GCSE Support - the results are in

[SheilaFentiman]

Continuing the threads we had going during revision and waiting for results day!

I really hope so. Its a fresh start for everyone, I did see on the online portal a space for 'predicted results' do they take their gcse grade a predict an A level result? Hopefully its not like school again.

Yes, predicted A level grades come from GCSE grades.

Also many years ago, but I did AS German alongside my main three as that was just language without the lit!

Maybe we should start a Year 12 thread for when everyone is ready and dc are sorted.

goodness, a 5 does seem low. DC's college ask for at least a 6 plus 7 other GCSEs at 4 or above.

I think it's one of the lowest in the area and only requires 5 GCSES at grade 4 to take A level courses but then individual subjects have (very) slightly higher requirements. But it's huge and does over 30 subjects that can be taken in any combination so I guess it has to get bums on seats!

It's 5 5s in our sixth form, including English and Maths. I did really well in my A-levels and I'm certainly not the brain of Britain!

Maths seems to be the subject where there is the biggest jump and lots of places ask for a 7. But if a 7 was needed for German, they would ask for it I am sure. Remember a 7 is like an A! It's a great grade!

I would love a Y12 thread. These threads have been so comforting and useful and everyone has been so kind and supportive.

PS IME the books for A Level languages tend to be relatively short and less complex in terms of analysis needed compared to what you might do for literature in English so it isn't as daunting as you might think.

7 is a great grade. This is what I keep telling myself. And then I read things that make me doubt it and that DC will 'only' achieve a C or a D.

I agree a Yr12 thread would be good. I only post intermittently but reading the ups and the downs has been interesting. I don't really have anyone in IRL to talk to about it and I never did A Levels so I've not got a clue!

Yes, the books look to be about 50 pages long, hopefully DC will manage that!

I did a ridiculous number of A Levels but things have changed so much from then to now (as I am a bit old, it seems) that I still find it all massively helpful to see how everything works now and what other children are doing/how they are tackling everything.

50 pages is fine. Two pages a day means three and a half weeks to read the whole thing and ages to get to grip with the finer points!

My top tip for A Level languages is to write down every single bit of new vocab the second you encounter it. I used an A-Z book intended for addresses or something back in the dark ages, but you could put them on a spreadsheet nowadays.

That's useful, thank you. I certainly think approaching the book in that way will be helpful to my DC so he can see a light at the end of the tunnel!

I’d also like a y12 thread - I’m pretty new here but have already found it useful and supportive 🙂

We're going to watch some German TV shows and films starting with Dark on Netflix. Should we be watching them without subtitles?

Did any of you go to college enrolment/course consultation with your DC? DD is feeling a bit nervous about hers and has unexpectedly asked me if I’d go with her tomorrow. Parents were encouraged to attend for course consultation meetings at the start of the year, but no mention of parents in the enrolment appointment letter. I think she’s worried as she only got a 3 for English but they have previously confirmed that she can resit if necessary alongside her chosen combination of btec and A level courses.

Lots of parents at college enrolment today, very few without parents. I didn't go in with DC as apparently I'm embarrassing. But not so embarrassing when it comes to giving lifts!

The best way IMO is to first watch something (anything, as many as you like) they know really well without subtitles (kids' films are good for this because hopefully simpler) and stop and listen again any time there's something they don't understand (again, write it down then and there). Listen as many times as needed to work out what the word is, look it up and write it down. If you can't work it out, stick the subtitles on and work out what it is that way. There might be a lot of pausing!

Second option is watch something more grown up with subtitles but make it something they are prepared to watch a few times because they will want to go back and watch again without subtitles once they know the plot etc. This can also be a favourite film but something hopefully with more adult dialogue.

Also, try to find a radio station or pop music in the target language. Have the radio station on in the background when eg tidying their room or cooking something. They absolutely won't understand everything but just hearing it and the rhythms/sounds is good. As time goes on they may find they recognise more words (feels like such a win when you finally work out what the hell they are talking about).

If you can find pop music that they like in German, Spotify on a phone has lyrics which is massively helpful (look up the words and write them down!).

Podcasts are great. DD has been listening to an intermediate French one on Spotify and it's fab because it discusses loads of different stuff (good for vocab) but at a speed that is comprehensible. Start with an easy one to build confidence.

I didn't. DS did seem a bit surprised last night that I wasn't but I had decided to start as I mean to go on iyswim. If he's going to do well at college then a big part of that is travelling, thinking for himself and making decisions.

That said he wasn't particularly anxious or anything like that. I think just surprised that the overt hand holding finished last week when I drove him to results day.

I'm sure some parents do go - I doubt it's that unusual. I went with my older DC at 16 but they weren't doing A Level and have an EHCP which I needed to discuss with their college.

@MoFoFlo my daughter's new college expected one parent to attend. It was mentioned in the letter. Most, but not all, students had a parent with them.

I was a bit surprised DH didn't need to sign anything, since she is still under 18.

I travelled with DD to her enrollment today but parents weren't being allowed into the building. We were directed to either some benches or a nearby cafe. They weren't in for very long - quick talk, bit of admin and lanyards made up.
I think they weren't having conversations - all kids arriving were enrolling.

Thank you so much @BonjourCrisette 🙏

A prime example of how useful this thread can be!

Yes, I went with my son and most, if not all, had parents with them. It was a special day though, for those who were worried that they hadn’t met the grades for their course. My son wasn’t allowed to do his level 3 as he didn’t pass English. Good luck to your daughter and I am sure they’ll prob be some parents there, especially if it’s the first chance at enrolment, as they’ll be kids that didn’t quite make the grade.

My pleasure. Hope it helps!

No. - I took DD to college entrance but she went in alone and I hung around nearby for about 45 mins - had assumed parents weren't expected to accompany as she had already attended an information day alone just before the summer break, and we knew she had achieved the grades for the offer she held.
She came out buzzing and smiling and chatty, so I think it gave her a confidence boost to have done it alone (after initial nerves).
Now just waiting for the induction day information for Monday, when she'll get her timetable and we might be able to plan ahead a bit as a family again! 😅😃

Thanks all. I’ve blocked the time off from work so I can take her, but will see how she feels in the morning. She’s normally quite self sufficient about things like this, but she’s feeling anxious about the English result.