GCSE summer 2020 thread 6 - Carry on Corona Cohort, Further adventures aboard the Corona Charabanc.

Just had the post and have a letter regarding the info on GCSEs at DD's school. They are divided up alphabetically so from 8.30am the A-DS go in and 9am the E-Hs etc so every half hour the next lot go in to the hall. No parents allowed in the school and no group photos inside so SD is adhered to. Guess once outside it's up to you.

DD thinks she'll have to open them in school and speak to any teachers immediately if she needs to as 1/2 hr isn't long so no chance of her leaving school and meeting us in car park to open together but hey ho. She has two friends with same letter bracket surname so will have some familiar faces to share news with.

And now the greatest part. They will accept you at the 6th form even if you didn't get the grade but as long as the teacher gave it when they submitted their CAGs. So DD now feels confident she'll be accepted in as if they go on mocks and teacher assessment she'll have done fine despite the school having disastrous grades last year which may pull down the students given grade this year. Are all schools doing this do you think?

We still have a back up school just in case but it's public transport distance away rather than a 1/2 hr walk to current school.

Thank you @shimy @crazycrofter. Yes I rather think Dd feels a bit in limbo...and unusually for someone who.loves the stage and singing she is an introvert. She loves home. Told me she has been walking past her new college everyday so I know she wants to move on to her new life.

I worry about stamina...coping with deadlines and academic work again. Hopefully they will consider that at early stages of college.

@OrangeCinnamon1hopefully in September when they resume they'll be able to do something if not before then. Re DD they're all glued to social media now. Even DS who had always managed his social media intake because ds1 is a "gamer" has partly succumbed to hours of it, in spite of various projects he has started, essay competitions, community projects etc there's just nothing else for them to do. I think they're really missing 'sports'.

I had a GCSE results dream last night! They're only five weeks away! It was a stressful dream, as dd went missing in the course of picking the results up and I couldn't find her, so it took ages to find out what her results actually were!

@orangecinnamon1 that's a bit of a worry for you, although at least she is still getting out a little. It's easy to get used to the lockdown situation isn't it though, if you're the more introverted type, and actually enjoy it. I know personally I felt a bit sad when things started to open up! Although of course, I want things back to normal really.

Is she going to a new sixth form, I can't remember? Hopefully she'll adjust to a bit more socialising when school starts again.

Dd went to town with a couple of friends yesterday on the train - her first experience wearing a mask. She's going to have to get used to it as she'll have a 40 min train ride to school come September.

That's a shame @Shimy maybe they can get together in some form anyhow.

Glad everyone getting updates about results day. Dd school is determined still to have a prom, the latest idea is combining with an awards eve in the autumn. I can't see it happening tbh.

I need to get her off her phone, she is just so aimless atm. I.saw a tiktok where she claimed to be on it for over 10 hours a day and now she is claiming she doesn't like people and only likes her own company .
She did meet a friend in the next village yesterday and then went and surprised her Nan (our bubble nana).

Just received news by email, DS' results will be available online from 8am. Shame really, the tradition is usually all students come to school and meet in the hall, school gives them all breakfast of pastries and tea. Not this time .

Now, now Monkey Barney is stowed out with folk seeking an eye test

....... and of course you can go via Barnard Castle to test your eyesight!

That’s brilliant, thank you! We’ll be staying near Bamburgh. We’re not massively into beaches anyway, so good to have other suggestions!

We feel very fortunate @crazycrofter
Where are you staying in Northumberland? What do you like doing?
Coast (obviously) - Bamburgh / Seahouses & bot trips - but also Tynemouth & in particular Riley’s Fish Shack on the beach.
Alnwick Castle & Barter Books
Kielder & if you’re staying near there, the observatory to take advantage of Dark Skies!
Hadrian’s Wall - good for walks, plus Vindolanda & Army museum...
National Trust properties... Wallington, Cragside & Seaton Delaval Hall.

It’s a big county & I’d really recommend that you don’t just limit yourself to the coast!

That sounds like a good school @northumberlandlass. Good that he's staying there for sixth form!

We're hoping to go to Northumberland in August - any recommendations for things to do?

Dd finally finished her bridging work! I can already tell that her Psychology teacher will be a nightmare. Reams of work to do and all had to be hand written! What decade are we in? And in covid - I thought schools were discouraging work being handed in?!

DS’s 6th form doesn’t have uniform, which is a relief.

I had a call from DS’s form tutor yesterday, checking how he’d been & said that he’d be his tutor until Sept & if we needed anything over the summer to email. He then spoke to DS. Nice touch & i’ve been really impressed how the school has stayed in contact & dealt with uncertainties.

He knows he can do his A-Levels, the in person & email plans for results day, plus has line of contact to school. They’ve also issued ‘Pastoral’ letters every week signposting to various types of support.

I don't actually mind the business suit requirement. DD has been in uniform throughout and us looking forward to a change without having to think too much about what to wear. The girls do look very smart and the rules are relaxed enough to let them do it their way with coloured blouses and nice shoes.

DDs school is 10am on a ‘socially distanced first come first served’ basis with a one way system in and out of school.
New school’s Sixth Form dress code is smart office wear.
DD has bagged quite a few bits in the online sales and several of her blouses/ shirts she would wear at weekends, with jeans, when out shopping and/or lunch with friends.
She’s even found, in my wardrobe, a couple of long forgotten jackets from a former life of mine which have been added to her ‘capsule’

DS has the choice of going in or email. There are time slots by alphabet. I think he plans to go in as I have no idea what time the results would get emailed (the exams officer is not the best from past experience so when she gets round to it who knows?!)

He is not in the same alphabet slot as any of his friends though which is a shame. I am glad they get a chance to go in though.

No uniform or business dress at sixth forms here.

DS's results are arriving by email at 8am and he can go into school if he wants, they are split into three groups alphabetically by surname so he would be in at 9am. He can't see any reason to be bothered going in though
We have an appointment at the uniform shop next week to try on blazers. Hoping we can get away with just one but might be difficult if it can only be dry cleaned?

Online only results for my dd. Which she is happy about but I was looking forward to the anxious wait in the car while she went in to pick up her results 😂.

Still waiting to hear about delayed prom but I’m guessing it might not happen now.

Dd progressing v slowly with bridging work.

No uniform or suits for dd sixth form just normal everyday wear just nothing offensive or impractical. Still think we are going to have to spend a bit to expand her wardrobe but luckily she’s not a big brands girl - although that might change I guess.

Ds' school have temporarily suspended the wearing of blazers. They mentioned something about them brushing against door handles, which I thought was weird, but I've just realised it's because they're a pain to wash! I wish dd's new school would do the same.

@RedskyAtnight dd is finally getting to the end of her bridging work! It's taken her about 3 weeks on and off. But I can guarantee when ds' time comes, he will be rushing through it on 1st September....

DC's school suggested washing uniform every day and then backtracked to " as often as is feasible; we realise it's not possible to get blazers washed and dried on a daily basis". They are emphasising the frequent washing of ties, however!

DS's sixth form dress is "smart casual". He owns one pair of smart trousers and one shirt. I keep pointing him online or offering to take him shopping and he keeps mumbling back. Though as he's just reminded me (I was stupidly pointing out that it might be an idea to at least look at his bridging work) there is still 7 weeks left before they go back to school!

Surely can't wash blazer (or dry clean suit!) Every day? People will not be washing coats every day.

Quite glad DS has chosen 6th form where the "uniform" is jeans

I'm wondering if I'll have to buy two blazers though if we need to wash clothes every day!

@MarchingFrogs I think the business wear thing is a bit dated now actually. I remember my school introducing it in around 1991 ish. Nowadays, a lot of 'professionals' don't have to wear business wear anyway.

Uniform in sixth form is a bit 'young' but at least it's easy - which for dd who's prone to getting anxious and taking ages to get ready, is helpful.

Really glad there’s no uniform for 6th form here too. That way I can wash clothes everyday. The regulation skirt (with it’s hundreds of pleats to re-iron) and blazer probably held onto loads of germs I would rather not think about now!