Y11 2025/26… come and join

No interest in music festivals here.

He wants to do medical science, health and social care and Design and Technology (along with Drama but that has always been his thing). At the moment his GCSE options are drama, history, geography and sociology. He probably could do with expanding his horizons a bit as doesn’t seem as interested in humanities as a couple of years ago but seems like a bit of a risky total change for a 2 year commitment? Don’t get me wrong, the medical science course especially sounded interesting but I would not have predicted this level of interest from DS1. I guess at this age it is his choice though.

Oooh @MakeTeaNotWar now that’s a great idea. I could go and just camp on my own out of sight!!

I’ve bought DD a ticket. I’m considering going myself as a volunteer (I do this at other music festivals) so I can supervise from a distance. This was actually DD’s suggestion and the line up looks great so I’m tempted!

Maybe it’s crying out for a weekend away @eurotravel .. lots of places not too far that won’t be too cost impacted

God I wouldn’t give it a second thought if it was day only. I’d be totally fine with that. Only option for us is full weekend camping with us on stand by.

Last year the tickets didn’t sell out and you could still buy online - so not sure there is a rush for any unsure .. though that may not have been camping tickets I guess

I've bitten the bullet and bought an extortionate camoing ticket. There's a group of about 10 if them going along with a few other groups they know so hopefully safety in numbers.

@eurotravel mine hates crowds 😂 - I’ve also approved a Christmas Holiday trip into London on the train recently - it’s all coming at once

Yes I’d be more comfortable if we were closer. I’ve also known DC having to be be collected when they were hating it. Mine would love it but still…

DS2 wants to go ( DS1 wasn’t interested ) - I’ve said yes but no camping . We are relatively near so worse case we can go and get him. I’m hoping though he will be able to stay at a friends who lives much nearer .

I’m not comfortable and I’ve already spelt out all the risks I can think of - he seemed to think it was ok as he wasn’t a girl .

Over the last few years I have experience of one friend having to dash to collect a DC that was being threatened and another who’s DC left quickly when they started burning tents on Sunday night ( apparently it’s thing )

Its a right of passage so I know he has to do it - doesn’t stop me feeling sick though

edited to apologise for being rather frank it’s one of my flaws !

Yep dd is booked for Reading, like the rest of Surrey!

Next dilemma.. how many are off to Reading / Leeds festivals in the summer?

I took Art A Level without GCSE (made a portfolio for application), and Politics which I also didn’t do at GCSE. There are quite a few A Level subjects which aren’t even offered at GCSE by most schools: psychology, sociology, philosophy etc. I honestly think, unless they’re set on a rigid career path eg doctor, we should let them choose whatever they want to do at sixth form. There are many paths to get where you’re going in life 😊(I teach sixth form, and think this with my teacher hat on as well as my hippy parent hat on!)

I think some kids benefit from a change , I was so bored of the standard subjects by the gcse exams and didn’t do that well as a result . I took up both economics and politics at A level . It was a lot more interesting and I managed to turn things around. DS2 has chosen A levels in Economics and Sociology to go alongside the Business Studies he’s done at GCSE , I think he will benefit from more real world subjects .

What does he want to do @Walkingbkwrm

We have had our sixth form open evening and I am slightly freaked by the fact that DS1 now seems to want to do totally different subjects that he hasn’t studied before (most of which were on offer at GCSE) and that he hasn’t previously expressed an interest in! Not sure if to be supportive or mildly suggest he does a bit more research (which will 100% be taken as rampant disapproval). Any ideas?

We also now have the results minus one subject we have to wait for next week for and have one 7, the rest 8s and 9s, including a 9 for English Language. And I couldn’t be more proud especially as we were told my DS wouldn’t even be able to write more than his name when he was 3 or 4 (as he is disabled). I know all children deserve to do well and doing well is relative but for DS he has to work slowly and steadily week in and week out as it’s not just assessment where things take longer, it’s everything from getting dressed onwards. I will say that even with that he has not been doing 2 hours revision a night in the week, nor 7 at a weekend. But he works hard most days and it is paying off!

We passed all mocks with a mixture of 4s 5s and 6s phew. Maths was a 4 so a bit more work to do there for surety but on the whole great news. Good luck to all of you still waiting. 🍀

It may be crazy but I am thinking about going away at Easter. Either a city break, maybe Berlin so Dd can practice her German, or a few days somewhere warm by a pool. I just think it may be nice to not have to revise the whole time but maybe it's unrealistic!

I spent the Easter before my A levels living in a hotel room in a random Eastern European city because of my dad's job and it was fine.

We would normally go away both in Easter and May, obviously that isn’t happening this year!

We normally go away over May half term but obviously won't be next year. I'm taking DS on a break after the exams are over though, just me and him.

We have two years of GCSEs followed immediately by two years of Alevels .. one of the downsides is definitely the larger gaps between holidays

Same here. We often go away at Easter but wont be this year. We have booked an early summer holiday though.

We’re going away for Xmas too and it can’t come soon enough! Particularly as Feb and Easter holidays won’t be happening.