Corona Cohort Y12 into Y13, braving the storm of the third wave

(Oh, and the Dickens was for one of the 6 courses, plus we'd have been expected to read around/critical reading as part of prep for that week)

I did English, so a relatively low contact course: I honestly can't remember but I reckon I was probably doing maybe 6 courses at once: core courses would have had a 1-2 lectures + a tutorial a week, options probably less (some of my options definitely were tutorial only): BUT obviously lots of reading: I remember one fateful week where we realised we were expected to have read at least 4-5 Dickens novels by the end of the week ;-) Admittedly, we probably should have spotted it earlier ... I had a good mate doing history (agree with others that I made more friends outside my course than my science/medic mates) and we were quite disciplined about going into the library to work/read. Tbh, I can't remember it feeling like a real problem, but I was quite keen/loved the subject.

I've just remembered Dd previous school owe us money from last year. The Prom deposit and lunch money balance. The lunch money alone is worth at least £12 I feel I would be really tight to ask for it back except that;

They put the lunch money balance toward the non existent delayed prom ticket without asking first

They refused to send out in post certificates using previously mentioned money. We 'just had to wait'

I'm feeling pretty hacked off about it all.

Then again, I did find a library book of theirs in Dd room the other day.

What if they've just kept all outstanding balances though? I'm not quite sure whether to bother chasing though

Hoping that if DS gets a place to study his choice of STEM subject, he'll have plenty of contact time, at least in his first year, as motivating himself to get on with work is not currently his strongest suit

I think my course must have been very unusual - or it was just a very long time ago! I did a BSc in geography, starting in 1986. My first year I had more hours of lectures, seminars and tutorials than I had had for my A levels. 5 - 6 hours apart from Wednesday which was a half day. Even in my final year I still had about 15 hours a week.

I don't remember doing much work by myself either, only revising and doing my final year project.

Thanks all, it might not have been quite as much as 20 hours but I certainly remember being really shocked that my geography student housemate only had 8 hours. We did make friends on our course with there only being 40 of us, but it was a bit insular TBH, there were plenty of fallings out as well as friendships.

I did history (6-8 hours a week). I liked the opportunity to set my own timetable and plan my time. I was naturally a bit of an introvert though. The downside of a humanities subject is you don’t necessarily make friends on your course, especially if it’s a big year group and you do different modules with different people.

I had between three and 8 hours a week depending on how many modules I was doing. I head job by second year and worked loads of hours!

That said, I was overall very hardworking. We had to read loads and do essays.

I don't actually remember, in those days, scientists doing any more in terms of lectures etc and the ones I knew definitely did not work harder!

In subjects like English and history you probably thrive if you are self motivated. DS1 (politics, second year) does very little to fill his copious time...

I have a question for anyone who did a degree where the contact hours are quite low (eg

DD really liked Bristol @Fferny1 when we visited couple of weeks ago. She likes the idea of mixing with other students for the first three years.

Conversation with a friend , half of their 6th form now isolating and teachers struggling to cope well with a few in class and loads at home. Teachers there saying results are down and that it’s the same all over the country, is that what anyone else hearing?

Think a few at DS’s college have had lower predictions than expected and I suspect DS a grade lower than he was hoping for though he hasn’t said so and hasn’t so far been receptive to the idea of dropping one.

Mid November for Ds2. I was glad for him to be one of the older ones especially when he started primary school, as he's so small for his age, he needed age 3 school trousers, they were huge, so if he was august born he would have looked even more silly 😝 Even when he started secondary the uniform was huge. Ds1 was May born and didn't like being one of the last to learn to drive. But with covid this time none of them could learn anyway. I think just 2 September born year 12's managed to pass their tests before 2nd lockdown.

Bristol @Hatti.
She will now be based in Somerset for the clinical years. It will be very different to living in Clifton/Redland .

Mid September for DS and luckily falls on a weekend so he will be home.

2nd week of September here. There has already been a tiny tiny mention of a birthday party...

Thank you @Fferny. Great news for your DD! Where is she?

My twins are still not 17 yet 😄.
Welcome @Hatti! Dd1 is now a 4th year vet, as she just got her exam results yesterday.

Thank yo everyone . @Orangecinnamon21 yes lovely places. DD wants to be a vet, so not too many to choose from. Especially as she has already ruled some out for various reasons.
@ealingwestmum yes, DS is definitely looking forward to uni and so ready to move out!

X post!

My inherited teen was 18 last week. She moved here in year 10 but hadnt attended school regularly, and was changing boards and subjects, so resumed in Year 9. I know she doesn’t really count though.

Hello Hatti, welcome. Not sure we can get any sooner than your DD! Hope your son is looking forward to uni this sept.

Welcome @hattifatteners ...she most definitely will!

Lovely cities and Unis there.