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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Current Year 10 2020/2021 support thread

993 replies

Alsoplayspiccolo · 14/08/2020 09:37

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. 🙂

OP posts:
whirlwindwallaby · 27/08/2020 10:39

My DS starts back on Thursday too, just the one day, then properly on the following Monday.

GhostTypeEevee · 27/08/2020 10:44

Ds goes back a week on Tuesday

MercedesDeMonteChristo · 27/08/2020 10:51

We’re back on Thursday. A new letter has been sent but I tried to read it whilst out last night and didn’t pay attention, though I did see masks in school are now optional so DS1 will be happy about that.

KoalasandRabbit · 27/08/2020 12:40

Both mine start back on Wed 9th, teachers are in from 3rd, 2 teacher training days then Mon just year 7 in, Tues y7 and 11 in then all in from Wed. DD is convinced the teachers hate y10 as they were first out by a week alone and last back in, suspect she's right. Grin There is a lot of girl drama in their year.

PaddingtonPaddington · 27/08/2020 16:43

DS back on Thursday. This morning, after asking for a week, he finally tried his school trousers on and they are a bit small. Unfortunately at 6’1” with a slim waist and long legs the only ones that fit him are extra long with adjustable hem taken down from M&S and are out of stock. Nevermind he has a new bag!

TheOnlyMrsW · 27/08/2020 16:50

DD is back next Friday, thankfully didn't need much in the way uniform and no stationary!!!! The extent of her preparation so far is pinning badges on her new bag Hmm
School is starting at the same time for all years but with staggered breaks, different areas in school for each year group with teachers moving to them. Not sure about any practicals yet but another one travelling on PE kit (grim)

Shark2020 · 27/08/2020 17:03

We've now had a letter confirming masks in communal areas, all kids need a clean one daily to be kept in either a plastic container or a ziplock bag.

zighead · 28/08/2020 08:08

We finally heard from school too.
Back as planned on Thursday and same times as before thankfully. They have zoned out the school into different year groups and the students are to wear masks in communal areas but don't need to during lessons.
All set with uniform. Only needed new shoes and shirts which is amazing as I'm sure he's grown about 4 inches since March Shock.

MercedesDeMonteChristo · 28/08/2020 08:19

New pens etc arrived yesterday and I then went out for the evening. Just popped into DS1 room and I have never seen it so tidy, he has organised everything and is all set. I guess sorting out his pencil case spurred him on. DS2 has probably already misplaced his pens.

RedskyAtnight · 28/08/2020 08:57

DD's school sent out details of her new tutor yesterday.
Although it's impossible to keep them in class groups due to GCSE options, the school has stated that they will try to limit the number of other students that an individual comes into contact with.

After an afternoon of the whole of year 10 all making zillions of social media posts re tutors, DD has worked out that her new tutor group is probably also her maths group (it seems to consist of a mix of students from 2 consecutive sets) and that everyone in her group is taking combined science. And there is an equivalent level maths/tutor group where everyone is studying triple science. So if her tutor group are also all together for English, I guess that means they will spend a lot of time together and be somewhat akin to a primary school bubble.

(I did wonder why the school couldn't just explain the rationale, but then Year 10 would have had nothing to talk about yesterday).

Rollergirl11 · 28/08/2020 15:32

@RedskyAtnight DD and her year group also usually spend an entire afternoon trying to work out what sets they are in ahead of their timetable being circulated. Last year they were all completely thrown because they had mixed ability sets for subjects that were previously set. They were most perplexed. 😂
School have sent an email saying that plain face masks can be worn outside of the classroom if they wish but it’s up to the pupils. They have had a few building projects over the summer break which have provided new changing rooms and toilets to allow for social distancing.

MrsAvocet · 28/08/2020 15:57

I've got information overload at the moment. We have had a dozen or more documents sent out in the last 48 hours and I'm struggling to pick my way through them to decide what is and isn't relevant as the school has sent out all year group and all subject info to everyone. I know its difficult to keep everyone happy, and some parents probably do want every detail, but frankly I don't really need to be told that the music room cannot now be accessed from E corridor or that year 7's form time has been extended by 10 minutes on Wednesdays. What I really need to know now is what do I need to send them in with next week that's out of the ordinary, what's the process if they or one of their classmates becomes symptomatic and wnat are the arrangements for school transport. I am sure that info will be in there, somewhere, but it is buried within reams of detail, the vast majority of which is not relevant to me. I'm just forwarding all the detailed stuff to my boys - they can figure out for themselves how they are supposed to get around the school site and what their designated lunch slot is!

Lightsabre · 28/08/2020 19:42

We've just had another info document through too but doesn't sound as bad as yours @MrsAvocet! New guidance on masks - boys can wear all of the time if they want to, but everyone has to wear them in the corridors/communal space and they need to be stored in an airtight bag/container.

KoalasandRabbit · 28/08/2020 19:49

We've been told to send in a dictionary and reading book each day, just asked DS (ASD) about reading books and he looked Shock and then said a maths book, I could read a maths book. I said what on, and he said any maths book just not one the size of a pancake.

Thevelveteenrabbit · 28/08/2020 22:09

Mine get their timetables on Wednesday (day before they are back) their biggest worry is if they will be together for any lessons - up until now they only had tech together - and have avoided each other for everything else. Music they will be together as there will only be 1class - am hoping they will mostly be apart which is their preference but there is a chance they will be in same Maths if they set the whole year group- dd1 was set from year 9 but twins not been in sets at all.

QueenMabby · 29/08/2020 20:41

Mine won’t get his timetable etc until the first day - I’m just hoping he copies it down correctly!

MercedesDeMonteChristo · 30/08/2020 07:35

My boys will get theirs on the first day too. The school usually email it the day before as well.

AuntieUrsula · 30/08/2020 13:21

Hi! DD3 starting Yr 10 next week and not at all keen to go back to school! She's doing maths, English, 3 sciences (all compulsory) plus short-course RS (also compulsory), German, Latin, Italian and history.

They have to come to school in their PE kit on games days and wear it all day, but not otherwise. Girls playing hockey this term, and boys are doing non-contact rugby, but there are no external match fixtures for any of them.

BlackeyedSusan · 31/08/2020 17:59

signing in. can't believe we are at this point.

MercedesDeMonteChristo · 31/08/2020 18:09

I’m quite excited to get some routine back.

Canklesforankles · 31/08/2020 18:36

DS can’t believe it either. It’s think he feels it’s the end of his childhood Sad
For years he has had older sibs doing exams and now it’s his turn Shock

QueenMabby · 01/09/2020 15:39

I’m in school this afternoon with dd (starting yr 7) for something unrelated to the new term and There’s a positive chicane of traffic cones in the car park for school drop offs - next week is going to be chaos!

RedskyAtnight · 01/09/2020 15:42

QueenMabby A colleague passing by DC's school today reported that it was more chaotic and crowded than normal school days. And they only have Year 7 in today! So hoping it was first day nerves (for parents) and the volume of traffic has not increased exponentially!

Shark2020 · 01/09/2020 20:03

Does anyone know how bubbles work? I know my daughter is in a bubble with the rest of the year, and they suggested if two students have symptoms all kids will come home. So who then self isolates? Said child? daughter also at college ? Myself and husband? I'm not 💯 sure.

MercedesDeMonteChristo · 01/09/2020 20:16

Our primary wrote today to say they would also send siblings home and expect families to isolate for 10 days unless a negative test happens.