Continuing Year 13: January 2016

Bucking, well done to your DS on being accepted onto the Samaritans programme. I am amazed that they accept such young volunteers, but I wish him all the best going forward with that.

Great news dunlurking, I can only imagine how much your DD will experience and grow in that time!

DS still has done nothing about either his loan or his accommodation. I have reached the point of explicitly saying to him that I am no longer going to nag or remind him. I'm so frustrated!

DD needs to find a room in shared private house in London for her RADA year as they don't do anything to support students with housing. It feels rather a big step, but thankfully one she's capable of taking

No major exam dramas. History ok and geography "really perfect questions came up". DD has 2 left then that's it! But is head girl so unfortunately has to stay around school til term ends meaning we can't take an early holiday

Amazingly DS has decided to be a Samaritan so spends his weekends being trained up.

It's an odd parenting period, such big steps for us all.

Thanks hellsbells and Squirrels that's really helpful. Ds is going to do it this week. He says he is officially still at the school until 31st July

Hmm. If he's quick he might get it through school.
You apply and pay online, I can't remember whether they send them to home address or school. They are well worth getting as often give more discount than just student ID. Valid in loads of shops and restaurants.

Hi Dunlurking, your DS can just put his 6th form down and then pay an extra £1 (I think) to get it delivered to home. As soon as you purchase it, you can then use on a phone with the unidays app - or something like that!
If you Google NUS extra, you should find it

Thanks Squirrels. Do they have to put where they're studying though? Does he put the school or the university?

Dunlurking Both mine have had NUS discount cards from age 16. They have paid for themselves in Pizza Hut discounts alone! That could be one way?

Mamia thank you for that - really helpful

M&S here - they have skinny washable styles for around £100 and are much better quality than the one we got from NEXT which quickly bobbled and became cheap looking (and the trousers are a thinner material meaning DS froze in winter :/).

Thank you LIZS and Squirrels that is exactly what I wanted to know - the skinny legs will be a thing, so I won't bother with M&S and will try Next and Topman first!

Also.........does anyone know how they can get tickets for events etc at student prices over the summer holidays? How do you prove student status when you are in between institutions? I want to get him some tickets to Warwick University's musical theatre society's production at the Edinburgh Fringe but don't know if I can pay the student ticket price as they are supposed to show student tickets at the door at Edinburgh Fringe events (although in practice I'm not sure they bother to check most of the time). Any thoughts???

Dunlurking The problem with the likes of M&S is getting acceptably skinny trousers.
I second Next for a reasonably stylish suit. I bought one for DS which was smart enough for his Y11 Prom and has been useful since for interviews. It was about £120. He is 30" waist and 36" leg in many brands but Next 34" leg are just long enough. I also bought 2 pairs of trousers which was a good move as he wears them more than the jacket.

Next are pretty good value (and washable!) . Topman good for smart. Both do 28 waist.

Thanks Bethan, nice to have the reassurance about the nutribullet.

Ds has done his Warwick accommodation now so at least that's out of the way.

Next exam is a week Monday so we will have an outing to buy a new prom suit this week, as a break, and there will be a battle of wills......he wants something cool and trendy but if I'm paying it will have to double as an interview suit! Any suggestions where to look? The last one was Debenhams as his waist was 28", which M&S didn't do. Now he has a 30" waist I could try M&S..... We have a House of Fraser we could check out as well but I'm expecting them to be too expensive. What are Next like for suits? Budget is £100-£200 but preferably the lower end.

needmoresleep what a lovely boost for your DD. I'd have eaten her canapés!

Yes well done to Needmore's DD, sure she'll have a great time.

Glad history & geology exams have gone well.

If he likes smoothies I think a nutribullet is a nice idea dunlurking. Would be quite expensive to buy on a student budget.

Yay, well done to her!

Glad everyone's History A2s went OK. And the Geology

I always wanted to be a sailing instructor in the Med for a long summer. Never quite made it - instructing on a pond for PGL adventure holidays was as far as I got! Also envious Needmore

I'm very envious of your DD Needmoresleep, doing a ski season.....what a dream!

DS1 was happy with Geology.Pleased it's out of the way and he can give Maths and Physics his full attention now. No Exam now until next Friday.

Dd had History today too, Edexcel. She seems happy, it sounded fairly straightforward. She was ok this morning but there were tears at school yesterday And yes, no more history!

Next one Tuesday ...

Ds thought History was ok and his teacher seemed to think he went along the right lines. Last ever History exam!

Dunlurking she thought it was 'good'. :)

Oh and ds planning to do Warwick accommodation application this weekend I think as no pressure for revision atm with the next exam 9 days away. Think he is going for ensuite or shared bathroom between 2, and spending money saved from his weekend/holiday job. Have just bought him a nutribullet smoothie maker as part of his 18th birthday present. Is that a bit sad? He does love his smoothies though. It's maybe a bit too "useful"