Year 11 - 2024/2025 - Support Thread - the final stretch

[QueenMabby]

A new thread to take is to exams and beyond! All welcome.

Well tonight my DC are having a giggle over some TikTok “Study with Kate” who apparently has been revising 13 hours a day and is taking 7 A levels after GCSEs and has also cashed in big style on social media with millions of followers aka freaked out other teens procrastinating rather than actually studying effectively.

Ds1’s leavers hoodie is still hanging, unworn in the wardrobe. Ds2 did wear his. Ds3 came home with his about 3 weeks ago, dumped it in the hallway and there it has stayed. He says he doesn’t like the school badge on it, it’s sewn on like a swim badge. The uniforms have them stitched in as a pattern rather than a badge.

Our school has a blazer, but they don’t have to wear it, so some year 7’s wear one for a week, then never again. I wish they were compulsory. They aren’t allowed to take jumpers off though, only if it’s very hot.

I am trusting Ds to revise. He’s still determined to get mostly 9’s. So I’m sure he will revise.

Oh DD has told me about the girl on TikTok doing something like 13 hours revision a day...I haven't seen her myself so will ask to see the reel @Araminta1003

DD did well over the holidays, some full days but mostly full mornings and popping out in the afternoon. Wellbeing is important at this point too as if that dives, there's no hope.

It's hard for DD as her best friend doesn't revise at all, despite being bright enough to be in the top set for Maths. She's leaving school to do something vocational whereas my DD like many others will need to show their grades for uni applications.

We don’t get leavers hoodies until the end of the sixth form. They do the old fashioned shirt signing in year 11. Dd and her friend group are getting together this week to do a bit of decoration on theirs in advance.
Last day in school is the 7th of May. I think they’re supposed to wear school uniform for exams but DD’s been told she can wear own clothes to her Spanish oral on Friday.

I'm surprised at a school abandoning uniform for exams.

. It puts the students into 'work mode'
. It saves the more anxious worrying about being judged for what they wear
. It saves the school having any issues about anything inappropriate or designed to allow for cheating

At DD's old school iirc they don't allow blazers into exams to prevent accidental taking in of phones or notes, but otherwise it is uniform.

Uniform for exams here but not blazers (DD incredibly excited by this). No leavers hoodies it would appear - they do house ones annually but certainly can't wear for exams.

And DD2 has just texted me to inform me she's left her blazer at home (100 miles away) so I shall be popping to the post office this morning, and she'll be wearing the house spare. Apparently this is my fault for taking it home and washing it (it was disgusting!)

Uniform for all exams here which DD was a bit annoyed about as her Art exam is today and school are having a non uniform day (for Earth day - which was yesterday?) but the art teacher said they must wear uniform.

She has said she doesn't want a leavers hoodie, I will check again this week as the deadline for ordering is coming up. She has been hating school for a long while and is so looking forward to leaving school behind and heading to college so don't think she wants any reminder of school! Also the range of colours is really dull - grey, burgundy, dark blue, black I think - don't know why they have chosen those as the website has pictures of loads of different colours.

Her language oral is next week but eight weeks today she will be finished!

Just checked and 8 weeks for us too! Will make sure I tell him that when he gets home. 8 weeks of work and then he can relax - see if that inspires him to revise. I will also mention that as the weeks go by and he ticks more exams off there’s less revision to do! It’s getting a bit scary now!

DS doesn't want a school hoodie either. He's not liked his school, only because he's been in trouble for behaviour issues (his own fault most of the time) and think that the teachers are too harsh. Although, even I felt at times sometimes the punishments were bonkers. Their 6th form is unpopular so nobody wants to stay on. He has ordered the yearbook though.
DS seems to be in a happy mood at the moment, and willing to do some work, so I'm hoping he will peak at the right time as there's still 8-9 weeks to carry on being focused.
Although his mood could be due to the fact he's started going out/hanging out with a girl in his class. My DD who's in the same school, a year below, says he's become very popular with the girls recently! It's pretty funny because he's had no interest in girls until now.

Dd has done some revision, but not a lot.
Lots of time taken on planning her art 10 hour final next week.
She needs to concentrate on English Language and Maths, really.
All coursework and drama performance done so first exam (drama) is 1st week of May.
Dd is academically able, but lazy.
I hope she does enough 🙏

I've heard nothing about hoodies, but they are having a prom 🙄

Same. I think school maybe trying to limit expense. But they do sign shirts. I know instructions are coming about a prom suit!

We bought prom suit and smart shoes in Easter. We have been told when and where prom is but no information on tickets or cost as yet. I know I should be more concerned with the exams right now but it does seem a bit last minute.

Dd seems more concerned about her prom outfit than her exams! 😊
I've paid already as it had to be paid for by end of this month.
It was marker/felt tip pen on a school shirt in my day and that was it! 😀
I think the leavers assembly is the afternoon after their last exam.

DC2 is having a prom too - something that didn't happen at the same school for DC1 in Y11 or Y13. £35 for a boat trip on the Thames is all I know so I've paid and hope that when the time comes, DC2 still wants to go. Their friends are supposedly going but have a habit of pulling out of things at the last minute so I won't hold my breath.

ds has a prom. I have moaned for each dc that it’s to far away. 50 mins drive. Drop at 7.30pm collect at 11.30pm. That’s quite a long way to go twice. Dh has a 2 seater sports car that Ds will want to arrive in, otherwise we’d all go and hang out in the nearest town.

Ours is in a hotel about 15 mins away. Dd has a huge frock. She’s in love. Does apparently need a second dress (short, but with the same “vibe” as the main dress) for the after-party though. 🤣

I think DD2's is a marquee on the school lawn - which just gets used for everything in the summer...

Don't think it's particularly exciting as the Year 13 one is the biggie. She has a dress from the charity shop, which to be fair she looks amazing in. Doubt we'll even get to see a picture though!

Her granddad has offered to go down and drive her there in his sports car, but given she 'lives' a two minute stroll across the school field to it this seems unnecessary. Many teens apparently arrive by tractor - it's that kind of place.

It's about 30 mins away at a huge place (no idea why, it's always been at a local-ish hotel before now..)
Cost has gone up too, naturally 🙄
Dd has several outfit "contenders" but I sense none of them will match "the vibe" (?) Come the day...🙄😬😀

I have been moaning at the cost of a suit. Ds1 and ds2 only wore theirs once and they don’t fit now. But I’m sure it would cost more if I had dd’s as they seem to want hair, nails and make up doing too.

Ds3 has tried 2 jackets from next both too small so number 3 arrived today. He’s not tried it on yet. The shoes seem a waste of money too as he probably wont wear them again. Ds1 and ds2 both have their prom shoes in the wardrobe not worn again. Ds2’s do still fit, so hopefully he will wear them again. I can only hope ds3’s feet have stopped growing. Ds1 has tiny feet, he’s been a size 6 since primary school. Ds2 is a 7 but ds3 is 9. So no shoe sharing.

@IThinkImAMathmoMum , DD also hates school but, oddly, she does want a hoodie. They can choose any colour they like from dozens but I don't think they're getting them before the end of the exams.

However, she is adamant she doesn't want to go to the prom. I don't have an issue with that, I just hope she doesn't regret it later.

My older dd refused to go to her prom.
Hasn't regretted it so far

I love this. I wonder if I can hire a 🚜 for London 🤪🤪

@minisnowballs Also her hair would get blown about in a sports car

@Hollyhedge taking the term Chelsea Tractor to its literal conclusion...

I said to DS ‘I hear some people go to the prom in a tractor’. He said ‘whaf are you on about’ and rolled his eyes and walked off. We need a city- rural exchange programme