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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Year 11 - 2024/2025: Heading down the home straight towards that finish line!

1000 replies

QueenMabby · 08/06/2025 18:17

Next thread. 10 days of exams to go. Looks like we’re all heading into a busy week this week - good luck!

OP posts:
Pancakeflipper · 13/06/2025 14:53

Chemistry paper higher combined, can't remember what exam board - verdict was "some of it is fine, some of it wasn't fine" DS appears to be beyond caring, he's examed out.

I've been getting DS a little treat for the end of every exam week. But we weren't sure he'd survive and manage as well as he has done.

QueenMabby · 13/06/2025 14:59

elileli75 · 13/06/2025 14:41

Only one paper to go for my DS - physics on Monday.
I’d like to get him a small gift to mark the end of his exams—he’s done well. Are you getting something for your DC, if you don’t mind me asking?

We do a celebratory dinner out and then dd will get some premium bonds on results day. The amount is not tied to results - she’ll get the same as ds did - but it’s there as a reward for hard work.

OP posts:
Timetochangeagaint · 13/06/2025 15:03

QueenMabby · 13/06/2025 14:59

We do a celebratory dinner out and then dd will get some premium bonds on results day. The amount is not tied to results - she’ll get the same as ds did - but it’s there as a reward for hard work.

Edited

I like the premium bonds idea . My DSD had money ( done because that is what her friends were getting ) . Whilst I’m not keen on the idea I feel obliged to not be unfair between siblings . If he gets money DS will just save it which I guess not a bad thing . Looking for inspiration for some kind of gift too .

DataColour · 13/06/2025 15:15

DS said AQA higher triple chemistry was good and then upon further probing said it was hard....so not sure. I don't think he cares anymore tbh as he's now just looking forward to it all finishing and seems very relaxed and unbothered. I've just spend an hour playing with Pokemon cards with him!
But need to do some revision today so we have agreed on a Physics paper before dinner and going over some music set work this evening. That is the plan anyway, but the reality will probably be quite different!

Timetochangeagaint · 13/06/2025 15:19

DataColour · 13/06/2025 15:15

DS said AQA higher triple chemistry was good and then upon further probing said it was hard....so not sure. I don't think he cares anymore tbh as he's now just looking forward to it all finishing and seems very relaxed and unbothered. I've just spend an hour playing with Pokemon cards with him!
But need to do some revision today so we have agreed on a Physics paper before dinner and going over some music set work this evening. That is the plan anyway, but the reality will probably be quite different!

I’ve just been sat chatting to DS while he plays on the PS5 - he is trying to auction off a Lamborghini - sprayed pink at my suggestion - why does he ignore everything I say about GCSEs I wonder

BellaI · 13/06/2025 15:28

@elileli75 ive been doing a small lucky dip after each paper with either sweet/chocolate or little presents. We are having a holiday to Greece just the 2 of us as her (and my reward) without her 13 year old brother!

ExamStuff · 13/06/2025 15:29

Daughter said Chemistry (AQA higher triple) went well. A couple of tricky questions but she is feeling confident.🤞

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 13/06/2025 15:30

DD is getting tickets to Olivia Rodrigo for GCSE 'hard work" reward - and a pair of red cow-girl boots. 😂

She asked me last night if she gets a reward for results could it possibly be tickets for Sabrina Carpenter's next UK tour... so that makes life easy. Suspect she will negotiate some inappropriate outfit as part of the package (no doubt with so little fabric you wonder what you are actually paying for!)

Dagnabit · 13/06/2025 15:34

elileli75 · 13/06/2025 14:41

Only one paper to go for my DS - physics on Monday.
I’d like to get him a small gift to mark the end of his exams—he’s done well. Are you getting something for your DC, if you don’t mind me asking?

I’ve bought DD 16 things beginning with her initial but it’s a joint unbirthday / end of exam gift. Her birthday was mid May so we didn’t really celebrate and she knows she has a tent and money so wanted a surprise for her too. I think a gift is a lovely idea

mojobrojo · 13/06/2025 15:49

A lot of DS’s friends are getting a certain £ for a 9, 8, 7 etc, but we’ve told DS we didn’t want to get into that. We said as long as he worked his hardest then we’d buy him the Nintendo switch 2, but i did give it to him when it arrived on release day because I wasn’t strong enough to keep it in the cupboard until Monday. He’s had a couple of blips effort-wise but he’s been pretty much ‘on it’ since his mocks in Jan so we decided he deserved it. Mario kart has provided a good release from revision & been a bit of family fun. Results day is his birthday so he’ll be getting gifts regardless of grades anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️ He’s quite a simple soul and doesn’t ask for much (unlike his younger DD) - if we gave him money it would likely just end up in the bank.

CocoPlum · 13/06/2025 15:55

I'm not rewarding for results either - I mean, we'll celebrate of course, but our mini break away for the 2 of us is a reward for her hard work until now.

DD had a physics session after the exam, and has just relaxed since. I'm sure she'll be back on it by tomorrow.

CatHairEveryWhereNow · 13/06/2025 15:55

We're not really getting presents as such nor have we followed IL example of money for grades - but DD2 wanted her ear periced since last summer - so I think we'll get that done as no longer need to worry about school restrictions.

Plus we are planning pizza and getting apple TV - severance series 2 and murderbot - day they both finish.

Whoooo · 13/06/2025 16:05

Dd said aqa combined F chemistry was "really good"
She's hot and bothered after her leavers assembly

strawlight · 13/06/2025 16:06

We’re not getting a present as such (though we have a shopping trip planned and I’m sure that will cost me dearly) but she is having a few friends round for pizza, drinks and book burning in the fire pit.

PrincessOfPreschool · 13/06/2025 16:11

Edexcel chemistry was DS's 'first bad exam' (his words). He was predicted a 9 and it was a potential A level for him and DD. DD said she's gutted that they spent so long learning so many things and they weren't on the paper. The last 2 questions, one was 'a bio/ Geog question' about Co2 and the final question was about bamboo nappies 😬 which they had no idea how to answer. The chemistry teaching in the school is really good (prob has the best teachers of the sciences) so I'm very surprised they both found it so so difficult as opposed to Bio which had 2 good papers.

rosemarble · 13/06/2025 16:18

Reward for DS is a 90% cocoa bar of Lindt chocolate!
Our week away early July is also something we can only do outside of school hols - last time we did it was when DS1 finished his A levels, I'd come out of a dark tunnel of divorce and took DS2 (then 8) out of school for a week. So that's a reward (that I will also benefit from greatly).

Hopefully his great Aunt will do for for DS2 what she did for DS1 (hard cash) though I am concerned about her cognitive health so it may not happen.

This evening's reward is a steak. He's cooking because I ruin them

elileli75 · 13/06/2025 16:20

rosemarble · 13/06/2025 16:18

Reward for DS is a 90% cocoa bar of Lindt chocolate!
Our week away early July is also something we can only do outside of school hols - last time we did it was when DS1 finished his A levels, I'd come out of a dark tunnel of divorce and took DS2 (then 8) out of school for a week. So that's a reward (that I will also benefit from greatly).

Hopefully his great Aunt will do for for DS2 what she did for DS1 (hard cash) though I am concerned about her cognitive health so it may not happen.

This evening's reward is a steak. He's cooking because I ruin them

Edited

I was just thinking about steak!! Always a winner 😂

Whoooo · 13/06/2025 16:26

We gave dd some cash for her efforts and towards summer fun

Xmasfairy86 · 13/06/2025 16:41

Aww there are some lovely gestures here

I’m taking her away for 2 nights as a well done on surviving exams trip. We won’t reward grades but might gift her something - maybe her provisional 😂😂😂

final hurdle of physics on Monday!

SE13Mummy · 13/06/2025 16:59

DC2 has three exams remaining and seems pretty content with the idea that the reward for their hard work is that exams are over so I'm going to run with that! On the morning of DC1's GCSE results day we gave them a Jellycat creature they'd joked about being the ideal results day gift. It was given before they collected the results so it felt like neither like a consolation or a congratulations prize. DC2 has requested a results day Jellycat too which I'm quite happy with... provided they don't think it'll be one of the gigantic ones!

DataColour · 13/06/2025 17:00

I'm taking DS away to Palma after his proms in a couple of weeks time. Can't wait. A lot of tapas, swimming and wine (for me) will be just the ticket!
He's not getting anymore rewards money or otherwise for the actual results, but he did put the effort in regardless of results so that's my reasoning.

Sisublondie · 13/06/2025 17:13

Hey all! Well, it turned out ok! Almost 😳..
I went to school to drop chocolates off he’d forgotten, and ended up chatting to a couple of teachers I know, so DS was happy for me to hang around while they were all hanging out after the Leavers Assembly, food and stuff. I was SO happy as the plan was for me to get him out of there asap, but he was quite calm, chatty and on good social form for him! Let me take a couple of photos of him and his favourite teachers… I made absolutely sure not to ask him for a photo of us, “in front of his year group”, and so when we left, we were the only car pulled out onto lane, we were laughing and I said, “ Cool, we can get our photo now!”, took a photo of us and………….……well, it’s been over three hours and he is still not talking to me. Totally kicked off in the car, shouting at me, just absolutely furious as “ I knew he didn’t want his photo taken”!!!! When, no, I knew he didn’t want one of us taken in public, but I wrongly assumed ok in private. I have “ ruined his good mood and his whole day”. His last day at school. How shit do I feel? Spent so long stressing about one of his bullies screwing it up but, no. I managed that all on my own.

So, I’m doing that mother beating-ourselves-up of, WTF did I jokingly take the photo ( which I deleted immediately when the bomb went off), WHY?!?, I totally misunderstood what he’d said. Thought he’d want one, out of sight of others. Clearly, not. Won’t accept my apologies. Storming past if he sees me in house. He’s meant to be helping me at a school event tomorrow, that I’m organising….so, I can see that’s not going to pan out….🫣….. So, I’ll have ruined that for myself- and him- too as I can’t for a moment imagine he’s still coming… meant to be a fun, family day time event.

Oh well. Sorry to moan. I’m really pissed off with myself.

I’m trying to play catch up! This premium bond idea sounds interesting! I’ll see what else you guys are doing too! … looking like Chem was mixed…..?!🤷‍♀️….

BreakfastClub80 · 13/06/2025 17:33

@Sisublondie please don’t beat yourself up about the photo, I know it’s totally normal to do so but it’s part and parcel of life with teens. Remember “this too will pass” 💐

Tiswa · 13/06/2025 17:37

@Sisublondie tske a deep breath - we all do this and he will recover just give him and space.

the final day is always going to be emotional and always going be something to trigger him due to the emotions and stress involved

newmum1976 · 13/06/2025 17:43

Sisublondie · 13/06/2025 17:13

Hey all! Well, it turned out ok! Almost 😳..
I went to school to drop chocolates off he’d forgotten, and ended up chatting to a couple of teachers I know, so DS was happy for me to hang around while they were all hanging out after the Leavers Assembly, food and stuff. I was SO happy as the plan was for me to get him out of there asap, but he was quite calm, chatty and on good social form for him! Let me take a couple of photos of him and his favourite teachers… I made absolutely sure not to ask him for a photo of us, “in front of his year group”, and so when we left, we were the only car pulled out onto lane, we were laughing and I said, “ Cool, we can get our photo now!”, took a photo of us and………….……well, it’s been over three hours and he is still not talking to me. Totally kicked off in the car, shouting at me, just absolutely furious as “ I knew he didn’t want his photo taken”!!!! When, no, I knew he didn’t want one of us taken in public, but I wrongly assumed ok in private. I have “ ruined his good mood and his whole day”. His last day at school. How shit do I feel? Spent so long stressing about one of his bullies screwing it up but, no. I managed that all on my own.

So, I’m doing that mother beating-ourselves-up of, WTF did I jokingly take the photo ( which I deleted immediately when the bomb went off), WHY?!?, I totally misunderstood what he’d said. Thought he’d want one, out of sight of others. Clearly, not. Won’t accept my apologies. Storming past if he sees me in house. He’s meant to be helping me at a school event tomorrow, that I’m organising….so, I can see that’s not going to pan out….🫣….. So, I’ll have ruined that for myself- and him- too as I can’t for a moment imagine he’s still coming… meant to be a fun, family day time event.

Oh well. Sorry to moan. I’m really pissed off with myself.

I’m trying to play catch up! This premium bond idea sounds interesting! I’ll see what else you guys are doing too! … looking like Chem was mixed…..?!🤷‍♀️….

It won’t be about the photo. He’s clearly found the day very stressful. 😥

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