BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

Oh gawd...dd just had a letter from college about industrial work experience for year 2!
Another thing to think about 😬
Students have to find placements themselves.
Dd may have an opportunity next year to travel with dh to an industry show...but that won't count as work experience.
I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I've been surprised at how much work BTEC students have to do so early on in the course? I know its continuous assessment, but its been very full on and dd will need to work a fair bit over half term.
I did A levels and I remember just writing the odd essay!!

I'm sorry it upset you @Sisublondie, but I understand. You are so kind and supportive - it did feel like an uncessessarily unpleasant remark.
I love an emoji 🤪
I've come across such posters before (I've been on mn for donkeys years...) and it's a shame.
As I said, there is a hide thread option 🤷
On long running threads - which I hope this will be! - posters do generally start to chat/share info/ask for advice...I think that's what MN was started for tbh..support and not feeling so alone.
Please keep posting and being you! 😊

Morning! Yes, I was rather baffled, and quite upset actually. I know you shouldn’t let some things upset you, but, as you know I’m in Edinburgh to see DS19 for first time, and understandably excited to see him, but it certainly ruined yesterday morning for me. I am still at a loss as to how our chatting, keeping the thread alive, could be offensive. I was quite hurt, especially with personal digs at emoji use ( maybe I do overuse them, but 🤷‍♀️, I like them)…. I fail to see how it was harming anyone. When people post, everyone generally joins in the chat, posts are replied to and conversation starts….. I would have thought any potential newbie, or lurker, who wanted advice, or to just join the group, would be reassured by our friendly chats, and the thread itself, by seeing it’s inclusivity and nuturing nature of advice, when required. I thought the purpose of this thread was to know each other and our DC, so when problems DO arise, as they will, we know what is going on with others DC in order to best give support. So, not necessarily only post when something is wrong, which is obviously fine, too, but.. anyway……hopefully all done and dusted now 🤞!

Yes, FE Collrges, I really do think that enough is publicised about them, certainly within most schools, and zero at DS school. I’m so happy your DD is thriving, now, there. I know it was a late choice, and remember the stress at the time. But, hopefully things are just going to keep improving for her now… Did she get the last assignment/ work completed?

@Sisublondie
Ah, that sounds like such fun! 👻
I'm just so delighted for you that both dc are thriving 🙌
Dd is working on her coursework but - as usual - the perfectionism is hitting. This is something she is working on with her counsellor. She was told by her tutor she is currently working at distinction but is SO critical of herself.
It's difficult to know what to say.

I'm so happy to hear your update on your ds @Sisublondie
It's so hard when your dc struggle and can feel very lonely.
As you know, dd has had a rough ride, too, and although she is still seeing the counsellor, she is loving her course and the FE college was definitely the right choice - even if it was a rather stressful and late one!
I was really baffled to see the posts criticising you and I @Sisublondie for trying to keep the thread active and - god forbid - chatting.
I suggest that that particular poster just not engage with my posts, or, of course, if we are that irritating, just use the "hide thread" option?
Thread police are not needed and not welcome.

@swampwitch0.. 👻 AND DS19 Uni Update!

👻 and Vaults tour was fab! Suitably creepy, at dusk, and welcome break from essay hell for DS19! I think the highlight for him is when the wonderful Lafayette picked me to be the witch 🧙 in the experiment…..🙄🙀😹!

Then, after DS19 reluctance, he let me go to his Halls last night… flashbacks! It was so lovely and reassuring to meet his new friends, and see the environment overheard so much about! ( loving the huge orange Fatboy bean bags! ).
He is a little stressed ( bored) about one of his language choices ( preferring the new one), which is a little concerning as that was his passion previously, but, in all, he seems to be settling in well and that’s all you can hope for at this early stage, I guess!

Hope DD’s break is going ok, fun with friends tonight, and that you’re feeling better? 🤞 🙏

Thank you so much. That’s so true- it’s the little things, the things you just don’t mention to some friends as they, through no fault of their own, would not really necessarily understand the magnitude of such baby steps, and such dreamed of moments, finally coming to fruition. It’s all we can hope for, isn’t it, when things are tough 🤷‍♀️.
🙏

That's such a brilliant and empowering update @Sisublondie! You must be so proud of your DS – and you should be really proud of yourself too. Advocating for a ND child can be exhausting and thankless but we keep going because we have to, and because they need us to. So when you have a moment like the one you've just had with your DS, it's amazing. Here's to him continuing to thrive.

Thank you. It took a lot of effort to act nonchalantly when he said “ No, it’s ok, I’ll pop there with you, it’ll be nice to go in again”….as I was just waiting for the “….,,AS IF”…! He left literally walking taller…. And, the fist bump he returned to a “ cool guy” as we left, well, my tears were pricking my eyes…. Best moment I’ve had in years 🏆 😻! It’s little moments like that, that are literally life changing and make all the crapness sometimes, worth every second! 😸

@Sisublondie that is so encouraging to hear and what a lovely change of environment for your son. He was very brave to go back to school - and must have done a lot for his confidence.

Oh, that is just excellent!!!! You must be so much more positive…. and the planting of hedge is positive in all aspects, from the getting outside in fresh air, to the optimistic nature of watching them grow! That’s really good news 🤩!

@Sisublondie That's a brilliant update. Just shows how important being in the right environment on the right course can be.

Since this morning I now have another 10 businesses that could be contacted for DD, and she is outside happily planting a hedge with DH.

As I mentioned to @swampwitch0a couple of days ago, I would post something about my DS when I had a bit more time, which may be a positive to other parents of bullied ND DC, and those who may be concerned about a change from the structure of school, to the college “vibe” instead.

As those who may have known me for a long time, my DS was bullied throughout his whole years of education. He started his Level 3 BTEC at a college in a different town in September. He is settling in well, has made a few new friends and is no longer withdrawn, isolated or self harming. He is positive about his course, and got a Distinction in his first assignment. On Thursday after school, we were in town and I had to pop into his old school ( I am still involved with the school, and there was an event on). I fully expected that he would ask for a lift home before I went, but, instead, he asked if he could come along. I am so happy he did…. It was like a miracle, watching him walk into the same building which had made him physically quake for years. He walked in with his head high and with purpose, greeting one of his old teachers with confidence and his voice strong. He engaged with students who were passing, and, when a fellow student jokingly egged him on to “ drop and give him ten” in relation to training sessions they are having to do, he did so! Which would have previously been unthinkable! When we were driving home, he himself actually expressed that he couldn’t believe just how much he had changed in terms of his confidence, since he left there.

Anyway, I always like hearing positive stories about fellow ND DC, so hopefully this may help even one person out there, who may not be able to see any light at the end of the tunnel right now. If you are considering a change of school/ college, perhaps it really will be the thing that may work for your DC, too. 🤞 🙏.

Yes - and yes. 😱She does composition, writing and production as well, but she wants the sell-out stadium tours and her name in lights (god help me! 😂)

She's been performing professionally since she was teeny (West End etc) so feet are very firmly on the ground and there are no stars in her eyes.

Glad it is going well @OhCrumbsWhereNow . It is music related isn't it? What does she want to do afterwards - performing?

DD absolutely loving her course and the college. Adores her tutors, seems to have friends and is also ramping up extra curriculars after college.

I'm feeling twitchy over the difficulty in understanding EXACTLY what is required on her course (only her college run it and it doesn't fit neatly in a box).

In particular after I asked for her paper back for the BTEC L2 she did at school so I could see where marks were lost and there appears to be nothing in terms of mark breakdown or even a paper where you can see... or at least school isn't saying they have anything of the sort.

Also the case that while she is doing a huge amount of work, it's work that she would be doing anyway because the course, her main hobby and what she wants to do in life are all one and the same. And most of it is practical so nothing on paper that I can stress over (if that makes sense).

Tutors all seem to be very happy and are pushing her hard and giving her lots of extra opportunities and stuff that sits outside the course remit, so I am guessing that everything is going well. Her only complaint is that she's only in 3 days a week not 5...

Following on from what you just said about the nightmare of work experience @BTECnewbie , one of the best things the Govt could do to get more young people on a vocational path is to lower the age requirement to start work instead of keeping them in education until 18. We found quite a few companies couldn't accommodate DD16 for WE because of employer liability insurance only kicking in at 18. There are so many kids who have done so well in life after leaving school at 16 and going straight into jobs.

I think yes, they would and particularly when it comes to working with animals. The beauty of this profession our girls have chosen is that they just need to show skill and ability to be able to care for animals – it's not a job that requires brilliant people skills! So as long as your DD demonstrates passion, commitment and a good work ethic, there's no reason why she would receive less consideration than someone who is NT.

You've just reminded me that we are STILL waiting for the login info for the parent portal. I attended an information evening where they said we'd be sent it but it hasn't materialised. I got the feeling from the info evening that they don't really give much thought to parents! But I really do want to keep an eye on making sure my DD submits the right work. Level 2 is obviously a lighter workload to Level 3 though.

The slightly frustrating thing is all the talk about understanding MH, SN etc coupled with certain groups on MN being so negative about people not working.

But then balance against reality. My DD will need an employer willing to be understanding and a bit flexible at first (hence doing the supported Internship). But why would an employer take her over a 'fully functioning' young person iyswim?

Glad it is going well @BTECnewbie . It is good they are kicking people off the course too. DD got quite frustrated on hers by people who didn't really apply themselves / seem at all interested.

It's a shame your DS is pushing you away on keeping track. I used to keep a list with DD so we knew due dates, submitted, whether marked yet or needing resubmission. It helped us both!

I think if all the BTEC-detractors knew the work in a level 3 they would change their mind.