New Year 12 starters parent support thread (snappy title eh?)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

here we are.

That was quite a wake up moment LittleDrummer!

I still havent done a first day picture. Oh dear! I'll have to do a fourth day picture! Lessons begin today, up til now its just been like a couple of days of holiday club I think.

College said that Alis is purely for their value added and the students will never get the results. So thats that cleared up. Have to say, they seem to be very good so far in alleviating concerns that kids may have.

Ellen hope it goes well today. Ds had to get a public bus when he started 6th form having never done it before. He surprised me by managing it without any difficulty (with a bit of practice beforehand).

MrSlant I find myself querying whether I should really be claiming stuff all the time but it is nonsense because the criteria are really tight so if you meet them then you are eligible. The paperwork is of course another matter.

DD first day! She's just done the Alis test but has rang in tears as she's crippled in agony with period pain so couldn't answer most of the questions and is now fretting about what about if it predicts her D'd and E's

Fantasy, if she goes on student room she will see that there are reams of threads about how all the predictions from Alis are a load of bollocks. It's very reassuring.

Same here with regards to DS's homework - he had 2 lots last night and it took him about an hour and a half. He was most put out when he told me that his Biology teacher gave them 'stick in homework'. Good job he still has Pritt Stick.

Had reviews back for both Eng Lang and Lit. DS was 1 UMS of an A* in both. They came back unchanged. I know he has A's in both subjects but it was worth a go - I think if school hadn't said it was I wouldn't have bothered . It just seems to stick in my craw that it was 1 UMS and there was no movement (either up of down) with marks. One of his cohort did better and his came back with 5 additional marks. I have asked school (whether they give me the info or not is another matter) just out of interest what percentage of English marks have been reviewed and changed. We are awaiting one more but after the English I'm not holding out much hope. I shouldn't feel put out as he has an excellent set of results and is doing the A levels he wanted. But still - the wasted £'s!!!!

How frustrating starfleet. It would be interesting info if the school give it to you. Otherwise an FOI after all of the re-marks are back would be interesting.

That's frustrating Starfleet. I'm in the same boat, 1 UMS from an A* in Language, DS is getting the paperwork today to go for a remark, worth a try, given that he's clearly so far into the A grade he won't lose that.

It so is....DS isn't too bothered but it would have been a bonus to have.

I have been advised to speak to Head of English but I don't think there is much she can do - it is what it is.

Good Luck to your DS needastrongone - do let me know how he gets on.

I shall report back here if school come back to me with any information.

Another of DS's cohort had 10 A's with English Language or Lit (can't remember which) being his only A , I believe he is also going for a review. English seems to be the one this year with very many so close to the boundary for an A but not quite getting it.

One of DDs friends was 2UMS off an A in History, school suggested a review, and she got it! Lovely news for her.

DD has been in three days now, and they still haven't done any actual lessons. Since she only knows one of her teachers, I think she is very keen to get cracking - first day of lessons, and first ever free period tomorrow.

Thankyou OYBK
She's had a really nice day she Says her study stinks and it's filthy
She seems happy however her uniform is too big but the shirts will have to do as a size smaller will be to small but the skirt I'll re order £49.59

That's a shame, starfleet. It was well worth a punt though.

DS2 successfully made it to college and was there for about 2 hours then made it home. It was just an induction 'day' apparently, and his course starts on Monday. So two more days of hanging around at home. It's a different world from school, all right...

Glad he made it ok Ellen. Induction sounds like a good idea but I think they just need to get on with it.

They need to crack on now don't they Ellen?

DS has had a great day and was surprisingly vocal about it too....He's very impressed that the 6th form common room has....vending machines, tea coffee and Doritos apparently!

There's a canteen that is not cashless, so they are treating them a little more maturely.

He has 19 study periods, due to the way they are working FM. They have separated the ones doing FM, there's 8 and having them in a class covering both maths A levels in 1.5 the time of 2 subjects. He's been advised with will be quite full on, but seems fine.

He's most pleased to have been put with his boffin friends, one in particular who is in all his classes. This is good, as they seem to encourage each other and raise the standards of all their work.

Really chuffed, he's ready to get going now!

I think you're right, NoHaudin. He's done precisely nothing since 17th June!

X post, need.

Do you mean 1.5 X the lessons for 1 subject? So less than for 2 subjects? DS1's school treated maths and FM as 2 subjects, taken in parallel, so the same amount of lesson time as any 2 other subjects.

DD said she's extremely tired and has one piece of prep!
She said there's 3 of them in R.S one student has being doing well all year but failed the exam and doesn't know much philosophy

That's right Ellen, I think it's the amount of duplicated work doing Maths and FM. I know my DN does both subjects and it works as per your school. These 2 subjects are non linear too, I wonder if that has influenced matters. I am sure it will be fine.

dd has come home happy too after the first day of lessons. She really likes the group she's with, really likes the teaching style. Apart from the long journey it's an absolutely perfect fit for her. There wasn't any homework but she finished the work off anyway on the way home.

I can't tell you what a relief it is after all these school years, to have something that really fits her.

Great stuff Kitten. DS is wanting homework too, to do in study periods. Is this your first DC, are we feeling our way both?

she's my only :)

Ahh. I have one of each, 18 months apart, I didn't think about this stage

that is pretty harsh!!

How lovely Kitten that she's feeling happy about her move.

DS has maths and FM timetabled separately in different option blocks but there are fewer lessons of FM. He has a large maths group. It includes all the physicists plus more. Just 10 for FM though. Not all the maths group will have done additional maths last year. They now have a maths test next week so I wonder if the group will continue with that many. It looks like all the algebra/quadratic equations and geometry etc at the hard end of GCSE

DS's school treat maths and FM as 2 full subjects. His timetable has a lot of maths. They can opt for additional maths too and do all the options.

Ds1 is very happy. The school have a new house which ds1 and his mate's have been moved into. They were all seperate before so it will be nicer for him.
He has his old form tutor for chemistry and says she is a great teacher and the same physics teacher as last year, he gets on well with her and I've liked her when I've met her. She's also a fantastic teacher.
He is much happier now than this morning!