Year 11 2023-24

[Maxus]

Anyone else got kids starting year 11 in September?

How much revision is she planning? TIA.

DS first day back got told by several teachers inc English he has mocks first week in November. Not impressed with English as told mocks are on Lord of the flies he hasn't even been told to read the book yet and the book is not available to collect for another couple of weeks!

👋 Yes, my youngest son has just started Year 11. He does okay, but he just gets so bored quickly. He also isn't one to be sat in a classroom all day. At his school, he's had a number of teacher changes, especially in Maths, English, and Science. This has been disruptive to learning. There are no plans currently for him to stay on for 6th Form, but know the school will push about that, and about university. Thing is, he wants to work as a carpenter, or in some kind of construction work. Therefore he's probably looking at an apprenticeship.

That felt like a long week! Poor DD had braces fixed on Monday afternoon so she’s been feeling pretty miserable with those and the heat. I had a job interview (which I didn’t get) yesterday and my day started with discovering a bald patch on my head (thanks peri menopause) and ended in a migraine. I honestly don’t think we’ve had a worst first week! And the heat is just miserable isn’t it.
DD has decided she only likes 2 of her teachers and my DS in year 9 is being bullied so much im considering moving him. It can only get better right?

@wonderstuff what a first week for you and your DD’s. Wishing you better weeks to come. Well at a loggerhead with DD on Friday evening. Was planning on biology revision but it didn’t happen. I got her argument though and gave in. She said it’s Friday this is my time etc etc then said she has been set three lots of homework for next week. I said what homework and she point blank refused to tell me but I gave her some space and she then went on to tell me she has History revision flashcards, Maths and English homework. Only after I said I would look in her bag unless she said as I am trying to help plan revision. She then said all I go on about is revision. Seriously though if I didn’t she would not do anything at all. Anyway so I am using the homework as revision so have said to get that done this weekend and we will do science revision on Monday. Her gran is visiting today so going to try and persuade her to do one of them before she comes so it’s not all done on Sunday. Wish me luck

@wonderstuff that does sound like a tough week, hope the migraine has passed now and that the braces discomfort settles down. DS is under doctors instructions to eat soft food for the next week after a jaw injury from rugby. Which is a bit disappointing for him as it’s his birthday coming up and we are meant to be going out for dinner!

I need to ask him what’s been set by school so far, I don’t get notified about homework for DS1, like I do for his brother in y9 (they’re in different schools). I think I recognise your name from being on the same 2010 pregnancy threads wonderstuff! But sorry to hear he’s having a bad time at school.

@wonderstuff and @MiniMidiMaxi hope the braces and soft food eating are going ok. We've got all this to come with my 10 year old as we're waiting for him to have major surgery on his mouth at some point in the next few months, hopefully. Although we've been waiting nearly 2 years so far and part of me wants to get it over with and part of me wants it to be delayed as long as possible. 10 year old doesn't care as long as he doesn't have it done just before christmas as he wants to eat all the non soft christmas food!

DS2 has got his prefect hoodie but it's handwash only. And naturally he jogged home from school in it on Friday so it had to be washed and then of course took forever to dry. He's now been banned from jogging or doing pe wearing the hoodie! I managed to get a first day photo of him but I was only allowed to take a photo of the hoodie if he wasn't wearing it. I'm hoping to take a nice photo of my 2 leavers when DS4 gets his primary school leavers hoodie in the summer.

@wonderstuff I hope this week is starting out better than last.
@MiniMidiMaxi hope your DS is feeling better soon and in time for birthday dinner!

It's DS's birthday today, 16 years old - eek! 😱 We're off out for a pizza later, had a bigger family birthday thing on Sunday and a friends thing last weekend so today will just be immediate family.

We haven't even mentioned revision yet, and he still seems to have minimal homework. I'm assuming the school know what they're doing..

How’s the week gone? DD seems okay, she’s not enjoying much of school but is working, she gets that she needs to.
Shes 16 in about 6 weeks and has no idea what she wants to do (very unlike her) apparently she’s got a much bigger friendship group than in past years and can’t think of something to include them all. I’m sure we’ll figure something out, be grateful for any ideas though. Think there’s about 10 of them.

Meetings with current school and local private school for my younger one next week DD has her nose out of joint about us spending money on his schooling, but she is on track to be able to do anything she wants post 16 and he isn’t. Thankfully state post 16 offer is good.

Open evenings for local colleges coming up in a couple of weeks. Dd has decided where to go but not which subjects. She’s thinking statistics, and I’ve no idea what it entails?

Busy here looking at potential 6th forms. DD is excited about life beyond GCSE, to the extent I sometimes have to bring her back down to Earth with a reminder that there is a task to be done this year before all these opportunities can open up for her! It’s nice to see her inspired, though. Also looking forward to leaving certain “mean girls” behind…

My DS us thr opposite. He got so confused about all the different options we stopped talking about it. Well go and see all of them near us. I told him he could apply for whichever ones he wanted and then see what happens. They don't seem to have done much at school yet even though the open days start first week in October here

That sounds tough, @Angrycat2768 . Can he continue where he is for 6th form? Our school stops at 16 so they started talking to them (gently) about next steps in about mid-Y10.

Yes they have a very good sixth form, and their open evening is the last one in the area, which may accountvfor their slowness, but they have dropped one of the subjects he really wanted to do at A Level. I just yhjnk it'll ge good for him to see his options.

Watching with interest. DS not academic and SEN so hoping he scrapes enough for whatever he wants to do next. Half the school is being knocked down due to RAAC but fortunately the school have year 11s in. Wish the school gave parents advance notice of coursework and deadlines, seems to come from nowhere late in the day.

Place marking

This week has gone okay. DD has done some Maths revision but had homework set as well which she needed to get done. Planning on revision over this weekend. She has been invited to attend English Literature revision over lunchtime at school. To go over all the poems. Just hope she goes. Have had words and I have messaged her teacher to let me know if she does not go. Thankful to the school to give this extra help. DD has a course she wants to do next at college Health and Social care now if that is a level 1,2 or 3 really is down to DD and if she puts the work in.

My DD managed to get a part time job in the Summer. It's every other weekend which we've found more manageable. She's very disciplined (perfectionism is more the problem) so some work suits. She then has time to see friends so I'm happier with the balance. It was tough to get something though as so many places asked for 18+. I guess it's easier for insurance and availability.

She's keen to stay for sixth form and is settled teacher/school wise so I think it is probably the best option for her.

We had dreadful problems with 'friends' during the Summer but thankfully she's been brave enough to ditch the mean girls and has kept a couple of good friends. It did cause a few wobbles over the last couple of weeks as it's so hard to take the risk of ending up sitting by yourself but their actions were destroying her. :(

It's so hard to just be supportive and let them navigate things.

DS finally got the book lord of the flies no idea how he can do a mock in 7 wks on it. Homework has really jumped up too. Not looked into any open evenings yet only 1 out of the 3 schools in our area still does 6th form. It is outstanding and they want high grades it is at DS school so he had a taster day a couple of months ago.

There's not much homework being set here either at the moment. Dc2 can't decide between 2 colleges at the moment. Also got secondary school open days to do with dc4 so it's busy in our house at the moment.

As a prefect, Dc2 is expected to take parents round on his school's open evening which he's really not looking forward to as he hates talking to people. I've agreed to talk to the school about him taking me and dc4 round the school as long as he agrees to go at dc4's pace and not speed round at his usual 400mph and then sigh dramatically if dc4 wants to stop and look at something.

He's also decided he isn't going to prom which I'm feeling irrationally sad about as I loved seeing dc1 and his mates all dressed up and taking photos etc. Dc2 hates crowds, having his photo taken and being hugged so it's understandable that he doesn't want to go and obviously I'm encouraging him to do what makes him happy and pretending that I don't mind either way. But I am a bit sad about it, which is daft really.

Doesn't seem to be much homework here either. Do a lot of people move their DCs at 6th form? I'm assuming DS will just stay where he is.

DS is getting tons of homework - mainly revision type homework though, no new content. He's been told that the mocks in November will be just one of the papers from each subject from the June 2023 GCSEs.

We've printed off all of the June 2022 papers (and mark schemes) for him.

DS' main issue is not knowledge of the subject content but exam time management, and understanding that if a question is a 4 mark answer he shouldn't spend 20 minutes on it!

He's getting quite jittery and stressed though. He nearly fell out with DP at the weekend over something really trivial. DS just seems to need to "vent". I've told him I have broad shoulders and he can vent at me but that his dad won't tolerate it. I will not have a warring household over stupid bloody mock exams.

@Waspie does your DS have any outlets such as sports or creative activity that can help him relax? For my DS I find he needs that alternative to help balance out the stress of school work.

@Waspie we signed our son up to the gym so he can exercise out his stress.

Thanks @JustHereWithMyPopcorn and @Tebheag - yes, he plays rugby, basketball and tennis, so plenty of exercise.

He was just doing a maths paper for homework (he feels maths is his worst subject) and was getting frustrated. DP (maths and CS graduate) was apparently unable to sympathise. To be honest I'm not surprised DS was hacked off, but it's no excuse for the shouting and swearing that followed. We have resolved it now - DP is going to keep his smart arse remarks to himself and DS is going to treat people with respect.

He just feels a bit volatile at the moment and I don't want to be treading on egg shells for months. I think it's fear of the unknown and once he's done this first set of mocks he'll feel better/calmer. Hope so anyway!

We have sixth form open days next month. There is no sixth form at DS' current school so no choice but to move. DS wants to go to three of these but I think we should go to as many as possible if only to understand what he isn't looking for.

My understanding is that he can apply to multiple places for multiple different A Level combinations and then see what they offer him. Will he need to only accept one offer or can he accept multiple offers and then wait on GCSE results before confirming his place?

What are other people's GCSE students doing please?