Y11 2025-26 - Trying not to melt and pushing through the final weeks

[Stowickthevast]

I finished the thread so started a new one. Welcome all Y11 parents, support and solidarity for the next big push here!

My 1st alarm didn't snooze for some reason but luckily I have a second alarm at 7.05, so we are up half an hour late 😬

My son infuriatingly is very rigid in his routine so will not dress and eat breakfast at the same time, and refuses to give up his morning hair wash. Everything is done 1 by 1 at a slow pace and in order.
It's now 7.30 and he is in the bathroom when he should be calling for his friend to walk.

He'll get to revision 15 minutes late.

He seems very unstressed about this. I, on the other hand . . . .

DS2 had edexcel combined physics yesterday .. not seen anyone else mention edexcel ( not IGCSE) .. he seemed really happy - reckoned he got 50% … which if he’s right would be amazing for him .. worried he’s missed the point . Also glad to see him happy as chemistry was so awful .

maths and geography today which I think he will be tired about by …

good luck today all

Sons VI teacher went in all guns blazing about discrimination today. The senco offered someone to read the numbers off the calculator. Told them we would refuse the exam based on school not supplying equipment they jave in writing they needed to provide and would be escalating and suddenly they was able to source a tablet. The stress was not required this morning

Well done, I’m pleased to hear it, good luck to your DS this morning.

Good luck to all today. I hope your DS made it on time @getwiththeprogram.
@XelaM and @NotDarkGothicMama I don't know how your DCs calculate the marks, mine struggles to remember the questions but looking at Reddit she said she got all of the math questions right except perhaps one she can't remember. I'm trying not to ask, she will panic if she knows she got stuff wrong so we usually go onwards and upwards, but yesterday she checked Reddit... If 68% of the paper was the maths questions, that would be fab!

@Moneyordream I'm very pleased to read that update though still flabbergasted the school can be so utterly useless.

Oh bless him, that's so unfair to go through such stress! I hope the exam goes well for him this morning.

Does anyone find themselves (I know this is daft) attempting to send positive vibes via thought to their child as an exam is beginning?

I know it's pointless, but especially just as an exam is starting I'm talking to my boy in my head and saying you can do this, stay calm, read through the paper first, take a minute, breathe, you got this! 😄

Currently praying to the maths gods. DS said he thinks he failed non-calc so has to do well today and next week. I think he’s probably being a bit dramatic

@getwiththeprogramerrrr yes, every single time

@Callmejudith Glad it's not just me!

@getwiththeprogram yes. And I just can't concentrate until that phone call once the exam is over.

How is your DC's sleep? Mine won't go to bed early, she says she can't sleep so might as well do some flashcards on save my exam. Last night she was in bed with her laptop doing flashcards. She does this because it doesn't require too much energy but also helps her calm down. It was midnight though ;(

@Moneyordream I'm so glad that it's been sorted but it's absolutely terrible that you had to deal with that so close to the exam. I don't understand what the school were playing at - it won't have been a surprise to them that your DC had those needs. I hope it goes well for him.

I am so anxious waiting. DS school isn't on study leave so have to wait til 3.30 to find out how he got on

My son's a good sleeper thankfully.
He went to bed at 10 and spent an hour watching the Maths paper 2 walk through which seems to help him best with maths. Maths is a tricky subject to revise for as the questions are so varied. I guess that's why they give them 3 papers.

Its been horrid, we have fought the school so much with his requirements and they just seem to try and get round stuff. They complained this morning how much a large print scientific calculator is! Told them its free know a tablet so no excuse. DS is a quiet lad and won't speak up and just so used to coping with what they give him

Surely it's blatant discrimination!!

Reddit looking like maths was hard!

DD said Edexcel was terrible. She wants to do A level so was hoping for an 8

Can I please ask what websites/videos are your kids watching for revision for English and Maths? If you can please share here that would be very helpful

How many maths papers and English papers there are? I am not English and completely lost with GCSE

DD just called to say that maths (Edexcel higher) was very good, although not as good as paper 1 which she described as "amazing". She couldn't finish the last question. She's predicted an 8.

DD watches Mr Salles for English, and she watches a live stream for science and maths the night before, which is all on the same Youtube channel. I'll ask her for links tonight.

My son likes this guy for night before maths recaps. He'll be watching this one for Paper 3:

4 english papers (2 language papers and 2 litterature papers) and 3 maths papers (1 non calculator, 2 with calculators).

I'm not British either, it's a lot to get your head around. Especially the different exam board, the choice of history topics, the higher/foundation papers...

Thank you. If you can please share the links that would be helpful