Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Secondary education

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

Year 11 - 2024/2025: And relax! Support Thread for the summer holidays.

1000 replies

QueenMabby · 18/06/2025 06:29

New thread to carry us all through the summer as we transition from dealing with stressed teens to dealing with bored teens!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
Sisublondie · 08/08/2025 18:15

…. and that’s when you realise he left you an ice cream to say sorry……. which he’s just pointed out and now he’s upset. Understandably. Which is absolutely my fault! I think I’m the stressed one, here… sorry to moan 🙄🙀💕x

Whoooo · 08/08/2025 18:49

Sisublondie · 08/08/2025 18:15

…. and that’s when you realise he left you an ice cream to say sorry……. which he’s just pointed out and now he’s upset. Understandably. Which is absolutely my fault! I think I’m the stressed one, here… sorry to moan 🙄🙀💕x

Aww...
Give yourself a break @Sisublondie
Its a fretful time x

Sisublondie · 08/08/2025 20:47

Whoooo · 08/08/2025 18:49

Aww...
Give yourself a break @Sisublondie
Its a fretful time x

Thanks as ever, @Whoooo 🤗!… He’s just texted from his bedroom above the kitchen…., “ Plaster?”….., so, I admit I nonchalantly scuttled up, a selection in the first aid ⛑️ bag, for his “well, it’s not bleeding, but I’ve cut it” finger!… I hope he thaws out fully before bed! ( tho, he’s watching Halloween 🎃, so…..🤷‍♀️😈😹!)!..

Good to hear your DD is busy at work for a couple of days, and distracted…. friends, then garden party sound fab! 🤩

Sisublondie · 08/08/2025 21:04

@DataColour.. so sorry to hear of your Ds’ bites!! You wouldn’t expect it! My twin lives in Paris, over for a holiday at the mo, she has been attacked similarly, in her garden 🤯. Apparently there is some vicious strain invading France right now. I’m sorry to hear it spoiled his well earned holiday ( and yours, no doubt!), and an allergic reaction is always worrying. 🤞🙏he is fully recovered now.

It’s good he’s got his formal diagnosis through. He sounds very similar to my DS, with his symptoms re focus etc. Mine has tried a few different meds for his ADHD, he’s currently unmedicated, essentially due to the lack of availability of his new script. I hope the meeting all goes well in September regarding this.

Bridging work…..I’ll be honest, I only heard about this on here! DS18 kept on studying his Spanish out of interest, but had nothing for his Economics or Business. Is your DS off to do A levels at the different sixth form? Mine is praying 🤞🙏to do a BTec at a different college, so zero bridging for him… ( which I’m sure would be a relief! I can’t believe so many of other DC on here are having it set, after the hell of the GCSEs!).

Yes, 💯💯💯 with 🤞🙏🤞for a pass for us all on the thin line for English ( and, for everything, for us, unfortunately). I think he got a 4 in Eng Lit in his mocks, but a 3 in Lang.
so, I’m 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞with you, too!

NotDonna · 09/08/2025 10:11

@DataColour well done getting the diagnosis. Hue is he feeling about it? It really helped DD when she got hers in year 8/9 despite school not doing anything helpful initially (like sitting her next to very distracting windows). She’s medicated with Guanficine, after trialling methylphenidate, which worked wonders but caused horrific weight loss. It really is trial and error unfortunately. There’s a very good book about ADHD and meds - I’ll try find what it’s called.

SuperTrooper1111 · 09/08/2025 10:16

Anyone know when the exam boards confirm what the grade boundaries are? Does it happen before or after results day?

TeenToTwenties · 09/08/2025 10:20

SuperTrooper1111 · 09/08/2025 10:16

Anyone know when the exam boards confirm what the grade boundaries are? Does it happen before or after results day?

Can't remember. Smile

But in my opinion no good comes from looking at them in advance it won't decrease worries.

NotDonna · 09/08/2025 10:20

@DataColour cant find the book. But this website if you haven’t come across it already is a brilliant resource for adhd, despite being American. www.additudemag.com/category/explore-adhd-treatments/medications/

MrsHamlet · 09/08/2025 10:22

SuperTrooper1111 · 09/08/2025 10:16

Anyone know when the exam boards confirm what the grade boundaries are? Does it happen before or after results day?

They'll be published on results day

SuperTrooper1111 · 09/08/2025 10:24

TeenToTwenties · 09/08/2025 10:20

Can't remember. Smile

But in my opinion no good comes from looking at them in advance it won't decrease worries.

We’re not as worried as others might be because DD is doing a L3 BTech and did so well at her interview that they lowered the offer requirement from five passes incl. a science to her just needing to pass English or maths. She’s been incredibly lucky! So it’s more curiosity on my part than anything else.

SuperTrooper1111 · 09/08/2025 10:27

MrsHamlet · 09/08/2025 10:22

They'll be published on results day

Thanks!

TheLivelyViper · 09/08/2025 12:24

SuperTrooper1111 · 09/08/2025 10:16

Anyone know when the exam boards confirm what the grade boundaries are? Does it happen before or after results day?

On results day at 8am on the 21st they are realised on the exam boards website - before that nobody knows them. They'll be a pdf with the grade boundaries per subject and then at the end of the pdf the breakdown of marks per paper needed for each grade. You'll have to go on each exam boards website though for it, so AQA for the subjects they did AQA for, Edexcel for the subjects they did that in etc. The total marks will be on the paper though next to their grades so they can sort of see where they are relative to the grade boundaries. Teachers will have a breakdown of their makes per paper though, that they can ask staff for or also request their scripts to see or just to look through.

Whoooo · 09/08/2025 12:27

As someone who's been through gcse results day before, don't check the grade boundaries...they aren't released until results day anyway and tbh not all 6th forms/FE colleges will require whats stated in their admissions policy as a pp has pointed out.
And DO NOT let your kids look at them.
A friends dd is getting a level results next week and has made herself ill going over previous years grade boundaries.
^ just my experience.

TheLivelyViper · 09/08/2025 12:32

Whoooo · 09/08/2025 12:27

As someone who's been through gcse results day before, don't check the grade boundaries...they aren't released until results day anyway and tbh not all 6th forms/FE colleges will require whats stated in their admissions policy as a pp has pointed out.
And DO NOT let your kids look at them.
A friends dd is getting a level results next week and has made herself ill going over previous years grade boundaries.
^ just my experience.

I think it's good to look at them on the day, teachers will know and sometimes it's good to see if you're very close to the next grade and inquire about whether you have a chance of going up or not. Yes don't look st previous years before results day, but students should have an idea of the marks needed from mocks etc, so it's not that much of a surprise. I wouldn't check them before you open results maybe but definitely after or at least have them ready to go (whether on your phone or theirs to make it easier especially if you aren't going into school). I know I did look before going to see my GCSE results and it helped me in some ways, the Sociology ones were very high (highest ever) and though it scared me meant I was more prepared to not get the 9 I expected. I did end up getting it so was pleasantly surprised but I guess wouldn't have been so shocked if it was an 8. That being said there are benefits to only looking after you know your results and I didn't look through all of them. But if you won't be going in definitely email school and ask for Mark breakdown per paper and after they open the results look through the marks they got and the grade boundaries so maybe have the websites ready.

Whoooo · 09/08/2025 12:34

@TheLivelyViper
I think its only of value of you/the school think you've almost hit the next grade up..
Happened with dd1 and she did go up a grade in one subject.
Its also probably worth it if the grades are significantly below what was expected

MrsHamlet · 09/08/2025 12:42

Be aware that English language results are highly likely not to show the mark - just the grade and the spoken language grade.

It's not because of anything the exam boards do... it's because schools' MIS can only cope with a fixed number of fields of data.

So for maths you will get a number of marks and a grade but for Lang you will get a grade and a grade.

Schools will have the marks though.

TeenToTwenties · 09/08/2025 12:43

For Eng Lang you may find their marks aren't on the exam slip (due to something about the software not being able to do that and put the speaking result). In that situation the school can still access the marks for you if required grade has not been met.

Blinkingbother · 09/08/2025 12:45

Agree that remarks are only worth it if you are one mark off. Remember you can go down as well as up and some grade boundaries are very tight…

Blinkingbother · 09/08/2025 12:46

Agree that remarks are only worth it if you are one mark off. Remember you can go down as well as up and some grade boundaries are very tight…

TheLivelyViper · 09/08/2025 12:46

Whoooo · 09/08/2025 12:34

@TheLivelyViper
I think its only of value of you/the school think you've almost hit the next grade up..
Happened with dd1 and she did go up a grade in one subject.
Its also probably worth it if the grades are significantly below what was expected

Yes it depends on each student etc, I know for me I didn't know till pointed out by my teachers how we I'd done with some subjects getting some fo the highest grades in the country as I only lost 4 marks for my English Lit GCSE, 9 marks for my R.S and 11 for my History. It was very shocking and it took my a while to process 10 grades on the sheet anyways but was nice to know and nice to have them point out. Some people just like to know as much as they want to but you won't know how far away you are from the next grade unless you look, especially if you aren't going into school, and it won't hurt once you've looked at results. Though I agree with you in the few weeks leading up to results day I wouldn't look at previous years, I think the last time most people look is during mocks looking at how far they are from grades they want etc and during exam season, some people like to gauge a potential grade (whether helpful or unhelpful). Also if you're shocked by a grade then yes look at grade boundaries but I do think everyone should look once you know your grades as there's nothing to then stress you out about.

Blinkingbother · 09/08/2025 12:46

Don’t know why it’s double posted - sorry🙈

TheLivelyViper · 09/08/2025 12:48

Blinkingbother · 09/08/2025 12:46

Agree that remarks are only worth it if you are one mark off. Remember you can go down as well as up and some grade boundaries are very tight…

Yes well a few marks for more essays subjects is possible, 3 or 4 for history, sociology, I don't think is tok far fetched and does happen but only if there's actually a chance, and teachers genuinely think that. I'd also not recommend doing a the papers, do the one with the most chance and leave the other papers be.

Blinkingbother · 09/08/2025 12:52

Agreed re only sending the most likely paper for extra marks @TheLivelyViper - people should remember you’re charged per paper you want remarked👍

MrsHamlet · 09/08/2025 12:56

Blinkingbother · 09/08/2025 12:45

Agree that remarks are only worth it if you are one mark off. Remember you can go down as well as up and some grade boundaries are very tight…

There is no such thing as a remark!

Blinkingbother · 09/08/2025 13:02

MrsHamlet · 09/08/2025 12:56

There is no such thing as a remark!

Yes there is….??!! We sent one of my eldest’s economics papers back last year - they got the extra mark to bump them up to a 7. Maybe it has a more official name but you can definitely do it!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.
Swipe left for the next trending thread