Christmas half term - Year 13 (another original thread title!)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Carrying on from previous thread

I'm so rubbish with thread titles. Anyway...

This time last year there was lots of chat about tests/exams/mocks at this point. Are there fewer of them, or is everyone more chilled about them?

End of an era Starfleet! Next year it will be entirely a black hole of information. A relief though I think in someways, I have dds parents evening this week and it really does feel a bit ‘why, she’s an adult now?’ They need to be telling her stuff, not me.

Our parents evening is in January, I know this because I just looked at the timetable on the website. There are mocks at the start of next month, I suspect that DS doesn't know that or is choosing not to know that.

I have printed off the timetable because I think we might both find it useful.

I'm of the same mind OYBBK- I mostly just sat back and let the teachers speak to DS. They were all very direct and didn't hold back which possibly they might have done if he wasn't there.

Anyone know anything about ALIS scores?

This the system that uses the GCSE grades to predict A level grades.

I’m sure there will be someone along soon who can explain better and more in depth though.

I think ALIS scores are based on average GCSE results and used to create A Level targets/predictions/expected grades (I can never remember which is which!)

This explains it in detail I think:
www.cem.org/post-16

DD got an A* in history but is predicted a B under ALIS. seems odd.

Interesting that several of you are talking about parents evenings. DD's college only speak to parents if there's a problem, otherwise it's just a case of the student having a review with their tutor. Luckily I haven't been called in!

ALIS seems to underestimate. It did for dd too.

Well that's a relief.

Same here Ursula all three A levels were A* at GCSE yet predicted B.

I think here they used ALIS last year on entry to set targets but then switched to looking at internal assessments.

Im not sure alis takes individual subjects into account very well. It seems to take an average of the GCSE grades and give one generic "A-level" target. We've had kids with fantastic results at Maths GCSE who then have a target of C at Alevel because their results in English or History might not have been so great. We look at them, them decide on our own targets. Mostly our targets are higher than the ALIS ones, but very occasionally we have to reduce an unachievable one.

I don't know when dd's parents evening is. I'm sure I'll get an email to let me know at some point.

DD doesn't have a parents' evening (or student/parent/teacher consultations as they are called for her) until next term.
She has just had a report which is all good and as expected. It contains an urge to ask for help when she is stuck but she just flapped at me when I ask her to take it on board.
She is still dithering over her PS which I think is fine and unlikely to be improved. She has known where she wants to apply to for months now but has just come up with a 'should I apply for an integrated MSc' dilemma yesterday.
I will be relieved when the application actually goes in.

I have received an email from dds sixth form "reminding" me about a parents evening in late January - does it really count as a reminder when it's the first communication about this that we have received?

NoHaudin DD has applied for integrated MSc, or MChem courses. There is a huge variety of options in them - either research study in the UK, or abroad, or work placement in the UK or abroad. I think all of DDs options were fairly flexible at least into 2nd yr about which path to follow. I think some of them even allowed movement (in both directions) between BSc, and MSc. I think the "not having to actually decide yet" aspect really appealed to her!

dd has applied for courses with integrated masters, it’s much easier to switch down part way through is necessary and means that they get four year funding at the same terms throughout. A seperate masters means they pay back interest on top of the interest for the first degree. So perhaps 15%.

That's what I thought re the funding. Only one of her choices gives her that option and at the moment it is at the bottom of the list for other reasons. However she may as well go for the integrated MSc especially as the typical offers are the same.

DS1 was a big fan of Nothing But Thieves and had been looking forward to seeing them live on Friday.

Today he is feeling confused, sad and disillusioned.

Second DD is a fan too - or was - or isn’t sure anymore.
It’s awful when anybody you admire turns out to be not worthy of that admiration.

He told me this evening that when he feels low or stressed or upset, he normally listens to their music to feel better, but obviously that won't work in this particular situation.

Back on the Y13 topic, DS has a meeting with his head of year tomorrow to talk about UCAS. He was thinking of applying for History (with or without Politics) but is now wondering about Politics (with or without International Relations).

I'm wondering if he is aiming to be the last student at his school (or possibly the county) to submit an application in this year's cycle. 😒

TheSecond - that would be my DS too! He started well but is now on a go slow!

I am on a train home. DS will be withdrawing his UCAS application as soon as he's had something in writing. He had an interview this morning and they made him an unconditional offer (it's a vocational thing and EE is standard). As some of you know, my life is a mess at the moment and this is the one thing that's gone right.

Really glad your DS has good news Knitting!