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 😭

Another open day.

More information about the V level in Education which was useful.

But our conclusion was there was nothing about that college that makes it worth an hours bus journey each day (at £440 per year)

I'll have to start looking into starting 6th form applications. Do they have to write one personal statement that covers all places you apply to? Oldest DC did this all themselves so I have no idea about the process!

It'll be awkward if it's one statement for all applications as 2 would be for animal management and a third would be for a 6th form and probably A levels or A levels + Btech (TBC) and which probably won't align with current ambitions (working in a Zoo). And we don't even know what subjects - Drama would be good, only he'd probably need a 6 in English which he's unlikely to get. Psychology is the other, he may get a 6 or 7 in it. 3rd I would have said Biology but oldest hated A-level and didn't recommend. I think the only Btecs on offer at the 6th form are Business Studies, IT or Healthcare, none of which would appeal very much.

The "Personal Statement" bit on the application shes dobe so far turned out to only be 3 sentences long (maximum text count). They werent asked why they were applying for each subject. Thats in the interview.

Glad I’ve come across this thread. I think I’ll need it. I hated year 11 with dd1 (now at uni) and I’m hating it with dtds. Lots of friendship drama in both twins groups - one due to boys and the other with dd3 being left out when her friends are meeting up. Mocks start Monday. The whole year feels like an endurance challenge and trying to fit in college visits and now interviews while working full time is tough going. College options also limited and mean travel is needed.

dd3 very clear what she wants so hoping that’ll come together. Dd2 has two options with one being much more logistically sensible but needs higher grades to achieve.

It’s a tough year for other reasons but these are the education challenges I’ll share here.

We’ve had separate applications for each 6th form with different requirements. Only one needed a personal statement. Others had specific questions.

It’s awful isn’t it. Not sure why 15 year olds (and their parents) need to endure this level of pressure! I also have twins (currently in year 8) and cannot imagine how tricky it’s going to be, given how hard it is with one!

Thanks for the solidarity @purplejeanie

I imagine it’s a breeze if you have dc who get 8s and 9s consistently. It’s so frustrating because my dc are not dumb but all seem to struggle with exams. I just see how hard they’re working but the grades always disappoint them. I’m really hoping these mocks go well as they need the confidence boost. They are also youngest in the year and premature so should be a year below but there’s never been a reason to keep them back.

It has been the case that their year group is full of so many mean girls too. The kind the teachers think are just the best students but they are so unkind and bitchy.

Halfway through Mocks. All going fine apart from French speaking where he just repeated "Pardon?" for one question as he says he hadn't learnt that part of the higher vocab. French is the subject he is most looking forward to dropping, perhaps unsurprisingly. He is being remarkably "chill" about the whole thing, considering his entrance into the 6th form he wants will depend on the points he gets. It will all work out I guess! Not expecting any 9s here but hopeful for a few 8's and mostly 7s. The flip side of fairly decent grades means there are no standout options for DS which I think means he is a bit disenfranchised with what to do next. My ideas of solid A' Levels leading to a STEM degree (his 8's would be sciences) appear to be vastly different to his "get to try new subjects" goals, leading to an uncertain path to University. I am finding it hard to know when advice is turning into pressure to conform to what I think is best because it feels safe.

Yes, oldest DC was an all 7-9 student and DH and I both come from families where we and our siblings were pretty much the equivalent back them so it's been a challenge having a kid who isn't in that range, especially for DH.

I'd at least worked for a while in SEN publishing so I knew a bit about other options and am a bit more sanguine, but it is harder to see a way forward for the future when it might not be the route you took