GCSE support - the final frontier!

[SheilaFentiman]

These are the voyages of the GCSE Enterprise. To support our DCs, bemoan exam boards and to boldly go through the last fortnight like no one has gone before!

All being dumped in a box in the spare room! Revision guides will go to his brother, we will keep some of the rest as he’s not 100% decided on a levels

Or in most cases, how well the teacher has taught the subject

Lol I forgot to post was on call to a friend so ignore my last message it went in from my more previous post

I am not a book burner. Or a hoarder

I shall keep some boxes handy should he want to store them.

Have told DS we can't burn as terrible for the environment. Photocopies of set texts and poetry have been recycled already. Exercise books will be recycled too, he didn't use them for revision so there's no risk of him using them at A Level.

Will keep single science textbooks and revision guides until we know what DS2 (Y8) is doing. Although have already given away German revision guides as DS2 does French not German.
Any we don't need I'll probably give away on Facebook which is where the majority came from.

Just physics and geography and we're done!

Text books have been going back to school as subjects are finished. Papers are being stored in a plastic box in the garage until after results day. Anything from an ALevel subject will be kept and everything else will be shredded for the compost bin.

DD1 just described the History paper today as "offensive", although she did like the Dix painting . She is currently shredding all of her history notes.

Kids just bounce back. How can anyone (an adult) have 20+ exams from day to day bouncing back each time? Credit to all these kids.

Last day for us tomorrow. 2 exams for DS. Geography and Physics.

But to everyone else who have more next week… it’s time for the last bedtime before exams.

GCSEs seem a brilliant way to put people off certain subjects for life which is a bit of a shame

Definitely no lifelong love of History being developed after todays crap fest of questions

Well done DofE well done

DfE that is

DD is scanning the useful ones to pass on to friends in the year below (different schools but most syllabus is similar for a lot of subjects, esp science which will be shared far and wide). Textbooks will go back to school to be sold on at a discount to younger years. The paper notes will definitely be burnt. She's inviting friends over to toast marshmallows on the bonfire (some of them might have some material for the fire too).

Well I feel I’ve set an all time record for the final day waking up at 3:45am! It’s so odd as I didn’t even go to bed thinking about his exams, it’s like the funny waking up early before you know there is a taxi or you’ve a plane to catch. So annoying! Hopefully DS will have more energy than me later as we have to wake him each morning! Wishing everyone best of luck for today and for those who have an exam next week, you’re nearly there! DS1 has two A levels Tuesday so we’ll be half done but the end is nearly in sight - and I want my sleep back!!!!!

@kidstaxidriver sorry to hear you're awake. This is my normal waking hour- best time of the day in my opinion.

@Summer787Cyclist dd is at a middle of the road academy. She was predicted 7- 9s on entry in Yr 7. We've seen so many teachers come and go. So much syllabus content not covered and complete years of work lost. We are crossing our fingers for 4s and 5s.
Dd needed 4s for her college course. She's gone out of her own back and got herself an apprenticeship. She only needs 3s. We're desperately crossing fingers for 3s now.
My daughter is a bright child and left junior school with more than exceeding.
What has secondary school done to her?

@Rowgtfc72 Also crossing fingers for 4s and 5s and perhaps a bit better in A level subjects. But isn’t it amazing she’s arranged her own apprenticeship! We are not in a dissimilar position in that predicted grades and where my son was performing pre covid is v significantly different to now. I can pinpoint when he started to struggle and that was end of year 8/ start of year 9 and covid - some unexplained learning needs, a lack of teaching and being shut away really impacted him, plus the massive step up in curriculum and the impact on his SEN. As we read through a summary sheet last night on his physics and I asked him if he knew Boyle’s Law (purely because the teacher had told the kids to learn it), he laughed and said “Why would I know that?” And I honestly laughed back as I felt “Fair enough”! These kids will all find their way and will excel. I can’t describe the last 4 weeks as anything but pointless torture for too many children (in their own different ways) and I am convinced the educational system needs a massive overhaul, however it feels like some rather strange rite of passage and hopefully they’ll all come out having learnt something….. the fact your DS has even arranged her own apprenticeship I think is brilliant as many kids wouldn’t be able to…….. look back at my previous posts - the Ben Fogle quote will resonate with you!

*Sorry DD!

She had arranged her own college interview before school even got round to sitting the yr 11s down to do it. Then made her reapply again.
We are all done with the school system now. She's a practical kid and likes to do hands on things like her dad. He left school with two gcses grade e. I sat A levels and have a University degree. Each to their own.
She wants to be a mechanic in motorsport and I don't doubt she'll do it.

I loved school. For many kids it's hard work. I can still recite German A level preposition tables and lots of maths formula. Absolutely pointless stuff!

We had the same with dd as your ds. Covid completely changed my very confident child leaving anxiety and panic attacks. We're just coming out the other side. We suspect she may have some difficulties with organisational skills, when asked to tidy her room she will spend an hour with her sock drawer. She struggles to see the bigger picture. She's never been very good at still and quiet. The exams have been hard work.

I do remember reading your Ben Fogle quote and nodding.

Crossing fingers for all our kids.

Will miss these early mornings. But I see I am in good company here and not alone. Good luck to everyone today. Two big ones.
Physics and Geography.

Time for a coffee.

@PicnicBunny I cannot wait - no exam Monday so just Tuesday and I can go back to my extra half hours sleep..

Good morning ladies,
Iast early morning for us, the day is finally here. Physics, Geography and done. About to make a coffee for Dd, she just wants today out of the way after yesterday's disastrous History paper, but is in good spirits.
@Rowgtfc72 Good on your daughter, what a great attitude she has preparing herself for her future
Good luck to all today x

Morning everyone!! Last day for us. Slept so badly. Hope all goes well for all dc today.

Last one. Hurrah!

Tonight I can set my alarm for 45 minutes later during the week as I don't have to drop ds at school.

He's got one week of performing and 3 days of work experience over the summer and nothing else booked, which is just what he likes.

Good luck to all the kids today.

Just physics for us and done. Roll on the long hot summer.

Good morning everyone!!! Best of Luck to everyone.
Thanks everyone for your support, I hope we've all managed to help each other!!
It's been smoother than I imagined, some highs and lows though.
The biggest low, is my son not doing the 30 mark unseen poetry question and him having a proper low the day of the second Chemistry paper.
Maths has been the biggest surprise and he felt he's done quite well, fingers crossed 🤞