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

[QueenMabby]

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

I must make sure she's got a set of highlighters...

@TeenToTwenties it does include both those things. Her sister still seems to be using the same piece of packaging from some M&S undies as she used for GCSE - apparently it's 'fine', I remember when they used to spend hours obsessing over stationery. No longer, it would seem!

We have a large clear pencil case that holds a 30cm ruler. So far it’s been through 1 lot of GCSEs. 2 lots of A levels and quite a few mocks, it came from Tesco’s.

Or splash your face if you can go to the bathroom.

I’ve bought some ice packs that are activated by clicking, the sort used for sports injuries.

Hopefully it has a few grade 7- 9s embedded in its DNA?

I have to get a compass and once of those multicolored pens. The school gives out clear pencil cases. DS’ has pen on it. I remembered I need to check with DS about exam timings before each exam. I was testing him on history and asked him about timing for that paper and he couldn’t remember

And don't forget they're not allowed watches; even analogue ones

Primark has £2.50 water bottles my DC have used for exams. It's this one, the rubbery bit around the middle can be removed for exam purposes.

We have a clear water bottle from Tesco although I suspect dd won’t take it. None of the exams are much more than two hours and she’s not the type that is constantly sipping on water. She’s just likely to do the exam and come home and have a drink of water after.

Helix do a 30cm clear pencil case. I bought ours on Amazon.
here: https://amzn.eu/d/hEowZ6k

Health and social care today - she’ll be fine, she’s top of the year - doesn’t stop me being a bag of nerves though 😬

good luck to anyone else sitting an exam today!

Good luck @Xmasfairy86 to your dd and anyone else with exams today.

dd is going to try and wheedle her English coursework raw scores out of her teacher today. They will get them tomorrow but dd won’t be there as she’ll be at a choir rehearsal so she’s hopeful she’ll get them early. 🤞🏻

It's suddenly got very real!
First written exam on Friday - then an infinite stretch until June 19th.
Good luck to everyone this week and onwards.

Haven't even thought about water bottles! DS very unlikely to need one though as he's not in the habit of sipping water. But will get one anyway just in case.
Last day for them tomorrow finishing at lunchtime. We got an email from the HoY saying they are not allowed to be onsite after that except for exams. I can understand it from a logistical point of view, but the whole email felt quite negative and hands offish. I know some students will be fine at home and will be well supported, but some aren't due to various reasons. IMO they would be better off at school in between exams. It's not even clear if they will get any support online or via email if they have any last minute questions. Some subjects were teaching right to the end and no revision time at all in class.

DS is doing ok, although we are all worried about his English Language which is borderline pass at the moment. He just doesn't write enough or expand on the points he's made. So, most time is going on improving that. He did a paper for his teacher to look at last week and the feedback was vague and unhelpful. Can't wait till this is all over.

mine is in school until end of June - they can’t be trusted 😂😂 well she could, but the school is so results focussed that they use every minute to prep them as far as they can

DC have Spanish oral today, then tomorrow is a half day. Written exams start on Monday with English Lit (if I never have to hear about Mockingbird for the rest of my life it will be too soon).

DH who's been a secondary school teacher for over 20yrs said that he's never known a school to effectively "ban" kids from attending this early on. Usually lessons are on until they have had all the papers for that subject.
Too right they can't be trusted! I'm having to take the odd half a day here and there during study leave and exam time to keep DS on track. He'll be fine most of the time, but he will lose focus if left to his own devices all day from 8-6.

DS reckons what he is doing at home is more effective than what they do in school at this point. Probably true. School is being v vague about the actual plan. I have a list of.’warm up sessions’ but no clarity about rest of time? If he has an exam next day I’d rather he spent whole day on that subject that normal timetable…DS will want to do what everyone else is doing so prob have to go with it

Dds school open til the end, too.
Which I think first the vast majority of kids is best option.
At least dd will be doing revision there, if not at home

It’s just that they can’t tailor their revision. DS still has excellent knowledge of some areas and is weaker on others. But he has evenings and weekends and half term, plus early releases. He would likely struggle at home for next 6 weeks..it is what it is

Dds school do individual learning booklet based on their weakest areas after mocks and past papers

DD informs me she 'doesn't highlight' and 'doesnt' drink water'. And rolls her eyes at me. Guess I'll leave any further discussion on that to her houseparent - pity her - she's got about 10 of them!

Last day of school here for people who requested study leave, so leavers assembly and shirt signing all today. I'm a little bit sad.

Does anyone know what happens in case of bereavement? DD's friend had to go away this past weekend as their grandparent is v unwell in another part of the country, DD not sure when they will be back. I have offered for them to stay with us if they need to, but the whole situation must be pretty upsetting.

They'll need to speak to their exams officer about special consideration, whether or not grandmother passes away, or the student misses an exam. EO is your first port of call for anything like that.

Thank you very much - trying to get all the information I can so DD can offer a bit of practical help as well as emotional support.