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. 🙂

The thread title is a little confusing as this was started back when our DC’s were about to go in to Year 10. They are now currently in Year 10.

I’ll see if I can get the title amended.

I have requested that MNHQ amend the thread subject to “ Current Year 10 2020/2021 support thread”. Hopefully this will stop any confusion. 😘

Thanks @Rollergirl11

I think they said there maybe disruption next winter as well though guess it will depend what difference the vaccine makes and at some stage they are surely going to have to live with it or accept disruption every winter. Wouldn't be surprised if end up at teacher assessment again but just have to prepare for all options really.

DD is supposed to be in school just for a one -off day tomorrow but today we had a wierd NHS message saying DH (who is doing cancer tests) was CEV and should go for immediate covid vaccine but we phoned and no-one knows why. Doctor said he wasn't sure if he should cancel it but DH will have it if they let him.

I have a year 9 as well so just doing options.

So relieved that half term is here. A week off from lessons, and a week off work for me. I really need the time to get myself and the DC mentally ready to push on for the next half of term-and get the house in some sort of order.

Was talking to DD about it last night; she’s not bothered at all, the home learning is working well for her. DS is struggling so much though, as am I.

Morning, does anyone here knows when Francis Holland Sloane Sq offers would be release ? Thx

Well done everyone for making it to half term.

I could scream at DS, just discovered that he hasn't been handing in any work for English, although he has been attending the lessons and participating in class discussion he hasn't been typing anything!! Just had a serious chat with him and agreed that over half term he is going to start working through all the stuff he should have done and hand it in late. We have parents evening just after half term and I'm not sure what they will be able to say if they haven't been seeing any work from him. Also annoyed the school had not really flagged it with me, every time he has been asked he has said he is doing fine and taking part.

At least we can try and address it and we have some time in half term. Feels like we have a very big mountain to climb.

Hope everybody gets to enjoy the change of pace in half term even if we can't go anywhere. I'm hoping the weather will warm up a bit, it's so cold!

Oh no @IThinkIMadeItWorse, have the teachers been expecting work to be handed in? If so then it’s pretty remiss of them not to alert you that they haven’t seen anything! DD says for some of her lessons the teachers haven’t seen any of her work because they are not required to submit anything. Having said all that school have just started making the students do a lot of their work on Class Notebook on Teams rather than writing in their books. I’m assuming this is so the teachers can check their work.

I hope everyone has a lovely half term. Hope it gets a bit warmer!! 🥶🥶

The teachers have been saying they are not able to mark every piece of work but it's all on google classroom. I do get sent an email summary each week but I clearly have been too trusting when he has been saying things are fine. He usually works on his chromebook so is used to typing everything for English but I think the remote working offers too much scope for slacking off and not paying attention with no immediate consequence. Feels like bloody Groundhog day the number of times I've had the same conversation with him about the importance of his GCSEs!! I think the school have been trying to keep track of those pupils who are not accessing the online lessons at all, they have been emailing him to check he is ok but he has just been ignoring the emails or responding saying everything is fine!

@IThinkIMadeItWorse

The teachers have been saying they are not able to mark every piece of work but it's all on google classroom. I do get sent an email summary each week but I clearly have been too trusting when he has been saying things are fine. He usually works on his chromebook so is used to typing everything for English but I think the remote working offers too much scope for slacking off and not paying attention with no immediate consequence. Feels like bloody Groundhog day the number of times I've had the same conversation with him about the importance of his GCSEs!! I think the school have been trying to keep track of those pupils who are not accessing the online lessons at all, they have been emailing him to check he is ok but he has just been ignoring the emails or responding saying everything is fine!

In our school every lesson on Google classroom is marked and has to be handed in. Kids not submitting work for any day will be flagged and a call or email goes out. The school should have flagged this much earlier.

Our school doesn't chase unless its really bad. I'm glad its DD in y10 and not DS. He won't do anything by himself and even with me its 5 minutes then he's off. He does nothing other than feed his silkie chickens and cuddle his rabbit, doesn't contact anyone, very little work, just lies around doing nothing. You would have thought he would have got bored by now but nope. Won't exercise or anything. Appears happy but driving me nuts. I'm doing all his lessons for him and trying to tell him key points in 5 minutes per lesson but even that is challenging with him. He did the UKMT IMC but that's it really.

DD is doing all the work but struggling with not being able to see anyone or do anything. She volunteers for brownies online, has been painting her room, contacts others online, doing maths comps and been down to help with old house. DD had one day as a one off in school on Thursday and enjoyed seeing people. She was worried her grades were dropping but they are amazing grades - they've dropped a little to 3 x 8 and 8 x 9 expected but its largely as science teachers have been off sick a lot and they are 2 months behind in 1 science and 1 month in another.

Very glad its half term but shame there is nothing to do. DH will have covid vaccine tomorrow on CEV list though still awaiting cancer test results and he says they are doing more cancer tests after this one. We were trying to keep it from DS but he heard DH speaking and DD already found out from DH.

I keep losing this thread!

Has everyone had a nice half term? It’s been reasonably relaxed here but no revision or work at all. DS says it’s holiday.

It’s his birthday today - 15! I really can’t quite believe it. He is my first born child so I might have had a moment.

Happy Birthday to your DS! Hope he has a nice day.

Our half term has been ok, well we've not done much so a bit rubbish but hey ho. At least it has been a change from the online school routine. I made DS do some of the work he hadn't done last term, aimed for one thing each day (i think we took one day off). Seems he hadn't been doing anything for Geography either so there is still quite a bit he has missed. I've bought revision guides and suggested videos to watch (Mr Bruff for English) but it's a real struggle for him. At least he does have areas of strength where he can shine (maths and science). Think parents evening this week will be quite interesting.

We wait to hear what Boris will announce tomorrow, I am suspecting primary (or possibly only lower primary) back from 8th, perhaps year 11 as well? Our school sent a form to fill in to give permission for them to test everyone so if they need to do that when they first go back surely that will need to be staggered and take quite a bit of organising? It may be that our Yr10s do get back for a week or two before Easter, fingers crossed!

Hey all 👋
Silkie fingers crossed for DH’s results. And hats off to you with everything that you do to help DS. It sounds tough. Does DS not qualify for getting any support?
Happy Birthday to your DS StColumbo. What have you got planned for the day? It’s DD’s birthday at the beginning of April. I’m really hoping that restrictions will have eased a little by then otherwise that will be the 2nd year she hasn’t been able to do anything or see anyone for her birthday!
ithink at least your DS has attempted to make the time up over the half-term. It shows that he has good intentions. I do think it’s tough for them to keep the motivation up in the subjects they have less interest in when they are home-schooling.

Our half-term has been fairly non descript. DD has been out 3 or 4 days to meet up with friends and traipse round the park in the wind and the rain. DS has only left the house when DH has forced him to, to go on a walk or a bike ride. He is happy as larry staying in as long as he can talk to his friends on the Xbox. Honestly, the difference between DD and DS is stark!

Waiting to see what Boris announcement brings tomorrow. School have already emailed to say they expect there will be some kind of staggered start, what with mass testing of all the students to be carried out on return. I’m hoping that DD gets to have a few weeks in before they finish for Easter.

Back to the grindstone tomorrow with home-schooling. Good luck everyone!

No plans @Rollergirl11. He is very relaxed and only ever wants to go bowling or have a quiz with our family (my folks and two others). Today, he has requested a Turkish mixed grill so I am busy getting that sorted, we’ll watch the new Wonder Woman with cake. I’m thinking of pulling together a quick quiz about him for over dinner.

Mmm, Turkish mixed grill sounds so delicious. Enjoy!

It was delicious, even if I do say so myself. Loads leftover for dinner tomorrow too.

Glad your DS had a lovely birthday StColumbo and a nice Turkish mixed grill.

Half term was a bit dull as you can't go out, both DS and DD had a week off, well for DS that's just a continuation so it more DD and I had a week off but I certainly appreciated my week off.

Still no results for DH, he's had his vaccine as on CEV list now, was ill for a day but fine after and good to have one of us vaccinated. He's ordered a new secondhand car which he's very happy about and other than that we've just been doing change of address / financial admin from house sale and sorting house a bit. DH made a single bed up for the cat.

Not heard anything from school, in the past their predictions have been 100% wrong so think they've given up and worring how late they must hear (about 3 days after press/ House of Commons) it seems. I did get a test consent form for DD, which I put no for and they kept sending it back so didn't seem very voluntary but just ignored it. Nothing for DS. Though saw some reports parents now have to do.

Hoping for back on 8th but will see tomorrow. Both mine are struggling this time, DD is fine with work but feeling quite isolated and DS is refusing a lot more than last time and isolated though he doesn't care about that, just permanently on his sofa with his rabbit, two lazy boys together who just seem to watch TV and eat. It's amazing DS is so thin but he eats all the fruit he can find even when we hide it then grabs his stomach and says no more fruit.

He doesn't get help in lockdown as no EHCP, previous school gave him a full-time 1 to 1 at times but from their budget. Current school are trying to get him one but first one was rejected by LA, then lockdown and change of senco, now trying again. It is quite hard though as he goes mute for autism assessment, for senco and for ed psych and cahms and LA say they need evidence from him. Senco has suggested they do it as selective mute. He's started to go mute here with this lockdown, its very sad. Though just starting to get the odd word out of him again with half term. He only talks to other kids at school though is in love with his silkie chickens and rabbit. He's always been very happy at home until this last lockdown. I bought rabbit a giant soft toy rabbit chair which DS is cuddling atm, on all the reviews everyone bought if for their 1 year old.

Heard from my friend in New Zealand, where its pretty normal apart from tourism.

@Silkiechickscat great news about the vaccine for DH. Hoping you get some answers on the other tests soon. I am in awe of how you juggle it all. Hopefully a bit of normality will mean things can move forward for DS.

Hi all.
Can I join in?
I found this thread really useful with my eldest dd.
I have a year 10 ds who is my no. 4 doing the usual subjects plus Astronomy, Computer Science & French.
He's also the youngest ... with all that entails.

Welcome @Fferny1. Wow, I didn’t know you could do Astronomy as a GCSE! Sounds really interesting!

So our school are gearing up for first day back on Monday 8th. No staggered start with all 1700 students back on the Monday! They have timetabled Wed, Thurs and Friday of next week for all students to go in and have their first lateral flow test with another to be scheduled sometime during their first week and another the following week. School had them wearing masks during lessons since the November lockdown so no change for the DC’s there..

They have a short week next week with an afternoon off and an inset day so think next week will go quickly and then back to school!! They are both stupidly excited about it. Me even more so! Although I’m keeping that to myself. 🤫😬

We are going to have staggered start but they are going to write again to let us know exactly what that looks like. They are finishing an hour early every day next week to accommodate teachers getting ready.

We are waiting to hear how school will manage the testing and return logistics, must be a nightmare for teachers and school leaders at the moment with all the GCSE/A level stuff going on as well. Really counting the days until they go back though, we have all definitely had enough of online school now!

Parents evening was a little frustrating, five minutes is not really enough. Only actually got about 3 and a half mins with the French teacher as slight technical issues at the beginning, he doesn't seem to have worked out that DS knows no French and is putting in no effort! Also the English teacher only started in January so hasn't really met the class. Great reports from his maths and physics teachers so at least he is doing well in the subjects he wants to continue at sixth form. English is the main worry but I'm hoping things will improve once he's back in the classroom.

Hope everyone is managing to keep going, at least the weather is getting better and the return to school is in sight!

No return to school until after Easter here in Wales. Is driving me bonkers. End of March, DD will be able to go to the hairdresser, but not to school.

Thanks StColumbo and welcome Fferny

We've been told ours are back sometime between 8th and 19th and that they don't have capacity to do more than 60 tests a day at present and may be further delays. So not sure there will be much school before Easter but hoping to be proved wrong. Sorry to hear you have no school before Easter HelloDulling.

We have parents evening for DS on 4th. He is currently listening to lessons as a ghost with a duvet and sheet over him with me logging in, typing for him and playing it loud. I bet his year is last back. Quite depressing things don't open until after Easter holidays. We are still getting details through of school opening.