BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26 - part 2

ds's job, not drs job!

@Sisublondie
Great about Dr's job! Well done to him.
What a shame about the trip...lots being cancelled, I imagine, due to the current geo- political issues? 😕
Dd seems ok, she's working away at her folders, shes 2/3 of the way through her w/e.
Older dd in a bad way, utterly heartbroken. I'm going to arrange for her to speak to a counsellor, I think 😕
Mum is back in hospital - as I predicted last week - so I'm currently trying arguing with the drs about another unsafe discharge.
I think I'm going to eat some biscuits🍪

Evening all!!!

Well! On a positive, DS has his first job! Starts in a couple of weeks, he is working as a “host” at a place in town, helping out at evening events, welcoming guests and selling snacks and drinks… which he’s very excited about!
On a negative, he got his English Movk results… he was 1 point off a Grade 4. I know you will all have consigned it to memory ( like I had!), but he dropped points on Paper 2 and the creative part.. ( he’d got a 5 on Paper 1). Oh, and his college trip that he worked SO hard at applying for, interviewing for, getting a place and all his travel vaccinations? Leaving in a couple of weeks, with layover in Dubai …….So…………. Waiting to see what update his college will no doubt give tomorrow. It’s just so awful what is happening, and his trip is a mere drop in the ocean of horribleness, I know. It was already doing so much for his confidence, getting accepted, and two weeks of volunteering would have been amazing for him. It’s a wait and see, I guess! 🤞

@LarkspurLane…. Oooohhhh that’s nerve wracking! Guessing mock interviews for any possible interview in the future?! Oh yes, I should absolutely imagine that clothing is of much more importance… ( I had similar stress as a recent work event, couldn’t gauge what “ champagne thanksgiving” warranted, as it was at awkward 5.45/8pm time!)… Does he have a close mate on his course he can run it by? If not, perhaps an instructor who has sat in on previous years? I did as my DS for you! I got the “ half term?! Stare”… and a “ Ummmm, you DO know I wear a uniform, don’t you?”…..🙄😹!!, so sadly that didn’t help!
I really hope it goes ok! I’m loving their term “ aura farming”, tho, and I shall be stealing that- if that’s ok!

@Raven08

Hows you? DD’s doing ok, after first half week back/ Uni weekend away?
How is your Mum doing? Is she still in hospital? 🤗

Well! Hope no Sunday Scaries out there! Off to check DS has unearthed his clothes for tomorrow. I gave him a final “ Laundry is Shutting” at 9pm! 🙄…

Hope you all doing well, I can't believe how quickly this term in going!

Mock interviews next week - not sure what for! - DS trying to decide whether or not to wear a suit. Very Important not to make a different decision to the rest of the class! A clothing error would be catastrophic for all the aura farming done thus far. Interview performance a lesser worry.

.. ps.. hammer it DOWN 🌧️! 😳

Hurrah!!!! That’s what we like!!!! 🌟 .. excellent! I hope that’s given her a huge boost of confidence!

DS is happy as he has a “ field trip” tomorrow, well, a “ leadership and navigation training session” that lasts all day., so I’m hoping it doesn’t hammer it home!

I’ve just got back from my Mum’s.. sister was over from abroad too.. and she ended up being admitted to hospital instead! Couldn’t make some stuff up! 🤷‍♀️😹.. she’s back out now. And back to the uncertain new same old same old post diagnosis. I feel like going on DS’ navigation session and navigation myself off to a Spa for a few days instead! 😈😈😈

Hi @Sisublondie
It went ok! She got a merit for her first assessment, which was what she was aiming for ☺️
So...on to the next assignment 😬
How's ds?

Hey, been thinking about her/ and you, hoping it went well… so…. How did it go?! 🤞🍀🙏💖🤞🤷‍♀️

Dds first day back today after 2 weeks, so I hope its going well 😬
She hasn't slept well the past couple of nights.

Oh crikey!! Well, I’ll take the being yelled at for “ losing” his hoodie, then! I’m sure I’d get blamed far more if the “ fit”, ummm, “fits” ! were being decided upon instead!

🙄🤔🙀🤯😹!!!

Oh gawd...uniform woes! I don't miss that. Although it often takes dd 30 mins or more to decide on a "fit" each day (outfit apparently...?)

@Raven08

Oooooh nooooooo, I’m so sorry to hear about MegaColdHell! 🤒.. you must have wanted to just climb into your pit like a hedgehog and not venture out… are you dosing yourself up on vitamins and lovely food, once you get your appetite back….🤞🫶…
Hopefully DD1’s weekend was fab, and a good reminder to her that she’ll get through the current heartbreak 💔…🤞. A good weekend of chat and fun was good timing!
Wow! The quilt making! Are you taking photos at stages? That’d be cool to look back at later! It must take patience, but super cool, it’s very impressive!
I’m so sorry to hear about your Aunt, that’s upsetting even given the expectation…. Finding out about your old school friend is sad, too, I’m sorry. I’m not a Facebook person ( tried it and ditched it way back when I saw how toxic it can be), but have an account the boys set up. I went on one day last July to wish my old work mate Happy Birthday as we’d lost touch since I moved up from London. I was choked to read realms of messages marking her birthday, and realising she’d died of cancer in 2019 ( younger than me with younger DS). It made me think the social media can be positive in some respects.. I wish I’d been active sooner, and known. Anyway. Yes. Raise a toast to them later.. X
I am sorry your Mum is still in hospital…. Sending 🤗 🫶💖. I’m back off Oop North to see mine for a few days tomorrow……
Good that your DD’s friend has been able to complete his work to pass, I guess. That must be stressful. I hope she is able to keep calm and positive going back in, and that her results are good 🤞🙏 🍀!
I bet she’s loved catching up on new novels!!! My dream! I’ve got a new book as my friend just set up a new Book Club.. stress is that I need to read it! Got just over a week! I’m really sorry you weren’t up to taking her out, though, I know what you mean, but I’m sure she just hopes you’re better soon…

Well, the Sunday Scaries hit! DS has “ lost” his uniform hoodie! Clearly has to be in the house, but he won’t let me look and has just yelled at me, as clearly my fault! 🤦‍♀️ Whilst I’m now washing the rest of his stuff he needs for tomorrow… having had ten days to bequeath them upon me………….🤔🤯🙀!!

Hi @Sisublondie
Pretty quiet here, as I had the mega cold from hell and am still feeling a bit 😷
Dd1 is on her way back from a weekend with uni friends so hoping she had a good time.
Dd has been busy doing w/e and making quilts (!)
Mum is still in hospital - no discharge date yet as she's still not medically fit.
My aunt died yesterday (not un expected) and I also found out that someone I went to school with died back in 2013...he was a lovely lad and its all made me feel very melancholy -
I shall raise a toast to both of them later 💙
I think dd will get nervous on Tuesday, before her first day back as I assume that's when they'll get their first Y1 block marks 😬
Apparently, one of dds friends was in during assessment week to complete the work - but that means he is capped at a pass grade.
She's read a few of the novels she got for christmas, so she's been happy enough. I feel a bit guilty as I haven't felt well enough to do anything/take her anywhere 😕

Evening all! I hope you’re not having the “ Sunday Scaries”, or whatever they call them!

How was “Half Term”?! 🤷‍♀️ It was busy here, I had to work and there was a local annual event held, so DS ( and everyone else, seemingly!) went there for a couple of days, and had a friend staying. I saw pretty much zero work being done by him, so I’m plucking up courage to ask whether he did any! I have a feeling an assignment- or two- were due! Also awaiting his Mock GCSE results… ( am very much hoping for a Grade 4, at least. He was so close to passing last year, and I was so proud. He hadn’t complained once about his twice weekly English classes, so I’m hoping he doesn’t lose confidence abd motivation at this stage.

@Raven08

How did your week go? How is DD feeling about the holiday.. she has another week off? Is DD1 feeling any perkier? How is your Mum doing? ( been thinking of you, and sending positivity..)..

@CatrinVennastin

Oh, that sounds like a tough decision! Good Luck with that. When do you have to make the decision by?

Well! Going to try to get DS to sleep at sensible hour… he was on the hunt for Avocados at 2am… so it doesn’t bode well……..

Good Luck to those who are back tomorrow! 😻

Dd is busy doing work experience and some sample work.
She wants to dye some fabric using grass apparently 😬🤣

thank you @Sisublondie yes she wants something five days a week ideally.

We've been to a college open day and she's now wondering whether to switch to the A levels and do Textiles, Media and one other. I'm not entirely sure as she finds exams so stressful. But we have time to think the options through.

Hey, hmmmm. That sounds tough. @Raven08 has good advice re the spec. But, also, has your DS got a one-to-one contact he can speak to re these struggles? I’m just wondering if he has someone he feels comfortable talking to about it….

I’m sorry it’s all a bit stressful for you both at the moment. Good luck with it 🤞.

Good Luck to us all for Half Term!! 🤞😻! Hopefully the rain will lay off a bit! ( mind you, it’s been snowing again then sleet tonight…..🙀)…

Hello, and welcome!

I’m so sorry to hear of your DD’s upset, and your redundancy- you must be overwhelmed with stress right now.

I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to your question- but, as @Raven08said, my first port of call would absolutely be with contacting the college. My DS did not have the required entry requirements on GCSE Results Day, and we went into the college, and he spoke with the instructors, and they were so desperate to help him and went out of their way to accommodate. I have had contact with his college regularly and have learnt that BTEC /FE college appear to wish students to be happy and succeed, thus will be more than helpful in ensuring that this is the case, if possible. I would contact them, and just be honest. Also, does your DD not want a five day week, I wasn’t quite sure..

I wish you the very best of luck with your job situation, too… it must be hard right now. Sending 🍀 and 🤗.

Oh, no! I’m sorry! 🙄🙀… to be honest, with DS I always find that I end up annoying him whatever I do or say! There’s always something that irritates him…..😹!

Your DS’s job sounds excellent, in all respects. My DS19 had a pre-Uni / Summer at our local NT in F&B, which he liked.

Oh, I do know what you mean about “ being late to the party” either programmes, and you suddenly have a couple of seasons plus, all ready to go! I was like that with Schitts Creek at the start of lockdown… I ended up having to rush round unexpectedly over the weekend, so I haven’t got round to Small Prophets yet…..

Hoping you are all set for Half Term! 😻

She will need to contact the college admissions dept at her current and new college.
It should be possible theoretically, as its a points based system

That is interesting @Raven08 She has signed up for a couple of open days at colleges which do fashion courses but she would be in five days a week. It's the social side that she really misses I think. Most of the students at her current college travel in from outside London.

I wonder if she can change colleges and go straight into the 2nd year of a Btec? It's so hard to find the right information!

Sorry to hear dd is stressed and about your redundancy.
There is often lots of movement at the end of the first term/year.
There are 2 pupils on dds course who are switching to a different level 3 course.
Can she talk to pastoral staff/head of department?

Hello

Just found this thread while researching ways to help DD.

She's doing a level 3 fashion BTEC but is only in college two days a week (they condense all the teaching time into the two days) but it's not really working so she wants to change to another college for next year.

It's causing a lot of anxiety for her and to top it all I'm about to be made redundant so it's all a bit stressful.

Download the spec.
It'll tell you what he needs to show for pass, merit, distinction etc