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Secondary education

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

GCSE supporting - to half term, and beyond!

995 replies

SheilaFentiman · 27/05/2023 16:22

Making a new thread to support half term revision and the set of GCSEs afterwards!

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17
minisnowballs · 08/06/2023 09:35

Yes I know it was a terrible idea - I didn't know she was doing it...

ReformedWaywardTeen · 08/06/2023 09:53

Thanks to all those who commiserated with DD over the incorrect timetable
School have the attitude that she should've been revising regardless so not going to do anything.

I've pointed out to their year group pastoral and mental health coordinator that it's not about the revision, with DD, if they had of been told they have a specific exam, they go in and know what to expect, still nervous but not unexpected.

Yesterday, going in to school, and people saying "no, it's maths" sent her into a tailspin of fear because it was not what she thought was happening.

She also felt it's the schools way of having her fail so she doesn't get a place at 6th. Now I know that's rubbish, but her mind goes to some very extreme places sometimes.(We are awaiting a Cahms referral).

They also said, the people who sat the double history exam in the afternoon, came out very upset as there were 3 8 mark questions on a topic they have never covered throughout the time in school, which they had no clue the answer to.

It would appear someone, somewhere has made several big cock ups which could potentially have cost pupils grades.

It also now makes me wonder if DD is the only one with an incorrect timetable as she said on Monday one of the boys in her year turned up after the English exam. Maybe he had the wrong timetable too?

The exam team at school don't seem to want to take responsibility for this but I've flagged it with the head of year.

I doubt anyone will give points or anything over a misprinted timetable. But I will expect it to be taken into account for sixth form, because they may have to resit and not do their chosen subjects for a year as their school are adamant that's how it works down to the DofE.

They're also being marked as absent during study leave which is ridiculous and I've already had LEA on the phone asking why DD is not attending school regularly. The admin staff are useless!

DontForgetToBreathe · 08/06/2023 10:13

Sorry is this the place to rant? Don’t study to pass! Study to learn! My last words before I left the house this morning. I think just doing past papers is destroying their brains!

TeenDivided · 08/06/2023 10:20

DontForgetToBreathe · 08/06/2023 10:13

Sorry is this the place to rant? Don’t study to pass! Study to learn! My last words before I left the house this morning. I think just doing past papers is destroying their brains!

Learning is all very well, but the 'system' is set up that passes are needed to open doors to the next stage.
When you have a DC who doesn't have those passes the luxury of studying just to learn isn't there.

SomersetBrie · 08/06/2023 10:25

DontForgetToBreathe · 08/06/2023 10:13

Sorry is this the place to rant? Don’t study to pass! Study to learn! My last words before I left the house this morning. I think just doing past papers is destroying their brains!

At this point, study to pass. Or study to get the grade to make it to the next stage of life.

Clymene · 08/06/2023 10:28

DontForgetToBreathe · 08/06/2023 10:13

Sorry is this the place to rant? Don’t study to pass! Study to learn! My last words before I left the house this morning. I think just doing past papers is destroying their brains!

Totally disagree. Most of the GCSE content my kid is learning has zero practical application in their day to day life. They are literally only studying it to get the grades to do A levels in the subjects they are interested in.

TeenDivided · 08/06/2023 10:36

Clymene · 08/06/2023 10:28

Totally disagree. Most of the GCSE content my kid is learning has zero practical application in their day to day life. They are literally only studying it to get the grades to do A levels in the subjects they are interested in.

GCSEs aren't meant to be 'practical application in day to day life'. They are to check / encourage a general level of education across a variety of subjects.

Most people don't need Macbeth, or Pythagoras, or understanding of Religious view of WMDs, or how an Oxbow lake is formed, or proscenium arches, but having a general knowledge enriches a person and provide a foundation for future interests.

My DD learned about all of these, and although she doesn't have the certificates to show it, she still gets 'joy' from understanding Shakespeare references in The Simpsons etc.

Still need those passes though.

Piony · 08/06/2023 10:45

DontForgetToBreathe · 08/06/2023 10:13

Sorry is this the place to rant? Don’t study to pass! Study to learn! My last words before I left the house this morning. I think just doing past papers is destroying their brains!

Not bad advice at other times, but right now it's all about the exams. Right now they need to parrot the quotes etc to capitalise best on everything they've learned in the last 2 years.

In Sept the proper, engaging learning starts again. And in the meantime hopefully DD will manage to find a job, which will teach her a lot in other ways.

Glwysen · 08/06/2023 10:50

I was helping a student with some last minute maths and told them that while I would usually be all about instilling good habits, proper understanding and love of the subject at this stage it is about getting the most marks you can so lets focus on that!

TripleDaisySummer · 08/06/2023 10:51

The exam team at school don't seem to want to take responsibility for this but I've flagged it with the head of year.

The exam officer here sent it parents as well and said to students and parents they took no responsibly so we had to check all exams were there and that times/dates were correct.

It is the stuff of nightmares -missing an exam or turning up to wrong one.

DD1 accused me last night of stressing them out. I did point our reason we were worried was her poor performance last year influenced by her lack of work we feel -and other than check she doing something and regularly checking she knew when exams were - she had forgotten appointments previously - I've left her to it.

DS asked this and last year for support - and mostly it's been making sure he did work in the holidays and in evening before and during early exams-I think school not setting homework left DS at a disadvantage. Since Saturday I've left him be - I think half the reason he's stressed is he is less well prepared than before half term.

PennywisePoundFoolish · 08/06/2023 10:52

DS1 got a 3 in English Literature And Language, he's doing a creative writing course post 16 (bespoke EHCP package). He's always written really high quality stories and loves to do so. I'm glad he's completely unfazed by not passing his GCSE. He got a 6 in History and 45 in science but a 3 in maths.

DS2 however will be bereft and I'm hoping he gets over the line for English Language and can do his chosen A Levels without needing any resits etc.

Starlightstarbright1 · 08/06/2023 10:55

My Ds broke up for study leave yesterday I am trying to get him to revise biology and geography for tomorrow . I do believe he revises far better at school . I have used a day’s holiday today to get him revising.

Clymene · 08/06/2023 10:58

I think we'll have to agree to disagree @TeenDivided but I think this thread is not the right forum to have a discussion about the merits of GCSEs! Grin

We also have a day off before geography and biology tomorrow. I need to kick him out of bed!

TripleDaisySummer · 08/06/2023 11:08

DS says Welsh was fine.

He has geography tomorrow morning.

Whatisitn0w · 08/06/2023 11:18

Has anyone heard how AQA Further Maths went?

I won't hear until 4pm.

Nowfeeltheneedtopost · 08/06/2023 11:23

Not yet. My DD had clash with aqa further maths and PE this morning so those of them doing both are being kept in separate room after further maths exam for a short break before they get given the PE exam to do!

Whatisitn0w · 08/06/2023 11:35

@Nowfeeltheneedtopost
It is a shame when there's a clash! I hope their break goes smoothly and they feel ready for the next exam.

Hersetta427 · 08/06/2023 11:35

DD back from PE and already working on Geography for tomorrow. She said it went fine and was happy with it.

spiderlight · 08/06/2023 11:38

My DS says Welsh was horrendous! We were expecting that though - he has been focusing on tomorrow's exams because he doesn't really need Welsh and it's always been his weak spot. He's had to come all the way home and then go all the way back in for his geography revision class later because Y11 are not allowed to stay on site after exams or over lunch. He'll have to do the same tomorrow between his Geography and Digital Tech exams as well. Blooming stupid. He's the only one doing both subjects and you'd think they'd let him sit in the wellbeing hub or the library in between to revise, especially given that he's still really unwell, but nope! Hopefully DH will be able to pick him up tomorrow and take him back to save him the walk - it's only about 15-20 minutes each way but it's a long way when you're not feeling well.

Beamur · 08/06/2023 11:42

AQA further maths here. Hard but interesting I think. DD found the standard paper yesterday quite easy but thinks she might get 2/3 of this paper right. She's not taking maths or further maths at A level so hadn't revised much for this one.

BonjourCrisette · 08/06/2023 11:46

DD had Russian today and reports it went better than expected.

Nowfeeltheneedtopost · 08/06/2023 11:54

Whatisitn0w · 08/06/2023 11:35

@Nowfeeltheneedtopost
It is a shame when there's a clash! I hope their break goes smoothly and they feel ready for the next exam.

Thank you. She won’t be home until 3.30pm so I’ll hear about both exams then. I wasn’t sure what she’d do for food so sent her in with lots of snacks just in case!

Whatisitn0w · 08/06/2023 11:57

@Nowfeeltheneedtopost
Sending lots of snacks sounds like the best plan- she can just relax then until it's time for the next one without worrying how to get food.

Whatisitn0w · 08/06/2023 11:59

@Beamur that's a great outcome- especially as it's not a subject she wants to pursue- I admire anyone who can do maths easily!

SheilaFentiman · 08/06/2023 12:28

DS1 home, happy with how AQA further maths went, is now having a break and then needs to revise geography and biology

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