Parents of Year 12s - exam time again! (oh no!)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Just noticed we were running out of thread!

Lancaster open day today. It rained constantly, and heavily. It seems like a nice place, I'm sure dd would be very happy there, and it's a convenient distance from our house (to far to commute, but easy enough to come home for a weekend if she wants/needs to). And she knows a couple of people there already, although they are in older years. I'm happy with Lancaster out Durham, so is dd, so that's 2 to apply for, then we have to find some more to apply for as neither of those would really be "back up" choices, they both ask for AAA.

DS got back from Headstart scheme yesterday. He now loves Leeds and is sure that engineering is for him. He has missed a full day on UCAS at school though, and has a week of lessons to catch up on.

DS spent the last week at Nottingham with The Sutton Trust. He studied Geography. He absolutely loved his week and now has his heart set on Nottingham. Fingers crossed his AS results are good enough for him to apply.

How did your children's schools give them their GCSE certificates?

I think I was expecting a sort of assembly or ceremony where they were handed out, but nothing has happened, so I told DS1 to go and collect his from the office before the end of term in case he didn't get the grades to back in September

Lancaster open day yesterday in the rain, felt really sorry for them. They try so hard and it must make a difference to perceptions if it chucks it down all day. Free veggie burgers though, so that got a thumbs up! Really lovely admissions staff and great accommodation, so even though it's a trek from home, I think it's made it to DD's top 5.

No ceremony at dds school TheSecond they had to be collected from the exams office. I ended up collecting dds as the office wasn't open outside school hours.

DD's does a celebration evening for GCSE and A level certificates - similar to a graduation ceremony.

Lonicera that's the sort of thing I was expecting. Or at the very least, an email earlier in the year to notify us that the certificates were now available to be collected from the office.

GCSEs & A levels at senior prize giving with the prizes. Only about half attend though.

TheSecond Sometime during GCSEs DS was given the dates during which the certificates could be collected, I remember it being October but I could be making that up. I had to collect them as it was during the school day and he was at college ten miles away. That was it - turn up and collect an envelope. I think they hang on to them until the end of the academic year, I remember that there were dire warnings about needing to arrange duplicate certificates if you didn't collect the originals.

I think they hang on to them until the end of the academic year

Good thing DS1 collected his before the end of Y12 then!

There was an awards evening at dds school in January.

We have a Presentation Evening for GCSE and A level certificates in our Cathedral in December, followed by a dance. Second go at fancy frocks!. It's also really nice for the kids to see each other again, specially those who've been at uni.

DD is back from Uniq week at Oxford and had a ball. Definitely wants to study Classics.

Is this a private school raspberry?

No, state school. The sixth form organises the dance part.

Poor DS1 is exhausted. I haven't seen him look this wiped out for a long time.

Only a few more days to go.

So is DD. Since dropping her 4th A level she has more frees, and can go in late on the days she doesn't have anything first. She is desperately needing a rest.

DS's school have a speech night in November when all prizes and exam certificates are handed out.

Dd is enjoying her work experience, she's built an app, and she's had to speak to everybody. They even bought her an ice-cream yesterday as it was too hot.

I just got an email from her dead of sixth form telling me how proud they are of dd, her fantastic work ethic and the excellent results she's getting. I thought that was quite a nice touch, although I am aware that he will have sent quite a lot of those emails this week.

There's a thread on the HE board at the moment about clearing 2017, it's open now so I had a nosy at some of the courses that are already listed. I was very interested to see that one of DS's choices is there. I'm assuming that this means that should he not meet the AAB standard offer next year then there's a chance that he could get in anyway (assuming that they are not oversubscribed next year too)

MsAwesomeDragon It doesn't matter whether they sent out one email or a hundred and one, it's still lovely to hear.

eatingtomuch my DD is looking to study Geography too & we looked at Nottingham recently & it's on her list of choices now. Can you tell me what your DS particularly liked about it, having been there for a few days? We liked the Geog talk on the day.

PandaG can you tell me what your DS thought of Leeds as a Uni, having spent a few days there too, as another one on DD's choice having visited for the day.

School is finally out for DD now - think I'll be cartwheeling around the garden with her! Some much needed recharging of batteries now, to get us through next part of Uni visits & Personal Statement! And for now...exhale!

Lashings he is interested in physical geography. They had a few lectures which covered 1st year course content, he enjoyed them. He really liked the tutors and how they explained things. In the first year you cover human and physical.
He liked the field trips on offer .
He met students at different stages of their degrees. All were satisfied and happy at Nottingham. He found everyone really friendly and helpful.
He likes the campus. He was in catered halls, but said he would go self catering as food not great.
It was a really positive experience. He felt comfortable there.
It's not to far for us, approx 1 hour drive. He travelled independently by train and found it easy. So that's another reason it appeals.

eatingtomuch thanks for the insightful feedback and glad your DS had such a positive experience - it's a great opportunity to spend a few days there and get a real feel of a Uni, before committing to his choices. My DD is looking to do the BA and also liked the BA Geog with Management. We all enjoyed the lecture on the Geog/economics talk about the changes in the music industry in last decade - lecturer was good at delivering it too & subject matter bang on for the audience.

Well, for those who had a very wet visit to Lancaster last week, we've just driven past it in glorious sunshine!

we seem to keep chasing the rain! had two soggy weekends in a row now. dd at least knows she likes campus universities close to cities or large towns now. That's progress.