Year 12 - 2024/25 - Support, Discussion and Looking After Each Other

Politics?

@optimisticvibes I agree with @TeenToTwenties comment about reading NobleGiraffes annual thread before deciding on subjects. Physics involves a huge amount of maths, our school won’t let you take Physics A level without maths A level unless you got a 9 in maths at gcse.

His dad did a physics degree, what does he think your DS should do?

Thanks both that's really interesting. Sounds like a big step up. Any views on physics with core maths?

For DS it is weighing up whether dyslexia and problems with organisation/planning would be more difficult to overcome (if doing all essay subjects) than working hard and overcoming levels of difficulty with a more logical subject (maths/physics).

Or views of other possible alevel combination with history and economics?

I did Sociology A level and it involved a lot of essay writing. If he's not keen on essays, it might not be the best option for him.

DD does not want to do maths A level which is fortunate as DH is absolutely opposed to DD doing maths A level despite the fact that she got an 8 in her maths GCSE. He feels that you need to be a natural mathematician, to sort of "speak" maths, to be happy studying it at A level. DD got her 8 through a mix of being capable and a lot of hard work to prove she could get an 8 to a teacher who told her a 7 was likely. I have to say I agree with DH about this, DD's natural capability level is not high enough to make for a happy two years of studying maths A level no matter how hard she worked.

@optimisticvibes This is the thread @TeenToTwenties is referring to - written by a maths teacher and well worth a read at this tricky stage of choosing subjects:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5146609-yearly-warning-not-to-take-a-level-maths-with-less-than-a-7-at-gcse

@optimisticvibes Have you read noblegiraffe's thread about likelihood of success of maths A level from a 6? Many colleges won't allow maths A level with less than a 7 and for very good reason. Did your DH attempt to help with maths and science GCSEs?

Hello-joining this thread after following the GCSE one and getting support from that. DS moving to new sixth form and still finding it difficult to settle on subjects. Currently doing:

history economics and sociology with core maths AS.

His maths/science results were good (6s but a couple of marks off 7s) so he's now thinking of:

history economics and maths with physics as a 4th (they either do core maths or a 4th alevel in yr 12 and drop one).

Dad did degree in physics so on hand to help and thinks DS could manage. English language was a 5, he's dyslexic and doesn't love essays (but can motivate himself for history because he loves the subject). Sociology is a complete wild card and no idea whether he'll actually like it.

Argh seems like these choices can really narrow down uni choices (he has no idea what he wants to do).

Any advice?

Hello! Joining in 👋🏻
My son has eventually decided on his sixth form. It was between his current school and an academic sixth form in a different school which gets really good grades, but will only allow further maths as a 3rd A level. He has decided to stay where he is - they managed to get him good grades at GCSE so must be doing something right. Will be studying Maths, FM, Physics and DT - product design.

First day next Wednesday!

Pretty much no schools have 6th forms here so off to college to do Psychology, PE and Classics A Level plus EPQ. Trials for the rugby team today so she was very much looking forward to that. No uniform - hurrah! It's a massive college and set up more like university with loads of enrichment opportunities which they have to participate in so she's added a level 3 Sports Leader course into the mix. She's more excited than her brother who is starting secondary!

I've had to buy DD texts for English so far. Not heard from other subjects, and she had a fancy new calculator for GCSE which I'm hoping is enough for maths...

Thanks, @Waspie and @JustHereWithMyPopcorn . School said within 20 working days, but obviously, it's only been a week, so that's brilliant from our end.
I'm really pleased as that means he passed all 9, which might be a low bar for some, but he worked really hard.

I'm hoping the college provides them. My DD went to a different college to where ds is going and her books were provided, though there was a couple of books she also purchased.

So far he has had a new calculator and I think he wanted a new notebook.

That's good news @gingercat02 - 10 marks, wow!

Well done to your DTs @Curlyshabtree. No new stationery here either. One of the few new things I haven't had to buy! Spent £80 on Economics text books this morning.

It is unusual to have to buy your own text and course books for A Level? I've spent almost £300 on DS' required books for sixth form.

Hi! My dts both got a place at their preferred 6th Form college. Dtd doing Geography, Chemistry and Biology plus an EPQ. Dts doing English Lang, Politics and History, plus the EPQ.
I had not thought of getting new stationery, I assume their pens from Y11 will still work!

@MiniMidiMaxi I've had a nightmare trying to find an available instructor. I've got one lined up but until I know DS's timetable I can't confirm if she can do the times. Unfortunately we're also trying to work around his sport which he trains for 3 nights a week and on Saturday and most competitions are on Saturday and usually take up most of the day. This instructor doesn't do Sunday (don't blame them really!) so that's out too.

That's great news @gingercat02 How on earth did that come back so quickly, I read on the website it takes 4 weeks?

DS has just had his English Lit review back, and paper 2 has gone up by 10 marks, which does improve his grade. It's definitely worth doing. He was either 2 or 3 short of the grade boundary, but I can't remember which 😁😁😁

DS had two where he was on the grade boundary - one at the exact mark and the other one point below - but the school don't seem bothered about reviews. DS isn't bothered about reviews either, but I thought the school might want to look for their own stats.

DS heard yesterday that his subject change has been accepted, so A levels are confirmed as: English Lit, History and Economics. He may do EPQ, or just concentrate on the super-curricular essay competitions and similar. He will discuss with his new tutor.

Parents have also been told that we will have a 1-2-1 with their DS' new tutor during second week of term too. Didn't have that at year 7!

As far as I can gather, DD intends to spend most of sixth form in jeans and a hoodie! She spent ages yesterday doing textiles bridging work and really enjoyed herself. Still not finished the book for English though....

DD didn’t get the grades for biology (asked for a review) but she starts in her chosen 6th form doing A levels in English Literature, Geography, Psychology and Core Maths instead of EPQ. Bus pass arrived today- seems to be getting real now 🤞🤞

DD has her theory test coming up soon. We have a driving instructor ready to take her on (she joined her waiting list 9 months ago) and the instructor said that as soon as she has passed her theory she should book a practical test - any test, even at the opposite end of the country - so that she’s in the system for a more convenient slot. They’re currently booking around 6 months ahead, if you can get a test at all.

A colleague's daughter was due to take her test yesterday (had to be cancelled by the instructor) the next available one is January next year. 😮

Will jump in here too (now that we seem to have settled on one thread!). DS will be taking maths, further maths, physics and economics, returning to his school sixth form. He needs to wear a suit and sixth form tie, just need new shirts to arrive, he’s switching to long sleeves for the first time! Bridging work underway but in a somewhat relaxed manner, I do worry he doesn’t quite realise what’s coming. He looked slightly horrified when I said the typical expectation was an hour of study outside the class for every hour in it.

The sixth form nearly doubles in size from y11, lots of externals join. I think they start on Tuesday, and after a day of admin stuff they spend a couple of days team building etc, to mix up the internals and externals.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn we’ve got driving starting here too - first lesson late September a few days after his birthday. Annoyingly we didn’t book the theory test until just recently so October half term is the earliest time slot that worked. Hoping there isn’t then too much delay in practical test availability.

Timely thread! Dd2 and I have been to her 6th form college today for enrolment. Her school doesn't have a 6th form and this one was her only application, there's one alternative but this one suits her perfectly so she was determined to get in. Thankfully she got more than she needed at GCSE. She's chosen Drama, Sociology and Media A levels and also got into the college's Dance Academy - hard to get into and a HUGE commitment time-wise. We'll have to see how it goes but she's up for it.

It was incredibly well organised and we got her travel pass and ID card too.

Then obvs went to Primark and H&M and spent a fortune on clothes 🤑. Which she genuinely needed tbf, lives in dance clothes normally. No uniform which she's ecstatic about!