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 term doesn’t finish until 17th July so no going away early for us (sigh)

DDs main treat is I have booked Bruno Mars tickets for me her and her sister, we are all massive fans.

Still 6 to go, one double day tomorrow for Biology and French but we can see the end, she’s tired but still revising, seems to he mainly Biology and History ( Germany paper still left)

Oh and yes DDs school strict on Contingency Day plus she has 3 taster days for VI forms to attend at the end of June beginning of July too.

7 left with 2 double days. Dd flagging.
Focusing on History atm, as she’s panicking about it, some Biology, not currently revising Maths (needs to revise) or Spanish (sacrificial lamb). God it’s a slog.

We have 7 left but only one more double day which is tomorrow then definitely heading to the end. DS done a lot of French, now looking at Biology. Spent yesterday doing history but that’s basically a subject he knows so next big hurdle is Geography on Thursday. Now double days are ending he thinks he can cover what he needs to working hard the afternoon before.

Same. DS's school hasn't said anything about it and I only knew it was a thing because of MN. I booked anyway on the gamble that it's unlikely to be used but we can fly back if it is. Fingers crossed!

Yes we did too- fly from Heathrow on evening of 24th!! I figured that the chances of them using the day was very slim and she would probably manage a morning exam and then jump in the car if needed!

5 left here, no doubles. Study leave starts on Weds after maths. Leavers yearbooks were handed out on Friday.

Our school said you must be available on contingency day, not all the days between final exam and then. We did briefly consider Cornwall which at least we could come back from if necessary.

5 exams left here Friday was the last "school day" so now need to work out the logistics of getting him back and forth for exams in the mornings and revision sessions in the afternoon while all working full time. If left up to him he would walk home and back but it's a 10 mile round trip when I pointed this out he couldn't see the issue. He has walked home from school on occasion as he would rather that than use public transport but there and back and eat lunch in between and be on time is too much.

🤣 You just reminded me I once got a letter sent to my home address from work with a warning about footwear. I had worn smart trainers in the office. Was only because I drove in trainers but changed into heels when I got to work that day I was running late and forgot to change footwear.

I only knew about contingency day because of threads on MN ....and then im going to 2 concerts thst week which meant we had to push holiday into July, but thats still cheaper for flights than waiting for school holidays

Weve already had prom, shirt signing and last day etc

They had prom before the exams finished?!

DD has been revising all weekend Biology is her weakest science.
No 6th form taster days here.

7 exams still to go. DD school never mentioned the contingency day. Guess it could be used in the future as they mention IT problems only a matter of time before papers could get leaked before the exam !!

8 exams left. And to think alevel exams will only be a max of 8! It’ll be a walk in the park 😂

6 subjects down. 5 exams. No doubles and also one whole free day this week so DD is happy! The end is in sight!

Mine’s chosen 1 coursework-only A Level, 1 continuous assessment BTEC, and only 1 exam-based A Level. I could cry with gratitude 🤣

I've not much of a clue how T levels work which is what DS will hopefully be doing but I can't imagine it can be more exam heavy than this!

4 to go
huge meltdown last night here for DS2 .. DS1 got the short straw … all friends again now though and helping him .. I don’t have siblings so it’s all a bit beyond me

@ShesRunningOutTheDoorthat made me laugh out loud! Don’t die Charlie!

DS sooooo over it. Went to Starbucks to do biology today he’s definitely not as solid as paper 1 but is ok. I’ve delegated history to DH.

He has 6 to go.

We are all over it here too. Only 4 to go but momentum definitely slowing. Just want them over now but having bad dreams about results day already. Hopefully they won’t last all summer! Biology tomorrow (should be ok) and History Tuesday - will be very tough, he will almost certainly run out of time and can’t remember lots of it either. I was quizzing him today, it was demoralising - I think at this point he’s just worn out as I reckon I remember more about it than he does!

We still have 9 including 1 double day 🙁

AQA has kept MFL reading and listening exams on the same day but Edexcel has decided to split them - so AQA R&L is on 9 June, W on 16; Edexcel has L on 9 June, R on 16 June and W on 17 June.

The jury is out as to whether splitting up R and L is a good thing. One teacher friend of mine thinks it is good as the YP get so drained by the listening they need the reading on a separate day; another thinks you are in the zone so get them done in one go.

Which A level is coursework only?

6 to go for us , last exam is physics next Monday and can’t come soon enough . These last ones are definitely not being worked as hard for which is worrying .
We are planning a big family bbq for evening of last exam and going to buy some sort of special cake / dessert . Cant quite believe it is only a week to go 🙂

My son over it, has spent weekend watching the young sheldon spin off. He’s tired and snappy. It really is an exhausting process

DS also announced today he is 100% staying at his current school for 6th form. In a way it’s a big relief because there’s not nearly as much pressure to get big results