BTECs starting 2015 - General support thread

Well the retainer instructions said not to let the dog chew the retainer and we have had one of the cats eating homework before, mayhem in this house

Cat ate her retainer . Is that like the dog ate my homework ?

DD had dentist this morning as cat ate her retainer. I then dropped her at station as she wanted to go in to use the darkroom, despite no lessons today. Have to say, really pleased with shift in attitude this week and amount of effort and hope it continues.

Fingers crossed Eatyourveg. Fully get the transport worry but I've found though if they are motivated to do it they will cope. DD was awful with things like that before she went last summer but coped in a foreign country on the subway and buses to my amazement last summer.

Driving isn't happening here as she has decided her concentration isn't good enough so that is one nail biting experience I'm saved for now.

Although it is the same it is not his normal job so hopefully there is some leeway.

The multisport camp sounds good although I do understand you concerns about him getting there. My DS has managed Birmingham but that has no changes and when he went to London it was with big sis.

Don't start me on cars. Petrified. He is having lessons and DH has taken him out but I haven't plucked up the courage yet. When DD was learning I used to make her drive everywhere but she is much more sensible

Not sure Gas One of the weeks is during the Easter break and his work will be running a holiday club thing at a school in a nearby town so I think he'll end up there though it will not be any different to what he is doing at the two schools here. I've had another look at the rules and I think he might be able to get away with it.

He's found a place in Surrey doing a multisports camp which he's keen to do but it means bunking for a week on his brother's settee in London, catching a train, then one change and then a bus - this from a boy who has never been further than college on public transport! His gm has offered him her car if he can get around to taking his test - not sure which option is more daunting.

Great news T & T

eatyourveg would it count if he coached in a different location so that it is not his normal role?

Really sorry T&T, I didn't see your very good news, how could I miss that - great news !!

Great start for the new term T&T for your DD - onwards and upwards!

That sounds sensible HSM.

T&T that sounds like hopeful news.

Sugar DD is almost certainly giving up an A level after she's done her AS exam.

Fingers crossed for him eatyourveg.

I find the whole BTEC thing very confusing and don't feel comfortable with it at all. HSM that sounds like a very heavy load .

Photography definitely a mistake for DD (College have said it is a challenge for an organised person and she is not )but she's stuck with it now and is finally buckling down - but I think she may fail a module and be up the creek. Bit touch and go but she has two sessions with student support this week who is starting some more assessments on her and off to see the GP re assessment for ADD.if she can just scrape a pass this year then go onto do Japanese next year I will be happy.

Not yet Gas though it looks as though a university sports dept 90 minutes away might let him shadow the research students for some of the time. He's thinking of asking if he can stay in halls for a couple of nights rather than commute but I think he would much rather go to London. Personally I think he may end up having to up his hours in his coaching job and hope college ok it.

Teen My DS but he is agreeing with your DD but I am not sure I have explained it all properly especially after what eatyourveg has said. Certainly worth checking with the college

eat Hope your DS has found a placement

DD2 is doing double dance Btec for Y12 and 13... she says she can only get an A or C equivalent, there is no B level? is that right?

Yes there is no equivalent to a single B grade (ie 100 ucas points) but as she is doing the double it is equivalent to 2 A levels. If she gets DM that is equivalent to 2 Bs. PP would give her the equivalent of one C and MP would giver her one A grade at A level. See here When comparing it to A levels one A* = 140 A=120 B=100 C=80 D=60 E=40

So now for further assignments for module X she says she has been told no point her even attempting merit / distinction criteria, e.g. M2, M3, D1

Definitely do all the other cirteria - ds was told it was there would be an only one submission approach but at a recent parents evening his tutor said that he has the option at the end of the course to resubmit one piece.

If your DD passed the M2 M3 D1 criteria but only got P for one assignment, it would give her the chance to get the P up to an M and then her Ds would count too. (Does that make sense)

DD has mocks for a couple of AS levels this week and is using the spare time (no other lessons) to catch up on Btec work.

DD2 is doing double dance Btec for Y12 and 13... she says she can only get an A or C equivalent, there is no B level? is that right? so confusing. She and DD1 (Y14) both only got D's in their Nov maths retake, so that is dire news.
Poor DD2 is doing business and photography A level plus double dance Btec and resitting maths, she is snowed under. I want her to just do single dance (as she has decided dance career unlikely) but she much prefers her double dance group. aarrgh!

My DS did BTEC Sport at school instead of GCSE PE so this is his fourth year of BTEC and I am often still none the wiser!

Your DD is right in that if you miss one merit criteria you can't get a merit but not sure if that makes it no point in completing the rest. If you have a pass and are close to a merit grade then you are allowed to resubmit to try and get a merit so I am presuming that you must have completed most of the merit criteria to get close to a merit?

I will ask my DS how that bit works and let you know.

The new rules about only one submission being allowed has not helped. I sort of agree with it in that the likes of my DS should not be allowed numerous attempts if he is too bone idle to do it properly first time. Unfortunately I feel for students who through no fault of their own would benefit from another chance.

Yes, flipping exhausting for us though!