I've come here to gloat a little bit

[Ormirian]

because the school think my DD is G&T!

She is spending the day at a G&T science workshop and is going on a Forensic Science residential course over Easter.

I've never had a G&T child before. Mine are usually 'ah yes.....J. What can I say about him?' or' doing ok, would do better if he wasn't so laidback'. So I am unreasonably excited

Don't kick me please. I don't often get a chance to gloat.

And also to ask how long does it take before you stop imagining the clink of ice sgainst glass and the hiss of tonic water when you hear the term G&T?

[exexpat]

for you! Hope she enjoys the courses.

I have a feeling you are in my part of the world (Bristol/south-west) so is the course at Kilve Court? I've been given info on the courses there and keep thinking they look like fun, but have never actually got round to booking either of the DCs on to one, and I don't know anyone else who has - so I'd be really interested to hear how it goes. What year is she?

[Ormirian]

Yes ex! It is! She is very excited about it. School booked her onto it.

[exexpat]

Does she have a friend from school to go with? That's one thing that has put me off booking my younger one on to anything - she's yr3, and I think would be a bit nervous about going away for a weekend without anyone she knew. DS is yr8 and would probably be fine, but his school does a lot more for them anyway.

[Ormirian]

Yes she does. Her best mate at school is similar to her in interests and abilities so she is going too.

[exexpat]

Even more exciting! Please report back after Easter?

[Stropperella]

The courses at Kilve are very good. My dd went on a couple last year (as did many of her friends) and had a great time. The facilities are really well-run and apparently the food is great. My dd is going on a weekend residential there again in May. Would have liked to send her for more, but she is going on an expensive school trip to France at the end of the summer term and we can't afford for her to do more at Kilve. My only caveat is if your dd loves the course, she will definitely want to go back and do more. Could get expensive! :) I have heard particularly good things about the Rocket Science and Robotics courses.

[Ormirian]

Bugger! Course is oversubscribed

I thought it was taking a long time to get a confirmation.

[exexpat]

What a shame! Have you looked at the list of courses to see if there is anything that might do instead?

[Ormirian]

Yes I had a quick look but nothing much left that she was interested in. School gave me the form to fill in after inviting her to go. I filled in form and sent it back to school. Two weeks later it came back to me with a note telling me to send it to Kilve myself. So I did. Obviously too late. Bit pissed off TBH. I assumed they had arranged it all with the place beforehand.

But I will try and book something for her indepdently over the summer perhaps. Her friend got it though

[Stropperella]

Oh no, that's a real shame. And frankly feeble of the school not to send the form off for you.

[Ormirian]

Yes it was! I think this sort of thing is a new departure for them - they have organised a course with the Smallpeice Trust for engineering. I tried to get DS1 on it instead of the one I had already booked him on - they screwed that up too

Hoping they get more organised in the years to come....

[Stropperella]

Posting in haste as have to dash off for school run (and it will be a run), but have you checked out the G&T courses at Leeson House in Swanage? They do many of the same ones (with same tutors) as Kilve. I know it's probably a long way to travel, but might be worth a look. Kilve is a long way for me, but worth it...

[Ormirian]

Thanks stroperella. I will have a look but we are already driving DS1 to Shropshire at Easter so I don;t want to book her into anything that involves a drive! Kilve is about 10 miles away from us so would have been perfect. But I will have a look.