Y11 2023-24 continued

[Techno56]

New thread for when the other one fills up, I need somewhere to panic away from my son 😁

Re (AQA) apparently OK here too. Tomorrow is Bio and Physics so that will be tougher - then the weekend to prep for 10 exams including the English book he hasn't quite got to grips with yet. Unhelpfully it looks to be a newish one for exams so I can't find any study notes for it.

We’ve got 4 tomorrow!!!

2 x German, biology and sociology!!

the school are laying on breakfast at 8am tomorrow

Yep, Biology tomorrow. Finally, we are getting started.
School have them in at 8am for exam warm up before hand and then Eng Lit warm up in the afternoon. Same plan every day up to HT.

For results day, they go in (without parents), and assuming they get their grades, they register for 6th Form and Alevel choices straight away. DS and his mates are then off to the beach, so I'll be surplus to requirements, apparently.

I'm taking the day off anyway just to be safe in case I'm needed to pick up the pieces.

@GU24Mum which English book is it? DD's play is The Empress which is also fairly new and not her favourite. We were lucky enough to see a performance of it last summer so I'm hoping that will have helped.

It’s the last official day in school for ours tomorrow.

after their biology they’re off to a buffet restaurant for lunch and then back for a leavers assembly and to collect their year books.

@@Philandbill - got it in one! We'd like the comfort of a nice set of study notes but sadly nothing available!

Very frustrating.

https://www.rsc.org.uk/learn/schools-and-teachers/teacher-resources/the-empress-resources

Is the above any use for those doing The Empress?

I hope all our Biologists have packed their calculators!

That sounds pretty exhausting - in for 8 every day to do a pre-exam prep session?

I'm sure schools do this now because it works for them, but it feels as if they've gone from one extreme - of basically saying 'off you go on study leave, good luck and see you in school for your exams' - to the other one of taking over pretty much all their revision. DS's school has been doing nothing but revision of one kind or another since at least Christmas and they also offered Easter, half term, after school ... not breakfast club and 8am prep though!

Do schools now just assume that NO students are going to get down to their own, tailored revision programme by themselves?

Exactly!
I can see how it benefits some children but for others it’s a real pain! My dd is really self motivated and organised and prefers revising in the quiet and calm at home. She has her resources ready and can’t be carting them into school. It feels like school is getting in the way. No wonder the jump between gcse and a level seems huge!

I suspect what schools say and what they enforce are 2 different things.
So they may say everyone in for 8am but they might not do anything for those that don't turn up.

DD1 did GCSEs 9 years ago, once exams started we had a word with her tutor and she turned up for revision sessions / lessons we thought useful, and not others. For many subjects she was better off doing 1-1 with me at home.

I think an 8am before an exam could be useful. Makes sure they are in on time and have the right equipment, eg calculator . Gives them a pep talk and key things to remember. Wakes their brains up.

Good luck to everyone for today.

Totally get it might not work for some, but it's perfect for DS. He would otherwise be at home stressed. This gives him some focus, and all his friends will be there.
They have had revision sessions at 8am. since October HT for maths, English, and science and history/geography since Christmas, so the early start is quite normal.
Best gi get him up and get the porridge pot on!
Best of luck

I'm also aware it has as much if not more to do with the schools place on the league tables and it's Outstanding OFSTED too!

DS' school is the same @gingercat02

Usual school day (but involving targeted subject sessions) plus breakfast and after school sessions if required. This is all the way through to the end of June. DS went to the biology after school session but left saying it was just too busy. He revised with me in the evening instead.

We will see how it goes. I've told DS if he wants to study at home instead of going in I will support him and sort it with the school.

Good luck to all our students for today!

I’ve just dropped ds at school rather than him getting the school bus as normal. Was just one less thing to worry about and kept the stress levels down. I think I’m more worried that he has got the right kit etc even though I’ve been through the list loads of times. One of his teachers said that they had to use biro which didn’t help. Ds uses a special handwriting pen and it looks like that is okay.

Our school does a masterclass the day before the exam but otherwise the timetable is the same as normal. He was annoyed yesterday by the questions people were asking in the biology masterclass as they were mostly paper 2 ones. Which made us both panic because he has been concentrating on the paper 1 topics.

good luck to all the kids

Good morning all. Just had an update from DD. Sounds like Biology was kind to them (AQA Trilogy Higher). Hope all the Y11s come home happy!

Another message from dd this morning, biology went well, it's a subject she enjoys which always helps. It's maths and English that will set the nerves off again

I'm stressed about ds. His mocks were not good at all but he's been working hard since January.
He was suddenly overwhelmed yesterday saying he didn't know anything and then I got a text from him after the exam saying "it was ok".
How that will translate, goodness knows but hopefully it's not a total disaster.
Good luck all the yr11s.

Similar message from DS - Biology Triple AQA Higher - "went well, think I firmed it" 😂One down, twenty to go!

Yes Dtd said Biology (AQA Higher) went really well. Great she’s off to a good start. She said dts felt the same but I’ve not spoken to him yet.

Yep same here, DD was pleased with AQA higher biology. She said 'whoever wrote that paper is sick' which I assume means good lol

DD had sociology after biology so eagerly awaiting her arrival to see how both went. Also @Curlyshabtree - all hats off to you getting twins through these exams, one child is hard enough!

Very relieved re Biology here too (combined higher). After the bumpy start yesterday I'm glad we're starting the weekend in a happier place!

Mixed day for DS. Biology (Edexcel) went really well apparently, but Physics extended theory was super hard. Weird questions, lots of questions on his weakest topic, and he panicked and forgot lots of things. Poor thing, he did so much physics revision. At least it's done now.

Havent heard yet as dd is having a closed day due to history at 1.30pm. Home soonish hopefully.