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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

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Original poster

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

999 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/08/2016 19:19

here we are.

OP posts:

NoHaudinMaWheest · 14/10/2016 10:38

We have another week until half term too. Dd has internal assessments at the maths school next week but she is not worried about them as they have been told that they are only to check that students are actually following the work.
FE college is another matter. They had to write their first history essay under exam conditions which will be used to assess their predicated grade. I think it is mad to do that without having had a chance to practise what is required at A level. Their teacher said he also disagreed but had been told by head of department that that was what had to happen.

Icouldbeknitting · 14/10/2016 10:44

We have another week to half term. DS will be away from Sunday to Wednesday night so there will only be two full days to play with. I've suggested that he organise a collective trip somewhere but as a group they couldn't organise anything over the very long summer so I'm not holding my breath.

I know that target grades are coming but I don't know when.

FantasyAndHope · 14/10/2016 10:57

Just to clarify, DD doesn't do drugs and parties and things,

Half term is next week here and next week is a week dedicated to events in the school there's a whole school walk in the dales and then raising money for things. DD is tired

starfleet · 14/10/2016 11:33

DS finished for two weeks half term yesterday - inset day today.

He has quite a bit of work to do - he thinks he's having a rest over the next few days before he goes to Iceland on Monday. I hid his X-Box controller and headset this morning before I left for work as he was being a pain in the backside so I guess he will be working....

I know some of the boys at his school do drugs from things he has said in passing. Thankfully not his group of friends. I think the worst they have done is a get a little drunk at house parties. DS is usually suffering from sugar overload the morning after from the amount of Coke he drinks.

We have had assessment reports back with predicted A level grades. I know it's only very early on but does anyone have any idea how close these would be to the grades actually obtained? I'm not stressing too much right now as they are only a few weeks into the curriculum but one of them is a little concerning as it's the one he really needs to get a good grade in for the courses he's looking at for Uni.

starfleet · 14/10/2016 11:34

Target grades!!!

Needastrongone · 14/10/2016 12:27

Another week for half term here. DS struggled a bit with Chemistry homework last night until he realised he wasn't seeing something really obvious, but boy was he cross with himself. He hates it when he can't do something.

I'm not sure about target grades starfleet, sorry.

DS has done drinking too, but not even all that much of that to be honest. A few tins of cider at prom. He knows I don't mind him having a drink in the house, but he rarely does.

However, he's going to a party next Friday and I've no idea whether to send him with some cider, what do you think? It's a a girls house from sixth form, with a post code provided and drop off pick up time in the message but no reference to booze or not! We a rural btw, hence I will have to collect him, the address is a good half hour drive away.

Needastrongone · 14/10/2016 12:28

It would probably be the instructors at Pony Club Camp here Nermerner

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 14/10/2016 16:10

Need

He needs beer probably. The girls tend to drink that hideous fruity cider stuff, but the boys bring beer.

Of course then there is the vodka and the sourz and the fishbowl

Half term here. DD is going to London for a couple of days with the BF (oh my how grown up are they?) then Paris for 5 days with Guides.

Quite pleased with her target grades. Although her highest grade is in the subject she was intending to drop.......

FantasyAndHope · 14/10/2016 17:21

DD is going for cocktails tomorrow so should be fun meeting up with 4 old friends 2 who are 18 and 2 who are not so DD and co will buy on behalf of the youngers with a meal

raspberryrippleicecream · 14/10/2016 19:53

Starfleet my D1s target/predicted grades were pretty accurate. But he was the last of the AS to A2 cohort. That said, hiscwas also the first cohort that wasn't modular.

We should get DDs this week. I'm fairly certain I can guess what they'll be as her academic profile has been very similar to DS1s

starfleet · 14/10/2016 20:01

Thanks Rasberry.

I wasn't sure how accurate they would be at this early stage.

3 of the predicted grades are high but the one he really needs is a C - I'm hoping he pulls his finger out with it as it's a subject he doesn't want to drop.

His subject teacher has said that the grade for this particular one will vary through the course based on level of difficulty and his maturity.

starfleet · 14/10/2016 20:02

I can't even spell today! Raspberry!!

MsMermaid · 14/10/2016 20:22

I've been giving out target grades this week. Ours are based entirely on their Alps targets, with very little in the way of teacher input. Those at the top end tend to be very accurate, but they don't set any targets less than C, so weaker/lazier students often fall short.

Dd hasn't got her targets yet, I assume she'll be given them in the next couple of weeks. I think I know what they'll be though, based on the targets we give to kids with her previous attainment.

Nermerner · 14/10/2016 22:20

Target grades?! Oh gawd. Nerve-wracking.

raspberryrippleicecream · 14/10/2016 22:52

And to be fair, DS1s were at the top end.

FantasyAndHope · 15/10/2016 11:36

DD has lots to do however she was invited out with friends and declined first of all and I've made her go out, she hasnt had girls time in weeks and I think it'll do her good to have a laugh and a break.

Needastrongone · 16/10/2016 15:17

DS advises that they will not be giving out target grades yet, as the school consider it too early to be accurate. They did this for GCSE too to be fair.

We've been looking at what he needs to get into certain Universities for Maths, so he knows what he needs to do.

We've been talking about the sixth form set up and DS is really settled and enjoying it immensely. The school had a feedback session last year and have changed a few things for the current Y12's. They have 3 designated study areas (2 computer rooms and a study area) to work from, more space and teachers available during study periods.

He also likes being able to buy a cup of tea and a packet of Oreo's, which he says he saves for tricky homework

DN has an offer from Warwick, but I think he's looking at applying for Oxbridge.

Original poster

OhYouBadBadKitten · 17/10/2016 18:28

dd has her target grades following the assessments. She's got a lot to live up to

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MsMermaid · 17/10/2016 19:35

We've been to an Oxbridge information evening tonight. Tbh, we didn't really learn anything new, since we are capable of doing our own research into university admissions. The main thing I was happy to hear was that they really aren't interested in irrelevant extra curricular activities, and that doing more a levels than the norm is really not necessary. They just want you to be good at, and interested in, the subject you want to study.

NoHaudinMaWheest · 17/10/2016 20:09

Dd has been given % probability of future grades (it is a maths school after all). They are quite a target to reach.

Original poster

OhYouBadBadKitten · 17/10/2016 20:19

That's good to know MsMermaid!

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Needastrongone · 17/10/2016 20:23

DN is going through the process at the minute. Not a subject that require the STEP qualification but a STEM subject. It's interesting observing from a distance.

MsMermaid · 17/10/2016 21:15

The woman said they are interested in super curricular rather than extra curricular. So if you want to study Maths, they really don't care that you are an amazing gymnast, but they would be really interested in maths challenge success, or maths competitions, etc.

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 17/10/2016 22:16

Not looking for rounded individuals then?

Original poster

OhYouBadBadKitten · 17/10/2016 22:38

not for most degrees Exit - Oxbridge as far as I can tell are just interested in people who are really good at their subjects and nothing else counts.

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