Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/05/2018 21:18

oh crumbs Lonicera, I'm really sorry for making you feel nervous, dd did take yesterday off, but she probably does work too hard. She has her first exams next week. I hope I haven't turned into of 'those' mums that makes others feel bad or sounds up themselves. I don't actually think that any path is more important or better than any other. What's important is that our dc are happy. I really hope that happens for all of our dc, whatever their next steps are.

These new a levels are a total bugger.

LoniceraJaponica · 07/05/2018 21:20

How is your DD today Fantasy? I have been thinking of you both.

Lucycat · 07/05/2018 21:25

Don't forget Lonicera that legally English and History should NOT be giving written feedback or indeed any feedback on how to improve their NEAs. filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/geography/AQA-70371-EX-HAZARDS.PDF These example answers are really useful.

chocolateworshipper · 07/05/2018 21:31

Happy early birthday doistay Cake

TheSecondOfHerName · 07/05/2018 21:36

DS1 is feeling a bit better and has got quite a lot done this weekend:

Saw Avengers: Infinity War (twice)
One shift of part-time job
A 10K run
Saw his grandparents

Not much revision though.

starfleet · 07/05/2018 21:50

Have been habitually lurking as usual and trying to catch up on this thread.

Sorry to hear about illnesses/stresses/etc.

Glad though that there has been some positive news for your DC's.

DS has been knuckling down. He is drowning in a sea of past papers at the moment. He did take tonight off to go into town for a meal with all of his form that his form teacher (who is fabulous) had arranged for them.

This is it isn't it? The final push 😱

Nettleskeins · 07/05/2018 21:57

My hackles are rising again, ds has managed to pick exactly the accommodation I suggested he didn't as he needs to be ON CAMPUS (practice rooms for singing etc, library, meet people) and lo and behold he has picked a very naice [expensive] hall next to the train station and on a busy road.

Not sure whether to insist he changes to the on campus accommodation or just let him do what he thinks best. We live on a quiet road atm in a big city, and I don't think he has any idea what it is like to choose cars whizzing past you all evening or the advantage of living on campus (when there is so much on campus accommodation and everyone else is going to be there)

Anyway have told him my OPINION and we'll have to see whether he changes his choice. At least it is only a 38 wk contract.

Nettleskeins · 07/05/2018 22:13

he said he'd change it. I showed him my research on TSR Blush

Now to watch The Woman in White on catchup, they all insisted on watching WWTOBEAMillionaire.

LoniceraJaponica · 07/05/2018 23:30

Thank you Lucycat, that is very kind of you. DD already has this one from the AQA website. She has all three specimen papers and mark schemes. I had a look at the English and History NEA guidelines on the AQA site, and they are different from the geography ones.

ShanghaiDiva · 07/05/2018 23:40

Ds has English paper 2 today - set texts. 5 exams down and 8 to go!

FantasyAndHope · 08/05/2018 08:35

loni
Well she got English coursework back yesterday it’s a C, she is on track for a B as she is excellent (A grade in one unit) and the other hopefully a B so overall it will even out to a B

She’s shattered and exhausted. Finally started some revision!

Nettleskeins · 08/05/2018 08:35

Yet another stunning day Smile Yay!

I'm looking out at a wonderland of forgetmenots, and translucent leaves. I've taken my glasses off so I don't have to see the grime and grease and imperfections/broken trellis/weeds in the paving.

Everyone is in an excellent mood although ds1 went to sleep so late again yesterday - that enrages me, but he bounced out of bed this morning. Ds2 went in early and was mourning the fact that he'll never wear his PE kit again, apparently the sixth formers can wear what they like if they even deign to play sport.

I'm feeling determined to have the house running a bit more smoothly for the exams, so planning lots of nutritious meals trying to clear the decks generally.

Shanghai that is exciting, you are the first to hit the starting blocks!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/05/2018 08:56

Shanghai, wow. Lucky your ds I think, nice to get this over with.

Nettleskeins · 08/05/2018 08:56

kitten I was thinking about what you said about the generalised anxiety, and last night I realised that ds's accommodation is a bit of trigger for that, like a sort of horcrux for all the anxieties I feel over him going to uni, I find myself investing heavily/worrying about all the outcomes, noisy, delinquent flatmates, isolation, not cleaning his ensuite, sharing, finding sharing difficult...imagining him on the bus being late for lectures..honestly I have to take a big step back when these thoughts start whirling round my head and think..what if, so what?

lashingsofgingerbeer · 08/05/2018 09:37

Nettles your comment about son's black out blind made me laugh Grin Ditto lots of dust in DD's She Cave on cleaning it too - also found a nice stale muffin festering under her bed - lovely!

Lonicera the lack of practice papers & thousands of case studies to learn in Geography is causing DD sleepless nights here & me! Plus all the Biology syllabus to remember. Fantasy I hope your DD has a better week - if it's any consolation DD has days like this & full of self-doubt, compares herself to her peers etc. - tough watching it happen from the sidelines Flowers

FantasyAndHope · 08/05/2018 13:37

lashings
It’s just tough she has rang to say she has made some progress and knows more than she did
Looks like it’s learning Russia next week
And then witchcraft
So she is on track!

Thankfully

Original poster
catslife · 08/05/2018 15:33

Last day for dds controlled assessment tomorrow and then that's 2 subjects our of 3 finished and a very reduced timetable.
Her remaining subject is more skills based and they are doing lots of past papers in class.
MIL is still in hospital but should be discharged soon but there is an infection on the ward so it has been delayed.
On the other hand my DM may be going into hospital next week but at least she will be more local approx 1 hour away.

OP posts:
puppypower1 · 08/05/2018 15:54

Apologies for poor attendance - this thread moves fast!

Fantasy I'm glad you have a diagnosis, and that your DD is getting back on track

Well done to everyone for revision, room tidying (organisation is important!), accomodation choosing, relaxing (that's important too!)

Still a couple of weeks to go here until it kicks off. DS focused on the end of the football season which is a distraction. Still plenty of revision to do......I'm making myself anxious by looking at which unis were in clearing in 2017 for his subject (in secret of course!) and mentally preparing the spreadsheet in case it all goes wrong. This shouldn't come across as not trusting in DS, but rather that it is part of my make up that I have to know what plan B is!!

Keep going everyone !

puppypower1 · 08/05/2018 15:56

Lonerica - I feel your pain with geography NEA and new syllabus. No resources or help. Feels like the teachers are as much in the dark as their students

Hopefully the grade boundaries will get lowered if the cohort results are weaker across the board?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/05/2018 18:10

puppypower, grade boundaries are something to take comfort in. Look at how low they were for the maths 9-1 GCSE last year. At least they are all in it together.

HesMyLobster · 08/05/2018 19:51

Wow, what a glorious bank holiday weekend!
We managed to drag both DDs out to enjoy a bit of sunshine (joking the whole time that DD1would turn to stone/diamond depending on which vampire theory you prefer! Grin)
We even had them both out revising in the garden, which was lovely, and feels so much healthier that being cooped up in their respective "caves".
DD seems to be on track, if only her teachers would stop setting essays as homework!
She did 2xFrench and 2xHistory over the weekend.
Back to school today and she has another of each due in on Wednesday.
She's frustrated because essay writing isn't necessarily something she needs to practice, she's good at structuring etc, she'd prefer to spend time on content and fact learning.
I've advised her not to spend hours painstakingly constructing these 2, but to treat them as exam practise and do them to time instead. Hopefully that will mean she spends an hour on each rather than 4 hours on each!
And she can get on with some maths and Latin too.
First exam less that a week away now!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/05/2018 19:58

Let's not think about next week. Let's just pretend that we are all in Year 10 still.

TheSecondOfHerName · 08/05/2018 20:01

DS1's A-levels don't start until after half term, but DS2 has 9 (NINE!) GCSE exams next week, including three on one day.

chocolateworshipper · 08/05/2018 20:05

Ouch TheSecond

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/05/2018 20:12

Wow, that's a bad week TheSecond. Crazy!!