Y10 woes-might not pass GCSE English

[wineapotamus]

DS is in Y10. He’s bright, funny, sociable and kind. Loads of friends, nice to his little sister etc. But he’s struggling with the expectations at GCSEs and has never really got to grips with hard work. He has an ADHD diagnosis and wants to revise and work with multiple screens on/whatsapp pinging away.

I had a good phone call with his English teacher yesterday who said he understands the work and can talk about it to grade 6 level, but thinks he needs some support to be able to get it down in essay form, otherwise he’s at risk of not passing. DS has agreed to do some revision downstairs with one of us with no screens/phone and then he can get on with his other stuff and I am happy to help him with it. Any recommendations for resources for inspector calls, or either English lang paper? People to follow on instagram/techniques and tricks? I did English at uni, but coming up to 30 years since I did my GCSEs 😱.

Thanks so much-worried for him.

ADHD question - does he find coke or coffee helps him concentrate? ADHD meds are normally stimulants so lots of people with adhd will love coke / coffee as it helps them focus. Just a random thought that it could help him before homework or an exam. Worth trialling it out a few times to see if it helps or worse case it’s a placebo

Have you considered a tutor? The English Language paper is very formulaic and involves specific timings and answering in a certain way to be successful.
In my experience a lot of Year 10 boys look like they might not pass their GCSE English, but a woeful mock result in Year 11 tends to galvanise them, and they then go on to pass comfortably, so I wouldn’t be too worried yet.

English tends to be a subject that takes the 2 years of the GCSE to get to grips with.

I think you've just found that he needs it.

Parent of dyslexic ADHD kid in Y12...

I would do everything possible to get the meds started asap and you may find the rest follows. Medicated DD is a whole different ballgame from unmedicated when it comes to focus and exams.

ETA: Also have one here who can't do anything without music and a film on at the same time. Fries my brain but apparently it is an actual thing for focus.

You tube is a great resource there are teachers on there breaking down exam papers and explaining what the questions mean and what the examiners are looking for. Mr Bruff is great at explaining each of the lit books, he will need to also concentrate on his timings with English language paper 1 if he does not leave enough time to answer the creative writing section he won't pass as it covers around 40 marks

I'm glad they flagged this at this point in Y10. Others have given great specific resources (and I would echo the idea of a good tutor earlier rather than later).

I'm someone who was diagnosed as ADHD (well, ADD at the time) but wasn't medicated or directly treated until adulthood for various reasons. I was bright and was ultimately extremely successful academically, but I still really wish this hadn't been the case. I'm not suggesting you push medication on your DS, but I do think you should talk to him about trialing something now and seeing if it helps. Not only do our brains and bodies shift as we get into secondary school, the things we ask of them shift dramatically. It's perfectly normal to need to find new tools as we face new challenges in life, and that's what medication is - a tool. I would avoid discussion of whether or not he "needs" medication (which can be attached to the idea that he's deficient or inadequate as-is) and discuss the possibility that "medication might be helpful" and medication as a potential "effort-multiplier". This is also the time to start considering other helpful accommodations so that they can become his usual way of working (a requirement for having arrangements in exams).

I too work and study best with sound and movement, but that's not an option in exams. Separate out the idea of revision/learning and practicing for exams, and have him do each in the environment that optimizes that goal. That means studying/revising in a way that helps the information get into the brain as effectively as possible but then practicing pulling out that information onto practice tests in an environment that mimics an exam room. Talk about the latter as training like with sports, because that's basically what it is. Start in short increments and build up, and make sure he does this not just in your silent home but also in places like the reading room of a local library where there are other people breathing/coughing/turning pages/shifting in chairs and walking. I would definitely make sure to spread this training across his subjects - that will be more helpful for exams overall and it will reduce negative associations with English in particular.