Year 11 2023-24

[Maxus]

Anyone else got kids starting year 11 in September?

Feeling low today (me, not DD).

Mocks are going okay but I attended a "Steps to Success" evening at school on the week by myself, was aimed at helping parents help students.

In a nutshell DD finds maths incredibly difficult and has done since primary. I was told by teachers for years to not worry, she'll get there etc every time I spoke about our concerns.

Fast forward to her y10 mocks in May and she got a 2 and this is with seeing a private tutor every week. No SEN.

She works hard (not always on the right thing but we're going to talk about new strategies once these mocks are done ) all the time so I know her effort is there. We raised it with school in January and various interventions were promised but failed to materialise. This week she has finally been put into a maths revision group, almost 10 months after flagging.

Anyway I managed to grab the head this week at the parents evening and shared my concerns as she wants to do A Levels here but must have a 5 minimum in maths. He was highly unsympathetic and just reiterated the criteria. He helpfully offered that they MAY consider her with a 4 if everything else is there but she would have to resist in November alongside doing her 4 A Levels.

We're going to a local college open day at the weekend where she could do As and they require maths at a 4 and only 3 A Alevels which I feel is such a better fit for her so I'm hoping she likes what she sees and considers it a serious 2nd choice.

But I just feel school don't give a shit and the head just sounded like a talking prospectus. I'm not having a go at teachers as there are so many great ones there but I work in another underperforming city school and our head is incredible. His desire to get the kids better outcomes is so apparent.

Anyway thanks for reading ... nothing anyone can say I guess but just feel low and needs to say it out.

Should probably say other subjects are ok-ish although science is another worry but at least that's not a compulsory resit.

With the exception of maths I'm fully expecting best case scenario will be mainly 4s and possibly a few 5s and a 6.

Sorry to hear that @tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz. So difficult, especially when you and DD are already throwing everything at it.

Does your tutor have any insight into what’s not working - e.g. is she better when not under time pressure, is there an element of panic/overwhelm setting in? Or are the difficulties more in mastering maths facts and concepts?

If you really are think mainly 4s with possibly a few 5s and a 6, then I think you need to give serious consideration as to whether A levels would be the right next step.
With those grades a T-level / level3 BTEC extended diploma may be a lot more suitable.

Thanks both

Tutor picked up quite quickly that many of the issues are the basics weren't embedded at all so until recently that have been going back to these. She's improving in recall and confidence.

Teen I agree we need to consider this however she has such tunnel vision and DH seems to think she'll cope better than we give her credit for as the subjects she's looking at are her strongest and ones she really enjoys. But yes you have a point.

I've emailed school several times throughout the year to follow up where the promised support is and either been fobbed off or ignored. I'm going to wait for the outcome of these mocks and I'm d no improvement then try again. e.

From the sound of it, I wouldn’t wait for the school to deliver a turnaround as they’ve been unresponsive to date. If it were me (and it was - my DC received very poor early maths teaching which has taken a massive home effort to turn round) I’d be sitting with her and going through it together between tutor sessions. I bang on about MathsBuster on here (by CGP) but it really is good and has a Foundation version. At under £20 we have found it an excellent investment. Get a couple of cheap mini whiteboards from Tesco or wherever and practise together, little and often.

(I realise you didn’t ask for advice - sorry!)

Hey that's ok and advice welcome so thank you! We do try as much as we can in between sessions but she doesn't respond as well to us especially when she still starts to feel defeatist, as she would to a teacher or her tutor (who I wished we'd signed up with Yeats ago).

I'll look at maths buster thanks. Already stocked up on whiteboards!

DD2 is and loves it, she chose a sensible focus theme and seems to be doing well. She spends hours of her leisure time on it so doesn't see it as proper work. She'll definitely take A level art.

Also forgot to say there is so much d GCSE maths that we don't get either so it's a bit bloke leading the blind

@Philandbill thats how it should be, it certainly isn’t for my DS. I wonder if it’s a difference in teaching / exam board as DS doesn’t get a choice in what he has to do other than at exam time. I also think it’s an attitude thing, he prefers to work on things that interest him, I was more like your daughter and loved doing art for its own sake but it was definitely a ‘freer’ subject when I did it. I’m genuinely glad to hear that your DD is enjoying it.

Sounds like my son, he's currently year 10 so we'll see how that goes, hope the GCSE doesn't spoil his enjoyment of drawing.

Marking place

Are these for a state school?

No @teenageangst2023 it's an independent.

Just hopping on to vent. I despair I really do. My DD is just digging her heals in with revision. She has done nothing. Just tried to sit with her to do some science and it was a massive battle of wills. I hate this. Why won’t she just revise! Mocks in two weeks.

Have the school set tasks?

@Midnightstar76 Is she perhaps overwhelmed by the scale of the task? Rabbit in the headlights? The trouble with procrastination is that the longer it goes on the harder it is to imagine you can do enough in the time remaining.

Could you perhaps have a chat with her while walking/driving (i.e. away from the books) and see what’s blocking her? Presumably she doesn’t really want to sit in an exam hall entirely unprepared.

@Marisquita thank you will try that this weekend away from the books.

Mocks start for us tomorrow. Feeling slightly sick for DS!
How is everyone doing?

Half way through and have a moody teenage boy.

Last 2 mock exams tomorrow then 4wk wait for results.

Mocks were weak after half term. Results this week. Then the sixth form application dilemma.

Eak! I think I’ll ensure the fridge is full then!

We have mocks starting next week. He is revising and they have extra sessions at school. There is a history A Level he really wants to do and is an area he's really interested in. Its at his school, which has the highest entry grades, so hope it will motivate him to do well! Re 6th form applications, DS has applied to 3. My friends DS applied to about 5! They can decide their top 3 later and then the definite when they get their results.

Sending moral support and to those still getting through mocks/mocks yer to start.

Outs finished last week and we're all absolutely knackered. Results apparently first week in December. I'm bracing myself for Not Amazing News