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Secondary education

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

Original poster

REUNION of all the MNetters with our DD/DS who are about to start their GCSE courses {Year 10}

45 replies

RTKangaMummy · 02/09/2009 21:17

Hello everyone

I can't believe that Kangaboy is about to start his GCSE courses ~ year 10

I thought I would start a thread for those who went through the 11+ with me all those years ago ~ blimey where did the time go

He is doing:

ENGLISH
MATHS
FRENCH
BIOLOGY
PHYSICS
CHEMISTRY

and then his choices are:

LATIN
D&T {resistant materials}
DRAMA

He wants to be an actor in the theatre or work in the theatre in some way ie set design or lighting {his D&T project is to design and build a stage set}

How are all yours doing?

OP posts:
janeite · 02/09/2009 21:32

Not seen you on here for ages. I always thought that kangaBoy was younger than dd1 but clearly not, as she also starts Yr 10 this time.

Her choices were Art, Geography and French plus triple Science and all the usual suspects. I find it hard to believe that I am old enough to have a KS4 daughter!

Milliways · 02/09/2009 21:33

Hellooooo

DS has the Core:
Eng Lang + Lit, Maths,Physics, Chemistry, Biology & RE

and his options were:
History
Geography
Latin
French

He is also doing the ECDL in place of IT.

He asked today if this is the year they do work experience

Great to see you back here - where have you been?

frogs · 02/09/2009 21:38

Kanga, I want a proper update on your ds -- how's it all going for him? Was the school a success?

Dd1 doing all academic subjects for her options -- her choice.

English lang
eng lit
RE
maths
double sci
french
german
latin
history
geography

that's it, i think? I was a bit lairy about the school only offering double science, but they have v. good science A level results, so presume it's all okay.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/09/2009 21:41

Been away and RL getting in the way of MNetting

Weird thing is DS has RE in his timetable but not a choice so not quite sure why... as some of the boys have opted for RE so they will have extra

It is only as one lesson a week but confusing anyway

I am not sure if he also has IT/computers as well

what is ECDL?

As it is a boys school he doesn't have lessons with girls but the girls school are going to be doing CCF with him once a week and also in the school performance this term

OP posts:
janeite · 02/09/2009 21:43

They all have to do RE, by law. Some schools therefore enter them for a half GCSE based on the compulsory course. Others just give them a short lesson a week without exam. Those who want to do a proper GCSE in it have to opt for it and then have more lessons.

Ponders · 02/09/2009 21:50

ECDL is European Computer Driving Licence (I think)

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/09/2009 21:51

frogs I have just asked DH who is HOD Chemistry and he says the A level syllabus is based on children doing double science so should be ok

Kangaboy is now taller than me at 5'9"

His train tracks braces came off today after 3 years

yes it was deffo the right school for him

He loved Latin and Greek that is taught here but he had to choose one of them so he could do Drama as he is passionate about the theatre

He loves all the extra cirricular stuff esp the music and drama

OP posts:
Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/09/2009 21:53

Thanks for the info re ECDL and RE

So do they have to do IT in some way too?

OP posts:
Milliways · 02/09/2009 21:53

RE is a full compulsory GSCE for DS, they do Philosophy b& Ethics I think (like DD).

ECDL = The European Computer Driving Licence. They work through several levels but in their own time.

Frogs: ours have almost identical options! Swap German for triple science.

Oh, and DS starts term with a recovering broken arm (in splint now) and left last term with same arm in cast for a different break! What a summer for him

supersalstrawberry · 02/09/2009 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

janeite · 02/09/2009 21:55

Yep - dd has just been complaining how much she HATES ICT because all she'll ever need to know is how to switch the internet on and it will tell her how to do anything else they might teach her, she says!

The problem with ICT lessons as well, is that they are out of date almost before the schemes are written and most of the pupils know more than the teacher in some cases.

Milliways · 02/09/2009 21:55

RTKM - did Kangaboy have the option of classical civilisation? DS was offerred Ancient Greek and classical civilisation as alternatives. He was tempted by classics as no translation, lots of history etc, but stuck with the known Latin

Ponders · 02/09/2009 21:56

My son has just done his GCSEs - state grammar with no RE (unless as part of PSE maybe?) RE was an opt-in subject choice when he was in Y9. Has this changed?

martianbishop (miss her! ) always said double award was plenty before science A level

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/09/2009 22:00

It is the translation of Greek and Latin that he loves doing

OP posts:
Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/09/2009 22:02

your poor DS milliways

OP posts:
Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/09/2009 22:05

janeite

DS doesn't really like ICT but he has learnt alot in it

One of his friends certainly could have done his GCSE last year as he spends 24/7 on the computer

DS uses it for writing playscripts rather than writing programs for the computer IYSWIM

OP posts:
Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/09/2009 22:25

btw Thanks for the welcome back and the hellos

OP posts:
pipsqueak · 02/09/2009 22:29

my dd too - not in the grammar system but she is doing
eng lang and lit
maths
RE half course
3 sciences
music
drama
history
spanish
some sort of ict thing not sure what
sounds like fiercely ahrd work - eek

frogs · 02/09/2009 22:32

dd1 still in the midst of traintrack braces, sadly.

Glad Kangaboy is doing well.

siouxsieandthebanshees · 02/09/2009 22:48

I was on the 11+ thread with you.
I change my name a lot, so god knows what it was back then.

DD is doing.
Core subjects - Maths, Biology, Chem, Physics, Eng Lang and Lit, RE
Spanish
German (as an extra, but will count towards her Duke of Ed)
Philosophy (as a full GCSE but during RE/PSE classes)
Statistics
Geography
ITC
Design Tech

Too much in my opinion.

magnolia74 · 02/09/2009 23:05

Wow....3 years since we were all last here worrying about them starting secondary!!

Dd1 is doing:
English
Maths
Science
Business Studies
Food Technology
Drama
German
R.E
I.T

She wants to be a vet so lots of hard work ahead

snorkle · 03/09/2009 08:15

Shouldn't be here really as ds is starting year 11 & dd year 9.

BUT I wanted to say a big hi to Kanga!

& wish your dcs all the best with their GCSE courses - I think it's really nice for them to finally get some choice over what they study & hopefully drop the subjects they're least keen on.

mumblechum · 03/09/2009 10:14

Hi everyone, especially KangaMummy. I remember when ds started yr 7 you and KangaBoy gave some good advice about making friends for him as he found it tough at first.

Good to hear that KangaBoy has his heart set on being in the theatre.

It's ds's 15th birthday today. He's the eldest in the year and starts school tomorrow.

They have to do 12 GCSEs, & he's likely to focus on sciences at Alevel, as currently he wants to do medicine.

Where have those 3 years gone??

Docbunches · 03/09/2009 11:30

I thought I'd join here even tho' I was only lurking back then.

My DS, who is in Y10 at a comp, is taking:-

Compulsory:-

Maths
Eng Lit.
Eng Lang.
Double Science
RE

Options:-

Geography
French
Bus. Studies
Double ICT

Making a total of 11, which may prove to be a couple too many for my DS, but I hope I'm wrong!

My DS's first comment after getting his new timetable was; "apart from PE,there's no easy/fun stuff anymore" .

hennipenni · 03/09/2009 12:07

Crikey, 3 years has gone so fast.

DD is doing music, triple science, history and ICT as well as the complusory ones of which she has already done one module in Maths.