BTECs starting 2015 - General support thread

Thanks Kez - I think he will just be using the college computers so won't need his own (I hope!), so I don't think he needs a laptop size bag

My son has a Crosskase rucksack from Amazon. Its waterproof (necessary for the trip to/from the bus) and has a separate laptop compartment (which he needs as he takes a laptop most days) and phone and bottle holders. It wasn't cheap but its still fine for year two and it gets thrown around by him all the time.

What sort of bags do your DC use for college? My DS has been taking a small drawstring bag so far, but realises he needs something more substantial. I asked him what he wants but he doesn't know!
Any idea what is cool in bags for this age group?

Quiet often they moan about things but won't do anything about it so well done to your son for asking

My DS has changed groups as there are three year two classes for his pathway. He sussed out where the better teaching was (in his opinion) and has wangled a move into that group. Hope he is right!

We are on out third amendment to the timetable. Nothing major but still a pain. Although DS is happy about the latest as the lesson has move back a couple of hours so extra time in bed

Yes, we have a 7-6 day when college is back. Husband does similar hours, so I find I fall into a similar pattern once my DD is back at University (which is next week) and not at home.

I find my DS is starving though, so I try and get tea ready for asap after he comes in.

DD seemed pretty organised this morning for first proper day, then came the "can you ring my phone its in my room somewhere" which used to happen A LOT - eventually locate phone completely dead - give it ten minute charge, might be enough to send one text.

Finally DD sets off 7.15 for the bus stop laden down with waterproofs, steel toe capped boots, wellingtons, lunch, files..it looked like she was going for a couple of weeks. Apparently most of it will go in her locker so she won't need to carry it every day. Now won't see her until about 6.30 - strange as I'm used to her getting home about 3.30.

DS was off from the end of May because they don't have exams they tend to finish before everyone else.

I'm still waiting for ds to go back from the summer! He doesn't start until tuesday and that's just induction which is usually just tours of the library, ID photos, health and safety talks, a trip to the local uni and a team building thing which is always just a football match - lessons don't start until next monday - he'll have forgotten everything as they broke up 12 weeks ago

DS has his first set of assignments to be done for Monday, he is away to his mates to play footie His timetable is very different to last ear because he's in 4 days a week compared to 2.5 last year (2 9-5:30 and 1 90 minute classs)because they have far more experiments and lab work which require setting up etc. He might be there from 9-4 but he usually has a few hours in between classes and they are expeccted to log into the tech system and self study.

He usually asks to take my car (even thought he's only 10 min walk away ) so that he can disappear to one of his friends houses for lunch because that mum is kind and makes them lunch but in exchange he'll get DD from afterschool clubs because she finishes just after 4. I'm trying to persuade him to take her to her dance class but I was turned down I have to sy that he has grown up a lot over the summer and is definitely more confident than before. DH and I were all at how sensible all of his mates were when we went to a joint 18th where we knew everybody from primary school. One got really drunk and DH thought he would have to drive him home but all the mates got together, fed him water and pizza outside (in the fresh bracing sea air) and got him into a taxi as well as phoning his parents to let them know he was on his way home. Now if he would recognise that the girls who were chatting to him were trying to chat him up.... one of the girls was chatting to me in the loos and said that she couldn't believe he was that oblivious. Before I could answer my goddaughter (who is the same age as him and they have been friends since babyhood) burst out laughing and told her that unless you were prepared to come straight out and tell him that you wanted to go out with him he wouldn't notice just like his father

DD tried that and it glared at her ! She is taken with the freshly made pizza at the local convenience store which she had as a treat yesterday .

There was some hassle on the bus yesterday which stressed her (and me) out but luckily nothing today. And she had some media lessons which she mostly enjoyed. She was shattered but perked up after food and has said she loves the freedom of it and wants to stay . Which is flipping good news !

I think I am liking the whole non communication thing, my inbox is quiet.

The travelling will get easier as they get used to it. I imagine the stress of starting something new will be tiring

After about 13 weeks off my DS is pleased to be back and although Thursday is a whole day he has practical first thing which means virtually tripping out of the house and being at the sports centre so can have a lie in.

Don't worry, they are old enough to handle the distance and it helps their independence. I remember worrying about my DD as she went on public bus not a college one - what about winter if it snows?

We had the discussion and she said not to worry, she had friends on the course that lived in the city or there was a travelodge down the road. They start to think more independently now they are older.

My DS I've not worried about an all! Although, to be fair, he is on a college bus so there would be about 40 in the same predicament.

Kez100 to the walking out of lessons.

DD actually loves being surrounded by countryside, but I feel a bit worried about how far away she'll be. It was walking distance to her previous school and I don't have a car.

There was a form to sign at enrollment saying I would pay any fees etc as there are no fees to pay, I queried this form and the woman pointed out I still had to sign it as there could be costs, for example if my DD caused damage driving a tractor into something!!!

sashh great info.

Sash! that is incredibly helpful, thank you very much.

DD been given the year 2 timetable, great start..

But ultimately they do tend to be done by the less academic, so something about them must be easier than A levels, mustn't it?

I did both, A Levels were far easier for me. I now teach BTEC, and occasionally A Level. Less academic doesn't mean thick or less able, it means (in the context of GCSE and A Level) less good at passing exams.

Also, how do we/they know what grade they should be aiming at?

Ideally they should aim at D for everything. I try to make assignments as varied as possible so that there is written work but also creative stuff so that everyone has a fair chance.

Some units lend themselves more to practical things so for health and safety I prefer students to identify hazards in a real or simulated situation rather than write an essay.

thunderbird69

You can go on Edexcel/Pearson's website for the unit briefs, these are what we, as teachers, use to write their assignment.

So in Health and Social Care there is a unit on 'Safeguarding Adults' - if you got to the website and look for unit 11 there will be criteria for P,M and D and full descriptors.

P1 is "describe forms of abuse..."
P2 is "Describe indicators that abuse may be happening..."
M1 is "Assess the likely immediate effects of two different forms of abuse ..."
D1 "evaluate the potential long term effects..."

Now I can write a single assignment that covers all those criteria, or several to cover fewer.

How I write the assignment is up to me, and it is easier if I'm writing for second years who I have known for a while.

So if there are some confident class clowns I might get them to make a film simulating abuse in a care home, or hospital. All students have mobile phones so there is less of a problem with hiring tech these days. That would cover P1. If there is someone who really does not want to be filmed then they can write the script or direct.

Once they have filmed the 'abuse' they can then talk about it in an essay or a report incorporating P2, M1 and D1.

For a quieter group then I might get them to design leaflets to be used on a training course to cover P1 and P2 and then a different assignment for P3 and M1 D1.

If I was teaching this unit today we might have a look at the refugees in Calais, Hungary and Greece in the news and discuss whether they are suffering abuse and what you could do setting up a community group to welcome refugees and offer support.

When I'm marking I'm looking for the content to cover the grading criteria. There have been times when I have marked work the student has completed, in their eyes, to Merit which doesn't cover all M criteria but does cover D1 and D2 - in this case the student would need to complete the M criteria but would pass with D (Students are normally allowed to resubmit once).

Ds started btec l 2 engineering on Tuesday. He is in year 10 and secured a place on the course after applying to and being interviewed by the local college. alongside his GCSE options which he does at school he will go to college Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon. The college have said if he does well he will have a guaranteed place on the level 3 course in year 12. Even if his GCSES are not quite as expected.

Sparsholt sprang to mind or Kingston Maurwood. DD wanted a soup thermos so waiting for that to arrive. Also her iPod battery dies after a few mins and she would like to be able to listen to music.

She really was hanging yesterday but I guess they will get used to it, had shower and then a very early night. She does have the option of returning To local sixth form if she doesn't cope with travelling but she really wants this tonworl. I just hope the media lessons are what she hoped for, will find out very soon.

DH flew back from his Dad's funeral yesterday so we are more back to normal here and he can help with the driving to bus stop for rest of the week. I can't wait for the weekend.

I thought it may be Sparsholt too

Kez! DD's college is relatively rural and there are wild ponies wondering around nearby. One girl on a course with friend's son last year got very excited about this and was asking if you could take them for a walk and where you get a lead from.

Friend's DD has just started BTEC countryside management, very similar situation to your DD totheotherside.

Day 1 complete here. No media today so she doesn't yet know how she likes it but has really enjoyed the day. Very very tired though.