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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Year 11 22/23 support thread.

292 replies

PritiPatelsMaker · 20/08/2022 22:08

Does anyone fancy a support thread for the just about to start Year 11's.

I'm not Mystic Meg but even I can see a rocky year ahead of me...Grin

Anyone fancy joining me?

OP posts:
Silkierabbit · 25/08/2022 15:34

I think when mocks are is school dependent and there were more than normal recently due to government insisting on contingency plans. Our next ones are in November.

marvellousindeed · 25/08/2022 15:49

Can't believe our DCs are going into the GCSE year in a matter of weeks. Hope everyone has as smooth a journey as they can have.

Looking for advice from those who have gone through GCSEs before as I'd like to book our next summer holiday soon but don't want it to interfere with potential 'post GCSE parties/events/festivals etc etc'.

Those who have been through the GCSEs, when would be a 'safe' bet to go away (bearing in mind our school often finishes in the first week of July though DC does have friends whose schools finish 1-2 weeks after this)? With GCSEs finishing June, do most of the 'celebrations' (or parties) happen between then and the end of year in July or do things continue once schools are out?

And what sort of things might they want to do with their friends? E.g. know that some like to go to Reading Festival, others might want to go away with mums and a group of kids having finished GCSEs perhaps to a camp site or shared airbnb - any other things that tend to happen?

Finally, looking for a very dependable, fast B/W printer!

Thanks in advance.

Twatling · 25/08/2022 22:41

Please may I join. Bright but hugely distracted DD heading into y11 next week Shock

DG123 · 26/08/2022 00:11

Can I join as well please? My son will be going into year 11 in September. He's very laid back about everything. Meanwhile, I'm stressing out at his lack of revision and attitude.

I've told him his Xbox will be going away for the foreseeable future. Starting in September!

CornishGem1975 · 26/08/2022 08:29

@marvellousindeed My DD has just done her GCSEs. Most things happened in June with the exception of prom which was the first week of July.

Silkierabbit · 26/08/2022 10:24

My DD just did GCSEs and would agree it was immediately after exams in June there were celebrations and a non-compulsory school thing, like a day to return books and a bbq. There is the prom in July (dates will vary by school), ours was first week but DD did not want to go so we could go away then. Other time to avoid is results day and after is results, enrolment. They also get some work to do pre A levels and some wait until after results if not sure where going. Quite a few get summer jobs so going at start works well and was nice to go outside main school holiday.

CornishGem1975 · 26/08/2022 10:39

Oh yes @Silkierabbit good point - we had a 6th form taster day in the first week of July too.

LockAqua · 26/08/2022 11:44

DS has now been told that the expectations from September are:
3 hours homework/revision Monday-Thursday evenings
3 hours homework/revision per day on Saturday/Sunday
Phone to be handed over during study time
All screen time will need to be earned by doing the expected amount of study and meeting target grades

Initially he wasn’t best pleased but eventually admitted that he will benefit from having structure to his revision.

BumblingBy · 26/08/2022 12:03

@LockAqua is 3 hours a night what school recommends? I think my DD will struggle to concentrate if that is what she needs to do. Is DS aiming for top marks?
I was thinking an hour a night on top of set homework but I have a feeling that might not be enough then?

LockAqua · 26/08/2022 12:23

@BumblingBy

The recommendation from the school is 2.5-3 hours a night to include homework and revision.

I was quite happy to set 2.5 hours as the initial expectation but DH wanted the full 3 hours.

DS is aiming for top grades- however he isn’t self-motivated at all so DH and I felt it best to put some structure in place to ensure he reaches his potential.

BumblingBy · 26/08/2022 12:24

@LockAqua our school haven't made any suggestions yet so no idea what to say to DD. Is your DS's school a grammar? Ours is an academy, and they get good results but seem fairly hands off so I wonder if a lot of it is down to parents.

LockAqua · 26/08/2022 12:37

@BumblingBy

It is a grammar, yes. The school day it’s best to get into a good routine right from the start of the year as it’s very difficult to do so at a later stage.

Tbh I think 3 hours is a reasonable expectation so you could consider asking your DD to do this to start with. DS is home at 3.30 so he’ll still have plenty of free time.

The school (and I) are a big believer that a bit of hard work doesn’t hurt and that a lot of DC (including my own) actually respond well to high expectations and standards.

They have a big focus on having a growth mindset and the importance of a strong work ethic over natural intelligence, and this is ingrained in the DC from year 7.

portico · 26/08/2022 12:39

Do we think there is a chance that the 2022/23 A Level/GCSE cohort will received advanced information on what will appear in exams - as done in the 2022 exams

Tralene · 26/08/2022 13:25

I hope not. It caused more problems than it solved for teachers.
It would, however, be helpful to allow formula sheets etc.

marvellousindeed · 26/08/2022 14:20

CornishGem1975 · 26/08/2022 08:29

@marvellousindeed My DD has just done her GCSEs. Most things happened in June with the exception of prom which was the first week of July.

Thanks that's helpful!

marvellousindeed · 26/08/2022 14:21

Silkierabbit · 26/08/2022 10:24

My DD just did GCSEs and would agree it was immediately after exams in June there were celebrations and a non-compulsory school thing, like a day to return books and a bbq. There is the prom in July (dates will vary by school), ours was first week but DD did not want to go so we could go away then. Other time to avoid is results day and after is results, enrolment. They also get some work to do pre A levels and some wait until after results if not sure where going. Quite a few get summer jobs so going at start works well and was nice to go outside main school holiday.

Brilliant, thanks!

Original poster
PritiPatelsMaker · 26/08/2022 16:25

Do we think there is a chance that the 2022/23 A Level/GCSE cohort will received advanced information on what will appear in exams - as done in the 2022 exams

I god I bloody hope so! They've had so much disruption haven't they.

OP posts:
Circleoffifths · 27/08/2022 08:57

Thank you very much @Silkierabbit - we are away until next Saturday. That’s an awful lot you have on your plate there Shock.

I can see that DD is getting a bit anxious about the beginning of Year 11. Am finding it a tricky balance between wanting her to do her best/fulfil her potential but also protect her mental health. She was not in a good place emotionally just before the pandemic and I really don’t want her to go back to that state. Feels a bit like walking a tightrope at times.

OurLipsAreSealed · 27/08/2022 10:50

I’ll be relieved when Y11 is over for DS.

As I posted earlier, his MH has been severely tested and that for me will be the biggest hurdle. If he can get through these final months and be in a much happier place, that’s our main focus.

He thankfully has a great new school who have allowed an option drop, so I’m hoping those free periods will help.

loveislouderthanwar · 28/08/2022 13:09

Hiya can I join you? My ds is one of the eldest in his year(sep 06) he has a lot of pressure from teachers as he's top set for stuff and they are already saying they see him going to Oxbridge.

This is an ordinary state C of E academy-my daughter has just done her a levels and is off to uni so he won't get any support from her.

I'm not bragging about him-I'm worried that he will crack under the pressure.

Circleoffifths · 07/09/2022 20:25

How’s the first week back going for everyone? DD just went back today. First lesson was Chemistry - her nemesis 😬.

This morning’s first day back photo was the last time both DCs will be at the same school together.

Whycanineverever · 07/09/2022 22:03

Going ok. Couple of new teachers.

She has an extra period 2 days a week in Y11 and she was hoping that it would be science as thats her weakest area however they are using the time to give extra lessons on their options.

She said she didn't need this as she was predicted 8's anyway (and a 9 for one) I did suggest it may get her to 9's in the rest!

Hellocatshome · 07/09/2022 22:54

DS first day today. He is happy that his new maths teacher has said he will be doing foundation paper rather than higher. Now just have to wait to see what the crack is with English tomorrow. He is not going to be doing any great things in his GCSEs but we need him to pass maths and English to get his apprenticeship he has been promised.

Tallulahbel · 08/09/2022 07:51

Hi, first week seems to be going OK, DS seems happy enough and as been doing some revision every night, which is good.

Does anyone know whether I should be buying the revision guides or do the school give them out at some point? My DS isn't sure and I never had a reply to the email I sent to school last term....

Hellocatshome · 08/09/2022 07:53

Tallulahbel · 08/09/2022 07:51

Hi, first week seems to be going OK, DS seems happy enough and as been doing some revision every night, which is good.

Does anyone know whether I should be buying the revision guides or do the school give them out at some point? My DS isn't sure and I never had a reply to the email I sent to school last term....

It depends on the school there is no blanket way of doing it