Y11 - 2026/27 thread

[Echobelly]

I don't see a thread yet so I guess I might as well start it. I'm gonna need a lot of handholding for this one 😭

We found a dedicated space for each subject really helpful- I bought cardboard magazine files for each subject and a ring binder in the same colour so everything linked to the subject can go in one or the other. DD LOVES stationery so this really pleases her and she has managed to keep everything separate so far. She has even started colour coding her revision notes if she can find the right coloured paper but that is a bit extreme!

We haven't planned any holidays yet but she'll be performing in a show in Feb half term which will eat into time (not a main part though so it is manageable.) She will definitely want to revise, so if we go away she'll need a revision space and won't always join in with activities but I'll leave it up to her to decide.

We're away in October half term, it's a few weeks before mocks but Dd will need to take some notes - aiming to just keep it ticking along.
Still not clear when the extra lessons start at school, have asked dd to chase it up.

Just got an email about Drama coursework. They were supposed to start it over summer holidays - fat chance! Ugh... this will be a nightmare. I hoped having a less exam heavy subject would help, but the travel & tourism btec has shown that he just doesn't know how to do coursework writing either.

There is a bit of time at least until final submission but also he has a solo performance to learn for next Spring too. Aaagh!

DT coursework is taking a lot of time for my DS at the moment. I’m just glad he’s not doing art or drama as well.

Same re DT coursework. But they seem to do quite a bit in class. At least that will be half the GCSE done

Yeah, I think they do most coursework in school, I think partly to avoid cheating and AI (DS hates AI fortunately). I'm waiting with baited breath to ask if he I understands what he needs to do for his coursework, because the answer might well be 'No, I haven't got a clue what to write'

Just be glad yours didn’t take Art & design! The workload is monstrous and DD’s art teacher is fond of sending back homework to be redone if she thinks the kids didn’t do as well as they could have.

The real disaster is dd uses it as an excuse to avoid revising for her English gcse.

Thank you for the thread and good luck to everyone this year. I do think frequently of GCSES and hope DC achieve the results they need for Sixth Form.

OK, to my relief he says he knows what he needs to do and when for Drama. Now it may well be he doesn't know as well as he thinks, but if he was really unsure he wouldn't be able to hide it.

So I will discuss with him further but I'm reassured that he's not feeling totally at sea at least.

Lesson 6's have started at school, but there's no clear timetable so no-one, including the teachers, knows what is going on.
Maths and English are in form time and lunchtime, presumably to ensure everyone is there for them.
Homework has massively ramped up, poor dc1! For years I've said they barely get any so now it's a complete shock to them. We are working on plans and prioritisation, at the moment they are talking a good talk, I am going to check tomorrow if a plan has been written out.

Drama devising is taking up a lot of time here, she's apparently in a good group but is frustrated that not everyone is that focused and the performance is rapidly approaching. She also has a lot of homework, a science paper per week and lots of English.

We went to the 6th form open evening last night and she has decided against Theatre Studies as there is too much group work, but liked English Lang and Lit, French, Classical Civilization or History or possibly RE as an outsider. Also liked the idea of an EPQ. It feels surreal that she will hopefully be there next year!

DS did devised performance last term, the performance went well although he hated the process - other people being uncooperative and unsupportive apparently. He was really motivated and trying to hold it together and his teacher was very impressed. I think the course work is about describing and evaluating the process, so potentially he has a lot he can write about!

DC is STEM and struggling to narrow down the A-level choices. I hope the excitement and talk of A-levels and sixth form is motivational and keeps their focus rather than getting to ahead of themselves and taking their eye off the ball.

How are you all supporting your children to get the results they need? And advising on A level/ Btec choices?

In our case, by being realistic I think. My hope at the moment is that he can get 5 subjects at 5+, I'll settle for 5 at 4+. I am also trying to create physical organisation to help him revise - have just ordered some shelves so we can put revision guides and revision folders on them. I've bought him the folders, flashcards etc but he needs room to organise them before he can use them. He'll need a lot of reminding unlike our oldest who doesn't have ADHD and was very self-motivated. Also getting him to practice writing as English is the major worry currently - whether he can even sit an exam without freezing, let alone get a 4+

I asked him how English is going now he changed teachers - he said he still wasn't enjoying it, but he had just realised he is more able to write in lessons, which is encouraging. I don't know what Ms B is like as an English teacher - he said she's quite demanding, but it sounds like that's a good thing for him, I can imagine she is firm but fair as a teacher, which is a good combo for him. The last teacher I think wasn't all that firm, but was also quite unfair and snarky.

Best of luck

Dc is doing art, drama and product design. Will be a fun year🙂🤦‍♀️

Looked over some of DS's English homework tonight, which was a practise paper. Bearing in mind he often writes nothing at all in tests, I initially thought it's great he'd written a few paragraphs, but he hadn't quite answered the question. The he pointed out I was looking at the wrong questions! So he had answered them reasonably well - still a bit of work to do but, little as I know about mark schemes I think what he did might be just about good enough to get a 4, which is all he needs.

Thats great news!!

We have just booked parents eve slots cor a couple of weeks time and sorted through dance vids for DDs PE NEA!!!

@Echobellygreat news! Anyone else’s children doing music? Mine is but is totally disengaged, has an awful teacher. He likes the performance side and scored full marks in the mock for that but hates the rest of it and is determined to drop the gcse. I think it’s a shame as he should be encouraged to work for the hard things, but his love for a subject is completely determined by the teacher.

That sounds really positive, @Echobelly! It sounds like you're doing such a great job to support him. You will deserve the biggest glass of wine of all of us once GCSEs are over!

@purplejeanie DD is doing music. Her lovely teacher left at the end of Y10 so we were a bit concerned, but fortunately her new teacher is also lovely. It's really tough with a subject like this when you don't get on with the teacher.

Which exam board is he doing? DD is doing Edexcel.

I would think it's possible to get a good grade with just a bit of graft on the other two elements if he's acing the performance. The other parts are easier for those with classical/traditional training and who play in an ensemble such as an orchestra. It is a very long time since I did GCSE music though, and I'm sure it has changed a lot!

@LetItGoToRuinI’m glad your DD’s new teacher is also good! He is also doing edexel. He is classically trained in that his instrument is piano and he’s done the Abrsm exams but has never been a fan of theory etc. Part of me is minded to let him give up (he’s doing ten GCSEs), but I know with a bit of work and engagement he could do well, so it’s a shame. I’ll try and push his teacher to help him more.

Mine is doing gcse music and I think is due to record the performance part in December.

You all probably know this already but most of exam boards have published the exam dates if you google

@purplejeanie DD2 (year 9 but they do 3 year GCSE's) has just started music GCSE. She has one good teacher and one less good and doesn't love it as much as she thought she would. She plays orchestral instruments but apparently tends to sing in performing lessons because "I'm not lugging an instrument to school everyday" I think she'll be ok as she likes performing and theory and she's already grade 5 but she is finding the range of ability a challenge and feels that more people play "fun" instruments and she's a bit more of an odd one out.