Y11 2025/26… come and join

[wonderstuff]

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I didn't realise there is no study leave. DS would have definitely benefitted from revising at home. Will have to plan for it.

Check with the individual school before making any plans.

Sounds like the same college (connected to a football stadium?) my DS had an “alignment consultation” at today. He thinks it went pretty well - how about your DD? It’s DS’s top choice so he’s hopeful.

@Wincher yes the same one. She was quite impressed by it and by the students, especially when they talked about how good all the teachers are. I think the interview went well though there was a typical interview style question about failing that she wasn't sure how to answer! She says they stressed how competitive it is - 4,000 applicants, 2,000 interviews, 1,000 conditional offers for 400 places!

She's 75% sure she'll stay where she is though, and this schook is in a very similar area to her current school which put her off a bit. I think if she moves, she'd like to go to Camden or LaSwap to get a cooler area!

For those doing Feb mocks how many papers are they doing? Just found out DD has 15 mock papers seems a lot.

@Tebheag DS2 just has an English and a maths mock in February no others - 15 seems like a lot

DS is doing 2 papers for maths. english language, English lit, geography. Biology. Physics and chemistry so that's 14. His other subjects are Btecs and Cambridge Technicals so isn't doing mocks for those. It's a lot but very good practice. After these mocks are marked every student with their parents gets a one to one meeting with the head of year 11 to discuss what to focus on next and what if any interventions to attend etc which I think is really good for a generally not that great state school.

I've just counted and DS has 21. He had 13 in November's round so a big step up but I think it's good preparation for the real thing. Not just checking how they're doing, but helping them to get their revision strategies right for mid-exam time.

Seems DD is lucky all exam based with only 15. The next 4 days will be tough as she has 2 exams a day. She actually just said she is looking forward to real exams as they will be spaced out.
@Littletreefrog thats really good that you get a one to one after.
@NotDarkGothicMama ouch 21 how long a period are they over ?

They're spread over 3 weeks after half term, except French speaking next week.

Yes DS is keen on La Swap too. His school doesn’t have a sixth form so he has to move somewhere! He’s not keen on going to another school sixth form, but seems LaSwap doesn’t count…

I hadn’t realised they don’t all get interviews - makes sense I guess. Will tell him that as a confidence boost since he didn’t make it through to the Harris Westminster interviews (though nor did any of his friends who applied).

My DS has 19 papers for his spring mocks. In theory over a fortnight but as he has extra time and rest breaks that doesn’t actually fit into two weeks without the school needing extra staff/sessions. He has kind of got used to it, and it is helpful for us to learn about how to help him pace himself given if he works too hard his body shuts down

La Swap does seem a bit different to a school 6th form even though it technically is. Depending on which college you get, you don't have to be there for morning register and just come when you have your first lesson, I believe.

I didn't know Harris Westminster interviews were through. Dd didn't apply but a friend's child did - it was the only school they could find that did Greek A level. I'm hoping they got a place, but they did say the exam was very tough.

Harris Westminster interviews are on Sat 14 Feb. The letter invites went out on Wednesday 04 Feb..

Does anyone's school do half term revision sessions? We have had an email to say they are having some next week and they strongly advise the children go. They are also doing them through Easter Hols and half term.

DS's school is doing Easter revision sessions but not half term. Five hours of science every Sunday for the rest of term too.

No half term or Easter school revision sessions here. The teachers are rightly enjoying their holidays.

I’m impressed you all know so much about what’s going to be on. Judging by what past years parents say ours will almost certainly have after school sessions running after half term but they tend to inform you on a subject by subject basis with a day or two’s notice! Luckily the school musical is this week so after half term DS1 can be free whenever.
On the less good front he got his English mock back and he only got a D so revision/ practice will happen over half term whether he wants to or not…….Any good tips for general English Language resources? (we are WJEC and not much specific stuff out there though I have bought him a revision workbook).

I haven’t heard about any holiday revision sessions - certainly not at half term (which is the middle of mocks). Our school just does before and after school intervention sessions, though DS doesn’t have any. In terms of study leave, I don’t quite know how that works - have heard rumours that it’s possible if you ask. DS works better at home (certainly better than in his science classes where he is one of only three or four in his class doing higher level papers and the teacher sounds pretty useless) so we might ask if he can have study leave. I remember mine fondly, revising in the garden!

Yes and I guess at laswap it’s not like going into a school sixth form where most kids already know each other - everyone will be getting to know new people as they come from four schools.

Harris Westminster exams were def tough - apparently the maths was brutal. DS and his friends all got well over 400 but not over the 433 interview cut off.

DS has 15 plus German speaking. First two done today, went ok apparently… Harsh to have the second week of mocks hanging over half term!

Had a serious chat with our DD last night. Feel like she made a great start to the year and is now moved to just playing at the revision. No study plan, no enthusiasm, just tinkering and filling in that revision app to make her feel like she’s doing something. School had the parents in this week of this particular group indicating that parents need to be on it with their kids. How do you do that though? We have agreed a quick chat in the morning to find out the day’s intentions then another chat at the end of day to establish what was achieved, we proposed handing over of mobile phone for sessions but that was met with complete resistance. DD predicted and capable of a range of 5, 6, 7s. Let you know how we go!

@Ursulla42 same here. Hard to get them organised and focused as they are bored

@Ursulla42 - she may just suddenly get it . DS did poorly in mocks (2-6) and I think that helped . Definitely make sure you take the phone though . DS1 used to leave it face done on his bed - but he is trustworthy and wants to do well , DS2 has agreed to leaving it on the windowsill outside his room - giving it to me as a suggestion didn’t go down well . School suggested revision was done in a common space not bedrooms to avoid distraction (ps5/tv) - our kids don’t have that kit in their rooms though and no convenient quiet space downstairs to use here . I also didn’t work hard enough with my GCSEs and paid the price so they have that story drummed into them too

The problem with removing their phone is a lot of resources are on their phone or tablet/laptop. DSs school have put all their revision material and activities and homework on Google Classroom and also given them lists of various YouTube videos etc to watch. It's really a lot harder for them to be motivated and not distracted than it was for some of us back in the olden days (depending on your age).