Half way through Year 13 and the last school year.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

eep.

Oh yes, I am still somewhat required for deep pockets but he also has two (actually three now I think of it) jobs so not that much. Him doing sports science is a clue to how we spend most of our time though and he's just realised he can do a lot more of his favourite sport because he doesn't need a driver to get to training/events. I am most relieved. And scared at the thought of all the driving he'll be doing. But mostly relieved! Next one he has to get there for 6.45am on a Sunday and it's an hour away, happy lie ins for me!

out of interest, what cars and what insurance do your dcs drive? Is anyone an automatic driver (automatic test?) I only have an automatic car, we have one car, if ds was to drive what sort of model would I look at? I am so uncar orientated I welcome any advice. Nissan Micra, or a larger safer car (but old model) My sister has an enormous car which is her reason for not encouraging her student sons to drive, because she wouldn't want them to drive it and she says she cannot afford to pay for another car or their insurance on her existing.

Love to hear models and insurance tips.

DS learning to drive but rookie mistake, we didn't make him do theory test first - so he's probably about ready for test but can't take it. Booked theory test in January but no availability on achievable dates until March!! He'd best pass his theory first time (but i guess he'd have to read the highway code first!).

DS has a Yaris. 3 door with a 998cc engine. I went thought a company called Woop as they specialise in 17-25 age group insurance. He's had a telematics device fitted as condition of taking it out. It was costly but it was the best price I found after lots of shopping around. We do live in a terrible postcode area for car insurance though.

DD has a Toyota Aygo. Looks small but has 4 doors so easy to get in the back. Lots of bits are plastic mouldings so when she accidentally bumps things and they drop off, they can easily be popped back in.

We took out a sort of fleet insurance with Admiral so moved mine and DH's insurance to them plus DH also insured the random vehicles he has lurking in the garage. She had to have a box fitted meaning she is an expert in knowing every speed limit on every type of road and is discouraged from driving after 10pm. You can look at her driving stats on an app which marks her gold silver or bronze.

DD still not driving and no intention to especially as she’ll be going down to London...

The girls have now turned on DD but dd was saying to head of sixth she’s not bothered because after yesterday she realised she doesn’t have to fit their generic box of tall white, blonde and skinny she can wear her quirky lipstick/eyeshadow and she doesn’t have to wear crop tops and high waisted jeans
I think yesterday did her a world of good for her confidence

We bought a second car for me last year, but bought it with DS learning to drive in mind (as our main car is an automatic), so went for a Kia Picanto...nice and small but still quite nippy, no RFL and still has some of the transferable warranty for a few years, so peace of mind as well. Love my little car, but DS says he hates it after having driven it once...I think just because it's different to the driving instructor's car.

We have two cars and my teenagers are on the insurance just for one of them and they passed their test at 17. In fact the theory test was passed within a week of their 17th birthday so that was a good start. I am an interloper on the thread as my two went to university in September.

We've got one car, it's a Fiesta. Dd is on the insurance for it now (I waited til I renewed my insurance so I could shop around) but she hasn't actually driven it yet. The problem is that I use the car for work, and often she needs to be at activities before I get home from work, so she has to walk there. She might drive home tonight when I pick her up.

DS's insurance/telematics doesn't restrict or discourage him to drive before/after certain times as I know some can. He too has an app on his phone to check how he is doing.

I did calculate the average mileage he would probably use when taking out the policy and put down something like 4,000 miles per year but the man from the insurers said you do realise that's only about 10 miles a day so it was upped a bit.

@doistayordoigo your DS will like it well enough once he passes his test and wants to borrow it ;)

Most likely flatmouse..but I'm happy to keep it if he doesn't like it

flatmouse you are not alone in your dc starting driving lessons before passing her theory test. She passed first time and I think having some real experience of driving helped. The on-line mock tests are useful. We used the AA guide to the theory test which also has some practice questions as well as the Highway Code.
I need to book more driving lessons soon. Unfortunately our practice car failed it's MOT so badly that we had to scrap it so are hunting for a suitable small car (again).
I learnt to drive using a Fiesta and Micra. DH learnt in an Escort.

We've just bought a Hyundai i10. The second car we were using was a very old Corsa, but it reached the end of its life just after DD passed.

I'm enjoying the not picking up from activities.

Ds1 borrows my kalos. He has a dashcam fitted which does nothing for the insurance but means that we get to see how he has been driving. The threat of the car being removed if I don't like the way he is driving seems to be keeping him sensible. It's been really helpful to have him driving.

Congratulations to your ds MrSlant :)

dd has had her student finance approved. gulp.

DS still isn't talking to me, but is corresponding with DH, who will pop and see him on Saturday but his brother will also be there meaning no useful conversation will be had. Does anyone know how retakes are taken?I can't afford for an extra year at his boarding school (70% bursary) and I doubt he'd want to stay there anyway! Could he go to the local college to retake?
Its tough when you see them making the same mistakes as you did at that age.
Funnily I wasn't such the bad parent when I paid for the provisional licence over half term! Well the car will not be appearing at this rate.

derek sorry to hear things are still tough. My understanding is that Further education is free for students who don't already have L3 qualifications until the Summer after their 19th birthday.

But he will get some kind of grade, just not good enough for university possibly

Derek the only issue is that some comprehensives (who are happy to take you for Year 14) will need you to do 3 A-levels in order to get the funding for the place. It will be completely free though. Doing one A level retake at crammer shouldn't be as expensive as a year in a boarding school, I think it works out at £4,000 possibly? And of course at a crammer it is a flexible day, you just go in for the relevant classes (I Know this I retook 2 A levels in one year, one syllabus from scratch) Try googling MPW, they are the expensive end of retakes but they might have compararive info for different nos of retakes in one year.

I have friends' who children bumped up their grades in Year 14 without going to school, just from their own efforts in the garden shed (Chemistry and French respectively) They went to a public examination centre and entered privately (small cost to enter)

I wouldn't give up hope, if he wants to go to uni he might either find a uni that doesn't ask for such high grades OR he will want to get higher grades to go the uni he wants to go to...this again happened to friends' sons...And if he doesn't want to go to uni, well it is not the end of the world..there is the rest of his life to decide to go into further study..so many options which do not involve uni at his age. (as I repeat to myself rocking to and fro, my dh did not go to uni until he was 24 years old after working for 5 years - and then he went to Kings and did History and got a 2.1.)

My problem with ds is that he definitely will not retake or get a job, he would rather just go to the unis that will take him (and some unis will take you with just two A levels and a Grade 7 (which he has)

Actually it is not a problem, it is my problem, rather than ds's..

Ds's problem is finding some path that brings him happiness, my problem is quite different (wanting him to follow a specific academic path atm and feeling cheated if he does not)

There are far fewer Crammers than there used to be. But I'd talk to his school for advice, if they will let him resit the exams there that would be a huge win. Then self study and maybe tutor time (along with some kind of job) could be enough. This is what DD's boyfriend is doing, his private school was fine with him resitting there and gave some updated advice on Uni application.

Not sure where you live derek but in london and other cities there are quite a few private 6th form colleges - some of which you can just do one subject. Might be worth looking at just so you have an idea of options. Which I hope you and ds won't need - good luck!

I woke ds this morning at 7.30 and then didn't wake him again. He then slept till 8am, at which point I reminded him it was school! He leapt out of bed, and will presumably be late, but I am beginning to think I need to go cold turkey on all these late nights followed by mum prodding you. He prides himself on his punctuality at school but he is driving me mad staying up so late every night/relying on us to wake him.

Spring is here, I feel much more hopeful in these light mornings.

Help, I have accidentally ended up on the uni open day with DS and now I want to go to Bangor uni too....