Year 11 2023-24

[Maxus]

Anyone else got kids starting year 11 in September?

@Tebheag there are answers... you just need to know where to find them!
https://global.oup.com/education/content/secondary/series/aqa-english-gcse-2015/answers/?region=uk

"write more" is useless. Write more what??

@MrsHamlet I hope they really appreciate you at your school. The more info a couple of teachers had explained at parents evening after mock results and DS replied he knew but was running out of time to get it all written down. I had always thought extra time was just for children who are dyslexic .

@Tebheag my students do, and that's what matters!
It's possible to get fairly solid marks with only a little written as long as you know exactly what the marks are for.
I am brutal when I mark my own students' work - I cross out anything extraneous that won't get them any marks to help them see what's useful and what's fluff. It certainly helps to focus the mind!

@MrsHamlet DS latest past paper set for homework. Teacher just wrote did you get this done in the time? Well done or similar praise! and something about What how why which I forgot. No marks on it or lines crossed out.

@Tebheag it is aqa isn't it? If you want to pm me some screen shots, I can have a look and see what I would suggest

Does anyone have any good ideas on practicing oral Spanish without hiring a personal tutor?

I need some help. Dd got offers for the two sixth form colleges in our area both of which are very very big (1500 + in each year group) and is having a wobble about going to such a big college. The problem is she hasn't applied to any sixth forms. As not the drip feed dd has never really got on with this school and really needed a change- mainly sick of the bitchy girls as its an all girls. However its likely majority will go to either of two colleges. Also, dd has realised that she would like to still have somewhat a school environment and i dont know if the college offers that. For anyone in manchester its loreto college

dinomirror my daughter has an offer for Loreto too! She's applied there, xavarian and to two 6th forms but Loreto is her (and my) favourite. Everyone I know who has been there has been very happy, very small sample size though admittedly.
I do think that even if the nasty girls from your dad's school are there, it'll be big enough to dilute them. And they won't be doing the same subjects? There's so much choice!

That great! Dd also has offers to both loreto and xaverian and is conflicted on which to choose for history,politics and economics. What subjects is your dd taking

@Dinomirror business, politics, economics 😀

That link is very helpful, thanks @MrsHamlet - DS also sends thanks he find the mark schemes on the English language papers particularly woolly.

Hope you have had productive meetings with your son's school @Tebheag

My son had his second interview yesterday - at a large and well regarded sixth form college - he got a conditional offer for the subjects he applied for (History, English Lit and Politics). He is still wobbling about his subject choice. He feels his selection is too narrow and would "close doors".

He mentioned this to the interviewer yesterday who said that he could change his preferences after he gets his results. She said this was usually where the applicant didn't achieve the grades needed for their first choice subjects but no reason why they couldn't be used in DS' situation too. She confirmed that they would only let him take A level Physics if he takes Maths too. He is now thinking - History, Maths and Physics (predications 9,8,9 respectively).

The school have shipped loads of resources this week via google drive. All of the subject content has now been covered and it's revision and exam technique from here on. DS now just has to focus and put the work in to get the grades he needs.

DS is planning to stay at school but has submitted his A-level preferences. Presumably, they need to look at offerings as they take loads of Y12 from other schools.
He has chosen history, business, and psychology.
Mocks starting on 15 Feb either side of HT, so we are on full-on revision mode now

@Waspie not heard back from the school will send another email on Monday.

Wow 2/3! We just come home from the course consultation and i am wondering just how hands off they are? DD will definitely need some encouragement and support so it would be good to know

I got the impression they were quite closely monitored- they have a form teacher that keeps an eye on their grades? But I guess at 6th form they will expect them to be a bit more self motivated... tbh my daughter is pretty good already

The teacher we spoke to made it seem like there was little to no input! Dd is self motivated, but shed need the reassurance

I was a sixth form tutor in an 11-18 school for over a decade. I used to tell my form that I was their mum at school - I'd support them all the way but if they messed with me, woe betide them. We saw them every day twice a day so I tended to know who needed nagging and who needed TLC.

I miss having a form.

Ah,at the college dd wants to go its only twice a week!

Colleges do tend to be more hands off - which definitely suits some people better.

The problem is, in our area every able student goes to one of two sixth form colleges. I would prefer her to go to sixth form, however it's generally seen as being for less able students and would hold her back academically as it has only one of her chosen subjects

Any insight into business studies verses media studies? Younger son really unsure and older son isn’t doing either?

It's strange how things differ.

Here, the more academic kids stay for school 6th form. Not always their previous school, and lots of schools don't have 6th forms.
College is for less mainstream subjects or those who didn't get on with the structure of school or for non A level options.

Yes, round here almost no schools have 6th forms (there is an all girls in the nearby city that has a 6th form, that's about it). So we have some A level colleges, some vocational colleges, some mixed colleges and an agricultural one.

Are you in Manchester? Could she travel to eg Trafford? The schools there have 6th forms that are good

What is everyone doing for prom transport? Dd is part of a group of 9 wanting to travel together and a limo is coming in at £900 which seems like a proper crazy amount of money.