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

Come, do you think he is giving an address ?

I've had an email forwarded from my daughter's school about it.

Is Bojo giving an address to school leavers at 10am tomorrow- as some schools have suggested- or not?
Anyone know?

@PaddingtonPaddington a family friend whose DD is a cellist chose Royal Northern because of an excellent teacher (v happy with her choice although she never had that teacher!) What is your DD's instrument? Have you looked into junior conservatoire? Another couple of friends did that in Y12/Y13 and loved it, although trekking to London every Saturday was a huge commitment in time and money.

Agree with Cinnamon about the cost of auditions. Music is much more accessible if you are very wealthy!

Paddington that sounds expensive ...especially as some of them charge to audition

Dd started looking at Conservatoire for Jazz singing but not so keen now.

Ds finds it hard to engage with virtual open days but he did do a music subject talk at Huddersfield.

I’m fairly sure college will let him on the music Btec even if he has to do retakes alongside. I just worry how they can deliver the practical parts in small studios with social distancing.

In other news he has a new jazz piano teacher (via zoom at the moment). And his first paid job was creating a bespoke backing track for a musical theatre grad to use for auditions.

At least there aren't too many options for conservatoires but it sounds like you have a few trips coming up Paddington!

At least there aren't too many options for conservatoires but it sounds like you have a few trips coming up Paddington!

DD is set on music and wants to apply for both conservatoires and universities so potential 10 choices. It seems the application for the conservatoires is earlier in October so will need to do open days in year 12 for those. She seems happy for me to help her find info so that’s a bonus although with a science degree and no musical skills myself I’m not sure how much I’m really helping!

We have a mini break scheduled to Edinburgh in August (if NS doesn't ban English residents from travelling up) in lieu of a US east coast recce that was due then. Not that the US is any way appealing right now (Canada more so), but DD is still going ahead with prepping for both UK and North America for now.

Whilst there are no physical tours anywhere right now, visiting areas is our next best option as I cannot envisage her committing to applications unless she gets a 'feel' for a place she may end up living in for 3/4 years.

@OrangeCinnamon1
I'm exactly the same with the "helping". DS hates it (understandably) so I really need to pipe down.

I’ve just received an email from school confirming result day plans! 😬 It all feels quite close!

They are setting up one way system & have allocated time slots on surnames - they’ve also asked for student’s email addresses & all results will also be sent by email at 2pm!

DS doesn’t care really. They have confirmed his A-Level choices...

Orange I not familiar with Warwick Uni- it’s at the opposite end of the country to us as are most of DDs choices 😂
She likes the idea of a year (3rd year of 4) in Rome which I think is in the mix with Venice, Bologna and another uni.
Wouldn’t mind it myself except I couldn’t cope with the Latin and Greek

Yes - I think that is exactly the sort of thing that would be good. I have conflicting opinions about it but it would certainly suit him.

@ChristopherTracy what about Radar with the Navy !? I know someone who did that ...found it very enjoyable.

Hi all...username issues so I've added the 1 to my name (i started the first thread for yr10s).

@proggymat if I had my time again I would love to do Classics and the Venice term with Warwick..is Michael Scott still there (not swooning honest )?

It does sound scary to think of Uni applications but there is a certain strategy required for some. Those who have to make early apps may want to be sure of their choices and what to put on UCAS statements by early next academic year. If Oxbridge you don't have to have your other choices sorted of course, but it helps lessen the load. There are also open days to consider...like secondary school open evenings you may find they are on the same day.
I would only say the above if a student is sure about what they want to do. It is tempting to panic if no ideal courses become apparent but we must try to navigate helping them make the decisions independently at the right time for them ...another upcoming challenge, im so guilty of telling my Dd about online open days etc. She doesn't need to go to them just now. I suppose it is because we know what she wants to do (Music) and I work at a Uni so have some knowledge of processes etc. So tempting to butt in and tell her what to do/how to . I need help to stop!

Yes my ds isthe same - no real interest in University so we will look at apprenticeships or an actual job or at a pinch the Navy? He really has no idea at the moment. But he is in computer engineering etc so somethign that ties all of those up.

DS used to like cadets but there was no structure to the progression and he didnt get to do any activities or camps as ours was quite badly run unfortunately so he gave up.

I don't know if things are very different now, but I know a couple of people who joined the army young and did their degrees in the army a few years later, so fully funded on full salary. I assume both these boys are in the cadets? There are great opportunities there - DS1 did sea cadets for a while and there were opportunities to spend a week on a ship in the summer holidays doing quite interesting things. There was also a lot of marching, and some shoe polishing and ironing so he dropped out, but we know lots who loved it.

@RedskyAtnight my year 9 ds sounds just like yours and is also talking about army/marines after initially thinking police. He also sees very little value in education beyond getting what he needs, in order to be able to do what he wants to do. He’s bright, at a grammar school, but also has ADHD so studying doesn’t come easily. I’ll be interested to follow what your ds decides to do after sixth form as I can’t imagine ds studying beyond 18, but he might if it was beneficial to his career options.

Dd would be considered a high flyer but I’ve come to realise that ability and interest aren’t always aligned! She’s very much a people person and said recently she can’t imagine doing an academic degree, she’d rather do something vocational. At the moment she’s thinking maybe occupational therapy. However if she likes Psychology A Level, that may be a possibility at degree level if she wants to keep her options open.

I'm interested to see how the next couple of years will pan out, but at the moment DS considers education to be a necessary evil to be endured rather than enjoyed and is not really convinced that going to university is for him (interested to hear if anyone else's DC is similar - we seem to have a lot of high flyers on this board!).

His ambition for quite a few years has been to join the army, which obviously he can do at 18 without going to university, although he has been advised by a couple of ex-army people we know that he might be better to get some further qualifications first, so university is still on the table as an option. DS is very much a "there needs to be a point to me doing this or I won't bother" type of person, so if he does go to university, I suspect it will be specifically to gain qualifications to further his future career rather than for love of learning per se!

After DS who applied for subjects that DH and I were knowledgable about, DD is havering between Medicine and Vet Medicine - her parents don’t have a single science A level between them!

@sandybayley My eldest is a medical student. You are right about needing to be strategic. The first step is applying to unis where you should have a good chance of getting an interview. We had a spreadsheet! She got called to interview at all the ones she applied to (incl Oxford) so let me know if you have any questions.

Y11 ds has very different interests. I think he may end up applying for something like PPE. Will see how the GCSEs go...

@Monkey2001 - I spent many a happy weekend in St Andrews as a student. Good idea to try and combine a trip with one to Edinburgh. I wonder if DD would find it a bit slow paced after growing up in London.

Getting ahead of myself a bit..,