Anyone up for a GCSE handholding thread?

[BaconAndAvocado]

DS2 has his GCSEs in June. He had mocks in November and more (why??) next month.
He needs to get 5 6s to stay at his current school (IB, not overly keen) or to transfer to another local 6th form.
He said he’s going to start revising this week......
Think his school will be helping him devise a revision timetable this week. I’ve bought him flashcards, he just needs to knuckle down now.......

We were under the spotlight in 1988 as we were the first year of gcses. Got to say the O level papers from the year before were scary compared to what we were presented with in the exams.
Dd on second day of photography today.

Our prom is at a posh country pub. Dress code is gowns and tux ( no morning suits) £45 a ticket which gets her burger and chips, one drink and entertainment. I need to supply more money for extra drinks. I live in Grimsby. Google Grimsby. Massive area of deprivation.

£45 seems a bit steep! We are paying £30 in London.

@Rowgtfc72 that sounds steep for anywhere but - yes - l know Grimsby. Yikes.

I've been joking with DS about how much it's costing me to get him out of that school: year book, hoodie, suit for Prom, Prom itself. At least the suit will be worn again. Probably not the case for most girls' dresses

How is everyone holding up. DD seems to be starting to knuckling down. Doing around 3 hrs revision per night (less/none on Saturdays as she works) but more on Sundays so it evens out.

Spanish speaking went OK she said (well the general conversation part anyway - she said her photocard was a bit rubbish).

When do yours all finish school. DD's last day is 12th May. They do the first 3 lessons, then a leavers assembly and have games, food, ice cream on the school field. She then has main prom (mixed with their opposite number boys school) at a country house and then a schhol celebration dinner at a local hotel. Thankfully dresses all bought (ever pretty were really reasonable) so all good on that front.

My daughter has calmed down over last couple of weeks. I think she just obsessed on it all over Easter. She doesn’t finish - full time school all the way through exams.

Ds was off school yesterday with a temperature, I got a lovely reminder from the school telling me that students must not have any time off. I guess they want ill kids in and risk spreading it 2 weeks before exams!!!

DD had her French speaking today and said it was quite tricky, especially questions about what she wanted to do for a job. She said lawyer and was asked what kinds of people she wanted to defend - as she absolutely doesn't want to be a lawyer I think she would have struggled to answer this in English! She's mainly just relieved to have it over with I think. Today was her last day of proper school. The barbecue isn't until the exams are over.

@BonjourCrisette dd said her French speaking went ok.
I did German at gcse and my advice was just talk. If there's a long gap ask them to repeat the question or speak slower. Keep talking.

all ok-ish here. DD1 is doing a couple of hours of revision daily except Fridays and Saturdays. Spanish speaking on Thursday is causing some anxiety - it's her least strong element, and for 3 years they had very little specific input, as the teachers were under the impression that speaking wasn't going to on the syllabus .

No study leave at all for DD1. I assume this is because she's at a not-all-that-great urban comp, with its share of struggling kids families. Easier to ask everyone to come in all the time rather than complicate things with individual timetables, and to chase the non-attenders if they're not in by registration, rather than 10minutes before the exam.

She has a prom, but I think it's quite low-key. £20 a ticket in the school hall. Free tickets for pupil premium kids, plus a lottery of a further dozen free tickets for those doing well on the behaviour scheme. She still wants a fancy frock though, and I'll oblige, as she's been working well.

DSs school still haven't given them a date for their Spanish speaking exam just between 28th April and 5th May which isn't terribly helpful.

Spanish speaking done this week it went well she thinks which is a confidence boost as she was very nervous this morning. We got a prom dress off eBay for a good price but still no official date for the prom yet or any communication on leaving dates ~ I will be so glad when’s she’s done with this school as their communication from start to finish is just crap nothing appears to be pre-planned it’s all reactive. No wonder they are still rated “inadequate/could do better” for five long years now!

DS had French speaking yesterday. Said it went well - I doubt he'd done much work but must have got lucky with the questions.

Exam leave starts 11 May so, given the 2 Bank Holidays, we're down to 6.5 days. He's got his leavers hoodie and year book. He's one of the few in his year who aren't returning there for 6th form so it really is the end of an era. His older brother was there and it all finished quite badly so I'll be happy never to set foot there again too. There's still the school production and end of term concert to suffer though.

Do feel it’s going to be tough on this year group if grade boundaries are going to be the same as 2019.
Also seems unfair as Wales and Scotland are still giving advanced info to their students, good on them and shame on our government.
Roll on June…it can’t come quick enough.

Hi everyone, my ds has about zero motivation sadly, except for Music, which is what he’ll be doing at sixth form. Just hoping for 4s and 5s which is maddening when I know he could get his target grades of 6s if he actually tried.

My ds school still dishing our homework, some stuff that he knows and he just wants to revise now!! I remember having loads of time to revise in my own way when I did mine.

Also in the run down, bank Holidays not helping. 12th is our last day, DC first exam on 16th.
Prom in July, £35ish, plus outfit and all the rest.
Lots of revision and panicking, dreading the exams, only 1 set of mocks completed and they weren't great marks so a lot more work will be needed!
Very worried. DC has some sort of ear infection so pushing up protein and vitamins over the coming weeks.

No study leave for DS which I think given his personality is a bonus I would have hated being in school through the exams. Just needs to pass Maths and English really to do what he want to do next. Maths should be OK English will be touch and go.

DS's prom is £45. And I have to get him his first ever suit and some decent shoes. One of his mates mums has hired a limo for them, that's another £50.
Lessons until the end of May, maths, science and English interventions after school and booster sessions before every single exam. They've got to be in school for 7:45 for them on 9am exam days, luckily DS will be ok with that. He's incapable of self revision but is more than happy with extra work in school.

£45 for prom here too. Coach from school so no limo (or mum taxi) thankfully.

Also need to get a suit, not sure what type or where to get it from. Tuxedo or work suit or is there something in between?

School attendance compulsory until after English language is over, which is definitely better for DS too.

Our is £65 and DS doesn't even want to go.

Last year was DDs and on top of ticket price, there was hair, nails, makeup, shoes and £450 dress. Glad boys are cheaper.

No study leave until after half-term.

Anyone's dc find Maths Higher particularly hard in comparison to any other gcses?
DC managed a 4 in mocks but physics and Chemistry much higher marks which require mathematical skills...the whole class really struggling with Maths. 2nd set and most got a 4 or 5....

DS2’s study leave starts after day of first exam, 16th May.

He seems to be upping the anti a bit recently with his revision (about bloody time!).

The school next door is offering £25 Amazon vouchers for students who attend weekend study days. Apart from after school interventions DS2’s school has offered nothing, paid or unpaid.

My ds school are also offering gift cards for those who attend 3 after school or lunchtime revision sessions per week.

Nothing here, no rewards or incentives.

Blimey. DD would love a £25 Amazon voucher! Not on offer for her, though.