due to staffing issues. Online work was fab but wondering how it pans out when some are in school and some not.

Still no sign of a report, grades, targets or anything.

Hope your DS manages to stay symptom free Mercedes and welcome to the isolation club!

DD said her physics teacher is / has been out for at least a month and there's a cover who is struggling. DS has done Geography, History and English with me and history covered a few lessons. It was a bit painful but done at least. Currently refusing French and Science but we are ahead in Business and History now so hoping for mood change on science and French though it normally goes downhill.

Electrician and plumber both rearranged for 18th covid permitting and now have a llama lamp from Dunelm so I can see again. Have a mini real Christmas tree as well. DS is very jealous of the llama lamp and stalking it.

Well done, Silkie, it sounds like you and DS are making significant progress.

DD so pleased to go back in to school tomorrow. I’ll be glad to see her up and out early. It’s been a long two weeks.

HelloDulling it's DD's last day isolating today, keeping everything crossed that she stays in until the end of term now!
She's extremely happy as her Physics teacher who is also head of science has said she doesn't have to take Maths A Level to take Physics. She's very bright (I would say that!) but not blessed with any ability in Maths at all, so this is a huge bonus

We’ve finally had the official email with more details to follow today. I’m sad that he will need to miss the rest of the football season and he was just finding his place within the team - he is quite quiet really. He’ll also miss decorating the tree with GPs this weekend, but might relish no siblings here. I’m not sure what to expect from school as teachers still teaching plus an entire year group out and some year 11s doing mocks from home. I’ve said 30 mins revision for each subject on timetable which is fair I think.

Hi all, hope everyone is enjoying the run up to this rather strange Christmas!?

Silkie, hats off to you, you sound like you have rather a lot on your plate!

So we had a week of DC’s being back at school last week after the schools 2 week circuit break to get a handle on numbers. Now DD sent home yesterday as one of her close friends from her friendship has tested positive. She has literally been sat with her on the train and the walk to and from school and every break and lunchtime for the past week. Another friend from their group has symptoms and so is getting tested. If DD remains symptom free then she can come out of quarantine just in time for Xmas but it’s a bit too close for comfort. Praying she doesn’t get it! She’s sad though as she was going ice skating on the 20th and was booked in to gave her nails done on the 19th and she can’t do any of this now. 😨

Oh Rollergirl, your poor DD!

My DD is back in today, it was her bestie that tested positive two weeks ago, and she didn't get it (and tested neg, so not asymptomatic).

If you are lucky, they might bring in the 10 day isolation like we have in Wales, so she'll be free in time for all her nice things.

I echo @HelloDulling. It’s DS’s close friend who has it but they haven’t had contact since Friday when they walked home and DS currently symptom free and it’s been almost a week so hoping he remains so.

Thanks Dulling and Mercedes, we can but hope! The only thing that makes me uneasy is that the friend is asymptomatic and only got the test as she was identified as a close contact for another case at school. So it’s very possible (if not likely) that she’s had it for longer than we think. And DD has been in contact with her up until Tuesday morning when the friend got sent home.

Does anyone know this actually? If subsequent positive cases come out amongst the people that were in contact with the friend and DD, will that push her quarantine period out further?

Christmas N/c Sorry to hear your DD is out now as well RollerGirl and missing Christmas things. I think - could be wrong - its 14 days from date of last contact so if she's isolating now she shouldn't be isolating over Christmas. Though I'm just getting things for home atm - just got DS a singing Rudolph and mini realXmas tree and lights and got a polar bear cake tonight.

Hope the return to schools went well. DD is still in and school are saying they will be open for half a day on 18th though apparently just one maths lesson with no maths and watching DieHard. DD doesn't want to go though the way covid is going round atm we may not need to worry about that, hope not though as that's new date for plumber and electrician! I now have a llama lamp though so at least have light again.

DS was so laid back about learning today he was horizontal and only got 5 mins out of him. I tried going through GCSE options with him and he chose 1, stats (which also does FM) - he needs to chose 4 but they all involve work so are unsuitable!

DD’s 2nd day back today, and then THAT’S IT. Thank you, Welsh Government. She’s only had 9 days in school since half term.

Sorry to hear that HelloDulling I saw that on the news and the mass testing in London, parts of Essex and Kent, doesn't sound too promising though surely must be an end to this before too long with the vaccine.

Another joyous day of home learning with DS, he's cute to have home as he's like a 5 year old with the Christmas things but its just like the holidays came early for him. DD is still in though so hoping we don't get a 2 week isolation for her though just doing Xmas at home with just us and now not booking anything so it'll would just be plumber and electrician I guess and I have a lamp.

DD back in today to tests in Physics, Maths & Geography!!!!! They finish next Thursday so praying she stays in until then, although she could be told to SI after then anyway.........we're keeping to ourselves over Christmas as it is but not being able to even leave the house would be a nightmare.
HelloDulling I saw that on the news, I have to say it's no surprise that schools are spreading CV seeing as every other illness runs through them like wildfire. Just amazed that it's taken this long for the powers that be to acknowledge it

DS has been doing his Spanish assessment from home today, except that the recording was not in the order of the questions (over multiple pages) so he didn’t finish it. He’s flagged with the teacher and I know she knows his ability etc so I’m sure it’s fine.

Our official isolation date is 23 Dec though the boy in question hasn’t actually been in since Friday but clearly they have it from when they found out. Either way DS has no plans other than football which we knew he would miss and going to GPs tomorrow which he obviously cannot do now.

Just seen this on the BBC which looks like current isolations maybe shortened to 10 days - I'm checking with the school and great notice by the government but would be good for us as we would get Monday to Thursday child free during school hours (no more isolations permitting) so can get house more ready.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55274147

Told DS and he didn't look best pleased, his plans for a long Xmas break may have been dashed by the government. He's not bothered about leaving the house, that's effort.

I’ve seen that earlier today too. Will be good for us too as means DD will stop isolating next Friday instead of the following Monday so she’ll be able to do all her nice Christmassy stuff! I assume it applies to people currently self isolating and isn’t only applicable from Monday?

It says it does but school are currently saying no-one told them though says they are awaiting updates. Even if it could shift a bit it would be good. We have got so much on next week would be good to have a child free house a few days during school hours - got work on both houses, hopefully exchanging and chicken lockdown begins on 14th so we have to do the chickens house.

Just had an e-mail from school, isolation cut and DS back on Monday, phew. Hope others can get theirs cut too.

That’s good news.

I’m not sure anything changes for us.

It says it applies to current ones and you shorten it to 10 days from 14, schools weren't told on Friday and its varying when told by LAs, someone said Dept of Education is updating advice for schools on Monday, bit late but better late than never.

DD has been out with her friend for the day, currently in hello kitty top, mini skirt and cat ears asking me if she looks good.

Silkie hah hah, I can well imagine that outfit. TikTok has a lot to answer for, all these “alt-girls” emerging from Urban Outfitters in their pastel kilts and stripey tights! 🥴😂

School emailed yesterday as of today yrs 10 and 11 are now completing the rest of the term from home

I got an email from school this morning titled Year 10 and my first thought was oh no! Fortunately it was just telling us that target grades are now available. They have set DS some pretty high targets - "challenging and aspirational" they call them! He will be fine in his areas of strength (maths and science) but not so sure about English and Geography, also they have a target grade of a 7 in French and I can't see how that will be possible (he hates French and refused to do any in lockdown!) They are doing exams in January so it will be very interesting to see how he does in those.

It seems to be getting harder to get up each morning, really looking forward to turning the alarm off after Friday!! All the best to those isolating or doing school from home.

Yep, we have year 10 now all at home. DS2 in year 8 has a cough so have him home and by association year 5 DS. They are beavering away though.

STILL no report, grades or information at all.