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Further education

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

Original poster

Y13 Summer term: Finishing Lessons, Starting Exams and leaving Sixth Form

999 replies

catslife · 22/04/2018 15:07

So our dcs are now on the last term of sixth form, finishing off lessons and starting their exams.
How did that happen - doesn't seem that long ago since they started Y12.
This is the thread where we support each other as our dcs revise and start their exams, finish off coursework, leave sixth form and make plans for what to do with the rest of their lives. This may involve going to uni or other alternatives.
Every Y13 parent is welcome to join in whether new to these threads or if you have been with us for a while - the more the merrier.

OP posts:
lashingsofgingerbeer · 02/05/2018 20:51

Thank you Nettles, Ursula & Lonicera. Knitting what you & your DS have had to endure puts a lot of our worries into perspective & I do hope he is getting the support he needs at school during the exams. Lonicera I think a lot don't really know what to do, they just tend to follow what school thinks is right and a lot drop out of uni because they realise it's not for them, so taking a gap year can give them breathing space & time to evaluate. I concur the Geography new syllabus, coursework & lack of old exam papers to practice is causing its own Mount Etna mini eruptions here! We had tears tonight due to tiredness & stress. Apparently lots doing it at school too now as exam dates fast approaching.

FantasyAndHope · 02/05/2018 21:02

I agree with what your saying nettles dds school is pushy but if they say I don’t want to do it then they do provide support to ensure it’s not just a wasted year.
loni
I have heard there’s Facebook groups for teachers which many students join and say their tutors etc and generally don’t comment but join for resources possibly try that for geography? Is a tutor a bit late to find?

LoniceraJaponica · 02/05/2018 21:05

TBH I don't think a tutor will know any more about the syllabus than the teachers. DD has worked hard and doesn't want a tutor for any of her subjects.

The Facebook idea is a good one. Off to look now.

Lucycat · 02/05/2018 21:10

Lonicera that's reassuring that your DD is aware of the basics like those. I'm sure she will be ok and that it's just the teachers (very wrongly) projecting their fears about the new spec onto their students.
Hand holding and chocolate needed I think

LoniceraJaponica · 02/05/2018 21:53

Thank you so much for your help and support Lucycat. The geography department have a good track record and I think they have been completely thrown by the new spec syllabus.

Sorry everyone for taking over the thread. This is mumsnet at its best - here to support me each other.

HesMyLobster · 02/05/2018 21:57

I've just sent DD to bed as she has a cold and is starting to lose her voice - not good when she has her French speaking exam in the morning!
I'm going to pop to the late night chemist and buy her some Vocalzones.
The last thing she needs to be worrying about is her voice disappearing in the middle of her 30 minute presentation. Confused

I hate that our dc are the guinea pigs for so many new specifications of courses.
I hope your DD will be ok Lonicera, it sounds like she knows more than her teachers do!

LoniceraJaponica · 02/05/2018 22:17

I hope your DD will be OK for tomorrow HesMyLobster. Good luck to her for the exam.

A level French has changed a lot since I took mine in 1977. We had no preparation to do other than to practise speaking in French. The examiner just asked loads of questions and we had to have a proper conversation in French on random subjects. I had no idea beforehenad what we would be talking about.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 02/05/2018 22:19

dd has something that sounds like a viva for some of her coursework tomorrow. She's completely chilled about it. I'd be a headless chicken if it were me, I'm glad she's not me!

HesMyLobster · 02/05/2018 22:20

Thankyou Lonicera,
Like geography it's a brand new exam specification being used for the first time Hmm

HesMyLobster · 02/05/2018 22:24

For the first half They have to research and present a speech on a topic of their choice (dd is doing the French Revolution ) which they are then asked questions about(30 mins).
The second half is a 30 min general discussion which can be about anything the examiner chooses from the 20+ topic areas they've covered over 2 yearsConfused

LoniceraJaponica · 02/05/2018 22:26

What exam boards is everyone's DC doing? DD's school are with AQA for most exams (and a couple of Edexcel subjects), and other than art no A levels have been started yet.

HesMyLobster · 02/05/2018 22:26

I feel a bit headless chicken like on DD's behalf tonight too Kitten!
I'm also very glad DD is not me! Grin

LoniceraJaponica · 02/05/2018 22:27

That sounds tough Lobster

HesMyLobster · 02/05/2018 22:34

DD's school uses a real mixture.
French is WJEC (school uses them for quite a few subjects even though we're nowhere near Wales!)
History is AQA
Maths is OCR

Nettleskeins · 02/05/2018 22:58

All Edexcel here and a Pearson Btec

Dd has her GSCE Spanish speaking tomorrow (she said she was shown in the practice a car with fumes and told to talk on it, ah pollution/environment topic I said, didn't know the words for those she said, only the words for car and bad smell), very good luck with La Revolution, Lobster's dd.

raspberryrippleicecream · 02/05/2018 23:07

Maths is MEI and I think English Lit and History are AQA.

Good luck to your DD for tomorrow Lobster. I'm rather glad DD dropped it after AS and kept the Maths. She'd been hoping to drop Maths, but I think the combination of the French presentation and English and History coursework would have sent us all over the edge!

Good luck to your DD too Kitten

lashingsofgingerbeer · 03/05/2018 09:00

All Edexcel for DD. Best of luck today for your DC Lobster, Kitten, Nettles - not the easiest of subjects to talk about!

TheSecondOfHerName · 03/05/2018 09:27

DS1's exams are all after half-term.
His underlying health is stable but he has had man-flu all week. 😷

NoHaudinMaWheest · 03/05/2018 09:59

Good luck to those with speaking exams today. I hope her voice is ok Lobster.

I spent most of yesterday in a fruitless search for dd's birth certificate. As her passport is expired she needs it to apply for student finance. Sent her to school with the confirmation of identity form which eventually a teacher filled in for her. I then went to the safe place where her documents are but no birth certificate. Looked in all the obvious (and unobvious) places and can't find it anywhere.
I will just have to order a new one which will be quicker than a new passport, though I also have to do that as we have a family wedding in Ireland in the summer.
I think it would be so much easier if we just had identity cards.

Original poster
catslife · 03/05/2018 10:12

dd is with AQA for 2 A level subjects and WJEC (think this has been renamed as Eduqas) for the 3rd subject.
Hope the French orals go well. dd did consider A level French but changed her mind after GCSEs.

OP posts:
Nettleskeins · 03/05/2018 10:17

Haudin when was the last time you needed the Birth Cert? I find that is usually the clue to where it is. Thank goodness all the dcs I[Irish passports] are still valid till 2019, it was a complete nightmare getting the relevant docs last time, because you cannot just renew (oh no too easy) you have to start right from the beginning every time. Dh now has most important docs locked up in his filing cabinet but he tends to forget he has them and then refuses access to rifle through..

NoHaudinMaWheest · 03/05/2018 11:12

I can't actually remember but have looked in the bank file in case it was when she opened a new account and in her college paperwork in case it was when she registered there and it isn't in either place.
Dh is hopeless at keeping paperwork in order but I usually pride myself on knowing where things are so it is particularly galling. I have just paid £23 for a new one.
That must be really irritating about the Irish passports.

FantasyAndHope · 03/05/2018 11:40

hes
Goodluck to your dd!

We are all OCR because it looks more ‘prestigious’ apparently Hmm

Goodluck to little nettles

I agree identity cards would be must easier, dd still doesn’t know her NI number off by heart I remember having to learn it at school

Update on dd! Surgeon is worried about her eye and thinks she is prone to them and will need to be on long term antibiotics. He’s given her some new ones as he is concerned about operating before exams but if they don’t work they’ll need to operate urgently. She’s emailed school and we are waiting for a reply

NoHaudinMaWheest · 03/05/2018 12:12

Hope you get a good reply from school. I can't see why they don't understand that it is a serious situation. Good luck with the new antibiotics too.

puppypower1 · 03/05/2018 12:17

Sorry I dropped off and have been negligent in checking in!

Fantasy I hope your DD gets her eye sorted - it must be very worrying for you both. I can't believe the attitude the school are taking.

To everyone doing coursework/orals etc - good luck.

We don't start until the end of the month, but GCSEs start next week for DS2 so if it's ok, I'll hit the gin anyway!

Keep going everyone - final push.

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