A level agony

[intexasatthe moment]

What to do ,what to do - the agony is killing me .

Just wish my son was equally stressed - and yes ,before you say it - no doubt all my fault for stressing on his behalf.

Picture the scene - driving son to school in Pimlico for A level Chemistry exam( because didn't get a place at any local schools a decade ago ,Charter just opening and parents of peers all lying to get a place and I was too high minded to do same ,silly me ) forgotten calculater - do we turn back ,go on ...?

Will hopeless son miss start of exam wandering around looking for replacement ...

All you people stressing about primary school places - think what this might mean in terms of secondary schools and don't get caught like me !

Anyone else in A level agony ?

[Ann]

I've got A levels to look forward next year. Daughter's got GCSE Maths today, French and History later in the week and likewise she's not nearly as stressed out as I am. I would have thought the school could spare a calculator!

Good luck.

[Mamma Mia]

Ann Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I've got A levels to look forward next year.

> Daughter's got GCSE Maths today, French and

> History later in the week and likewise she's not

> nearly as stressed out as I am. I would have

> thought the school could spare a calculator!

>

> Good luck.

Schools usually do lend calculators but there is no guarantee as it depends upon how many students forget to bring them. We have just finished A level anxiety at our house (second time around) and same problem here. I am the only one who is getting stressed! Got a few years break before GCSE/A levels with the younger ones. Hey Ho.

[sillywoman]

We're just beginning the road to GCSE & A level (hopefully) stress here at silly-villa. All ye of greater experience - have you got any top tips for the coming 4 years?

[womanofdulwich]

I sympathise- why don't boys stress? What will happen next year when they are at uni?? how will we manage without them? I will have to strtess for my 14 year old. I was too high minded to lie too- but at least I slept with a clear conscience. It is terribole they get so much study leave- a month off with 6 exams to take- all spread out. Bring on 30th June.:)-D

[intexasatthe moment]

Oh yes womanofdulwich - the void of study leave ,trying to keep the momentum up .

By the time they get to year 13 it feels like it's one endless round of resits .early sits ,mocks ,study leave ...

How the poor teachers get any time to actually teach the syllabus ,I don't know !

[womanofdulwich]

From what I can see being a teacher at secondary school means teaching until Easter, revising form easter to half term and then no teaching for 6 weeks as students are on study leave.

[intexasatthe moment]

Tad harsh I feel ,lower years to consider .

And then all those " intervention " classes they have to provide...

[Ann]

Hi again. How did Chemistry go yesterday? My daughter's maths GCSE paper was 'better than expected'.

English Language today, History part one tomorrow and French later in the week so it's a busy one. But she does seem to have been on study leave for ages.

Perhaps that's what makes it more stressful for parents; a horrible tendancy to expect them to spend all their 'study leave' studying!

[intexasatthe moment]

Hi - Chemistry ok as far as I can judge ," yes ,I think I did well " .

We'll know in August ...

Biology today ,Physics tommorrow .

At least the A level exams are less spread out .

Wish I could anticipate end of exams with more cheerfulness - but it's going to be a long summer ,further extended by delayed start to Autumn term because of building works at his school .

( bit gloomy today ,sorry )

[womanofdulwich]

what an intervention class?

[sian]

what a nightmare intexasathemoment.

Have vicarious GCSEs for next 3 years in a row. Why did I mistakenly believe that I was done with exams when I sat my finals? Physics doesnt make any more sense than it did 30 years ago.

[intexasatthe moment]

"intervention " is I think ( haven't quite got the hang of school speak ,though I know that most sentences should include the word " aspiration " ) another term for booster or revision .

But I think more with the emphasis on " catch up " than revision .

[womanofdulwich]

i think in that case we have managed to avoid any. are they compulsory then?

[intexasatthe moment]

I don't think so .

[Mamma Mia]

I think intervention classes are targetted at students who are struggling, usually provided in small groups, as far as I am aware. One of my daughters who is mildly dyslexic has had extra help in this way.