Year 13 2026/2027: Support Thread 1

@CatHairEveryWhereNow not sure where your DH lectures but that seems a bit unusual. The offer holder days are not usually ‘post accepting first and second choices’. They are normally after you’ve submitted your 5 options and have received offers for them; so definitely before you have to state your firm & insurance. If I remember rightly DD2 attended hers around March April. She did attend another day for her firm only but that was after results day and only for students with disabilities. Both were incredibly worthwhile as she too missed the generic open days.

Really as I know DD1 and DS only got offer days for two uni they accepted not all five but I may being thrown by them accepting their first and second choices as soon as last offer came in.

That is something open days have helped with as DD2 is already ranking the uni she seen and intend to apply for - though obviously the offers may change her rankings.

DD1 and DS went to both offer days they were offered - DD1 had a interview sprung on her with her first choice and it led to a huge reduction in grades being asked for with her offer - DH said that wouldn't be done at his department/uni and it wasn't for either of DS offer days - so they do vary.

DH does seems to think his students have accepted - and the offer days he does are later in the year but he may be assuming based on our kids experiences and not going into detail. I've certainly suggest it past makes more sense to do offer days before final choices but he seems to think they've already accepted.

The main point I was making though was if you can't do open days - there are later chances to see campuses with offer days and of course there will be many students who first view of the campus is when they arrive to start course.

The cost of attending open days quickly ramps up, once you factor in trains/petrol, food, and possibly even hotels. I'm glad we've done the ones we've done; it totally changed DS's mind about some places and he's also changed his mind entirely about the course he wants to do as a result of some taster lectures. It does mean that we now need to look at a different set of universities in the autumn when I'd hoped to be done and dusted in the summer. Now we're going to be caught coordinating open days and my DD's crazy sports regime. But, DS seems to have strong preferences and it is not always what he thought he would like, so I feel that we do need to go and see the places just in case.

re driving tests, logged on , 3 times today,nothing. Then suddenly Got a December test date in our home town, so well pleased.

Another DS here who has completely changed his mind about uni preferences following open days, so I'm also glad we've done them, even though they're a bit overwhelming and hard to fit in with everything else.

If anyone is wanting to see what goes into clearing this year a lot of Uni websites seem to be set to upload their lists at 5pm today . I’ve jotted down a few so far but the more ‘desirable ‘ the institution- the more secretive they seem to be 😂.

Good luck to others waiting for AS results today!

Well we've had an absolute disaster and lots of tears and I think me being firm been interpeteted as being mean.

She gone in - though she not hopeful about talking to college admissions. She can technically carry on with three of them not sure it's best course for her though.

She asked about foundation course at some uni she looked at but she got CDDU and I think in chemistry she not high enough for most of those especially as c is not in chemistry plus the additional cost of another year at uni.

I think after older two with a lot of work and some resitting some papers - which we pay for -you can bring one of those up - so she'd be better off looking at which she can re-take - probably chem and which she can continue with prob arts and and pick up another course of two (she may need to take welsh bac) and that depends on the college. It's not that uncommon - older two both had to re-sit some papers and DD1 dropped one AS level and they all know people re-sitting a year for some courses.

I think she very shocked but honestly I did wonder as I don't think her work ethic been particularly good.

Sorry to hear that @CatHairEveryWhereNow - hope you work out a workable solution somehow.

My DD2 is only waiting for one AS result, claims she hasn’t heard back yet and is at work so can’t go in anyway and for us it doesn’t really matter in the greater scheme of things. And her school will be entirely focussed on those with uni offers and A level results anyway. I think her school use AS to shock them into working hard primarily.

@CatHairEveryWhereNow I empathise, we've had a rubbish morning too. DD2 was supposed to have extra time for her exams, but her tutor failed to sort it and she only found out shortly before the AS exams. DD2 was 1 mark off a D in Physics, but the college won't let them continue the subject in Yr 2 without a D or above. She's had B's in Physics all year, after an 8 in her GCSE last year. I've been on the phone to college and am waiting for someone to call me back. DD2 has gone to her work experience placement so there's lots of pressure on me to get it sorted. We were really shocked, she has been getting A's and B's in all her practice papers, although this was with the 25% extra time.

She got an A in Maths and a B in 3D Design (despite getting A's all year and an A in her final coursework, so not sure how that works!). She's got her heart set on Architecture at Bath, who are going to want A*AA, but she's hoping she can get a contextual offer for EPQ.

Ugh. It's horrible not being able to fix things when they're upset, she worked so hard and I'm gutted for her that she could miss out on her carefully planned future because her tutor failed to send an email!

@CatHairEveryWhereNow oh no I’m sorry to hear you’re having such a stressful day, I hope she is ok when things settle down and that she can get a plan together that she is happy with.

@Araminta1004 hope she is able to get her result at some point!

DS got his AS Further maths this morning, and got an A so is very pleased with that, and hopefully a positive for his uni applications. He seemed reasonably confident but you never know how it’s going to go. He is however driving me mad with his lack of motivation to finish his personal statement and prepare for his ESAT.

@OliveWah really sorry you’ve had a rubbish morning. Would it be worth getting a review of marking for the physics if it is one mark? Or at least having s look at the paper. Hopefully they might be willing to let her carry on as it was so close and she had been getting higher grades throughout the year. Especially with not having got the extra time she should have

We are also 1 mark off in OCR Physics and DD wants to see her scripts so we shall see. She is dropping it anyway but as there are no A stars she is feeling upset by the concept of a B. She also got a very solid 9 at GCSE. On the whole DD picked the wrong A levels anyway, she is an all rounder. I am telling her to drop further maths next year too if she is now applying for law anyway. She was best at English, languages, History and Music and Bio too. I think she picked STEMish because of her older brother who is a tech/maths whizz and earning truly ridiculous amounts already for his age and DD just thought she could copy him. It’s all a learning experience.

@OliveWah sorry your DD not got expected grade in one of hers either.

@Araminta1004 finger crossed she gets the As result soon as it's what she expecting.

She been in only spoken to chemistry teacher - who suggested re-taking one chem paper and one maths and continuing with current three. However the maths would be topic she struggled with entire year - mechanics - and has built in resistance to accepting help with. Both chem papers are same grade so not sure it would help hugely plus DD1 did that with chemistry re-took both paper got higher mark on papers but overall grade didn't improve.

I found with previous two kids the teachers are often bit too optimistic about ablity to improve grades. DS managed it in FM maths but was on his own and it took a huge amount of work.

She can technically take three onwards - just FM she can't - but she need to improve by a grade - which is possible -to get a place on foundation couse at uni she likes so not sure it's best path.

She has clamed down a lot now. She talking not crying and door slaming at me plus listening about more with course work she has and where marks are.

She e-mail addmissions asked to speak to someone and asked about Btec in science if places - and accepted maybe uni next year isn't on the cards - not sure really - she may need to apply following year with grades in hand - DN did that - or to do what DD1 did and look different uni subject - though DD1 did have better grades overall.

@CatHairEveryWhereNow - that is good your DD has calmed down. There is always a way forward and a slight change of course makes all the difference. I told my DD2 life is a series of signs pointing you in the direction of the right path for you, however wrong it can seem at first, if you interpret them wisely you get onto the right track. Just read the signs and you will be fine. She lapped it up like a keen 7 year old on a treasure hunt. Hopefully your DD can find another course she likes the look of, drop a subject, work hard and ace her A levels next summer anyway.

After some to-ing and fro-ing with college, they have agreed DD2 can continue with Physics in Yr 2, much to everyone's relief!

She's got a lot of work to do this year, but hopefully with her exam arrangements in place, the results she's aiming for will be more achievable.

@OliveWah that's good news.

We've not heard back from the college at all so may try ringing tommorow.

However she is at least calm and open to thinking about some changes.

@OliveWah really glad she can continue and hopefully now the access arrangements are sorted out it will be a bit easier for her.

@CatHairEveryWhereNow hope you can get things sorted with college tomorrow

DD3 also received her AS’s today (England). She did 4 and her results have also thrown a wobbly. She intensely dislikes one of her subjects, hasn’t done any summer transition work for it; binned her notes and has been saying all year she’ll be ditching it for A levels. Don’t get me wrong, she did revise but she was always going to drop it. Except she bloody nails the AS! But doesn’t do well in the third subject she had planned to continue. She was gutted. It’ll be much harder to increase the low grade in subject 3 than continue with the dreaded subject. So this afternoon has been spent doing some of the disliked subject transitional work as that’s now going to be the keeper. She’s happy to suck it up and get a better result (fingers crossed) that will hopefully get her to the next stage. Decisions need to be submitted tomorrow so I am pleased she’s made a decision

Crikey @OliveWah what a debacle! Of course she should be allowed to continue given her track record and lack of access arrangements - I can’t believe that was even a suggestion.

@CatHairEveryWhereNow sounds like a very stressful day and quite complicated. It is tough making new decisions - they’re very young and it really is a curve ball that affects their future and which they have to deal with quite quickly. It’s quite a unique situation - exams / uni etc.

@NotDonna at least she listen to reason even if she doesn't love the subject.

The college did reply along line of three A-levels is fine and her grades are enough to continue with three so what's the issue - the low grades being the main issue and if it's worth contining or changing direction and a grudgingly you can talk to tutor next week.

DH in denial about everything - DS struggling after first year at uni and DD2. His take away is DD2 needs to work harder - but I heard that with two A-level parents insisted I took and working hard wasn't enough in end - got in to uni two I chose and not comepletly failing those two. I think it was quite damaging to me at time though. He thinks it worth applying through ucas for courses and hope she gets higher grades.

DD2 think change in maths teacher will help - other two had new one and I think it will be worse for her. Worrying not sure she'd tell us either as she didn't this time.

I don't know I think a chance to pivot being lost because everyone is it will be fine or it's not our problem. `I can easily see it ending up worse position next year.

@CatHairEveryWhereNow i didn’t need to reason with her tbh. I just said I understood her frustration and disappointment and that it was entirely up to her if she can cope with the disliked subject for another 9 months or thinks it’s worth pursuing the 3rd subject. She worked it out for herself thank fully. It’s a tough call and I’m not taking the blame for any decision!

So the teachers think she’s fine to continue with 3 A levels but you’re thinking she’s likely to not do well. What does your DD think?with CDDU, I’m guessing she’ll drop the U and continue the other 3 - are you in Wales so these count for a percentage of the marks? And if she resits are the marks capped? Does she think she can get the D’s to C’s without reducing the other C? Do you have sight if the grade boundaries? Are they near misses? Can the teachers look at her scripts and provide any targeted support - see exactly where she went wrong? Attaining CCC (or CDD or whatever) next year with still give her university options. It’s amazing what was in clearing this year. Remember an E grade is a pass and doors remain open. Can you let her sit with it for a few days, let her talk to friends and see what she decides for herself. They sometimes have surprising insight & self-reflection. I’ve learnt over the years and my 3 kids (this is DD3) to not comment too much and especially not express too much of an opinion!! And breathe!!

College have now given her a meeting next week to check in with her and I think that's best way forward plus her bit older siblings who she is close to are home next few days to talk to.

Also found a few foundation year courses - and some other lower tariff altenative undergraduate course that are in her general interest area and left her to look through. Though three years at college would be considerably cheaper than extra year at uni.

I'm not sure if its ND traits or personality but they all struggle to change plans generally. It's all suggesting and talking this age so we wouldn't be imposing on her it will have to come from her but want her to think rather just cling to existing plan and assume it will work out as she wants which I think will add huge stress in coming months if it looks like not coming off.

@CatHairEveryWhereNow that sounds very hopeful. And you’re right about her thinking through options rather than clinging to ideas that may/may not work out. Rigid thinking can definitely be a ND trait or indeed personality plus they’re young and I think flexibility comes with more maturity doesn’t it.

Hello all - just wondering if anyone has used Up Learn at all - DS1 thinking of using it for the chunk of Physics that’s causing him an issue … it’s quite heavily advertised ! I’m not really too worried about getting my money back if he doesn’t get a*\a … more whether the quality of the resources is any good . ( as a humanities person I have no clue ) Thank you