Page 22 | Anyone up for a GCSE handholding thread?

BaconAndAvocado · 2023-01-08T14:26:37+00:00

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.......

Homeworkhell82 · 13/05/2023 09:51

SilverGlitterBaubles · 13/05/2023 09:46

DD will be coming home to revise after exams, there is so much disruption at school and being around general exam hysteria while people analyse and are upset about how a paper has gone is not good.

You have a point there.
My son has to stay in school normally until after half term.

WinterMermaid234 · 13/05/2023 10:39

Does anyone know the legalities around not being in for lessons around exams. I’m finding it absurd that they have to stay in for different lessons in the afternoon at school to the exam they are taking the next morning. It’s not at all beneficial to ny DD who prefers a quiet place at home to feel calm and revise her way. School won’t authorise any absence as they are under intense scrutiny as failing ofsted for the last 5yrs and head goes in July… for context she’s in top sets for everything and expected to pass 10 GCSE based on pasted performance so not in the needs support category!

jamimmi · 13/05/2023 13:16

Dd timetable has been revised for the majority of the time the lessons before an exam have had time.dedecated to the subject so rs Monday am the biology revison sessions.pm for biology Tuesday am. She does have a few odd lessons but says they will just be allowed to study.After half term they can "work form home." afternoons and the one day she has no exams , but it's not study leave! I'm going to see how it goes. I too would be interested in the legal side.of off school but in for exams All the other local comps are now on study leave too!

TripleDaisySummer · 13/05/2023 14:03

Does anyone know the legalities around not being in for lessons around exams.

I don't think they have to give study leave - but we were told there'd be no study leave at all and that they'd be following the normal timetable - including PE and that's change to study leave after half term.

Some posters have had success individually approaching about their child - but I can't see DC school being that flexible.

Even when there will be study leave they are insisting if they have morning and afternoon exams they can't come home and will be doing normal timetable in-between.

Several subjects will be finished by half term anyway - and one that is already done and where there a huge lack of teachers - DS had for most of two years ad hoc supply the kids are turning up and finding no adult turns up entire double lessons and it's so noisy little revision can be done.

I think some schools according to posters are doing revision for that exam before the exams - but ours really isn't it is normal timetable.

megletthesecond · 13/05/2023 14:17

DS still hasn't revised. This is a kid who has been in top sets all the way, always completed homework and behaved perfectly. He doesn't care about exams, he's utterly relaxed. He just goes to school revision sessions.
I feel sick thinking about results day. He's going to lose out on so many opportunities in life. He could get a 9 in one subject with a little bit of revision and he won't even try that.

TeenDivided · 13/05/2023 14:29

megletthesecond · 13/05/2023 14:17

DS still hasn't revised. This is a kid who has been in top sets all the way, always completed homework and behaved perfectly. He doesn't care about exams, he's utterly relaxed. He just goes to school revision sessions.
I feel sick thinking about results day. He's going to lose out on so many opportunities in life. He could get a 9 in one subject with a little bit of revision and he won't even try that.

You may find that he gets 6s & 7s even though he's doing nothing extra. That will be enough for A levels if he wants to (though he'd have to up the work ethic), or T levels / L3 BTEC.

It might actually only close doors he doesn't want to go through anyway.

MargaretThursday · 13/05/2023 14:38

@megletthesecond
Ds is the same. He says he'll get to the next stage so why does he need to do more?

Although he did ask me last week if he got all 9s would I give him £10k. On the basis that I don't think even if he had worked hard since year R he would have got all 9s, I've negotiated it down to £5k 🤣
It has made no difference to his work ethic though.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 13/05/2023 15:57

megletthesecond · 13/05/2023 14:17

DS still hasn't revised. This is a kid who has been in top sets all the way, always completed homework and behaved perfectly. He doesn't care about exams, he's utterly relaxed. He just goes to school revision sessions.
I feel sick thinking about results day. He's going to lose out on so many opportunities in life. He could get a 9 in one subject with a little bit of revision and he won't even try that.

If he is bright,has worked consistently all the way through and done revision sessions at school he will quite likely do very well.

megletthesecond · 13/05/2023 16:13

Thank you. I hope you guys are right 😁.

yy Margaret DS is happy to just pass them all, and he's not bad at maths and science. English language is a bit iffy though.

WinterMermaid234 · 14/05/2023 07:31

@TripleDaisySummer sounds like our children have had a similar experience- it’s frustrating when you have a kid who can do well and wants to do well but is not getting that opportunity due to lack of everything really in the one place they are supposed to get it! I can’t wait for her to leave neither can she. We’ve still literally have been told Nothing by the school about any study leave plans just word of mouth from my kid… no email no social media post! We’ve even asked them!

Taswama · 14/05/2023 11:00

Your DS will probably be fine @megletthesecond . I think my DS is capable of 8s and 9s but should get 6s and 7s (with maybe one 5 and one or two 8s) As far as he’s concerned it’s enough to get him to A Levels.

My boss told me she did terribly at both GCSEs and A Levels but once she found her niche has had a brilliant career.

TripleDaisySummer · 14/05/2023 11:23

@WinterMermaid234 I wonder if it's for similar reasons intense scrutiny due to failed inspections.

DC schools literally just come out of special measures - I read the report that allowed this and it must be political because the report is scathing.

I've a younger child at the school about to start GCSE - actually might have started a few it's unclear to them - and if anything they are in a worse position with even bigger gaps as they've shoved the limited resources at the older years.

On top of the general school problems and despite it sounding utterly crazy it certainly feels like school admin is malicious specifically towards DS as there have been a lot of ultimately disproved accusations aimed at him - never by teaching staff or anyone who has regular interactions with him- lots of mistakes that put him at a disadvantage just before big dates adding to his stress - to point we can predict it happening.

It's been very hard to try and get him not to turn away from the GCSE and hard work as the attitude towards the school has soured. He is more excited by college and A-levels though.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 14/05/2023 11:26

£5k to pass his exams 😲

I live in a very different world to some posters on Mn!

Taswama · 14/05/2023 11:28

£5k to get all 9s. That’s a bit more than a pass.

Sounds a safe bet - up there with Nigel Farage being next PM.

christmastreefarm · 14/05/2023 12:22

Muchtoomuchtodo · 14/05/2023 11:26

£5k to pass his exams 😲

I live in a very different world to some posters on Mn!

My daughter is easily pleased - £10 per 9, £100 if she gets a 9-9 science. Rounded up to £200 if she gets all 9's......

3-4 are probable, 5-6 hopefully achievable. 9 of them is unlikely but not so unlikely I'm willing to commit to much!

It was a penny a grade in mocks with £1 for a 9!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 14/05/2023 12:28

My ds is likely to get A and As this year (he’s in year 10 but they do a fair bit). There has been no talk of any money changing hands. Neither did it with his big brother who got As As and a B last year.

Homeworkhell82 · 14/05/2023 12:40

WinterMermaid234 · 14/05/2023 07:31

@TripleDaisySummer sounds like our children have had a similar experience- it’s frustrating when you have a kid who can do well and wants to do well but is not getting that opportunity due to lack of everything really in the one place they are supposed to get it! I can’t wait for her to leave neither can she. We’ve still literally have been told Nothing by the school about any study leave plans just word of mouth from my kid… no email no social media post! We’ve even asked them!

Nothing here either. No pre exam email at all. I expect it will come Monday evening!

BonjourCrisette · 14/05/2023 12:42

I'm not offering DD a financial incentive but I will probably buy her a nice present when it's all over (and not contingent on results). She has worked hard and deserves a treat.

Rowgtfc72 · 14/05/2023 12:45

Dd is likely to get 9s in music and photography. Possibly engineering.
I'll pay out if she actually gets that 4 in English!
She had her interview for an apprenticeship yesterday. College need 4s but the apprenticeship is doable with 3s apparently.
Every six weeks she will have to travel 75 miles away to do 4 days at college, staying over.
She's 16. It's a brilliant opportunity for her but not sure about this aspect of it.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 14/05/2023 12:51

BonjourCrisette · 14/05/2023 12:42

I'm not offering DD a financial incentive but I will probably buy her a nice present when it's all over (and not contingent on results). She has worked hard and deserves a treat.

Same here. Planning to get her some Tatty Devine earrings to unwrap after her last exam as recognition of the effort she's made and the stress endured.

iwantavuvezela · 14/05/2023 13:55

would love to jump on this thread as feel that the next 5 weeks are going to feel very long!
Than goodness these exams are starting, our school over did the rounds of mocks, and DD is looking jaded and exhausted with all the rounds of exams!!!

Good luck to all of those writing tomorrow

blue23blue · 14/05/2023 15:24

Dd has to stay in school all day as well with no study leave. Had no further information from school I'm hoping they will be given extra boosters to prepare for the next days exam but maybe that's just wishful thinking. They are very poor at communicating.

MargaretThursday · 14/05/2023 19:10

Taswama · 14/05/2023 11:28

£5k to get all 9s. That’s a bit more than a pass.

Sounds a safe bet - up there with Nigel Farage being next PM.

Totally safe.

I shall be astonished if he gets a 9 in any. He's aiming for mostly 5-7s and has no intention of upping the work to try and get more than that.
If he gets a 9 in English then I think the school will be wondering who he'd bribed to do his GCSE for him. Just hoping for a pass really there.

Homeworkhell82 · 14/05/2023 19:55

Anyone got a child who's really borderline for Maths and English and could it could go either way?
My child just achieved a 4 in last mock for Maths, English touch and go. It feels really stressful as there seems to be no scope for having a not so good day.

overthehillswegoo · 14/05/2023 20:36

How are everyone's DC this evening?
RE exam here tomorrow, I expect it will be for many others too.
Any other exams happening tomorrow?