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

[QueenMabby]

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

YAY!!! 🥳 We are done!!!!!

I swept up to pick him up, he was smiling, hops in and goes “ Do you want to know something funny?”……. “Always”……,
” I’m actually going to miss having exams………..”…..🤯😤🤬🤯… WHAT?!!!

So, re exam, said he spent 20 minutes of his stop clock trying to work everything out and get focused ( ? 4 questions on decelerations or something?!) but there were only two ( one a one marker) he didn’t do… Other than that, zero specifics, as he says, the minute he’s left, it’s all evaporated from his head……. But, right now, who cares??!

THE ABJECT ATROCIOUS HELL IS OV-A!!!!!!! 🌟🌟🌟!!

First thing he did, took me in his room and talked me through his redecoration ideas…. WHAT-EVA!!! I don’t care!!! Paint the skirting boards the same colour, it’ll look shit, you’ll regret it, but FINE!!!!! The horror is over!!!!!!

(…….before the Results Countdown begins……….😈🙄🙀…… KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m not allowing that to start till my Birthday! Which is conveniently 20th August!!)..

So! I’m just catching up on what all you Physics Finished
guys are up to and how it went!!! And here to continue to cheer our Spanish/ 🇪🇸 🎶 Music and DT Peeps!! ……. Not long, guys!!! The light is peeping at the end of that tunnel!!!! 🌟

Physics was 'decent' according to DD. Music will be a different story, there was an excellent music teacher at school who persuaded her to do it but he left at the end of year 9 and this year both her (not very good) music teachers went on long term sick and when the supply teachers came in they discovered the massive gaps in the kid's knowledge. DD is very driven and has been helped by her lovely piano tutor (they haven't worked on any new pieces since Christmas, they've just been doing GCSE music theory) so should still pass but suspect it will be her weakest grade. Last year the only person to pass was a friend of DD1's, who just happens to have a parent who is a music teacher.

I'm with you! I'd have reacted in the same way as you. And not regretted it.

Fair enough they are all tired and stressed but you have done him a huge favour and the least he can do is take the call. You can discuss whether he'd take the job or not later.

Being a teenager is a real pain. But not as much as being the mother of one!

Thank you for the hayfever remedies - DH bought DS a nasal spray - which is being treated with absolute suspicion and has been sat on the kitchen table ever since - I will try and see if I can convince him on the Vaseline idea as that doesn’t involve squirting some unknown liquid up one’s nose 😂

Did your DS think the call would happen today? I think my DD would've had the same reaction as him! They are shattered from the exams and overwhelmed by what the end of them means, especially if they're leaving their school to study elsewhere from Sept. The thought of having to talk to and impress a grown up about a job on the same day her GCSEs have ended would definitely send my DD spinning! Can you not just email the guy back and say DS will be free to chat on Thursday or Friday, to give him a couple of days' break?

Dd hasnt really said much re: papers...
Some were "a gift" some she "cooked" others were simply a grimace 😬
🤷‍♀️
Good luck all dc with papers still to go 🍀

Physics was "alright, can't decide if I was smashing it or missing the point."

And that's the end!

DS did it - he sat every exam. And the poor invigilator who sat with him for every exam in a little room is released, with a thank you card for her sterling efforts. Bet the invigilator danced out of the school.

DS has had to return to school for 6th form interview this afternoon.

This could go totally pants up.

He's SEND, not looked at the A'levels indepthly for ages.
Very likely to answer to answer the question of "what do you know about politics A'level?"
DS; "Not a lot".
Hoping he doesn't get stressed and go into shutdown mode. Because he did with me when I asked about 1 of the subjects he's wanting to do. Hoping that's the way he behaves with mum but is totally different with a different audience.

@SB1971 give him a couple of days he has just completed something huge with his GCSE’s he needs a day or two to decompress before focusing on the next thing!
DD is irritable about having Spanish (her least favourite by a country mile) and further maths neither of which she likes to revise

@Pancakeflipper they can’t reject him
on the basis of interview - only if he doesn’t get the grades or they really think he won’t.

DS said AQA Physics higher single "went well" and "its his best science". Consistently brief as ever.

Spanish writing and DT to go! wish DT hadn't been at the end as it's one of DS's A level choices. No idea how he did with his NEA so all to play for!

after this year I think it'll be exams every year (Uni and A levels - DD and DS) for the next 6 years or so, so this is just the start!!!!😱

when they said its hard looking after kids when they are little and it will be easier when they are older was definitely lying or hadn't had kids.

DD2 is finished. But off out for an icecream so I'm hearing not much on Music except that the 12 marker was Sambo Em Preludio versus West Side Story Mambo (which was the school play this year) and that the unfamiliar question was one of her Grade 6 singing pieces. So if she hasn't done well on those then she's no-one else to blame!

AQA Physics Higher went well for DD.

So pleased this is the last day she will have to revise MFL.

Congratulations to all those who finished today- spanish and food tech tomorrow and that's DD done. I've no idea how physics went as I just got a text saying she was off to town with her mate, but it would count as revision as they'd only speak spanish. TBF she's done so much I don't mind. And she's going into food tech with a likely 8 in her NEA so a good head start.

Thoughts on AQA music anyone?

I’ve had one word “disaster”. She has 8/8 for her performance/composition but has never done theory nor plays an orchestral instrument so the paper was always going to be her Achilles heel….

Anyway, we are DONE!

Hang in there those of you in the home stretch!

AQA Music. First time I’ve had a response that wasn’t “fine” but unfortunately it was Not Good.

One said “There goes my target grade” and the other said “In the last minutes i just gave up and started praying”

DS does want to work in the holidays but CBA to actually do anything about it. He asked me how to go about it and I said 'just go into Asda - go to the customer services desk and ask...' and he laughed me out the room - said there is no way he is actually going to speak to anyone about it and will do it online.

He wasnt impressed when I told him that in 1989 when I got my part time job i walked up and down the High St going into every shop until someone gave me a job - thats far too old school apparently.

I think he will do it - i have told him to wait until tomorrow after his last exam

DS described music as 'one of those where I could've got 2/8 or 8/8 for some of the questions - I just had to throw some musical terms at it and hope it was what they wanted me to say'. He also said it was the one time he wrote a plan for an essay though - apparently last year there was a fire alarm just as they were all about to start writing the essay and their teacher had told them it was a lesson in making sure you write a plan - for once he listened!

@SB1971Oh, I am so sorry. My heart aches for you. And, in situations like this, I really do subscribe to the “ you’re only as happy as your unhappiest child”. First of all, he loves you more than anything- hence the lashing out…

There is a bit to unpick here…..of all the different layers of crap, the “ trauma” of the GCSEs is fresh is his head and I don’t think any of them really know how to feel if they’ve finished today. All the “ bravado” of “ I’ll burn my books!!📚 “ and stuff dissipates and I think it’s like they think “ what now?”.. like a bit of an anticlimax… Anyway, as to the horrid matter at hand. I’m guessing on reading your post that you mentioned DS finishing his exams and your sis in law went “ Hey! I know Head Honcho! He runs a sports holiday club! “ and you think, “ Yeh, THAT sounds like it may be fun for DS! I know he’s not mentioned wanting a job, but it’s a sports holiday club, not night shift tarmaccing, I’ll see what the lowdown is, and see if he’s remotely interested”….. and not mentioned it to him. Which I absolutely would NOT have done either, as a- he’s not mentioned wanting a job; b- it’s his GCSE’s and c- I know nowt about it! So I’ll find out more, before I do! ( nay, IF I do!)…

Then, Head Honcho chucks an inadvertent spanner in the proverbial, asking for DS number, “ I’ll contact him directly! Cut out the middle man and get to have a proper chat with the lad and explain it all to him, see if he fancies it…..”….

And, you are left in the “ Ahhhh, crap!💩 “ position! …

So, you HAVR to mention it to DS… and you get the hand grenade imploding for a myriad of reasons, and my DS’ would be a turmoil of “ I NEVER said I want a job!! I NEVER would want to do THAT job ( even if he DID!🙄), how DARE you say I wanted to do that BEHIND MY BACK!!; I have JUST finished my exams, and I am NOT being told what to DO after have literally just finished being told what to do!!”….. I would have the same, he would unleash the terror of hell at me….. and, I would be pissed off at all this being created, essentially, by poor Head Honcho circumventing the “ finding out more info” quest you set out on….😾…. And, I’d be worried about my sis in law, as I wouldn’t want her thinking DS was being a spoilt, moody brat….

So.. I really, really feel for you. It is absolutely NOT your fault. I don’t think ANYONE would have run that past DC during the stress of the GCSEs ESPECIALLY as you say he’s never mentioned wanting a job. And, if HH had just texted some details, or called you, instead, DS would be none the wiser and this would not have kicked off. Please stop blaming yourself! 🤗. I know it’s easy to, and it is seriously the worst damn feeling in the world when our DC are cross with us- esp when it’s not our fault- and this is truly, truly NOT your fault.

He will calm down. He’ll be thinking about what’s happened and he won’t be feeling great about it, too. I’d wait for him to emerge from his room, like a curious tortoise 🐢 after hibernation…… you can then explain what you told us. He will realise what actually happened…… he may or may not want to talk to HH, maybe in a few days, or do…. Who knows, maybe he’ll think it sounds a hoot, and this can be a funny story you tell in your family, in future! 🤞🙏🤞💖..

I really hope you are friends again, soon. I’m thinking of you and sending positive vibes 🌟🌟🌟….. and a 🤗..x

No, he's super healthy and doesn't like any caffeine (unlike me!).

DD very happy with the WJEC Music paper said the questions were perfect for her. Not sure why they do this exam board for music.
Edexcel higher Physics she gave it a go but lots of guessing so who knows what she will scrape, but that’s Sciences over forever.
Now needing to relook at her Spanish paragraphs to refresh for the writing exam tomorrow.

Congrats to everyone who’s finished today! DS had Physics and Music today. Was happy with both and now has a day off tomorrow before Further Maths on Weds. He has terrible hand writing so uses a computer for written subjects. Now that music is out of the way, the computer use is finished, so I can stop worrying about technology failures, unsaved documents, printers not working, etc etc.

FM is an A Level choice for him, so he’s not too worried about having that as the final paper. Good luck to all with papers still remaining. We are now at 26/27 completed!

Edexcel Music - "I liked that paper, going out with friends, dictation was okay"... so hooray, I think!

Feels very odd that it's all over

Can they work in supermarkets at 16? Our DD doesn't turn 16 until August anyway but when we've been looking at jobs most want older. She's applying for some volunteer work and even that's tricky.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow that is pretty much a mirror image of the whatsapp I got!

Thank you for the info on the 12 marker - saved me having to ask! I did call but clear she does not wish to talk to me 😂

But feels she might have got 50% on dictation which would be a huge win.