Aren't kids brilliant...!!!

[Halifaxmum]

Halifax son brought home his Year 10 report today - his For Funks Sake (Government) predicted GCSE grades gave him As, Bs and Cs (due to, according to him, the fact that I'm a single mum on minimum wage, living in a not-great neighbourhood)

His school's teacher-predicted grades are 11 A and A*s at GCSE. He has already achieved a B in Maths and an A in Science.

All this and he has had 6 weeks off this term with glandular fever. He is the shining light in my life. I really don't want to show off, but I'm so proud of him, he's not had it easy, he really is a star! Aren't kids just brilliant!

[sherrardk]

Hi Halifaxmum - boy 11, boy 7, girl 6 and girl & boy 3.

[Halifaxmum]

wow sherrard, got your hands full then!

how'd u cope? x

[sherrardk]

It was hard work when the things were little, but now it's no problem, just takes a bit of forward thinking.

[Halifaxmum]

yes, what a lovely family you've got :)

kids really are the light of your life aren't they...

i enjoy my work and i love my partner, but the kids make me whole :)

[New Judge]

I’m reluctant to dampen your enthusiasm, Halifaxmum, and I’m sure that Halifax Junior is a hard working and talented pupil. However, the notion that a pupil can achieve top grades in eleven subjects is just daft and is indicative of the huge “grade inflation” and “subject splitting” that has occurred in recent years.

I went to a very good school. It was a direct-grant grammar school and a sizeable proportion (by the standards then) of pupils went on to university, many of them to Oxford, Cambridge and Durham. It was unheard of for anybody then to achieve more than perhaps seven ‘O’ Levels (the equivalent of top grade GCSEs) and most competent pupils got about five. Two ‘A’ Levels was the norm (pupils only studied two or three subjects at ‘A’ Level, but in far greater depth than today).

There seems to be “celebration in numbers” with GCSE’s today and it is engendering false expectations in children by believing they have achieved far more than they have simply by dint of numbers.

[sherrardk]

New Judge - whilst I get your train of thought, Halifax Son is going to be judged against his peers not his elders. If the goal posts keep being moved it's not fair to judge children year on year. We should stop being so hard on today's youngsters and give them credit for doing well. Yet again, well done.

[I.Don No]

in answer to your question...yes, kids are brilliant, in fact they are the best of all our achievements.

[starone]

Love should be factored in as well I reckon. It is lovely to have a young man who can give you a reason to be proud of him. Must admit to eyes brimming reading this thread.

[Nosha123]

How lovely to hear how proud you are of him! Thats lovely...

[Sgt.Rock]

Every parent goes on about their kids having A stars in every subject under the sun but most kids are unable to spell and do basic maths. Something not right obviously.
ps Your use of sound alike swear words is nauseating

[rowanwitch]

Don't be unkind Sgt Rock... If you don't want to join in a little celebration for someone who sounds like reasons to be joyful don't come along very often why join in at all.... Sometimes that phrase from Bambi makes a lot of sense....

Halifax mum... sounds to me you are the one who needs to be congratulated...

[Sgt.Rock]

Witch - not being unkind - just telling the truth, sorry if you find it uncomfortable. It is not the fault of the kids they are victims of ever falling standards in education. My friend works training new young starters in a bank and is often flabbergasted by the poor numeracy and literacy standards of kids with a string of high grade qualifications.

[Bobbisox]

Sgt, Rock, don't dampen this proud Mum's achievement, reached by over coming obstacles, be happy for them both

[sunny-dave]

@Sgt - suggest an apology over the 'nauseating' comment.

Halifax typed F.F.S (without the ..) which is actually some sort of Government scheme thingie, but got filtered by the AB censor software into "For Funks etc"

[Sgt.Rock]

Like I said the kids can only do their best with what is put in front of them and well done to Halifaxson for his acheivements.

[Sgt.Rock]

Why does anyone feel the need to post pseudo swear words on here? Totally needless.

[Bobbisox]

sgt, part of the rich tapestry of life I'm afraid and AB reflects just that

[rowanwitch]

They can only pass the exams they are set...they might not be able to do the A levels etc I did in the 1970s for example...but we might not in turn be able to pass their versions,,, Exam grades are either percentile based or maked against set criteria with no maximum numbers scoring any particular grade so if a student does well against either criteria they still deserve acknowledgment

[Sgt.Rock]

Same explanation for the f**k in a follow up post Dave. Suggest an apology to me?

[Euphemia]

Well done to your son doing so well despite his glandular fever. He is lucky to have such a supportive Mum!