Starting year 13 2016

[HSMMaCM]

Continuing from the year 12 - 13 thread.

Good luck with continuing studies, uni open days, driving tests, etc.

[HSMMaCM]

Old thread

Year 12-13 AS levels and beyond
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2648201-year-12-13-as-levels-and-beyond

[bigTillyMint]

HSM, at upping pocket money being controlling!
Good that she is opening her mind to other possibilities (if not Classics!) though.

Talking of pocket money, I think we are spectacularly stingy DD does have a job and also babysits so probably earns £30 a week? We give her £25 a month but I will also occasionally sub her a fiver if she is eating out, buy all essential toiletries and undies and the odd pair of leggings, etc. What do you think? She isn't complaining and she saves so has loads in the bank as well as buying way too many clothes and going out partying, so she clearly isn't short!

[LittleHoHum]

Casually mentioned the personal statement to dd last night. She went off to 'have a look at it' and came back knowing all the verses of the national anthem.

Procrastination. She never did enjoy writing or essays.

[dingit]

Ooh this makes it real...

[aginghippy]

DD had to print out her personal statement to bring to a meeting with her tutor today. She tried printing at college yesterday, couldn't get it to work. She tried printing at home last night, couldn't get it to work. Stress levels were high, but I told her I was going to bed and would try and fix it in the morning.

This morning as I was leaving, I told her the printer was ready to go. I am a hero! What I didn't say was that all I had done was switch it off and then on again

[HSMMaCM]

LittleHoHum if there was an A level in procrastination I would enter DD for it.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Mine would get a middling grade in procrastination TBH . She'd get 100% UMS in the room tidying and other domestic skills module but flunk homework - and she used to be really good at that especially the killer IT dependent topics. Hasn't inherited my talents as much as I'd once thought! (no, I shouldn't be on MN right now...)

[MirabelleTree]

Thanks Errol that gives me an idea. I emailed a lady who has taught A level before to see if she does Skype . She doesn't but posted on a forum for me and now we have a number of people who replied and are all experienced tutors whichever such a kind thing to do. DD has found some great online resources that a school somewhere put on line. I just need to find somewhere who will let her sit as a private candidate, I'm going to try her old school.

On the pocket money front that sounds fine BTM. Save your money for next year whilst you can as it sounds like it can be rather expensive !

DD is the queen of procrastination when it's something she doesn't want to do but surprisingly focused when it is something she wants. I hope she wants this A Level..

at the turning printer on and off.

[bigTillyMint]

Same here HSM. She would struggle to get 10% UMS in room tidying though

[MirabelleTree]

DD'S room is immaculate - now she doesn't live here!

[ErrolTheDragon]

The 100% ums is for domestic procrastination, to be clear!

[bigTillyMint]

Mirabelle, I live in hope for that day

[HSMMaCM]

Errol I was jealous for a moment there .

DD does have rapid response skills when it comes to messages from pals, but "I'M DOING IT!" Is a standard response to homework, tidying, etc, which might be done sometime this week.

[ono40]

Mirabelle you asked on the other thread about number of lessons - DS has five lessons per subject per week (10 per fortnight).

BTM, DS has his job which is a bit casual and seasonal, hosting outdoor kids' parties. He doesn't earn much as the work is a bit sporadic but I give him £20 per month for petrol instead of paying £700 pa for the school bus and I give him a fiver here and there for pizzas/cinema etc. His friend works in a pizza place and works all the hours offered to her and she earns (allegedly) £1000 per month with tips but to be honest I'd rather he worked hard on his A-levels and used the job for experience/CV/life skills and a bit of pocket money.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Mine doesn't do any paid work. We live in a village, I can't think of anything local that would be appropriate. She's not interested in clothes, so I get them for her (repeat order of M&S black skinnies mostly). Fortunately, her Arkwright scholarship pays for the electronic bits and bobs, and relevant books, which is her major discretionary spend - very lucky to have earned herself some money that way given the dearth of other opportunities hereabouts.

[bigTillyMint]

DD is very lucky to have a job coaching gymnastics - not at all onerous but quite well paid, and she has been doing it since she was 14.
Just as well, as she loves shopping and partying!

And I can now confirm that DD has 5 x 1 hour lessons for each subject. And she has just about decided to drop Economics as the hated History teacher is now only 1 lesson a week!

[MirabelleTree]

Glad they're all sounding pretty sorted with subjects now and that is helpful to know the amount of hours.

I think I'm making progress. I've had an email from someone who teachex at Imperial and put a student through AS last year plus one through A2, they got A and A* and are both British so they clearly know their stuff .

Next issue is College said she would get extra time in Japanese due to Dyscalculia. I think my best bet is to contact the guy I dealt with there last year and see if that is the case and if they will let her sit the exams there. She's talking about the possibility of using a laptop which I have no idea about at the moment. I think she'll have to sit the AS at same time, am getting clarification on that.

[OddBoots]

Back to college for ds today, he would normally log in to get his timetable but he had to change his password for his college account the other day and can't remember what it is. He can only get it reset at college so is getting there early to get it sorted.

I am looking at Justin Craig revision courses for Easter, they seem really expensive but they might be worth it if they make a difference. Has anyone got any experience?

[teta]

Hooray,mine are all back at school today.We did very last minute shoe shopping yesterday.Last years uniform is tight as they've gone chubbier over the holidays.
Mirabelle,it sounds hard organising work remotely but you're doing a good job.I'm very envious of your clean room as all bedrooms here are coated with wet towels and clothes .

[ono40]

If anyone is thinking of going to Nottingham open day then make sure you book ASAP. Last night all the history talks for Saturday were booked up and there wasn't much left on Friday. I have booked for DS and his friend to go on Friday. if you are booking train tickets, look at the price of open returns as these were actually cheaper than the price of a timed train on the way back.

[bigTillyMint]

Well we had a drama last night at 11pm because DD couldn't get her laptop to send her homework and she is still dithering about which subject to drop. Plus added drama of friend being moved to a different group for another subject. But she went off this morning.

Teta, do yours have to wear uniform for sixth form?

[Horsemad]

Hello Everyone! Sounds like they're all settling into U6 nicely!

DS is dropping F Maths, is not doing an EPQ but some financial studies certificate which is equal to the EPQ in points but not as onerous (he says...)

Our latest whinge here is the bus. They have changed bus companies and the route now means he's last to get on (completely different stop to where he's got on for the last 6 yrs) along with about 15 others and the bus is full at that point so it's standing room only. We pay £500 for this! Also, they are all having to cross an extremely busy road with an additional junction which is an accident waiting to happen, so lots of parents unhappy.

DS is now going to walk further into the village and catch it at a different stop so he gets a seat! Gotta love these transport cuts

[aginghippy]

My dd hasn't decided which subject to drop either. She needs a crystal ball to see which one will get her the better grade.

DP suggested giving herself a deadline of the end of September to decide. Is that more procrastination? The college are happy for her to do whatever she wants, including continuing with all four.

[bigTillyMint]

ageinghippy, that's exactly it! DD wants to make the perfect choice. Maybe she will have decided by the end of her first day back. I don't care - just want her to get on with it!

[teta]

No Ono,but the other three do.They all do masses of sport in term time so become very skinny.Too much Nutella and croissants over the summer!