New Batch of Year 13 parents this way!

Thankyou all for the suggestions. The problem with cancellations around here is that you can’t register to be on the cancel list if you already have a test booked - you have to do one of the other.
DD has a busy few weeks with competitions and school show etc so she knows there will be several days/times that she just wouldn’t be able to do, so the cancellation list feels a bit risky. She’d rather have a definite date booked.
She will use her driving instructors car, so has to use dates he’s available too but he seems pretty flexible.
Yay to the first paragraph Raspberry!! That’s definitely the hardest bit done.

I was going to suggest chocolate!

When ds1 took his test for the first time we told him to think of it as a mock. When he failed we told him he could use his bloody mirrors the information gained positively for the next one.

One of the reasons there is a long wait is that there has to be a car available. Both ds1 tests were booked at short notice as I checked the website every day. As ds1 was using my car it was always available to him. Would your Dd be able and happy to drive yours?

Retaking driving tests - DS1 checked 2 or 3 times a day for cancellations when he was in that position. His instructor told him to check as often as he could manage. He ended up resitting 2 weeks after his failed test - couldn't have retaken it any sooner as you had to wait 2 weeks. Good luck.

Lobster huge sympathies with the tonsillitis. Hope she gets on top of it and it doesn't come back.

Drum roll - DD has written a paragraph of her PS!

There's a cancellation company for driving tests. I think you pay £20 and they text you with cancellations in your area.

Glad she is feeling a bit better.

Thankyou Marmite, hot chocolate and films have put a smile back on her face. (Although I think a kitten would have put a bigger one on! )

I said the same Kitten, think of it as a mock. The thing that’s making her really miserable is that it’s a 9+ week wait now for the next available test. She probably would have taken it much better if she could have another go in a couple of weeks or so, but the end of December feels like a long way off right now.

Very glad to hear the car got sorted and you got away for a few days catslife.
Coursework is keeping DD busy too, French and History both due in around the same time. It seems steady rather than frantic at the moment though, fingers crossed it stays that way.

Hesmylobster could you make a little care package, with some fluffy slippers, sachets of nice hot chocolate, new mug etc?

He's your lobster. New pyjamas, a hot choc with marshmallows and a snuggly evening watching dvds usually works here.

DD is recovering from a nasty dose of tonsillitis. She’s been off school the past 3 days.
She went in this morning for an exam but had to come home straight after as she felt so rubbish.

She failed her driving test last week too, so is feeling particularly sorry for herself

I’m trying to think of ways to cheer her up. Any ideas?

I understand that they have the "apply after results" system in France. But most students go to their local university rather than moving away from home and the French bacc exams are earlier (May) with results in July. If my understanding of the local papers is correct (rather rusty O level) there was a problem this year as too many student passed the Bacc meaning there was a shortage of places!
We managed to get away for the second half of half term, if that makes sense and car problem sorted. The RAC were more helpful and supportive than the garage though!
dd is busy working on her Art portfolio for A level coursework.

It works really well in Scotland where offers are based on Higher results (broadly AS but not). There, you only really get a conditional if (like me!) your Higher results are a bit poor, and you could do better. It is much more normal for able DC to have a stack of unconditional offers to compare. So much simpler and less stressful for at least some DC. At least that is how it was in the olden days, and I think still is in most cases.

Agreed OYBK- after results would make it so much easier! Am reading back through the thread - which universities are offering unconditionals??? Or is this for those with results already?

Yikes Starfleet, a rejection this early must feel brutal.
Although better than waiting until March and then getting the rejection I suppose? Which is what DD is expecting from at least one of her choices.

Good Luck with finalising your DS’s application.

Part of me does wish we had a different system where DC just all applied after A level results.

DS hasn't submitted yet...hopefully anytime in the next couple of weeks.

One of his cohort has had a rejection from one of their choices. The whole process is making me slightly anxious...

Xmas, that's great news.

I think the cut off for one of the universities was two years before the application, at least one had no time limit and one took into account placements booked but not completed.

I can't remember more than that as ds1 was fully aware of what he needed to do so I nagged from a distance took a back seat. I know that he has been able to talk about all of the placements in his ps as well so definitely beneficial.

Thanks littledrummergirl...I knew he'd need to get various work experience and suspected that each uni would have different requirements, but what are the timescales? He's only 14 at the moment, and has three years before applying, so if he went by current requirements is it likely they'd change before he applies?

DD is not an early applicant but submitted her application last Tuesday and was thrilled to get her first offer on Thursday - it did take her until Friday to read it properly and find out that it was an unconditional though. At the moment it's from her second choice but they have invited her for a full day visit so she will do that before making a final decision (and of course depends if she gets other offers).