Barton Pevrill - entry this September

We need to get on the computer this weekend and find out how to withdraw from BP, as definitely going with Brock.

Eve I'm not expecting to go in with DD for her enrolment interview, but I will be helping her compile a list of things to try to sort out. I will drive her, and then either retire to local pub or go for a walk. They have said it will take up to 2 hours.

However if there were course decisions to be made then I think I would perhaps wish to be there.

Draylon and doglover - where are yours ending up?

Drayton, I just had another thought - have a look at the Fareham College CEMAST website. Your DS might not be interested in this but it might give you some ideas if he needs to think about a plan B, in as much as the world doesn't end if his GCSE grades don't provide the stepping stone to A Levels.

It may show him that there are alternatives and different routes and pathways to qualifications.

I know one of the companies who are offering apprentiships in conjunction with CEMAST and they guarantee a job on successful completion of the course.

Again, PM me if you want more info.

Hi Draylon - Try to persuade your DS to have a look at the IET website (theiet.org). There is a section called 'Why study engineering?' And also a link to a YouTube video 'careers in engineering' these show the multitude of options for engineering jobs and also the different ways to get into engineering.

Also there was a brilliant programme on Radio4 (iirc Lifesciences?) with Prof Christofer Toumazou. He was expected to join his family catering business and didn't do much at GCSE, then fell into a BTEC in engineering and went on from there, quite inspirational!

It's tough for the students my DD had a taster at BP on Mon and is at PS today, still not sure where she wants to go or what she wants to do.........

However - If you want any more info about engineering pm me and I'll try and help.

My dd was at St Anne's taster day on Tuesday and Taunton's today. Loved them both! Her subject choices would be slightly different for each so she'll need to mull it over during the next few weeks.

I've suggested phoning a range of uni admissions to see how the differing courses would be viewed by them.

Draylon Glad you have a bit of a plan B now at least.

DD1 at Brock today, enjoyed herself and liked both the AS and the BTEC tasters. So she's happy and so am I. She had a sausage roll for lunch because there was too much choice so she asked for the first thing that came into her head.

DD has withdrawn from PS completely, and isn't bothering with the try day at BP, off to Brock on Wed.
Eve Had a couple of emails from Brock in past couple of days, including info evening for parents 7/8 July (I'll be there on the 8th)

Because there is a choice of colleges, I think quite a few dcs think the grass would have been greener elsewhere. Oh, if only I'd gone to X,Y or Z I'd have had piles of friends, I would have had far better teachers etc etc etc.

Ds is a PS student, and I am a Barton one (very aged student). BP wins hands down on appearance - it's so shiny and new. But... ds likes being in Winchester. There seem to be more clubs and societies at Barton, if that is what interests a dc.

I would take issue with BP's convenience: there are buses all the time from here (CF) to Winchester, but for BP there is only one bus in the morning and one in the afternoon. This is particularly a fag in the sixth form because you don't do a set day and have odd hours, plus at exam time you are all over the place regarding timing. Biking is ok, but bear in mind that if you have four subjects in a day a student will need to be lugging a giant weight around with them.

BP - well its Eastleigh rather than Winchester
also BP has EC next door which can be perceived as having an impact on aspirations
BUT
after a term or two of shakedown (and thank goodness for twitter pointing out the national reaction to exams)
more people are realising that life is what you make it

Winchester is definitely a much nicer and naicer town to study in
but BP is a darned sight easier to get to

looking that the children of my friends, equal numbers hitting target destinations from both (be that Oxbridge, RG, specialist or work)
so really it does come down to "feel"
as BP and PS are very different.

For those, like me, who live in Southampton, Tauntons is working really hard to become a valid alternative - within 3 years they will be a serious contender.

Sparsholt is a nightmare to get to from many areas - Stagecoach are messing the bus routes around.

PS definitely has a whole load of Btec / GCSE / retake kids - they are just not put on show for the open evening
think of the difference between the kids at the Romsey Abbey services and the whole RS/MB cohort

I have to say that a fair few of DDs friends who chose BP over PS regretted their choice, but its all settling down now.

Once the exams are out of the way and they have had a couple of days sleep they will start to cheer up again

tbh Having been helping my DD through maths GCSE, and having a maths degree myself, I would agree with the colleges that an A for maths at GCSE would/should be the absolute minimum to go on for A level, (even with Hannah's sweets). If someone is aspiring to do Maths A level then the GCSE should be a piece of cake to them.

Draylon We found it very hard finding a BTEC for DD for the reasons you mention. They all seem to lead you down very specific job routes, which if you have no idea what you want to do can be very hard.

Sparsholt have some engineering courses - one I believe requires B for sciences so muct be reasonably academic.

TP thank you for this. DD has conditional offers for BP and PS, she wanted to do Science and Maths at A Level (however she's feeling a bit despondent following the Chem and Biol GCSEs, Physics tomorrow). I have suggested she looks at the prospectus to think up a plan B (or C or D), but she wants to wait til the results come out.
Admittedly the stress levels are rising at the moment as this GCSE session seems to have gone on for ever.

Do you think there is merit in either her (or me) contacting the colleges to ascertain what exactly is required? Should I encourage her to attend the open evenings in July again?
WWYD?
Thanks for your advice.