Y11 2023/24 thread 5 - results!

[Techno56]

New thread as no 4 is nearly full

I am feeling really nervous about next week now. Have been pretty chilled about is as DS2 has already passed Maths and started an apprenticeship however DS1 got A level results today so it's kind of hit home that results are only a week away.

DS2 has autism/adhd and a phonological processing disorder. He has amazed us with how well he has done so far, especially getting his apprenticeship, it's with the NHS so was a lot of competition. I just worry so much as DS1 finds all thing academic so easy so I don't really know how hard it is to pass GCSEs I guess. DS2 got a 5 in Maths, he needs Eng for his apprenticeship otherwise he'll need to retake and also Science will be really useful as it means he can progress further in his career (Pharmacy). He is predicted 5s but I know there is not much in it with grade boundaries so it doesn't feel that safe to me.

He has had such a rough time, has disclocated his knee 4 times so is now waiting for surgery and in his last week of exams and just before starting his new job and prom he got Bells Palsy. It always feels like everything happens to him so I really am praying his gets the results he needs/deserves. He also had a couple of awful teachers who have let him down severly with his courses so he had a mountain to climb with those 2 subjects so we don't even know if it is possible for him to get above 3s now (less than a year ago predicted 6/7s and the school did not inform us of any issues).

I know many on here will be disappointed to not get 7s upwards but we honestly will be over the moon with 4/5s. He has taken the day off to get his results and the next day we have a big music festival starting in our home town so either way he'll have a good weekend hopefully.

I forgot to mention that DS2 has been told he is getting special consideration for Physics paper 2 due to the bells palsy but I am not really sure what this means. Does anyone know how this works?

Yes. It means that they will apply an uplift of a specified percentage to the mark he got.

I asked DD if she was nervous & she said not really as she can’t do anything about it, it is what it is. Very zen! No idea what she will have got - anything from 5-9s wouldn’t surprise me tbh. Not sure if I will be with her or waiting in the car! She doesn’t have friends to go with so she might like the safety of having me to stand with.

Ok thank you, that makes sense. He had already taken the other 5 science papers (combined double science) so guessing that it could be based on the %/marks on those if he gets lower in that last paper or do they have a blanket % they apply?

I'm so nervous! First year as a Head of English - wishing all the luck in the world to Y11

Nothing to do with mocks or other papers. It's a case of "x% awarded for illness (or whatever)"

And it's x% of what they score on the paper, not of the available marks.

Parents are not expected at our school. The kids go in on their own.
Get results, teachers available if needed.
They have to enrol and pick A level choices online before 12:30 on Friday. The school then opens to external 6th Form applications.
I have taken the day off in case it all goes wrong, but he "only" needs 5's and 6's, so I'm hoping I won't be required 🙏🤞

Ok thanks, thats really useful to know. I am hoping it is enough to get him the grade he deserves poor thing.

Knowing DS2 I'll have to wait somewhere else, DS1 was happy for me to be there as he was getting a free brunch out of me after lol.

Same here.

I'm full of nerves for results day next week and mid email argument with the school and sixth form.

DS had his application accepted for Sixth form to do Geography, Law and Btech Sport. He needs a 5 or above in Geography, Maths and English to do A Level Geography, 4 or above in English and Geography to do Law and a Merit or above and 4 or above in Maths to do Btech Sport.

There were several emails sent out advising pupils had till the 28th June to change their subjects if they wanted. They had a subject evening at the beginning of June and after discussion with the relevant teachers, DS decided to switch to Combine English from Law. He received a new email confirming this and confirming that if he doesn't achieve the grades needed for a particular subject, they go onto a waiting list. We knew this.

On the last say of term, I received an email about the process for results day. Results released at 8am on the app. Students have till 9am to accept or decline. Access then closes and re opens at 10am for external students and closes at 11am. Confirmation emails and start date gets sent out at 5pm.

However, they said in this email because he has already changed one subject, he can no longer do this on results day and therefore if he doesn't get the results he needs for those 3 subjects, his offer will be withdrawn. They said that if he had waited till results day, he could have swapped subjects without issue.

I immediately called the school and they said exactly what the email said. Even if the subjects aren't full, he won't be able to study them if he doesn't get the results because he's already made a change. They were also adamant that they don't encourage subject swaps till results day to avoid this scenario.

I've emailed with screen shots of the emails that say students have till end of June to change their subject choices, as well as 4 different emails saying there is no difference in changing subjects now or results day and they are adamant these emails haven't come from the school, despite it clearly showing the school email from the Head of Sixth and his form Tutor.

Anyway, I'm extra nervous now!

First mocks he got 9 in Geography, 7/8 in English, 7 for maths and has a merit for Btech sport

Second mocks he got 8 in Geography, 7/7 English and 5 for maths but everyone in his class got 2 grades lower.

I'm hoping and praying for a 5 in maths else he loses his place because he has changed subjects already on advice off his teacher.

9 years ago DD1 walked in for her results.
She was under strict instructions to phone clearly:
NOT to say 'I'm really pleased' (as that could mean anything)
But to say 'I passed everything, or I failed Eng Lang but passed everything else', (Eng Lang was very very borderline and she only got her C due to A grade controlled assessments the exam was that woeful.)

That's awful @YellowphantGrey I hope the school come to see sense tomorrow.

DS is decidedly grouchy. He says he's bored senseless but is refusing to do any of the transition work because "he might not get in". If he leaves it until after results day he'll have to do 8 hour days for a week to get through it all - he has tons. We've talked and he's agreed to do two hours a day split into 30 min chunks. Honestly, it's like exam revision all over again [sob]

We will wait in the car whether he likes it or not. I will be in the car park with 200 other parents I expect. School opens at 9am for results and he has to confirm his place at the new school (all being well) by 10.30am. I have taken the day off work and we'll go out to lunch afterwards if he doesn't do something with his friends..

DS will get his results on the school portal from 8am. I think he’s starting to get nervous now.

He has started his transition work for Chem and Physics and all seems good so far. Not sure what’s happening with the maths. He’s also been doing some practice theory tests for his driving as he turns 17 next month.

@waspie what's the transition work for? DS school don't give anything.

It's funny how schools do things differently. Our school are actively encouraging students to stay at home and get the results off the app and have made it clear Sixth form enrolment takes place online and can't be done in person. They are open on results day but you can only go on person if it has been pre arranged so those who can't get online access over the summer or those who are on holidah and are sending someone to collect results on their behalf.

Any issues, we need to email and will be given a time slot to call to speak to someone

My sons also getting bored and definitely more irritable this week

That's a crazy amount of summer work @Waspie DD has about 2 hours worth for each subject.

Hello! I've not been looking in here for a few weeks, we've been trying to focus on R&R and not think too much about the 22nd, but ... here we are. I think A Levels day brought it home.

DS's school invites them in between 9 and 10 to collect in person, but emails are sent out to everyone at about 11.30. They then have until midday on 23rd to confirm their places on the school's 6th form (if that's where they're aimed at). DS is aiming to meet with friends an hour or so after they've all collected their results. I'm not really sure how we'll manage the logistics - school isn't a handy bus ride away and I was always going to give him a lift, so I think I'll be in the car park along with other parents!

I am in same position expecting quick getaway if bad results. He still hasn't decided where he really wants to go so unsure if I need to be trying to get a parents appointment with school.

I’m are your son will be fine! Has he signed up for any college courses or 6th form?
My DS has decided on 6th form and luckily they are flexible with grades etc

Morning, I am trying not to mention anything to DD. She struggles academically so she is not expecting good results and that’s okay. I hope she gets a 4 in English just so it is one less to have to repeat. Maths will be a definite re-take but she will do functional skills instead. Plan on the day is I will drive her to school for 9 so she can dash in get results and then open them in the car and then will drive her to college so she can get enrolled. She is going on to do health and social care level 1 then maybe after that 2 year course a level 2 apprenticeship maybe. Anyways I am there on results day regardless as back up. She may decide she doesn’t want me around but I will be on standby.

Morning 😃

Yesterday was the first day DD started to talk about her pending results. It seems the longer she has waited the less sure of any grades she is but I don't think this is unusual.

She is going to her friends today to do some chem transition work for her new 6th form but has been reluctant to do any until now, I think it makes it all too real!

She is still adamant she wants to do maths, (unless she gets lower than a 7) even though she knows it will make things more challenging in the next 2 years. I just want this over and done with so we can move forward the next stage now. Once the stress of results are over there is a very exciting few weeks of a new school and new friends to look forward to and it can't come soon enough!

I will be waiting outside school whilst she collects her results, whether we hang around or not is entirely dependent on the grades 😂.

DD is starting to worry and has been reflecting on whether she revised hard enough (answer is no!).

Do parents usually go in to collect results or do kids go alone? DD's school is just round the corner so she doesn't need a lift. I'd like to be with her if the results are a disappointment. Maybe I should walk down with her and wait outside/nearby. Or do I just wait at home and hope she texts me the results quickly?

Ours see their results first on the school portal and then decide if they want to go in or not, i dont think its mandatory. Lots of people are on holiday so you can always use that as an excuse of she doesn't want to go in.

We were away for older DS for GCSEs but went in for A levels (after he knee what he'd got and that had got uni place). I found it a bit ritual humiliation for the kids that hadnt dont well enough and were swept into a room to do clearing. DS2 has to get certain grades to get into sixth form at his school. I dont think he will be going in if he hasnt got in ..

@WhereAreWeNow DD’s school have said parents aren’t allowed in school when they get results so I shall be sitting in the car 🙂