General starting Y10 Sept 21, GCSE's 2023 thread

[Itsafouryearjourney]

Don't think there is already a thread??

I think our cohort have an 'interesting' time ahead and would definitely like to hear how others are finding it along the way. Will they get told they have had no disruption (!?) so everything can be normal come 2023 exams? But more importantly how will they adjust and and thrive whilst coping with being 14/15 and all that that entails AND studying?

Hello, I'll join you!
My DS has been in 3 secondary schools as we have moved. He started both the last two within Covid so not been easy to get to know people, done more time in both those schools in online learning which he hasn't done well at, and not been helped that the teachers would tell them to get themselves in groups but he didn't know anyone as hadn't ever met them in person. His grades went right down but have gone up slightly in the last term as they mainly returned to face to face.

Hi,

My ds has just received his results being in Year 11, after having a very intensive 3 week assessment in May.

My dd will be entering Year 10 in September and am hoping for a smoother ride for this year group.

I’ll join you, if that’s ok.

My DD is starting Year 10 in September. Fingers crossed for a less bumpy road to GCSEs for our lot than the previous 2 cohorts. But who knows?

DD has been under CAMHS for the last 18 months but may be signed off shortly. Summer 2023 feels like quite a way away still but time seems to have been doing strange things since March 2020, this last academic year has just passed in a blur.

My ds starts y10 in September too. He has mocks a couple of weeks after he goes back.

Goodness, mocks in September? Presumably he is on a 3 year GCSE then? Our school do not start until Y10 and sometimes on here it feels like we are the only place that don't. We also have two far apart sites so moving up to Y10 is a proper physical move to 'big' school - one welcomed by almost all students who have outgrown the atmosphere of the 7-9 site.

Our school also don’t start GCSEs until Year 10 - one of the very few in our area. They only just had their options confirmed before the summer holidays.

I have a DS going into y10 with SN, really struggling atm and went mute and not writing in last lockdown, just got him an ehcp but taken 3 years and 3 years too late now.

Another dd going into y11, she has just changed schools and is on 3rd secondary but doing very well.

Hi, I'll join you.
My DD starts year 10 September and is on 3 years gcse. Nothing has been said about mock though. Fingers crossed for a smooth year too.

Ds started gcses in year 9 at one secondary, but his current school don't start them till year 10. So when he changed schools he had to take subjects back up again!
He's chosen to do dt, psychology and computer science. The school choose the other 9.
What about yours?

@Tiggles dd is taking DT, RE, Spanish and Geography and the standard subjects which are mandatory

She couldn't decide between Resistant product or graphics - she eventually chose RP!

At DD’s school, they have to do a humanity (she chose Geography), a MFL (Spanish), and then the usual core subjects. So that only leaves 2 free choices. She has opted for Art and Music.

Our students are lucky enough to get a totally free choice of 4 options; DD has chosen German, Computer Science, Art and Music.

I'm in too. DS going into Y10, oldest child so this is all new to me.

I'll join to, my DD is going into Year 10 this time. I'm really hoping e everything is back to normal for them. I'll admit I'm concerned they've got a lot to catch up on though 😕

DS also has 4 options and has chosen History, Geography, Statistics which also has Level 3 Additional Maths as an extra, and Computing. Computing teacher then resigned, first excellent one we have had after 3 in one year of very poor ones but thankfully they have another one who has a half computing degree and maths teaching experience. Not sure how DS will get on with history but we will see, he will have 10 so can afford to drop one if needed.

Ds chose food tech,drama and computer science. Also triple science (which meant he doesn't have to do a language).

I'll join, my daughter is starting year 10 and start of GSCE courses. Several local schools start in year 9, but interestingly a few are switching back to year 10 starts.
From the outside dd looks confident , self assured, capable student. But inwardly she struggles with crippling anxiety and the talk of not going back to school has already started (from her). Going to be an emotional, strained 2 weeks before returning to school x

Hi all, my dd is starting year 10 and starting her options. She’s quite excited about taking just those subjects. She likes to be organised so the obligatory stationery shopping has begun!
Her db is starting yr 11 and no such excitement!

Oh just the thread I need. DD starting Y10 and is now doubting her options, partly influenced by what her friends are doing and also because she decided them early in Y9. So now having to revisit it again and hopefully they will allow her to switch some.

Hi all, can I join DD is nervous about starting Y10 as she has been bumped up to top set maths meaning she has to do further maths. I think she'll be fine but she is a worrier.

For her options she picked Latin, Classics and CS and is over the moon to have dropped Geography

I hope all our DC have a less bumpy ride than the past couple of years

@SilverGlitterBaubles what does your dc want to change from and to?

My dd has chosen geography, french DT and drama. She's in faith school so RE is compulsory.
She is my oldest and we moved to the uk about 5 years ago so it's all new us.

I'm another who had DC1 just finish their GCSEs this summer, with DC2 starting his journey of GCSEs this September in Y10 (another who does it as a 2 year course, although you could argue they've been doing elements of GCSE content since Y7 - or even earlier!). So 2023 is going to be a big summer for our house!

DC1 is very academic, and came away with a string of excellent GCSEs, we've started to discuss thoughts on Uni, and she's even considering Oxbridge applications.

DC2 is much more of an average student, diagnosed ASD, will only ever do the bare minimum of work. DH and I have already discussed amongst ourselves that we're going to need to get him into a more rigid routine of homework to ensure he's doing what he should, and to an acceptable level. He's not very good at organising himself, but once in a routine, is usually quite happy to continue it.

Their school allows for quite a lot of flexibility in subject choice - English x 2 + Maths, then they can choose a minimum of 2 sciences (DC2 has actually been allowed to only choose 1 science as he finds them particularly challenging), and almost anything else. So he's doing Chem, Comp Sci, Spanish, German, History & Drama. After 18 months of a light touch at school, I'm presuming they're going to go in quite hard and fast - he won't know what's hit him .

That's good he has been allowed to be more flexible Emma, fingers crossed it pays off for him

I have one starting Y10 - more than half her options picked beginning of last year, but this year she gets to drop Geography (continue history) and she chose between combined and triple science.

She starts this year with
Maths
English
Triple Science
Latin
Music
Drama
History

She's already talking about switching music for Geography - she's a perfectly competent grade 5/6 violin and viola player but it doesn't come that naturally - but I think it's still probably an easy-ish choice for her rather than yet more essay writing. We will see.