Starting year 13 2016

Actually, I think I might have got the 4 hours per subject per week wrong. I think it depends on the subject and Geology is 4, Physics 5. I haven't got a copy of the timetable (and have forgotten my school login for the 20 billionth time ) so I can't check the other subjects. DD is doing 4 subjects plus conversational Japanese which I actually think is too much, but she's very stubborn and doesn't want to drop anything. Some high flyers will be doing 5 including Further Maths but the norm is 3 now.

5 subjects?

I think we touched on this upthread but my DDs splits the difference with 9 hours per fortnight. Thats the most that can be fitted into the timetable which allows for some of them to to 5 subjects (they didn't have to do 'enrichment' in yr 12)

Rooby, is she the only Geology student? If so, and he has a suitable free period when she is also free, he might be willing to teach her then?

On another tack, DD has 5 hours of each subject a week and Rooby's DD has 4 hours of each one - how does that compare with your DC?

Yes there should be 4 hours per week of each subject but she'll have 3 in Geology now. She hasn't spoken to the Geology teacher yet as he only works a couple of days per week. He's actually delayed his retirement to teach dd2 because she's so enthusiastic about the subject. Perhaps he'll be able to come up with something. I think it's unreasonable of the school to impose this "solution" on the hoof without discussing it with everyone involved. If all else fails that's a good idea LittleHoHum. A* isn't a requirement. I think A is the highest she'll need but even that might be out of her reach if she misses 1/4 of her lessons. I feel like we're going to have to pay a tutor to make up for something school should be providing.

One suggestion Rooby. I have no idea how a school / teacher would feel about this idea, but could she get one of those recording devices and get a friend to record the other lesson?

As long as she is organised it would mean she wouldn't miss anything.

Thats a PITA Rooby. On the other hand, not everywhere even does Geology - I'd guess that there will be other applicants to her courses who have (some of) the other three subjects. But if the standard offer for the course she particularly wants includes A* then losing a lesson a week isn't good news. Has she discussed it with her geology teacher yet - does s/he think your DD will cope?

Just looking at the lessons again Rooby - are they hour-long lessons? So 4 hours for each subject but she would just have 3 in Geol?

How many Physics lessons does she have Rooby?

I wouldn't be happy at having to lose a lesson a week in my best/fave subject

That's terrible So sorry for your DD Rooby.

Dd2 has just started Y13 and got her timetable today. She's doing Geology, Geography, Physics & Chemistry. However there's a timetable clash. One Physics lesson is at the same time as Geology. School have told her she must attend Physics & miss one out of 4 Geol lesson a week. Geology is her favourite lesson, and her best (probably only) chance of an A* and the one she wants to study at university. Physics is a much weaker subject. I don't know what to advise her. If she doesn't do so well at Geology she might not get the uni she wants bit she doesn't want to drop physics which is what I'd probably do. Why do things have to be complicated?!

Thanks littlehohum. Bath was lovely. High grade requirements though

All crossed for you dingit. How annoying.

Faire, I think DD has asked all her teachers already - key information for deciding which to drop!

Fingers and toes crossed for you dingit.

dd3 is starting to put more thought into the application process. She is going to have a look at the maths and physics departments at Bath University on Saturday. She can take the train to that one by herself as we are relatively local.

dh is driving her to the Warwick one so that means I don't have to go to any more. Hurrah!

Grrrr. So hacked off right now. Just spoken to examinations office about dds PE remark. And guess what? Despite having her medical papers since March, they didn't send them to the exam board for special consideration. They are sending them off today for late consideration before her theory paper is remarked!
Could I ask you lovey people to cross your fingers for us

Hi all, just joining new thread (thanks HSMM) and catching up with everyone.

Ds dropped the subject he was hoping to drop so is glad to have that confirmed after AS results. We're doing 4 out of 5 uni visits as he thinks it will be easier to decide which to put for 1st choice if he's seen them as there's not much difference in entry requirements.

I expect they will be told their grade predictions soon so that will help with the deciding too.

They don't put them in order of priority now. They just name their choices on the UCAS form, there is no priority assigned to them.

In the spring after they have received all their offers, then they will have to name one 'firm' first choice, one 'insurance' second choice and decline any others.

I agree about the uncertainty. Our DC's cohort are guinea pigs for the new system.

Dd's visited 5.I think she's decided on her 4 choices.She wanted to visit Edinburgh but it's too far and extremely hard to get into and we've decided not to bother.Is it important to put them in order of priority now?I'm puzzled by this question.
I'm am also become increasingly worried by how the results will pan out for the new A level courses.There seems to be so much uncertainty arround at the moment.

DD won't be going to open days for 2 unis she is definitely applying to. She is planning to go to the offer-holder days, assuming she gets the offers, of course.

She vacillates between assuming she will have to choose between 5 offers and talking about clearing. It's all a bit daunting.

Most unis have offer holder days I think. Very similar to an open day but you see the department in more detail, and meet people applying to your course.

Sometimes unis hold 'applicant days ' which often include an interview (DS had this and got his offers after it). He was applying to Comp Sci though; I don't think they tend to do it for Humanities.

Makes sense that there should be those too I guess. Bit different to back in the day, just interviews, but then we weren't paying customers!

I checked, Loughborough certainly have one.

Well I think there are - I think that's when DD's bf went to visit his firm and insurance.