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. 🙂

@IThinkIMadeItWorse funny you should mention tutors. DD literally told me a few days ago that she knows loads of people that have tutors. But these are all students that are in top sets for everything so I was quite surprised. One of the girls DD talked about who has a Maths tutor, her Mum is actually DD’s current Maths teacher and DD is top set so I can’t really fathom why they have paid for a tutor! For a split second I started to question myself and if I should be getting one for DD but then I checked myself, DD absolutely doesn’t need one and is doing fantastic as she is. DS is another matter and I think he would deffo benefit from a tutor closer to his GCSE’s. Although he wouldn’t be happy about it that’s for sure.

@Silkiescats I’ve booked a week in Devon for August so far. We did the same last year and really lucked out with the weather. I booked this at the end of Jan as at that point it very much looked like there would be no international travel this summer and I thought UK accommodation would get booked up quickly. But I would like to go abroad if we are able to travel. The cost of multiple tests will definitely be a factor though and I am not willing to spend £1K plus on testing so will only consider if tests come down in price. Your holiday sounds like heaven btw!

Good luck with your Ed Psych visit. Sounds like a veritable minefield! 🥴 But hopefully it will highlight your DS’s definite need for EHCP.

The house seems very quiet today. I have a day of cleaning to be getting on with. Oh the joy!

Afternoon all - trying to post regularly even though there's very little going on at the moment!!!! This week's big news so far is that the exam timetable has been released for the week after half-term and school seem to have forgotten that there is a - admittedly very small - group who are dual linguists so all of their French and German exams are on at the same time!!! There doesn't seem to be a plan yet to work out how to deal with it - I do feel for school as there are only 10 in the entire year, and they're doing all four elements on different days so must be a nightmare to try and arrange.
DD is still refusing to engage much with the idea of revising outside of what they're doing in lessons and as homework anyway . I think know because she keeps whinging about it that she's fed up of hearing about the exams from the teachers but we did warn her it would happen as it does every year when it gets to this point in the summer term!!!!
Hope everyone's DCs are all ok and settling back after holidays!!!!

I think I posted here ages ago - am going to have to read back and take a look

Nothing really to report here. Just plodding along but don’t want to lose the thread again.

Thanks Rollergirl Hope you have a lovely time in Devon too and hope you get your foreign holiday.

Fairly quiet here. DD has changed tutors and going well so far. No more exams until after half term. DS is refusing to see the Ed Psych which works for us as well as gives us more time to sort the house. Would have preferred a day out. Next 'day out' is my covid vaccine followed by the lido at 10C though at least as I have to go an hour away to get a vaccine its the heated one though no parking so that could be interesting and no changing. So will need to go in a wetsuit for vaccine will just have to put long jumper over it and have a sleeve off as can never remove those once on. DH has his second jab the following weekend, we had to be careful not to be on same day.

Not sure how long ed psych will accept DS answer of no, she's asked 4 times but the senco said he's the most determined child he's ever met in 30 years so zero chance of DS backing down. Just hoping rabbit doesn't eat the new sofa covers I had to get as rabbit had eaten a large chunk of the leather sofa. DS had 2 vaccines today and is very drowsy but at least they are done. DD went out with her old friends for a day at the weekend.

@TheOnlyMrsW very glad to hear mine is not the only one refusing to do anything other than what has been set, hope the school manage to sort out the timetable clash! School have promised us up to date working at grades by the end of April (presumably from all the assessments they did once they were back in person) but no sign yet, probably an email on Friday afternoon and no chance of any questions or queries about it being answered until Tuesday.

Has anybody got anything nice planned for the bank holiday weekend? I feel like I should plan something but haven't managed to yet and the weather is not looking fantastic. Hope your jab and lido trip go well @Silkiecats DH and I both had our first jab last week and felt a bit rough the next day but it didn't last long.

My two are a bit fed up with masks all the time and testing twice a week but it doesn't feel like that is going to change any time soon. As the weather gets warmer the masks are going to get more annoying I think. I'm more concerned about any adaptations they may do to the curriculum for exams next summer but there doesn't seem to be any sense of urgency from the government, you would think they would be keen to do more forward planning after the mess that was last year and for this year's yr11!

DD had exams the first two weeks back after Easter - she has been working very hard and I think productively. I know you’re not meant to compare but she and DS in year 12 approach things very differently - he needs more guidance aka nagging to get things done whereas DD needs guidance not to do too much...

I have no faith in the government organising anything for next years exams in a timely and efficient manner. Just have to keep on going and hope it will be all right.

No need to tell either of mine not to work too much though lucky DD does almost exactly right amount without me saying anything.

DS had school closed yesterday due to flooding so had minimal online learning which I told him and he ran off then shut himself in bathroom, then third time came and did it. I also read the whole science lesson out then at the end realised he must have gone quietly. At least its open today but he is also not speaking to the Ed psych so don't know if we will get ehcp now as he won't talk to anyone. Though if they do talk to him they will get nonsense from him, said they need his views but his views will be his life plan is staying on the sofa eating biscuits and Pringles only leaving to feed his animals.

DD has been off with a migraine, third day now. And has another hair dye experiment not gone that well. Had my first vaccine and swam in lido, felt quite rough after it but improving now. Dh has his second on Friday. Hope everyone is fine.

Hi all, unfortunately I have rather a distressing update. DD (and me with her) was admitted to hospital on Sunday. It seems she has developed an eating disorder in lockdown. We have been worried about significant weight loss for a few months but the true extent of the issue came out over the weekend. I took her to A&E and they admitted her straight away. It is a massive shock and we are all still coming to terms with it all. Not quite sure what the road ahead looks like at the moment. 😱😨

Oh gosh @Rollergirl11 that sounds very stressful and difficult. At least she is in the right place to get some help now. I know it's not very mumsnetty but sending you a virtual hug

So sorry to hear that Rollergirl sending lots of love to you and your DD. It has been such a difficult time for them, gcses and a levels are stressful enough without lockdown and constant changing methods. I hope she is getting good support there and if you need anything or just want to chat offline feel free to pm me.

Oh @Rollergirl11 thinking of you and DD. I know there isn’t much we can do from here, but feel free to use this space if you need to.

Rollergirl sorry to hear your update and hoping dd gets good support. There is an eating disorders board on Mumsnet if you haven't already discovered it.

I generally lurk here (my ds is in yr10) but wanted to come on to send 💐 to Rollergirl. Lockdown has affected the mental health of so many of our young people. My best friend’s daughter was just coming out of her eating disorder when the first lockdown hit and it sent her spiralling too. It’s so hard. Hopefully you’ll get good support from the eating disorder team but try BEAT who also have lots of advice and support available.

DD is back at school now after being ill. DS also at school but apparently not in one lesson and just growled at senco, his communication is so dire after last lockdown, almost no speaking at school or home though is starting to improve very slowly.

Getting sixth form options now from school, seems so early, but good to try them out. Hope the days actually run and don't get cancelled. DH has his second vaccine tonight, mine is not until mid July.

@Rollergirl11 I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter . One of DD's friends was in exactly the same position in September last year, she'd hidden it from everyone over summer by wearing baggy joggers and sweats. It was a long hard slog for them but she is much healthier now, back playing football and seems in a good place. Second QueenMabby with recommending BEAT, DD's friends mum said they pretty much saved them all.

Hi all,

We haven't heard anything about sixth form options from our school yet but I expect once the year 11s have left (at half term) we will hear more. No sign of the up to date grades they promised by the end of April, hey ho.

DS has just been sent home as yesterday he sat next to somebody who has now tested positive for covid. Told he has to isolate for 10 days. Not clear if it was just a LFT (in which case it may be a false positive) or a confirmed case. Expect I'll get an email from the school with more details later. Grrr back to remote school for him which doesn't work well.

Hope everybody else is having a better week than us!

Sorry to hear about the close contact isolation It

Not greatest week here either, 2 detentions for DD, 3 days off sick, given up 2 clubs and offer of a third, DS refusing to talk to EHCP assessment so not sure if will reject it, argh. Hope others having better week.

@IThinkIMadeItWorse oh no, sorry to hear that. I thought we were past this.

@Silkiescats I think it’s the mumsnet mantra - this too shall pass. Hope things improve all round.

@Rollergirl11 hope things are slowly improving at your end.

We will be looking at sixth forms AND secondary schools for DS3 in Sept. In all likelihood he will go to the same school as his brothers but I feel like we need to give him the same opportunity to look around. Have I shared that I will actually have DS1 in year 13 and DS2 in year 11 at the same time in a couple of years!! Really looking forward to simultaneous GCSEs and A Levels.

@Silkiecats we haven't had anything about 6th form yet, DD has had two changes of potential A level choices since September so I foresee much upheaval even before we have to consider whether she gets the grades to take them! It sounds like you've had a trying week, our (still ongoing) visit to A&E doesn't seem too bad in comparison.
@IThinkIMadeItWorse we are keeping everything crossed for no isolations, so far parts of yrs 7, 8 & 9 have been out so creeping round school

I have got Ed psych report for my DS which was great and exactly what wanted but I did have to point out that I am not married to the senco who was listed as my husband and DSs Dad. DS thought it was very amusing and seemed remarkably unfazed by my change of husbands.

DD got a not great mark in an exam but hopefully a one-off. Most of the exams are after half term so will see then but currently fine. She has hairdressers, orthodontist and trip to London on Saturday. We are supposed to be going to safari park on Sunday mainly to get DS out though he did leave house to go to shop yesterday, first time in months and was chatty, also first time in ages. He is fascinated by the fishing row in Jersey.

Great news Silkies, hope the report is really helpful in getting some support for your DS.

Sadly we had a letter from the CAMHS people saying that the ADHD referral didn't include all the information they needed so they have closed it, need to get in touch with the SENCO about that I guess.

DS seems to be doing ok with being at home and school are setting work via google classroom, some teachers have even managed live lessons though some for only part of the lesson. Better than I expected anyway. At least it is Friday now so hopefully we can relax a bit over the weekend and then four days to go! So far his LFTs have stayed negative (including one today) - fingers crossed that continues.

@Silkiescats I am sure you have said, but are you in London? I have to seek an Ed Psych for DS3 to investigate possible dyslexia but I really want to go by recommendation and am struggling.

Sorry not in London StColombo was just the LA Educational Psychologist, maybe ask on local Facebook SN group if you have one.

It sorry about cahms but glad your DS is working at home.

Just heard from DD she has been invited to ukmt summer school.

Well done to your DD @Silkiescats that is brilliant!! Hope she really enjoys that.