Page 4 | Y11 2025/26 The Final Stretch

UncomfortableSilence · 2026-04-16T14:07:08+00:00

New thread to see our wonderful DC through their exams and onwards. Come and join for chat, support and solidarity.

waitingquietly · 21/04/2026 07:51

I think posters are right about history . I think it’s great for them to study history just to give them awareness of societies past mistakes if nothing else . However DS1 turned a 9 prediction into a 6 … DS2 dropped it in January as it was causing crippling anxiety

FlyingPandas · 21/04/2026 07:55

I’ve yet to hear anything positive about art GCSE tbh - friends with DC who have taken it have commented how it’s had a detrimental impact on all other subject revision and pretty much destroyed their original interest in art too. DS is taking DT which has a 50% NEA and that’s been bad enough. He also opted to not to do either history or geography, which worried me at the time, but reading all the comments about history content here maybe he made the right decision.

DS is back to school today for a princely 9
days (!) before going on study leave. Dreading that tbh, not that he’s difficult to have around the house because he’s not, it’s just the constant nagging about revision that gets me down and at least whilst he’s at school I know he’s productively occupied whilst I’m at work! Plus I don’t think it’s good for him to work from home all the time and he’s rubbish at staying in touch with friends when not at school. Just those brief social interactions in between classes, during lunchtime, at the beginning and end of the day etc are so good for him. And study leave will take all that away. Hey ho. Can’t do anything about it so just need to keep encouraging him to stay in touch with people.

Good luck to everyone for MFL speaking and any other early exams!

MabelsBeats · 21/04/2026 07:59

Hi @FlyingPandasmy DD will also shortly be off on study leave. She has said that some of her classmates are going to keep coming in through study leave as they work best in school and the school library will welcome them. I’m sure you’ve thought of this already but would your DS consider going into school regardless?

FlyingPandas · 21/04/2026 08:09

I’m going to try to persuade him @MabelsBeats and they also will have access to the school library. Not sure if he’ll be receptive to the suggestion but I’ll try!

MabelsBeats · 21/04/2026 08:15

Good luck! I can’t wait for it all to be over, roll on 15 June!

3GoldenLamps · 21/04/2026 09:54

MabelsBeats · 21/04/2026 07:59

Hi @FlyingPandasmy DD will also shortly be off on study leave. She has said that some of her classmates are going to keep coming in through study leave as they work best in school and the school library will welcome them. I’m sure you’ve thought of this already but would your DS consider going into school regardless?

They ought to have access to their teachers too at this time?

If it helps any child to make a decision I invigilated for an A-level mock earlier this year. The young man was chatting about GCSEs afetrwards and he said that staying at school and having access to the library and his teacher turned his predicted Grade 6 in English to an 8. Because he was lucky enough to be able to hunt his teacher down and ask for clarification on things as and when.

36and3 · 21/04/2026 10:22

FlyingPandas · 21/04/2026 07:55

I’ve yet to hear anything positive about art GCSE tbh - friends with DC who have taken it have commented how it’s had a detrimental impact on all other subject revision and pretty much destroyed their original interest in art too. DS is taking DT which has a 50% NEA and that’s been bad enough. He also opted to not to do either history or geography, which worried me at the time, but reading all the comments about history content here maybe he made the right decision.

DS is back to school today for a princely 9
days (!) before going on study leave. Dreading that tbh, not that he’s difficult to have around the house because he’s not, it’s just the constant nagging about revision that gets me down and at least whilst he’s at school I know he’s productively occupied whilst I’m at work! Plus I don’t think it’s good for him to work from home all the time and he’s rubbish at staying in touch with friends when not at school. Just those brief social interactions in between classes, during lunchtime, at the beginning and end of the day etc are so good for him. And study leave will take all that away. Hey ho. Can’t do anything about it so just need to keep encouraging him to stay in touch with people.

Good luck to everyone for MFL speaking and any other early exams!

Study leave for us in 9 days too! She works really hard at home but I’m sending her to the grandparents whilst we’re working. If anything, my mum will make sure she’s eating properly and taking breaks!

FlyingPandas · 21/04/2026 10:41

3GoldenLamps · 21/04/2026 09:54

They ought to have access to their teachers too at this time?

If it helps any child to make a decision I invigilated for an A-level mock earlier this year. The young man was chatting about GCSEs afetrwards and he said that staying at school and having access to the library and his teacher turned his predicted Grade 6 in English to an 8. Because he was lucky enough to be able to hunt his teacher down and ask for clarification on things as and when.

Show quote history

Yes, they'll have access to teachers, and DS works reasonably well at home - though is all too good at taking breaks @36and3 and not necessarily quite so good at getting started again after a break !!

The academic side isn't really an issue tbh - he's predicted straight 9s, has consistently achieved these across the board in every mock taken and will willingly seek feedback and support from teachers (though I am trying to manage expectations sensibly and prepare him for the fact he might not manage straight 9s in the real things). It's more the lack of social interaction with peers that worries me. DS is actually pretty sociable when presented with the opportunities on a plate (ie chatting to friends at school or if invited to something) but doesn't have the social 'oomph' to initiate contact or maintain this outside of school.

Original poster

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 12:42

@3GoldenLamps DD1 did History too although that was 5 years ago and I remember she also didn’t finish the content, however she was the Covid cohort so we had bigger things to worry about!, it didn’t put her off though as she took it at A Level.

The mock went well, she trailed using a laptop as she has very recently been diagnosed with hyper mobility alongside her Scoliosis and she had an incident in her English mock where the pain in her wrist was so bad she couldn’t continue writing. I’m really not sure about using one as it’s so close to exams, she’s an amazing typist so not worried about that but just feels like a bit of a risk. We’ve got her a wrist support and heat gel that she applies which seems to be helping so not sure what to do for the best, something else to worry about!!

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Original poster

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 12:44

@WincherI’ve got DD some rescue remedy too, I’ve used it before, may well just be a placebo effect but worth a try.

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3GoldenLamps · 21/04/2026 13:47

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 12:42

@3GoldenLamps DD1 did History too although that was 5 years ago and I remember she also didn’t finish the content, however she was the Covid cohort so we had bigger things to worry about!, it didn’t put her off though as she took it at A Level.

The mock went well, she trailed using a laptop as she has very recently been diagnosed with hyper mobility alongside her Scoliosis and she had an incident in her English mock where the pain in her wrist was so bad she couldn’t continue writing. I’m really not sure about using one as it’s so close to exams, she’s an amazing typist so not worried about that but just feels like a bit of a risk. We’ve got her a wrist support and heat gel that she applies which seems to be helping so not sure what to do for the best, something else to worry about!!

Oh your poor DD.

My next question is going to be informed by being a long time invigilator, so i hope I don't overstep- is the Exams officer fully aware of her hyper-mobility? Are they able to adapt to her using a WP if she does need it even mid-exam? I usually invigilate 1-1 and have had candidates swap from handwritten to either Trelson or WP mid-exam if they need it. It just needs to be correctly recorded so there is no doubt it was a half and half or whatever. It might be that different schools have different approaches so I hope your exams officer is keeping you posted about it all.

36and3 · 21/04/2026 15:35

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 12:42

@3GoldenLamps DD1 did History too although that was 5 years ago and I remember she also didn’t finish the content, however she was the Covid cohort so we had bigger things to worry about!, it didn’t put her off though as she took it at A Level.

The mock went well, she trailed using a laptop as she has very recently been diagnosed with hyper mobility alongside her Scoliosis and she had an incident in her English mock where the pain in her wrist was so bad she couldn’t continue writing. I’m really not sure about using one as it’s so close to exams, she’s an amazing typist so not worried about that but just feels like a bit of a risk. We’ve got her a wrist support and heat gel that she applies which seems to be helping so not sure what to do for the best, something else to worry about!!

Off topic but just wanted to say my dd had scoliosis; she had full spinal fusion four years ago. Happy to chat if you need!

Caddycat · 21/04/2026 17:42

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 12:44

@WincherI’ve got DD some rescue remedy too, I’ve used it before, may well just be a placebo effect but worth a try.

I bought some today too. Im going to make her a little basket with bits and pieces - so far i have rescue remedy sweets, eye mask, a couple of her favourite coffees, a little pebble saying you got this and a top from hollister with the quote from Legally Blonde " What, like it's hard?". I debated the appropriateness of the top for days, but she loves the musical and she will find the reference funny... 😅🙈

Lemonthyme · 21/04/2026 17:58

I would love that t-shirt @Caddycat !!!!

Original poster

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 19:47

@36and3Thank you that’s really kind and I hope your DD is doing well after her surgery.

DD is just on 9 monthly monitoring for now, she’s not at the surgical threshold and her curve hasn’t progressed, she’s fully grown. Scroth physio has helped a lot with the rotation. Was quite a shock as we didn’t notice at all!

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36and3 · 21/04/2026 19:49

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 19:47

@36and3Thank you that’s really kind and I hope your DD is doing well after her surgery.

DD is just on 9 monthly monitoring for now, she’s not at the surgical threshold and her curve hasn’t progressed, she’s fully grown. Scroth physio has helped a lot with the rotation. Was quite a shock as we didn’t notice at all!

I had NO idea either. It was a fluke find on a chest X-ray! It was a minimal curve right until the day of her op. All diagnosed and operated on within 8 months. Thankfully she recovered really well, has an invisible scar and now has enviable posture! I hope your dd isn’t in pain with it

Original poster

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 19:54

@Caddycat Sounds lovely, we love Legally Blond too.

@3GoldenLampsWe have been dealing with her Head of Year who hasn’t been particularly responsive and she in turn is speaking to the SENCO. I work in a school and was speaking to our Exams Officer today and in our school this all goes through her and our medical lady so like you say it looks like different schools approach it in their own ways. She has been given rest breaks too, sorry if I’m repeating myself here, I will ask as I’m going to email again about if she can switch between the two. It’s all a new diagnosis so trying to get all the evidence etc over and cannot get a GP appointment at all so going to have to just go in there in person and see what I can do.

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Original poster

UncomfortableSilence · 21/04/2026 19:57

36and3 · 21/04/2026 19:49

I had NO idea either. It was a fluke find on a chest X-ray! It was a minimal curve right until the day of her op. All diagnosed and operated on within 8 months. Thankfully she recovered really well, has an invisible scar and now has enviable posture! I hope your dd isn’t in pain with it

Show quote history

She just came down one day and said my rib sticks out more on one side and it all went from there. Luckily she doesn’t really get any pain, reading up it seems quite common for that and the hyper mobility to go together.

Really glad your DD has done so well since her surgery.

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Tebheag · 21/04/2026 21:18

Just had email from school about revision they have recommended 1.5 to 2.5 hrs an evening and weekends 6 to 7. That's a possible 24hrs a week. Am I completely underestimating the studying she should be doing now.
I did go back and thank the school then asked what the plan is for getting the syllabus finished. DD thinks it's 3 classes that they still have learning to do.

waitingquietly · 21/04/2026 21:23

Mine is doing about 1-2 hours a day perhaps a little more at the weekend - nothing tonight - too tired apparently. The older one did a bit more - probably 2/3 subjects a day 45mins - 1 each and he was burnt out by the final week . Trust your instinct about your own child . No point knowing every fact if too exhausted to think on the day itself

EducaatingRita · 21/04/2026 21:47

Hi everyone, can join? DD Y11.. Not long to go.. 2 weeks left til study / exam leave. It wasn't that long ago they started Y7.. time flies!!

Art first!

whereonthestair · 21/04/2026 21:56

My DS did nothing tonight after the French speaking this morning. However he’d done an hour before school. Yesterday evening he probably did 4 hours total. We have worked out we go with the amount of energy not a timetable. It only took 5 years.

On rest breaks, being part of a physically disabled community the advice parent to parent and student to student is if you get them work out when you’ll take them. Sometimes time eg every half an hour. Sometimes pain related. Sometimes question related but factoring into the prep and timings has really worked for DS, otherwise it’s another thing to think about when already overloaded.

Littletreefrog · 21/04/2026 22:21

DS had today off revision as it is his birthday. They have finished all the content at school so all school time is revision and exam technique anyway. He is doing about 1.5hrs a night and maybe 2 to 3 on a weekend but they don't have study leave so will be at school right until his last exam on 15th June which is definitely the best for him.

Wincher · 21/04/2026 23:18

Speaking exam went well, the teacher actually called me to say how he had smashed it, which was really lovely to hear (they like to call home at our school when kids have done well!). He was nervous but knew he knew his stuff. Very proud of him. (“I never have to speak German again!”).

No study leave here, they are expected to attend normal lessons all through, it seems. I did speak to the head of year a while back and she said there will come a date they announce as the last day they have to come in outside of exams, but not sure if that will be half term or what. I always thought I’d ask for study leave for DS but tbh I think he needs the social interaction and routine of school more than the possibly more productive study time he would get at home for now. He enjoys school, gets on with most teachers and has a great bunch of friends so I think he’s probably happier there for now (except for the execrable teaching he has in science from a succession of cover teachers, but he’s taught himself the entire curriculum anyway)

Stowickthevast · 22/04/2026 10:21

Well done all those completing speaking. Dd's planning on doing German A level @Wincher if she goes somewhere that offers it. There's only a few places.

She has been doing a couple of hours a day this week but it's only been the time thief that is art rather than revision. She has to hand in everything on Friday so at least it'll be over then.

to all those DC with physical disabilities, it's a lot to contend with.