Y8-2023/2024

@CatsOnTheChair how is your dc getting on? Were you able to speak to the teacher?

DS is now constantly complaining about being bored in maths. He's finding it too easy, completes the work, and the extra challenges.

@troppibambini6 I love modi Bodi too, very comfortable. I also use cheeky wipes sanitary pads- work very well with heavier periods.

so we have been back nearly 2 weeks and so far so good. DD has been moved in a much better tutor group where there is much less disruption

Nice to see some updates, even though the lack of challenge in maths is still a problem for some. Do keep us posted on any breakthroughs!

Not a great deal to report from this household - hopefully no news is good news...

DD's new teaching group is a welcome break from the social dynamic of her form, and she seems to like all of her new teachers so far.

I would say that she gets a little more homework than last year, but it is on a set schedule and they are supposed to get at least three days in which to do it. We'll see how well the school (and DD!) sticks to the schedule.

We had a Y8 briefing at the school and were told lots of good things about how they would be given lots of advice on how to revise for tests and plan their short-term and long-term studies. Surprisingly, they've got their first internal assessments for a couple of subjects next week! They've hardly had any time to learn anything new😄

I feel like homework has already ramped up a bit here. It might just be that the teachers set less in the run up to the summer holidays, but it feels like a lot more this term. Just about keeping up with it, she makes me laugh because everyone thinks she is super studious and must do her homework early. So her classmates text her to ask what she did and she’s just “I haven’t done it yet”. She is such a procrastinator.

@CouldNotStayAway
We've had some half hearted comments about seating plan changes to get the ones who need challange and extension together. Let's see. She's asked me to contact again in a few weeks to see if things are better....
She also mentioned setting all the kids up with Parallel (which is a maths challange website). I've not got the heart to tell her we took them up on that offer a year ago, and he's been doing it nearly every week!

@CatsOnTheChair that does sound continually frustrating re the maths problem. I hope it improves soon .

For us yr 8 does seem to have brought an increase in homework levels but DD is taking it all in her stride. The hardest thing at the moment is reining in her extra curricular to an acceptable level, she seems to sign up for everything and is a constant whirlwind of what she needs to remember each day 😆

I'd hoped that year 8 would be better than year 7. The first few weeks looked promising, but today he was in tears saying he didn't want to go in.

He still has very few friends, has lunch/break on his own,

He has friends outside school, but actually seems to be worse after spending time with them.

Moving schools isn't an option (all oversubscribed, can't afford private).

I have no idea how to help him.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Have you spoken to the school at all, do they have any suggestions? Any lunchtime clubs he could join, or does his school have a library he could help in? My DD helps in the school library and it's been great for her as it gives a sense of purpose to her break times.

Thanks @RosieRiveting - I spoke to the school last year and they tried to link him up with some other kids, but nothing much came from it.

I think a lot of kids (not him) came from 3 main primary schools and it's almost tribal in who they like/don't like.

He does one club a week which he enjoys, but doesn't seem to be able to link up with people outside this.

Annoyingly they can't use the library at break/lunch as it's in use (staggered lunchtimes).

I'm at a loss.

The other contributory factor is that it's a non-grammar school in a grammar school area, so his friends who went to grammar seem to be having more opportunities and more fun together, while looking down on his school a bit. I think this is why he feels worse after seeing his old friends - but if he doesn't see them he has no one.

@LonelyFlans this is sad to read. It's a shame they can't use the library, my ds is also a library helper, and he loves it. Lunchtimes are spent there or more recently volleyball club.

Does the school offer many lunchtime or after school clubs?

Awful to see there's some superiority complex with his old friends, I can only imagine how it's making n him feel :(

Wonder if another chat with school is worth a shot?
I would contact form tutor and head of year, and if they have designated pastoral care team.

I really hope you're able to find a solution that works for you all :)

Aw @LonelyFlans that sounds hard, and it's rubbish about the library, that was my safe space at school, I'd have been horrified if I couldn't get in there when I needed. Does he do any clubs outside school at all? I remember some of my best friends were people I actually met through youth orchestra, guides etc and was never at school with.

@LonelyFlans so sorry to hear he's not found his tribe. I agree with others that it might be worth talking to the school again - or even your DS doing that himself if he is confident enough. I also second the idea of lunchtime clubs if he can't use the library.

My DD is also having some friendship issues. She's known for a good while that her friendship group just aren't really her people, but she's only just decided that it has got bad enough that she needs to make a change. Their silly behaviours make her uncomfortable, but she doesn't want to upset them.

She has joined two more lunchtime clubs and feels she may find her people here, but it takes time to build a friendship with anyone who also has other friends. At the moment, she would prefer to be alone in the library than with her friends - but they find her wherever she goes!

She has also lost her confidence within her form group - she says as little as possible in the hope that the cool girls won't sneer. She has asked to speak to her form tutor about this today, if only so he knows why she has gone quiet and doesn't think she's turned into a monosyllabic teen!

Hope things are looking better for everyone, especially when it's come to friendship groups.

One more week to go and then it's half term holidays.
Been a bit of longer term, ds seems ok, mixing up the teaching groups has changed friendships.

After the holidays I feel like the rest of the year will fly by!

Just thought I'd pop in and see how things are going for everyone.

We have a parents evening coming up soon, and then in January there will be a meeting to discuss choices! Timetables in year 9 will be planned so that the children have more hours in their chosen subjects (therefore less time spent on subjects they won't study at GCSEs level).
Makes it feel like we need to start thinking GCSEs already 🫤
Thankfully ds is quite focussed and knows what he wants and doesn't want to do already, so hopefully that'll help. They do allow the first term of year 9 for changes, which is good.

Hope everyone's dc are doing well.

They start GCSEs in Y9 at ours so we really will be picking them soon. All kicks off after Christmas too with option evenings and the like. I’m not wild about their approach and I wonder if it’s likely to change after their next Ofsted, but on the other hand my DD is looking forward to being able to leave behind some of her least favourite subjects!

Gosh - it seems so soon! Not heard anything about options in DD's school. I'm pretty sure they don't start GCSEs until Y10, but maybe there will be some gentle movement in that direction, similar to at @CouldNotStayAway's school. They don't tell us much, and parents' evening isn't until April.

There is a lot of political talk about the Israel/Palestine situation at DD's school, which is bothering DD as she is being put under pressure to take a 'side', which she (sensibly) doesn't want to do.

@RosieRiveting it does sound nice to drop the subjects they don't want to study; ds school won't allow drop of any just a sort of slow veer towards increasing hours of chosen ones.

@LetItGoToRuin ah that's a shame. I was worried about ds, current situation and school. I did have a chat with DS, told him to try and steer clear of any discussions as such. Thankfully it's been minimal if anything.
I appreciate you cannot shut down the topic at all, and I guess schools weren't really ready with how to tackle this.

Ooh, I'm glad we're not having to think about options yet, not until year 9 here. DD is going to struggle to narrow her choices I think!

I think my DD should be ok. She's got clear favourites so no angst over "do I do drama or art or music". It's definitely harder if you're more of an all rounder or have a particular passion for all the arts or all the Humanities. That's just a sad thing about GCSEs generally, isn't it? I don't think there's many where you could take art, drama and music if you wanted to. Or history and geography. You run out of options fast once the basics are covered, and then there's timetabling.

Feels like this term has whizzed by! Ds has school until Friday and then back on the 9th. Looking forward to a nice break.

Hope everyone's dc have been doing well.

DD is exhausted from trying to get involved in too many things this term. She looks pale and gets very stroppy at any hints she may be tired! Roll on Thursday which is her final day.

I do hope all your DC are more settled and getting on okay. My DD has her ups and downs, and I still have reservations about whether we made the right decision for her, but on the whole she's a lot happier and more settled than before. I may regret putting that in writing. 😁

Wishing you all a lovely relaxing Christmas break where they can recharge their batteries...before we know it they'll be preparing for year 9!

Have a great Christmas break everyone. Today and tomorrow still to go here, it's such a late finish. And working right up until the end, all sorts of tests happening. It's been a good term here, she seems happy and settled and there have been some great trips. Hope the next term goes as well.

DC school has finished last Friday. I worry about her and hope she finds more friends. She used to have a much larger social circle in primary. I encourage her to join some lunch time or after school clubs. Her friend goes to a few but it's in things she doesn't like. She's scared to go without knowing anyone. I get her. It's hard.

I also hear bits and pieces from the year group facebook group. How the discipline is very strict and kids felt they are being picked on by teachers. I asked DC and she described how scary the teachers are.

At least she still seems happy.

Wish everyone a happy holiday.