GCSE '18s (20) - half term beckons!

Thanks oratory so reassuring

For all those worried about DCs flying the nest and off to uni, I can offer reassurance in that, after what seems like no time at all, they are back emptying the fridge, filling the washing machine and leaving their wet towels and dirty cups all over the floor :):):)

Pretty sure DD doesn't get a report at all!! She is doing exams today and Friday in her 4 A Level subjects then she has a meeting at the end of next week with the head of year to decide which one to drop. I am not invited.

She will be given her target grades at the meeting too. Mind you, she's enjoying all her subjects so doesn't know which one she wants to give up - and I suspect she will get the same grades for them all too which won't help

We'll get a progress report for DS2 (which will include target grades) in the third week of November.

His teachers have looked at his files to check he is making notes properly, and have reported lesson attendance and level of engagement to the head of year. The head of year will speak to DS2 and us if there's a concern, so no news is good news.

DS school tend to issue them to pupils first then we got access to them on line later, which I think is a good balance. But yes they are aimed at pupils and in the blurb they are very much seen as a tool to help the pupils and their tutors not as a report for parents.

The primary school reports were by pupil post, but this is different: it was addressed to DS1, not me.
I guess it is his education, his life, his future, his responsibility but I wasn't expecting to be disenfranchised so soon!

That might just be the new school, whistl as I've received all reports since primary school via 'pupil post."

DS3's report will just be a grade card next Friday, probably to be found on the VLE somewhere. I think I preferred pupil post!

DS's school report came out yesterday. It was very detailed - the school even know how tidy his folders are! I am used to the traffic light reports that are almost meaningless so it's a big change.

The other big change is the report was given to DS1, not me and DH. I guess the days when the school has a duty to report to me are over.

I guess they all need different things.

The wobble board excercises help with Dds proprioception.

Alexander DD is not allowed to use the wobble board anymore in case she puts her knee out again.
DD has changed her EPQ again! Now she is designing a house - she's awful at art!!
I've embarked on rhinestoning DD's new solo outfit I'm already regretting it!!

Yes, it’s an essential part of a dancers kit along with therabands.

She has excercises from the physio to do on it.

AlexanderHamilton does your DD use a wobble board to strengthen her ankles? If not it might be worth considering as ours has worked wonders on my runner DS.

I've been reading but have been a bit quiet as its all been a bit manic here. We too have in law health problems to add to everything. Fil refusing to be admitted to hospital despite worrying symptoms because mil can't be left tough we suspect some of it is stress.

All quiet from dd though whose ankle seems to be improving.

Well done Jufusjnr - 7 marks up is quite some leap!

Happy birthday to the celebrants in Ellen's house

Dd can't wait to drive too. Dc are very dependent upon me for a lift everywhere - dd has to be driven to her bus stop in the morning as its 2 miles away and we live on a 60mph country road with no pavement (and in places, no grass verge). I love rural living but that aspect of it is a PITA.

Dd's birthday isn't until mid July but we will arrange some off road lessons prior to that so she can familiarise with the cars controls.

I just looked on the secondary school section and they seem to have a GCSE 2019 thread going. Good for them! The 2018 threads were a life saver for me.

DS is working to 10 each evening, plus most of the weekend. He's exhausted! That's the first time ever ( I never had a young child who was tired out by school). Anyway, roll on half-term (and just in time since RMT announced a week of strikes yesterday).

That's encouraging Oratory1

DD1 has coordination issues and sometimes not much awareness and we wondered how she would get on so we made sure she had lots of lessons but she was fine. May be just took longer than some

I'm not sure whether DS2 will be capable of learning to drive. His coordination isn't great. It's possible that he might be able to drive an automatic, if he has a very patient instructor and a lot of lessons.

DD is itching to drive but she doesn't turn 17 until the last day of July next year! She's had a few under 17's driving lessons and the instructor says she's a natural. We live very rural with no bus service so she can't wait to get on the road.

I think some if you have found it already but Marmalade on line insurance is great for learner drivers or for adding ‘student drivers’ in to your car for short periods

DD1 learnt when she was 17 and borrows my car when she s home and occasionally to drive herself and stuff back to uni (for eg if she knows she s going to be back in a week or so so just borrowing it for a couple of weeks). DD2 wasn’t interested and had so much on her plate at the time we left it. And I need to check with DS (17 next month) but I don’t think he ll be interested, although they are allowed to have lessons from school. This isn’t backed by evidence and just an observation but my perception is fewer seem to be learning now than in our day ? May be cost or time ?

DS1 would like to learn to drive. He turns 17 next month. There are some advantages to it but I agree as we're in London he won't actually need to drive that much.
Happy birthdays to Ellen's boys and well done to minijufus on the remark!
I'm pleased to say DFiL has just gone home from hospital - sooner than we expected but with orders to rest for a couple of weeks. DH is heading down there for a couple of days to make sure!

DS1 learnt at 17 and passed just before he was 18. He hasn't driven since. I can't afford to insure him on my disappointingly reliable 1.8 Zafira.

DS2 has no inclination to drive, thank goodness. His ASD makes him rather careless for other people's safety and very poor at waiting.

DS3 will probably start learning at 17, 9 months to go there. Maybe the Zafira will have died by then?

Happy birthdays (one belated) to your DS’s Ellen.

DS’s birthday coming up soon. Will all your DC be learning to drive when they hit 17? DH and I differ on this...We live in London so there would be very little need/opportunity for DS to drive anywhere. No parking at school and it’s invariably quicker to use public transport to get anywhere else in London. Our car wouldn’t be suitable for a learner/new driver so it would mean buying him a car which would spend the vast majority of its time parked on our street (which we have to have a parking permit for.)

DH thinks everyone should learn to drive when young. He and I both passed our tests at 17, but we lived in areas where being able to drive was a real advantage/necessity eg we both used to drive to our respective sixth forms and public transport was rubbish.

I have friends here with older DC who passed their tests at 17 and have barely driven since. Some feel they’d have to have a refresher course before they’d drive again.

It hasn’t been an issue with DD as she wasn’t interested in learning (thank god, she’s so scatty that the thought of her behind the wheel is a scary prospect!) but I think DS would be keen.

I may have to play the environmental card

Birthday season here, DS2's last Sat and DS1 is 21 today. He's been away at uni for his last 2 birthdays as well and with his dad for the previous 2. It's weird, I'd always thought I'd be there to celebrate these milestones but life had a different plan.

My DSs are all happy ATM as well. Hopefully not jinxing anything. If my ExH would stop being a dick life would be rosy.

Congrats on the upgrade, Jufus. That pesky German!