Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other (new thread from y12)

DC was pleased with performance, can't remember the % - 20 or 30 I think. About 3 weeks to study leave and then I'll only have one kid in school!

@Echobelly I hope today’s performance goes well. What percentage of the qualification does it count for?

DD has her French speaking exam coming up (30%). And so it all begins!

My dc has never played a musical instrument (thankfully!) I wish your dc well with their musical endeavours 😊

Thank you @pinkdelightI must admit that I find the financial stuff more confusing than the rest!

https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2025/09/five-student-need-to-knows/ this is what I was reading. It says that under plan 5 if you would get a better interest rate for taking the loan and then saving it - using it only if you need it, then do this. I think I can get an ISA which pays more than the standard interest rate which would mean that taking the loan makes sense. We are going to take some financial advice though.

@SilverBlue56 - my DC used to play bassoon as well. They weren't very good but enjoyed it - their teacher's non teaching career picked up and we didn't carry on after that. They are singing for these performances.

I'm so glad my son decided music was not for him at A level, he is a music specialist at school (admitted on the basis of music aptitude test score) but he has never enjoyed performing and at GCSE was so stressed he could barely play (bassoon of all things...!!)

Hope it goes smoothly!

DC has music performance today - they have got 90%+ in their 2 mocks for it, so here's hoping for the same in the team thing!

Thanks for clarifying. Oh well that will upset DH, but that's his problem.

Back to school tomorrow. DS has done a good amount revision over the holidays, but I think some focus will do him good.
3 weeks until the first exam.

If he gets the grades for his firm choice that's where he will go. You can't decide on results day to swap to your insurance.

I don't know how accepting offers works these days. We have a bit of an issue in that DC's favourite has a lower offer than their second choice (they should have no problem obtaining either set of marks), but presumably they can only accept one and they have to do that by 4 May.

DH is very very hung up on not wanting DC to go to first choice, mostly because it's in London and he says he really regrets staying in London for his degree and he's on a (probably fruitless) quest to persuade them to go to second choice. Personally I don't think his feelings about it are DC's problem and they do have several valid reasons for choosing it.

Does accepting #1 make going there an inevitability? I have no problem with it but DH would probably feel happier and complain about it less if he feels DC hasn't ruled out #2.

Just popping on to say the DS went to Durham for the offer holder day and it was great however he’s firmed UCL and decided to insure Exeter. I’m relieved he’s made the insurance choice. He’s always been fairly set on UCL as firm, so no change there.

Hope everyone has their offers and has decided on firm and insure now.

@AuntyBulgaria 🤞
DS ain't a high achiever but managed to get several 7s in GCSE some he was only predicted a 6 or 5 in. Currently he is on for BCC so will see what happens.

@Tebheag I'm doing the same! I was worried at GCSE that he wasn't doing enough and he did really well so I am hoping the same happens this time.

😱 72 papers seems a bit over kill.

I have just left DS to it as he proved my wrong at GCSE hoping he can do the same for ALevel.

We are waiting for computer science NEA Mark, apparently he will have it by 5th May.

I'm going slowly insane with the revision encouragement as the weeks tick past. His tutor (private not tutor at school) said he should do 12 years worth of past papers. Even just for Maths and FM this would be 72 papers. Is this person winding me up?? There aren't even 12 years worth under the current spec even if he could (which he cannot!)

I suspect he says this so that if said grade is not achieved, when parents complain he can say well I did tell you to do x and you didn't so it's not my fault.

My head hurts.

@KellySeveride congratulations to your DS hope insurance ain't to bad.

@Echobelly wow 95% well done to your DS.

DS Got his Geography NEA grade it's a C he is happy with that.

Coming back in with some extra curricular good news. DS passed his driving test today. 1st time and only 4 faults. We got a last minute cancellation last week (he was originally booked for July!). We knew he was ready but boy are we glad to have got it done and dusted before his exams started.

DC got 95% on their EPQ. But disappointingly only 28/50 for History coursework, despite good feedback as it was in process - but it sounds like everyone has been marked low - DC said top mark in the group was 30/50 and it's a generally high performing school. That will make it trickier to land the expected A for History. But they'd still be set for their offer from favourite university anyway, so I don't think it matters all that much in the long run.

Hi @MiniMidiMaxii am in a very similar boat.

DS has offers for Birmingham, Bath, Warwick and Bristol and also a Degree Apprenticeship with a BIG company. He was always clear he wanted the DA over the debt from Uni so he’s taking up the offer. He also has to move out (about 1.5 hours away) and it’s all starting to feel a bit real that he’ll be gone in September and he’s not even 18 for another couple of months. We too have advised firming Birmingham and the deferring just in case he hates the DA.

Sounds like so many kids are well organised . Well done to all who have sorted next steps or got plans in action.
DS finally applying for apprenticeships now he has decided to stay here longer and not move countries to be with gf. He has been doing some past papers just crossing fingers he can move up a grade on actual exams like he did for Gcses. Or will struggle to find an apprenticeship.
Definitely feeling under prepared with one doing A Levels and 1 doing Gcses. Stupidly thought after seeing DS through his would be easier this year when DD did them 🙈

Happy birthday to your DD, @bluefineliner - enjoy the celebrations today. And good news to have the summer job and accommodation sorted.

@ComingInByAnsible DS will go abroad for his third year, then back to the UK for the fourth year, it’s possible he’ll end up working overseas afterwards for a bit but we just need to see what happens. Younger DS hasn’t much of a clue about what he wants to do, he’s considering an eclectic mix of A levels! Not an out and out STEM kid like his brother. How about your DD doing GCSEs, does she have a plan as yet?

Hi all,

@ComingInByAnsible DD managed to book her preferred accommodation at NCL, very near the medical school so very happy with that. One less thing to think about.

@MiniMidiMaxi congratulations to your DS on the DA offer! what a great opportunity, I secretly wish DD had chosen something that had DA options, uni is so expensive. I understand your feelings around him leaving home, DD is my youngest and when my DD1 went to uni DD2 was 3 yo so I didn't feel the empty nest much (DD1 also came home to visit her bf every 2 weeks so I saw her a lot). DD2 is our baby so it will be very quiet without her.

@Echobelly how exciting to be sorting post exam travels. DD has not mentioned travel but has secured herself a job for the summer which is good news for after exams. We are looking to book our family holiday end of June too to give her some relaxation.

DD turned 18 yesterday so we had a party for her friends at home last night. Luckily they were very well behaved and my house is still in one piece! Family party today so bit more relaxed.

@ComingInByAnsible - thanks, the travel is just 3 of them, but they're being very indecisive! They'll be staying at my parents' place in Slovakia, so we don't have accommodation to worry about, but if my parents aren't out there travel without car is slightly challenging, though local buses are pretty good and can get them to train hubs. We encouraged them to maybe go via a few days in Budapest or Prague but they were reluctant to do that, which seems a shame. They're usually pretty confident about getting about independently but seemed daunted by that prospect.

DC is looking at Goldsmiths, SOAS or Manchester as top 3, all of which offered for Anthropology, but seems pretty set on Goldsmiths

@MiniMidiMaxi, that sounds good for the first two years. What happens after - does he relocate somewhere else? The A levels/GCSE combo is stressful, isn’t it? Hope it all goes well for both your YP. What is your younger DC hoping to do after? Have they chosen A levels?

@Newlease, thank you. Sounds like you are in a good place to find a driving instructor. Is your DD planning on taking lessons after the exams?

@Echobelly, that’s a nice comforting position to be in. Did your DC make his UCAS choices? Where is he hoping to go? Good luck with the post-exams travel arrangements. It can be tricky to balance everyone’s budgets, availability and preferences, especially if a large group. I also thought DS and his friends were going to give up, but they did book eventually, even though they changed the destination and accommodation a few times!

@AuntyBulgaria, I hear you. I have a similar thing with DD16, who is very bright but tends to procrastinate (perhaps because she thinks she can get away with it). Nagging is counterproductive as she just digs her heels in further, but as a parent it’s hair raising to watch her cutting it very fine, especially now that it starts to really matter with GCSEs! Hopefully the adrenaline will kick in soon for both her and your DS and spur them on!

My DS still hasn't really started working very hard. My nagging is falling on deaf ears!
It's very frustrating when you can't control or influence their work ethic!