Year 11 22/23 support thread.

My dd is definitely going down the engineering route. He's been advised to stick with 3 a levels but not do further maths, rather than doing 4 including it. His dilemma is whether to take computer science or chemistry in addition to physics and maths.

@okidoki72 Yes, it is hard going, but that's true of most combinations of A levels. And you're right that other countries specialise later, but then the students spend longer at uni!

Don't take my word for it, but double-check with DS' school. (I'm a teacher and this is what I'd advise if asked, but my school is a bit of a maths-factory!)

Thank you, that is extremely helpful. We did see that FM was taken by most who chose the engineering courses DC has looked at. It is a shame as it would be nice to have a mix of subjects, sometimes thing other countries have it right where you can study languages/humanities AND sciences.

So in that case, it looks like Physics, Maths, FM and English. Isn't that a bit hard going??

We went to an open day yesterday for a sixth-form college. I really liked it but it was extremely busy and I think it’s very oversubscribed. There were 15 minute entry slots all day with 300 in each slot and it was fully booked. DD unfortunately couldn’t make it because of a music thing so I took her younger brother (year 9) instead to help tell DD all about it.

DD is currently struggling through her Chemistry homework. Her school has their open evening for 6th form tomorrow but she’s not going as they don’t offer the subjects she would like to do. She’s currently on a mission to talk me into letting her have a nose piercing for her birthday as she has just realised it’s not against the uniform regulations (I had previously said she could have one after her exams were over and she had left the school).

DS is trying to choose his A level subjects but we aren't getting very far. Although he hasn't studied Computer Science at GCSE he is interested in doing it at A level with the view of possibly continuing it at University. It seems like Maths A level is a must. He is possibly looking at 7 or 8 for maths but it's something he has to work at, it doesn't come naturally. I am thinking A level maths may prove too much of a jump for him.

If he wants to go into engineering, and his school offers further maths, the uni would be curious why he doesn't take it. (It can't be made compulsory as some schools don't offer it.) That might put him at a disadvantage.

The EPQ can be "money in the bank" as it is normally completed well before A-levels. It is also a good way to learn some research skills! However, many universities don't consider it when making offers.

We're in the same boat here (even down to not being in top set, but being good at maths). Our DS would rather do FM than EPQ and I support that!

Need a bit of advice, please.

We are, together with DC in Y11, going to an options evening in the coming weeks and I think DC needs to, at least provisionally, select his preferred subjects for A-levels either before Xmas or shortly after.

They have a choice of doing 3 A-levels plus either an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or Further Maths.

DC is predicted a grade 9 in the iGCSE Edexcel but is not in the top set (of his selective) school. DC is keen on Engineering or a STEM at uni and so is keen on doing Further Maths but I'm not sure how much of a step up this will be having not done Further Maths previously?

Also, DC is fairly strong in English so not sure whether the EPQ would be better (though guessing the grade boundaries are bound to be higher as this is 'coursework' rather than an exam)?

Any advice gratefully received. :)

My son is in year 11 too. He wants to be an engineer, he has applied to our local college for physics, chemistry and maths. He is brilliant at the sciences, maths and history, not so strong on English or French.

Hoping his mocks motivate him a bit....

We did another sixth form college visit this week. Very different huge provision 4x size of current school more university style set up it seemed. My teen was very overwhelmed by the volume of people, it’s a shame as results are good. However it seems we can apply to a couple of different places to hedge our bets? It feels very different to when we had to choose secondary school.

@ThePenOfMyAunt i would still consider the other school. My ASD child is in yr7 at a different school to their sibling this has meant 45min commute but they have handled really well. It’s like transition time, listens to music or a talking book on the bus. The pastrol care at the school massively outweighed the longer commute issue. Hope your DS can find a place that suits.
We are off tonight to visit 6th form even they are adamant I shouldn’t be going with them 😂I will be though as I think she needs the support.

DS2s school deadline is 6th January. I think with post 16 often being conditional on grades, there's generally more flexibility with getting in somewhere else. I'd just apply for wherever you are at the deadline then if/when moving progrsses, make local enquiries.

It's going back a million years(!), but I enrolled with a different college to the one I'd originally selected.

Oh no, are we supposed to be applying for 6th form already?!

All I've had from DD is that she isn't staying at school and I don't think she will cope with A levels. Further complicated by the fact that we are looking at moving house and don't yet have an idea which direction to move to.

I thought we had more time. Aarrrggghh.

I had a text message from DS2's school inviting me to speak to the maths department at the upcoming 6th form open evening. The problem is the other subjects may not feel so enthusiastic about him! He performs well in the 3 sciences, but the rest are a bit iffy. More like a 5 than the predicted from SATs 9.

If it was my choice, I would not opt for him staying where he is. The school has changed a lot and has a cult-like vibe to it. But it's 5 minutes down the road, DS2 is comfortable there, plus the next nearest is a half an hour bus journey. The other school has a more relaxed approach to mobile phones and what students wear and just a better reputation in terms of pastoral support (DS2 is ASD and has chronic fatigue syndrome). I'm not sure how many open evenings we'll manage as I'm due to start a new job working nights as DS3 cannot tolerate any childcare outside of DH or me, so can't even get the inlaws to babysit.

He really has no idea what he wants to do, he likes the idea of university and I think that would be a good option for him, but I didn't go, in fact his only relative who went is my brother. So I may not have a realistic idea on that.

Another engineering ds! We could start a thread just on that

Can I join you? My Ds is in yr11 and we’ve had lots of discussion regarding the next steps. His current school do the IB and he’s not sure he wants to do it so we’re looking at A levels in another school plus. He wants to get into engineering so he’s going to need his physics and maths at a higher grade. He’s quite laid back though so I’m worried he’s not going to get the revision in! Mocks next month so we will see.

@Hellocatshome in case nobody answered, PPE’s are “pre public examinations”’… more commonly referred to as Mocks.

Sixth forms/colleges here are a mixed bag. We are in rural Norfolk and dd's school doesn't have post 16 provision. She had her heart set on a state college provider which offers boarding and she was hoping to apply for a scholarship. She's been working on her application, revising for the entrance exam and practising interview techniques. At a post-16 evening last week, the college admitted they might not offer scholarships next year but hadn't decided. DD will apply to be a day student instead but she falls into the admission category "attends a school without sixth form provision" and would be top of that criteria if she gets all 9s as predicted but no guarantee of getting in as the places go to students attending the school first, then siblings, catchment etc. Other local provision isn't brilliant and doesn't offer what she wants to do. She wants to do Classics, RS/Philosophy & Ethics, English and History.

We've been to one other open evening and have 4 more booked. Hoping to stumble upon the perfect place.

@OnthePiste - definitely no harm in going to have a look, even if it’s just to reinforce that the one he wants now is definitely the right choice for him.

@OnthePiste personally I would. DS was adamant that he wanted to go to the quite local maths school (only 4 in country, great reputation and amazing results). He has been to a taster day and loved it. However, we went to the open evening last week and he realised it's probably not for him.
We've got 3 others to visit.

Joining from the other thread too. DS has decided on our local Sixth form college which has a great reputation. He did a taster day in July and is adamant he wants to go there. He wants to go to uni eventually to study Computer Science so A levels will be CS, Maths, maybe further Maths and/or another A level/Btec. Should I try and get him to view a few more colleges/schools do you think?

@Circleoffifths Thank you!

I could add: I have an older DD too, who has just started art school. I haven't yet caught up with this thread, but if anyone's DC is thinking of going into art or design, please feel free to throw questions my way, as most MN threads are about traditional academic subjects!

My DS seems to do relatively little homework at home. But he gets to school early and normally stays late before his various other activities, and claims that he's on top of things. We'll see.

👋to all the new joiners 😊

Yes can I join this? I started the other thread as I didn't see this one.
DS doesn't do an hour a night, never mind 3!
We've visited (and probably ruled out) one sixth form. Got three more to go.

Hello everyone! Hope you don't mind some new arrivals to the thread. Someone from another 'support' thread (for slightly older DC) had started one for the same cohort but we've now been pointed in this direction.

My DS is aiming for something in engineering. Considering double maths, physics, design-technology at A-level. Nice to meet you all

My younger DD is autistic with PDA traits getting her to do anything is challenging due to procrastination so I feel your pain! No advice other than lots of clear boundaries, lots of ‘suggestions’ as telling doesn’t work with her but she hates consequences from others, so a detention is her worst nightmare.
Luckily my older DD doing GCSE this year is self motivated but I’m dreading when the other one gets there.