Bailarin Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I honestly can't believe we have another month of finals yet. Have had a call from DD's school about how worried they are with her motivation slipping right before the GCSE exams (Art at the end of this month). I don't know why they do them so early and don't leave them until June to do anyway. I said she is so tired from travelling and the emotional stress of the auditions I'm not surprised she has switched off. She now has a detention (when she hasn't actually done anything wrong other than just not keeping up with the amount of stuff they expect to see in her art workbook) and after school catch up three nights a week. Wish I could do it for her but instead I have to tell her to get on with it and give her a kick up the butt! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circe Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Thanks for sharing that Bailarin as I was thinking it must just be my dd that is having a struggle. As you say each audition has an emotional impact and it is hard to keep tuned in to everything at once. Teachers and other students are saying they have/should have started revision and my dd just keeps shutting down altogether as she can't find the time to focus on the mountain of work and commitments that she has. Maybe we planned for her to do too much but I had this idea that she would kick in to super organised mode but if anything the opposite has happened. As soon as we get finals out of the way I think we will have to reduce my dd's dance commitments so she can finally focus on her GCSE's but end of March seems a long way away at the moment! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 It's the GCSE art coursework that's the killer isn't it?!! At long last, dd has managed to catch up with hers, she spend several days (the only spare 3 days we had) over half-term doing it, so she's feeling a lot happier about that now. Her school attendance officer has started getting a bit twitchy too... but they now have the dates of her finals and there is an end in sight they are a bit more comfortable with it. DD counting the days until she goes onto study leave 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailarin Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Yes. For some reason I was thinking the exams all started after the dance finals and didn't realise she actually had an exam this month. She has never really needed my guidance so I've always just left her to it and feel bad she hasn't shared how she was feeling about things. She did used to spend hours doing her art work at home and have now realised I haven't seen her doing this for a while but stupidly assumed all the exam work had to be done in school hours and kept there so didn't question it. Have decided there will be a full two weeks of no dancing at Easter and asked her dance teacher to postpone her RAD exam so she can forget about that for now too. I, like you, thought she would just get herself organised and get on with it. I think perhaps if she thinks she is secure in getting a B/C grade she has just switched her attentions to the subjects where she is more worried about results. Long talks needed tonight and a bit less worrying about final auditions! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailarin Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 My message crossed with yours taxi4ballet so didn't see it. Feel relieved she is not the only one suffering (don't mean that how it sounds... I don't want anyone to suffer!! I just mean glad to see it only a human reaction and so she shouldn't feel she is failing in any way) but not sure how to support her really. She's very good at art but is a very slow worker (like me!!) so this is where the problem is I think. Have told her to get anything in her book which is better than nothing and worry about the quality later if she finds time to re-do any of it!! Thought art was an easy option! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I've said it before: GCSE art is a huge amount of work and I don't think that children (or their parents) fully appreciate this when they chose their options. I don't want to depress you, Bailarin, but GCSEs start in early to mid May and many if not most of the exams are taken before the May half term holiday. I strongly recommend revision guides and workbooks, particularly if your child's notes are a bit patchy or disorganised (as my son's were for certain subjects). Make sure that you get the right ones; there are different ones for different exams (GCSE or IGCSE) and different boards and schools generally use different boards for different subjects. Would withdrawing from art GCSE be an option if it's too much at this stage? It may be better to have one less GCSE and higher grades. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailarin Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Thanks Aileen. I think everything else is fine. She just had a nightmare with a science teacher (who is now being sacked but sadly too late for most of this year group that she has already hindered!) which has affected grades but everything else is on track thankfully. Definitely didn't appreciate the amount of artwork involved in the GCSE Art no, I don't think they really made it clear at options either or we would have rethought then. It's not worth withdrawing as she is pretty secure in getting a C I think so that's better than nothing. If she works harder she can get that B hopefully. She's already done two other exams and passed those and has a place at a science/maths 6th form if the ballet doesn't work out so we are trying to just go with the flow and not stress over anything too much. Will chat with her tonight and order some more workbooks and whatever else she things will help, good idea thanks. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circe Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) You're right abou thte exam timetable aileen and I have finally managed to find the timetable on school website so have plotted a timetable on behalf of dd that is looking very tight. Have also heard GCSE art is a killer becuase of the amount of prep needed. I expect anyone who has got this far would want to soldier on but I guess always worht considering what has to give. Edited March 3, 2015 by chaperone 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Its undoubtedly a very difficult time for both DC and their parents. Art is definitely a subject with a heavy workload - especially now but there are many other subjects with the practical component coming to a head as well - all before the Easter break and then exams start in May and if your school is like ours then there is very little study leave so don't bank on having the extra time close to the exams. Our school keep them there until just before the half term and as Eileen says many of the exams are done by then. Cutting back on dance after the finals is a very good idea. You just have to remind them that this hard work slog is short term and that they have a lovely long summer to look forward to when they can catch up with their friends and dance as much as they want. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Its her Life Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Feel for you all ..... this was the situation 2 years ago with my daughter, so I can really sympathise. She struggled with juggling the final stages of Art GCSE with finals of auditions. I was so glad in the end to never see a paint brush, pallette or pastels ever again! Just as bad was receiving the results from finals in April, only to find you were on the 'waiting list' for a particular school and then having the stress and suspense of waiting to see if you gained a place whilst doing GCSE exams. By the end of it all, it took a toll on my health. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I think that the moral of the story is that serious dance students should not do art GCSE and avoid other GCSEs with a large practical component close to the summer exams. I know nothing about DT but I imagine that that could be problematic as well as you probably need to be at school to do coursework as you need equipment/machinery. On another thread I discussed dance GCSE, which my DD has now decided against as she is concerned that it will take up too much time in the spring term and she wants to take part in her ballet school's big show (which comprises a full length ballet and a tap and modern performance) which takes place every other February half term. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I suppose Aileen it may depend on what your alternative to being a dancer is!! If you are on the Arts side and are good at Art etc then your alternative may be a career in design or film or you may even want to go to Art school as your second choice career so to speak ......so it's not always so easy to just give up Art if this is the case. Obviously if you have a career in mind which is more academic as second choice then yes probably drop the Art in that case. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailarin Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Now add into the dance/academics mix a boyfriend and you have the recipe for a complete breakdown.... and that's just from the mother!! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Thank you for very useful advice about Art GCSE - hadn't considered the timing implication and the volume of practical work. It's options evening at DD's vocational school on Friday and I think I will be suggesting that art should not be her back up choice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Art does however seem to be a popular option at vocational schools - I think they are more aware of how to schedule things whereas ordinary schools think they are the only priority a student has. Dd definatly will NOT be taking art. At her last parents evening the teacher said she "tried hard" & that's all she can ask for! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 My DD has chosen not to do Art at GCSE despite it being one of her best subjects. I feel very sad about it being arty myself but she has taken on board lots of feedback from older friends about the amount of out of school work involved and has decided she is not willing to drop any dancing to do it. I hope she doesn't regret it ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I would be relieved Loulabelle if I was you! My dd always enjoyed art and spent alot of her free time relaxing creating something. She got so bogged down in her GCSE art it killed her passion - she hasn't picked up a pencil, brush or sketch book since the exams last summer. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat09 Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I would be relieved Loulabelle if I was you! My dd always enjoyed art and spent alot of her free time relaxing creating something. She got so bogged down in her GCSE art it killed her passion - she hasn't picked up a pencil, brush or sketch book since the exams last summer. Same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 My niece is at art college and after seeing the amount of work she had to do to get her A* at GCSE I advised DS (who loves and is very good at art) not to take it as a GCSE. Luckily he took my point and now just enjoys drawing etc as a relaxing past time. It does seem such a disproportionate amount of work/time commitment compared to other subjects. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 I've started this thread at the suggestion of Nana Lily as the posts I have moved into it are moving off topic from "News from upper school auditions". The original topic is here if you want to look at the earlier posts leading up to this discussion: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/8776-news-from-upper-school-auditions/page-7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Our GCSE experience… DD did GCSE Art. It was compulsory at her school to take one practical/creative subject at GCSE. Even though she had already taken GCSE Music in Year 8/9, she HAD to then pick another one for her Year 10/11 options. Art was a HUGE amount of work, more than any other subject. It involved her sometimes having to go into school at half term and some Saturdays to get the coursework finished. For weeks the kitchen was full of pastels and paint and glue and latex, and seemed to involve us running round at the last minute when she realised she run out of this or that – usually something specialist that could only be found at an art shop that was closed… We were all thoroughly sick of Art by the end of it! Her school would make students who were falling behind in core subjects drop GCSE Art if they were taking it. By the end of Year 11 the class was down to half the initial intake… She had opted not to take some GCSEs that were on offer as twilight subjects, including Dance, because she thought that it would take up too much time and interfere with her dance classes. Her school was supportive of her dance whilst not being particularly interested. If she needed time off for a dance-related activity, we would just write and say. We kept it to an absolute minimum and the school never objected. DD went to a large inner city comprehensive and I think if pupils were doing well at school and didn’t cause any trouble, the school was happy for students to have a serious focus on something outside of school. They had enough pupils with other issues that they had to deal with! I’ve been quite shocked reading some stories on the forum about schools refusing permission for this and that. Her dance school had written to her school in about Year 8 explaining about her dance ability. Maybe that helped. DD managed 8 A* and 5 As while doing about 25+ hours of dance a week, six days a week, which was better than I dared hoped for, as she had really lost focus on GCSEs by the end – they do seem to drag on and on for ever. She tried hard not to miss any dance classes during the middle of GCSE time but did in the end miss about three or four when she thought she had better revise instead. As for GCSE Art, her Art teacher at school had actually been at vocational ballet school, one of the big ones, as a young person. She never ended up dancing professionally, and of course, even if she had done, as we all know, dance careers don’t last for ever and people need to find other talents (hopefully) and have other careers! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Wow! That's very impressive rowan. One very talented young lady. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 That is incredible Rowan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 For those going through Year 11 now with their dancing children, you have my sympathy! We're right in the middle of it again with one of my non-dancing, less academic, children, which brings its own pressures... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nana Lily Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 I have two DD's at vocational school, one in year 11 and one in year 10, both doing Art GCSE. At both of their schools they do fewer GCSE's than had they gone to the local school at home. We had a dash to the local art shop before it closed on Saturday to buy supplies... and I have learned now that the local department store isn't the best place to buy supplies... While there is a lot of work to get through both are enjoying the subject and seem to find it a welcome change from core academics. I am the least 'arty' person you will ever come across, if I draw something it looks like something a two year old has attempted, so I am in awe of the work they produce. One is more 'fine art' the other is very textiles and 3D (not that I have a clue, but attempting to explain their different skills). Look at your own child, what pressures and releases they need as well as how well run their art department is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailarin Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 Well I'm a total idiot because I encouraged DD to take Art and also DT (Textiles)!! She is having to stay after school to catch up on work and tonight BOTH teachers wanted her to stay behind at the same time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aballetlife Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 hang in there everyone's DC's!!! I nearly took art but at the end of year 9 I started to worry about it as I knew how much work it involved particularly outside of school especially as I was always finishing off class work at home! I ended up taking GCSE dance instead which now I'm really glad of as the choreographic aspect (which I hated at the time) has really helped me as now I'm at vocational school and quite a lot of our course involves choreography aswell! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 My DD loved art but was wary as she had been warned of the workload by her friends at ballet (dancing with older ones helped sometimes) so she chose textiles - a little anxiously as her art was better than her sewing but it was a wise choice - not just for workload (textiles is still heavy) but for the fact that while at vocational school in sixth form she has had numerous costumes to alter to fit her - taking in, letting out, sewing extras onto leotard bases, taking a shop bought item and adapting it - last holiday she even brought home a tutu overlay (originally from the ROH) which was too short in the body after the last person had altered it so she had to alter it back again. Textiles has proved very useful to her. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melody Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 When did art become such a nightmare? I remember taking art O-level and it wasn't any more work than any other subject. It sounds as though it's making disproportionate demands on the pupils who take it, and I was wondering if there was a reason or if there was a way of giving feedback to the examination boards that the workload was unreasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 It probably isn't unreasonable - just that dancers aren't at home often enough to do it! I suppose you can do coursework/homework or revise most subjects by taking a book or laptop with you in the car/train or while waiting for your turn at rehearsals etc, but art isn't really portable enough. The other subject dd thought about doing (and decided against) was drama, because at the open evening before she chose her options we asked about the level of commitment outside school hours and were told there would be a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I think the problem with Art GCSE is the concentration of hours at this particular time of year rather than the workload over the 2 year GCSE course. Design subjects like textiles, food, graphics are typically 60% practical with the finished product due in around Easter time in the final year (coursework element). For art this is the portfolio which has prep stages as well as finished pieces. Design GCSEs then have a theory/written exam paper taken with all the other GCSEs in the May/June period. Art is different because the final exam is also practical - 10 hours in length to produce a finished piece of work and usually undertaken in one week towards the end of March. However, the students are given the theme in advance and all the prelim sketches, observational drawings etc that lead up to the final piece/project are done before hand and worth typically 3/4 of the marks. So depending how organised the school and the student are they could be finishing portfolio work and doing the final exam prep work this term. On the plus side there is nothing more to do for Art when all the other exams gets started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawberyy Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 My dd took GCSE Art and Textiles at her grammar school. But apart from the textile teacher, who happened to be her form mistress, allowing her to hand in her work a couple of days late I don't remember any issues with the work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzpaws Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Art is the killer, we didn't realise how much coursework was involved ! It's probably OK in a lot of cases, but DD only had 1 evening a week off, with the weekend days full as well. She was probably an extreme case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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