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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

new Year 7s

113 replies

bruffin · 05/08/2009 23:29

Anyone else have homework for their new school?

DD has a science project to do and also a long book list for which she has to chose 2 to read and write about.

OP posts:

fircone · 11/09/2009 13:31

Ha ha, Pielight. I too was begging ds to leave his homework last night! He's got this blimmin' RE poster to design and was trying to do that as well as science homework.

We're going to have to get a system going as it's impossible to do all the homework on the night it's set.

Ds's main news of yesterday was that he saw two pupils snogging in the corridor. He said good job he'd already been to the canteen or else he'd have been quite put off. Snogging is fine in a proper snogging situation, but do schools condone it on the premises? I can't say I'm too thrilled about this. [Crusty outraged old fogey emoticon]

Pielight · 11/09/2009 13:37

I know, it's difficult to work it out isn't it? DS is being v. good about it, I am being bolshy Also - he was given extra work in History, I said 'oh fgs, what did you do wrong?' (bad mother) and he said, 'No, it wasn't like that, it was because I was so interested'

eh?

I just managed to stop myself from saying 'but when will you do it? This is a NIGHTMARE, there's so much to do, I'm panicking about sticky back plastic and the art project, not to mention the flipping physics and you're willingly taking on more work you fool?'

Pielight · 11/09/2009 13:38

Don't know re the snogging! How scarily interesting Fircone

Pyrocanthus · 11/09/2009 13:40

Lawks, fircone, my DD will pass out with [Eeeewwww! emoticon] if she sees that!

Suspect the staff would move them on if they saw.

Dazmum · 11/09/2009 15:37

My DS has got CATS tests next week, told no revision needed though. Presumably this is to decide which groups they go in for certain subjects? He has already been assigned to a groups for maths based on the SATs results, so don't know why they can't use those for everything?

He's had double music today - bet that was scarily interesting to hear!

tethersend · 11/09/2009 15:59

CATs (Cognitive Ability Tests) comprise of three separate tests- Verbal, Non-verbal and Quantitative more information here

Schools most commonly use the data from these tests in order to predict GCSE grades- often they are pretty accurate. They certainly give a clear picture of children's strengths and weaknesses, and often show strength in areas (such as non-verbal reasoning) which SATs do not.

Dazmum · 11/09/2009 17:41

Thanks tethersend, that's really interesting. Do parents get to know the results?

tethersend · 11/09/2009 21:36

You should be able to see the data, although it will probably take a few months to be processed into predicted GCSE grades.

You will probably have to ask to see it though, I don't think it's shared routinely...

Dazmum · 12/09/2009 12:02

Thanks, it's such early days though, GCSEs not something to worry about yet! he's just done his first lot of German homework, yet another poster!

mollyroger · 12/09/2009 12:09

oh pie - i thought you sounded v familair on other threads
We are fair to crap...thanks for asking !
Nothing has fundamentally changed but dh has to go to Amsterdam next fortnigjht to speak at a major conference with a possible huge cash prize for his new business so....
Been a funny old year!

mollyroger · 12/09/2009 12:12

French teacher was most put out that ds had not managed to cover book with sticky back plastic overnight...hands up, how many of you just happen to have it lying round the house??

hatesponge · 12/09/2009 12:13

Do all schools do CATs?

No mention of them so far at DS's school, still no homework, and not much done in class either

We have an open evening in a fortnight - if nothing's improved by then am hoping I will get to raise my concerns with the teachers.....

mollyroger · 12/09/2009 12:16

hatesponge - they do break them in gently in Yr 7. It is a huge transition for many children.

fircone · 12/09/2009 14:46

I did a flying leap in Smith's this morning and grabbed the last roll of sticky stuff. Ds has begged to be allowed to do all his covering tomorrow, as he can't face the stress today.

The roll of sticky stuff came in handy to beat ds with when he refused to spend the Smith's token he'd had for his birthday on a French dictionary. Can't think why he preferred to choose two magazines, a drum of Oreos and a Wispa.

serenity · 12/09/2009 15:23

I sent DH to get sticky backed plastic on Friday. We've got a veritable mountain of it in our local Smiths apparently, but it was slightly more expensive than the '20p a sheet' that DS1 was adamant the teacher had said it was...

I have been a bad mother I have to say. I couldn't face DS1 making a hash of covering his books so I did it for him

We haven't had much homework either - mainly the book covering, and a couple of small pieces of writing. I'm quite grateful that they're doing it slowly though. To suddenly jump from the holidays to an hour/half every night would be a bit overwhelming.

No CATs here, but the school had an entrance exam which probably did the same thing. They split all the applicants into 5 bands then took an equal amount from each. DS1's tutor group, and therefore all the people he has class with, is all from the same band (which I can guess, but we aren't told)

mum71 · 13/09/2009 00:01

My DD started year 7 on Monday. I picked her up (has been catching the bus though since Tues) she was as white as a sheet and dragging her bag on the floor. I told her to "pick it up it's brand new". She said "I can't it's full of books and I have 4 lots of homework". I could barely lift the bag myself. She has had 2-3 lots of homework everyday since. It's been a bit of a surprise as she had absolutely nothing of note in primary school.

I must say that after the initial shock though she has really embraced it. The homework they have set has been lovely and hasn't taken too long.

She loves all her new books and has been showing DS what he has to look forward to. Even teaching us a bit of Spanish! DH and I have been looking at her books with longing, we really want to go back to school!

hatesponge · 13/09/2009 11:38

Am feeling a bit better now as have spoken to DS's friends mum (friend goes to one of the 'better' local schools). Their homework this week was to cover their books

Also DS has got into the year 7 football first team - the teacher was really impressed with him & said he showed real flair & strength (this is quite a big deal for DS as he is quite overweight although sporty, and tends to be written off just on appearance even though he is very good at footie). DS is beaming & so I'm feeling quite happy with the school at the moment!

fircone · 13/09/2009 12:57

Well done to your ds, hatesponge.

I have been covering books like mad. They are very wrinkly. And (I hope ds doesn't notice before he goes to school tomorrow) I managed to snip through the cover of one of his exercise books. I've tried to repair it but it does not look good [fearful emoticon]

moodyblue · 13/09/2009 18:32

Can I join in? DS started year 7 last week. Felt compelled to join in after reading through the posts and laughing at the sticky backed plastic experiences!! DS did offer to have a go at doing his himself but my perfectionist tendency reared its head and made me do it myself even though my lack of spatial awareness meant that I probably made more of a hash of it than he would have!!

Have also had the shock of loads of homework and organisational nightmares. He's loving it though which is great

mollyroger · 13/09/2009 20:40

we are avaragin an hour a night so far and this is the 'easy' stuff....

Schoolsec · 13/09/2009 21:13

like getting blood out of a stone trying to get DS1 to do homework.Knew I should have booked myself into the Priory for all of Sept..

cuppateaplease · 14/09/2009 09:08

Ds has been doing just a little bit of homework each night - not really enough, which is why he had to do quite a bit over the weekend. School recommend that 30mins is needed for each subject - as he is due to get 2 or 3 subjects each night that could be 90 minutes every night! I do feel that sometimes homework is an over rated part of schooling.

We've managed to cover some more books with the stickyback plastic. I always feel you need six arms to get it right. I get Ds to help hold it in place while i try to smooth it accross with a ruler but still manage to get air bubbles. When they're really bad I've been poking the bubbles with a pin and then trying to smooth the air out. mmmmm....... just been thinking there must be a better method than this and remember I've seen plastic covers that go over excercise books and text books - similar to library book covers - must investigate.......

Dazmum · 14/09/2009 11:03

cuppateaplease, great idea! just had a look, about 69p each. DH has only been asked to cover one so far....

Mumwhensdinneready · 16/09/2009 19:25

3 or 4 subjects of homework a night here.Not too demanding so far, he spends about 45 minutes a night on it.

I always thought DS's primary school gave too much homework. He used to get maths and English every weekend and was expected to spend 2 hours a week on it.
However it has stood him in good stead for year 7 because he's used to doing homework.

Pyrocanthus · 16/09/2009 20:17

DD seems to have to write a history of the Middle Ages this week.

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