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!

Yes. Son was planning English literature (I was surprised) but said after the exam he wasn’t sure. I’ve said not to think about making any decisions until the exams are over.

We’re also planing just to check that DS is happy with his A level choices once the exams have finished. He thinks he probably is at the moment.

DS2 asked me if he got a 6 in Geography could he still get a good A level - another worrying about the sheer amount of content

Yes that’s what DD’s school ask of them - to start with four and drop one by October half term so that they can be sure of their top three.

Dd has chosen English literature (her all time favourite), psychology, history and biology but is now only completely certain of the first two.

GCSEs have cemented some A level choices (DD has surprisingly enjoyed Shakespeare for English Literature), but worried her for others. She’s worried about R&P and I wonder if she would be better of thinking about something like sociology or politics. But R&P has been her strongest subject but I think the step up in philosophy will be too much for her and also possibly boring!

Half terms feels like it has whizzed by.

Dreading next week, it’s very full on.

4 exams this week, 5 the next, 3 the following . Still so relentless.

Mine keeps changing her mind about her 4th A level too. She'd like to do an essay subject and does enjoy English and History, but finds science much easier to revise for. Her school does 4 for Y12 and then takes an AS in one.
She's sure about Maths and German, and thinks she'll do Biology too but the 4th could be Art, English, RE, Politics or Economics!

So… last night before the next stretch. Once more unto the breach… 😆 just thankful that all our kids are one step closer to the end. Hope everyone has had a great half term and ready to tackle the next stretch. Somewhat lost some momentum in this house and when I went into dd’s room earlier she was proudly showing me the Korean she has been learning on Duolingo to support her K drama obsession 🤣 Good luck to everyone for the next couple of weeks!

Yes good luck everyone. Here we go again

Good luck everyone the half term doesn’t feel like it’s been anywhere near long enough DS1 has his driving test this week as well

Yes here we go again….Good luck to all DC (and parents) - will be thinking of everyone 🍀

Oh god here we go again!! DS currently fixing his PS controller. No revision to be seen.

@Drivingselfmad I hope your DD is on the mend. Hayfever has kicked in here - terrible timing!

DS had a session with his tutor today in preparation for PE paper 2 tomorrow. He's been an absolute pest for his poor PE teacher this year. PE paper 1 was the last exam before half term and I had a call at 9 asking where he was and if he'd be there for the exam starting at 9.15. He'd dawdled in and was waiting outside in the late line. His teacher hauled him out and into the pre-exam room, which DS found hilarious He was planning a repeat "just to see his face" so I am personally taking him to school and frogmarching him in tomorrow. ADHD assessment is now booked and can't come soon enough.

Good luck to everyone. Nothing here tomorrow. Physics Tuesday.

Good luck to everyone who has an exam tomorrow. We don’t start again until physics but then have both wed and Thurs with two exams on. However DS has been over all of history and most of geography in half term so content heavy exams seem more covered now… I can’t wait until this is over and it no longer feels so far away. DS has been thinking about what to do in summer which is great

Here we go again … DS has enjoyed the break but has definitely lost motivation 🥹

All the best to anyone’s DC taking Edexcel German with the writing paper tomorrow. Use any spare time to check your verbs are correct!

Good luck to those doing exams tomorrow. DD starts back on Tuesday with physics, not her favourite.

She is also debating her A level choices too, especially after one of her science teachers asked her "What she was planning on doing with that". She was considering Maths, French and Psychology and is debating taking biology as a 4th possibly to replace psychology. She has no idea what she wants to do with these A levels or others...

Maths and psych is a good and not unusual combo tho – lots of maths in psychology A level and that's also two sciences which is needed for a lot of science degrees. Good A levels for a psych degree. Biology instead of psych would keep more doors open tho tbf – including biology and biological-related degrees, as well as medicine (in some unis).

Thank you! She doesn't want to do medicine, that's certain. She's only sure she wants maths and french, and psy was something she thought sounded interesting. I personally think history, english lit/lang or a second MFL would suit her better, but she's been put off for various reasons. I think she's picked biology by default, as the one she least dislikes and got a good grade for in her mocks... not sure that's how it works.

Anyone had conversations about best 6th form / college for them etc as opposed to just following mates ?!??

Having one just one school year ahead - my experience would be that if they can stay where they are and are happy there then that’s the best call . DS1 is a pretty bright kid and a quite quiet calm one but has found the start of A levels pretty brutal - much harder content and lots of it . I have never seen him so tired. His experience has played a huge part in my decision to keep DS2 in his familiar private school rather than try and move him back across to the state sector . There are obviously all sorts of variables - but I’d say if it isn’t broken don’t try and fix it . Someone said to me last year that the actual tuition time for A levels is actually only about 15 months

DS2s best friends x2 are both trying to hike back across into state

Yes. We went to a few different open evenings and talked DS through the pros and cons of each. He's decided on one in a neighbouring town, with 2 others as backups.

When I was at school, you either went to the massive standalone VIth form college to do A-Levels or to the technical college to do a BTEC. DS's school has been very good at inviting in post-16 providers from around the local area so he's aware of all the options. The kids go all over the place.

Our son is at a state comprehensive with a 6th form and almost certain to stay there. They have fewer places in 6th form and are clear that if you aren’t already at the school there won’t be places. He did apply for another couple of 6th forms - a grammar school (I think that was unfinished business) and a 6th form college and got offers but he’s come around to the view (correct in my opinion) that if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. He can walk to his current school in 15 mins so that’s another massive plus in its favour.

Good luck to those with exams today! Husband and I are both going to the office today (tube strikes planned the rest of the week) so I am hoping he does some work …