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Further education

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

Original poster

Year 12 - first half term DONE.

999 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 19/10/2016 13:25

new thread so we don't get lost. Well done to all our dc whether doing btech (or breach as autocorrect prefers to call it) or a levels. 1/6 of the way through this year. (blimey)

OP posts:
Needastrongone · 20/10/2016 16:50

Well said Kitten. They/we are all tired. I always find the DC are the most tired in the first half term, never mind with all the change of going into 6th form. Every one is emotional and ready for a break. But it's good to learn to cope when you are tired and emotional.

Exit I am wondering if your DD is handling the horse? We are DIY for the pony and obviously there's the added workload, as DD (Y11) does it all herself.

This is the text conversation I had with DS today.
Me - meet me in the car park at 3.25.
DS - Why?
Me - It's Meet the Tutor night.
DS - Do I have to go?
Me - Yes.
DS - Not logical, I've already met the tutor.

Sigh..... It took 5 minutes, was very informal and DS's tutor is very nice and has tutored 6th for for years in 2 schools, so knows the ropes well. She moves into Y13 with them. Good system.

TheSecondOfHerName · 20/10/2016 22:27

As of today, DS1 is no longer doing Maths, History and Biology.

He is now doing History, English Literature and Politics.

Because why change one A-level subject half a term in, when you could change two?

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/10/2016 07:55

cripes TheSecond. That's quite a lot of catching up to do!

OP posts:
HesMyLobster · 21/10/2016 08:26

Wow a shiny new thread already!
Thankyou for starting it.
We had our half term a week earlier than most so it's almost over Confused
We've had a wonderful 4 days in Paris though (never been before!) and DD has been able to practise her French - I've been so impressed with her!
I'm ok if I can practise in my head a few times what I need to say/ask, but I'm completely rubbish when people reply! DD understands pretty much everything and has been engaging in full conversations while I just watch like this Shock
So she has pretty much taken over all talking which is brilliant.
We leave today, but have got a couple of days in London before we go home home.

Hope you and dcs all have a good last day, well done all for hanging in there!

HesMyLobster · 21/10/2016 08:28

The Second wow that is a big change! Hopefully your ds will be happier though and able to settle in properly after half term.

Icouldbeknitting · 21/10/2016 08:42

TheSecond if his first choices weren't working for him then the sooner he changes the better and I would have thought that he's better switching two now than switching one now and continuing to have issues with the other.

Ds has a friend who was one of top of the school in GCSEs who is really struggling with Biology at A level. To say I was surprised was an understatement but it's the style of teaching that has changed. The way it is being taught here is that there is no time for consolidation (presumably they are supposed to be spending their own time on that) so it's new material in every lesson without going back over what they did the time before. High flying friend is struggling to keep his head above water and it's a new feeling for him.

Needastrongone · 21/10/2016 09:11

Glad you've had a nice break and well done to your daughter Lobster.

TheSecond I think your DS is being incredibly brave and determined. It's very hard to admit you've made a mistake or are not coping. He's had a particularly tough start to 6th form, I hope he gets some good luck now!

Knitting. DS is like this, it's alien if he can't do something academic, and he doesn't cope all that well to be honest. I am hoping A Levels will provide that challenge and strategies to deal with that feeling. Ask him to turn the dishwasher on and that's a whole different matter, just stands there looking lost.....Smile

catslife · 21/10/2016 09:26

Thesecond hope the new subject combination works out much better for your ds.
dd is now on half term. Her work experience day at a day centre was "alright" apparently.

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 21/10/2016 11:20

Needsastrongone - yes DD has to do the horse as he is DIY, but I do a lot - I do him in a morning - feed, turn out, muck out, so she only needs to bring him in and ride if it is light enough. Actually, reading that back I do everything and she gets the pleasure of riding Hmm.

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 21/10/2016 11:25

Hope your DS's change of subjects goes well TheSecond

FantasyAndHope · 21/10/2016 12:30

thesecond
Very brave to do I'm trying to push DD to do the same thing.

First report in and English for one her teachers was bad. DD asked how she can improve and he told her that her body language suggests she doesn't like criticism DD has a long history with Trichotillomania and plays with her hair when she's nervous and she said that and he said well it suggests she's not listening DD is going to have a word with form tutor and she said she feels she can't express herself as he's rather intimidating but excellent report from other English teachers so I'm not worried however DD is a people pleaser so is worried.

ShanghaiDiva · 21/10/2016 12:35

the second - good luck to your son with the change in a levels. Ds is taking Ib, but a couple of his friends also switched subjects after 6 weeks and coped well.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/10/2016 13:22

Lobster - how awesome that your dds French is such that she can do that :) what a fab life skill!

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 21/10/2016 14:33

Thank you for all your kind and supportive comments regarding DS1. He has made a positive second start, reading part of the first text for English Lit and the first chapter of the Politics textbook, as well as sorting out his History notes.

starfleet · 21/10/2016 15:10

Here you all are!

TheSecond - hope all goes well with your DS's subject changes. If he wasn't enjoying the ones he was taking previously (bar History) then probably best to change now whilst they are only a few weeks in.

DS came back from Iceland this morning - exhausted from the lack of sleep for the past two nights. Hurrah they got lucky and did see the Northern Lights on their first night - not any night after though!

He has lots of work to do next week...

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 22/10/2016 11:44

half term, yay!
dd hasn't been set anything specific, so she's setting aside a bit of revision and practise time each day. Also meeting with old friends and a fair bit of fun planned.

Lucky ds starfleet :)

OP posts:
chocolateworshipper · 22/10/2016 15:22

Well done to everyone and their DCs for making it to the first half term. DD has got 2 distinctions in one BTEC course - YAY! Other coursework subject needs some improvement, but nothing major, and other one isn't coursework based. She had a wobble a couple of weeks ago, but hopefully seems to have settled down now. Thanks to kitten for keeping the group together Star

Icouldbeknitting · 22/10/2016 16:02

DS has one big piece of homework for the holiday which is good because he's away from tomorrow to Thursday and we've planned to go to the public gallery in the local court on Friday. I've suggested twice that he take half an hour away from whatever computer game is big this week and get on with it and I feel that's all the reminding that I need to do.

FantasyAndHope · 22/10/2016 19:04

DD has a week of revision as she has internal exams soon!

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 22/10/2016 22:40

Dressage comp tomorrow then Paris for 4 days with guides for dd.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 22/10/2016 22:56

nice chilled half term for your dd then Grin

OP posts:
antimatter · 22/10/2016 22:58

DS is painting on A1 size canvas for his Art half-term project,
He already done his English and most of Philosophy homework.
DS is off with his dad on Thursday evening until Sunday night so he will only have 4 days to finish his ginormous painting.
We are off to visit my DD at her uni tomorrow as her B'day was yesterday.

My DS settled in doing Eng Lit, Philosophy and Art. He says he is the only of his friends who really wanted to do all 3 subjects. All others had 2 they liked and the third one was chosen because they had to.

Ds hated his GCSE's and he seems to be much happier now and gets lots of commendations from school. After watching last episode of the Apprentice he said he may consider studying Marketing. DD is doing Management at Uni. I feel it suits her. DS is very arty but doesn't feel he wants to study it. He just loves painting.

Backtosenco · 23/10/2016 08:37

Name changes as don't want to out myself or ds
We we got the 1st sixth form report. Aspirational grades b. Actual working at grades e. But in all subjects r which is requires improvement for effort in both classs work and homework.
We were expecting as much because he seems to be doing the minimum. Always says he did everything in his free periods.
He does have a low level of special needs and had extra time in his exams for gcse but never any class room support.
We need to sit down and have a chat to really find out if he is struggling or being a lazy toad. I am thinking the former and masking with the latter.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 23/10/2016 09:13

it's such a transition for them, especially at some colleges where they give them the sort of freedom they need at uni, but without teaching them how to manage that freedom. Add in increased difficulty and it's no wonder many just bury their heads in the sand.

Senco, have you made an appt to see his tutor?

OP posts:
FantasyAndHope · 23/10/2016 10:55

What has shocked DD and her fiends is how there Effort grades have dropped and the school hasn't explained anything to them
About how much they should be working they've being left to go it alone.

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