OK - GCSES. Parents and teachers, tell me the truth.

[seeker]

Exactly how hard are they?

My dd is in Year 9 of a grammar school. She is consistently in the top 10% of her year for effort, and does very well in attainment. Not as well, because there are some spectacularly bright girls in her year, but she is working at high level 7 - level 8 in all subjects, except maths, where she is just a level 7. She has just chosen her options, and will get down to proper GCSE work next year (they don't do the early start that soem other schools do).

My question is this. She currently dances til 7 on Mondays, has a paid job most Wednesday evening finishing at 7, rides on Thursdays, finishing at 7.30 and goes to Scouts on Fridays, finishing at 9.30. She then rides again on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons. She tends to go to town with her friends on Saturday afternoons. She's also in the senior choir and the handball team at school. She is working towards her grade 4 in singing and grade 6 in clarinet.

She has never handed in a piece of homework late or badly done - she is very focussed and hardworking.

This isn't going to work in year 10, is it? Something's going to have to give? Writing it down I have no idea how she manages the results she does - she loves to be busy and doesn't want to give anything up. But that really is an insane schedule isn't it?????

You know, I don't think of her as very bright - she's about the middle of her year group so I think of her as sort of average. Amybe I should give her more credit.......!

I have one in yr 11 and one in yr 10. The GCSE courses have just changed so the younger one has already sat some modules - 40 min exams.

Both of mine are very active - particularly the younger one - drama mon night, rugby training tue night, extracurricular music wed night, rugby training thurs night, rugby matches at weekend plus social life! The older one is into slalom and wild water kayaking. He has chosen to restrict this to one day each weekend in order to keep up with coursework/homework.

So I guess my message is that a bright, motivated girl like your dd will understand what is required of her and if it means cutting down some activities then she should be the one to choose to do that.

Everything's relative, isn't it seeker?
There are plenty of schools in the country with c.35% 5A*-Cs.

If you're in a GS where they get ,say,70% A grades, it's a rather different scenario.

Do let her do DoE - it's fab. Ds managed silver starting in year 10 (has now finished it bar the final presentaton) and he had an impossible number of other extras - but in that case they are probably already doing most of what is required for DoE, so it's mainly just the expeditions as extra which are brilliant fun (even in the snow).

She would be able to do music for her skill, riding or dance for her sport, probably some horsey stuff or helping at scouts for volunteering and she might even be able to do her expedition by horse if she could find some other like-minded people.

My son will be finishing Yr 11 in the summer and is predicted 9-10 A's or A* and 2-3 B's and I've never see him do any homework at all! What he does get, he does either in the hour before school-he arrives at 8am-or in his lunch hour. So it is possible to have a life outside school during GCSE's and I think it would be rather beneficial!

DS has after school activities on 4 nights out of 5, rows on Saturdays and quite often rows in races miles away on Sundays.

He's managing to keep it all together but he focusses on the GCSE modules/courswork and sometimes skips the odd homework.

This Easter he's really working, about 4 to 5 hours per day as has tons of coursework all due at the same time and 5 or 6 GCSE modules in May.

I'd say keep up the interests your dd has, she needs a good balance of playing hard as well as working hard. If anything has to give I'd say it should be her p/t job. She seems a bit young to be in paid work tbh.

Thank you everyone. I am very reassured by all these other busy people!
Mumblechum - her paid work is teaching stable management to littlies at Pony Club, and tacking up and generally helping out. She is learning tons as she does it, but I agree - it will be the first to go if necessary.

Something might give...but your daughter is probably intelligent enough to work out what. (although there may be some tears on the way!)

It's once she gets to A level that something will have to give - jump from GCSE to A level can be a shock!!!

"It's once she gets to A level that something will have to give"

That is exactly what is bothering me right now. Ds still of the opinion he can do it all.

I suspect that by A level time she will have discovered boys big time and I will have another set of problems!

DD1 is in year 11 and is doing similar subjects to your DD and is predicted good grades. She has a hectic out of school timetable including gold DOE. I was passing the time of day with the Mum of one her friends the other day and we were talking about cleaning of bedrooms and when I suggested to the Mum that she supply her DD with a duster, she said she might after GCSEs . This particular friend is allowed to do next to nothing in case it interferes with her exams. I'm completely confident that DD1 and her friend will end up with similar GCSE results. I'm also confident that DD1 has had a lot more fun with her out of school activities over the past few years.

DD doesn't have a paid job and that is the one thing that I am reluctant for her to do - she does voluntary work (more than is necessary) as part of her DOE.

Just keep an eye on things - if she's having fun and motivated to do well, it'll be fine.

Did i mention that dd has to do her share of the housework and cooking as well??? [evil mother emoticon!]