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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:
NoHaudinMaWheest · 12/05/2018 17:38

Congratulations to those with excellent course work marks.
Sympathies to those who are struggling. It is quite disheartening not to be getting expected grades at this stage but not necessarily a reflection of the end result. I think I have said it before but it is worth repeating that ds got D,E,U in his mocks at A level and AAC in the real things.

Dd has her first exam on Monday. She seems quite chilled but it is not always possible to tell.
Ds is abseiling down the campus clocktower tomorrow for charity. I am very glad to be hundreds of miles away.

raspberryrippleicecream · 12/05/2018 18:17

Thanks for that NoHaudin it is very comforting. Mocks did not go well for DD, not did last years AS.

(Except for Maths, which luckily was the one she could keep).

No study leave here, DD is expected to attend lessons until her last exam (June 22nd). There will be a leavers assembly in the afternoon but I think DD will escape before then.

Nettleskeins · 12/05/2018 21:17

Ds goes on study leave in two weeks, afte half term. Ds2 starts study leave on Monday, lessons finished last Thursday. He is a perfect candidate for study leave. Dd has no study leave whatsoever, and continues right until the very last exam to go into school for lessons at 8.30 grrr (which means early starts every day for her, not good)

Ds did some Rossetti revision today, that is something. He said the (the poet) was terribly boring but then engaged in a discussion about repression which showed he was mildly interested... Ds2 on the other hand debated the subject of Macbeth pyschological state..dd is deep in Catholic Christianity, of which she seems to know very little. I asked her what a tabernacle was, she said airily oh that is Judaism (no it is at the back of RC church!)

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/05/2018 21:08

Or at the front of the church Wink

We made it out to watch Infinity Wars. Hooray! No study leave though.

LoniceraJaponica · 13/05/2018 21:19

DD has managed to get a fair amount of revision done this weekend, and squeezed in a friend coming round on Friday after school, a Eurovison sleepover with friends last night, and a walk in the sunshine this afternoon. She has also started doing some yoga. I hope she can keep up the momentum. She is still feeling pretty upset about the chemistry mock results. I hope she can turn it round by working harder to improve her grades.

Nettleskeins · 13/05/2018 22:41

kitten sorry I am a Catholic, that's just me being a bit dyspraxic about front and back, when I'm at the back I think I'm the front (where the door is ifysim) Altar is obviously the front, you are right!

Ds2 and ds1 had a mega Eurovision fest last night interspersed with The Terminator 2 (which ds1 has previously sneered at) I went in, a bit confused by what was on the screen and ds2 said, oh that's the Norwegian Entry (cue cybertronic violence) Wink

today everyone has been a bit dismal about the endless endless slog ahead, ds2 already getting very bored and anxious (I've arranged some football for him one night next week with some people who aren't doing gsces to stop the excess fixation) Dd beginning to meltdown over all the details she is trying to cram into her poor head. She can say Hail Mary it transpires in both Spanish and Chinese, that may yet come in useful Hmm

Ds1 has now moved onto the Baftas as the distraction of choice.

UrsulaPandress · 14/05/2018 11:39

36 /40 for History coursework. Phew.

Revision seems to be trundling along. Not long now. Just the DofE trip to the Palace to get through. We are off into the city after school to try and find her something to wear. And for Prom. She thought no one was going over the top for this prom but apparently lots of her mates have already purchased and they have not gone for cheap and cheerful ...... so DD can't either sheep

LoniceraJaponica · 14/05/2018 12:36

Just paid what might be the last payment into Parentpay for school food/drinks, and the penultimate purse load of bus fares.

DD is still undecided about whether she will be taking a gap year. It all depends on the results. Feeling envious of those whose DC know where they are going and what they want to do.

Nettleskeins · 14/05/2018 15:43

I think you lose nothing by taking a gap year. And you gain money, because that is the year you can get job experience and earn money, without debts hanging over you. And dcs often retake A levels by themselves, ie out of school, it is not even necessary to be enrolled in a formal education college/school.

If you are young for your year, there is no rush except that feeling of peer pressure. I know 4 people whose children are taking gap years, and it is difficult to shake that slightly uneasy feeling that comes when you have chosen to do something different from everyone else and need somehow to justify it. But in fact you don't need to justify it, you are a free agent now.

I keep saying that to ds1. Now you are 18, no-one can make you do anything you don't choose for yourself. That's it when school is finished, you are a free agent, no detentions or letters home anymore no-one telling you to get up in the morning to go to lessons or the attendance figures are affected.. I can help you because I'm your mum but no-one else has the right to boss you around anymore on that score.

Littledrummergirl · 14/05/2018 19:09

Ds1 had his last day on Friday. He I now officially on study leave. He went over a topic he's a bit shaky on this afternoon so has made a start. He has prom on Friday and has been invited to two pre prom parties where they are planning of having alcohol. I really hope he's sensible and doesn't push his limits. Confused

Ds2 has his first gcse tomorrow. We've promised him bacon rolls for breakfast.

NoHaudinMaWheest · 14/05/2018 20:12

DD had her first exam today. It went ok on the whole but unfortunately the fire alarm went off about 10 mins before the end which rather threw her. She was in her extra time so on her own but had to evacuate the room though not the building.
It was a false alarm - someone had managed to set something on fire in the microwave in the common room.

LoniceraJaponica · 14/05/2018 20:16

How did your DD manage with being on her own NoHaudin?

The CFS team have requested extra time for DD, which has been granted, but she is nervous about being in a room on her own. She says the adrenaline from the other students in the exam hall keeps her going.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/05/2018 20:25

oh no NoHaudin. your poor dd.

Good luck to your ds tomorrow LittleDrummer.

LoniceraJaponica · 14/05/2018 21:04

Having prom before the exams seems unusual and unfair to me Littledrummergirl.

I thought most proms were after the exams so the students can really let their hair down.

NoHaudinMaWheest · 14/05/2018 21:30

lonerica Dd is in a small room with others who have extra time. She prefers this as she finds a large room with lots of people overwhelming. As she has both dyslexic type difficulties and physical problems she gets additional extra time which is why she was on her own at the end.
She has been known to lie down during rest breaks when she is on her own?
Is your dd getting rest breaks too? I would have thought that with CFS they would be very helpful.

chocolateworshipper · 14/05/2018 21:43

Very best of luck to everyone's DCs doing exams. I believe that tomorrow is going to be DD's last ever day in education! Shock

LoniceraJaponica · 14/05/2018 22:23

I think DD will be entitled to rest breaks. The problem is that if she lies down she will just fall sleep for several hours. This is why she thinks being in an exam hall is more likely to keep her awake.

She has done a shed load of revision tonight, and found some stuff in one of the geography revision booklets that she says has never been covered in class.

LoniceraJaponica · 14/05/2018 22:24

And thank you chocolate. Same to your DC as well.

raspberryrippleicecream · 14/05/2018 22:27

Good luck to everyone getting going with exams!

HesMyLobster · 14/05/2018 22:30

Woah to all those finishing school already! It came around so fast!!
DD had the first of her "extra GCSE" exams today and she is very pleased with how it went. 1 down, 2 to go then she can properly focus on actual A Levels!
Good luck to everybody with exams this week!

ShanghaiDiva · 14/05/2018 23:52

Good luck to those with exams this week.
Ds has four exams left and finishes on Thursday morning.

HesMyLobster · 15/05/2018 07:24

Wow Shanghai, the end is well and truly in sight for your DS!
How have his exams been?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 15/05/2018 07:50

oh goodness Shanghai!

I presume we will keep this series of threads going until results day? But after that then what?

Icouldbeknitting · 15/05/2018 08:21

I assume that after results day we wander over to the HE section and begin a thread about starting HE September 2018.

So far my advance planning is towels and a write your own cookbook except I don't know where the cookbook is now. I'm currently occupied with "things we will need for a holiday" but I doubt that is going to give me enough distraction for the next five weeks.

HesMyLobster · 15/05/2018 08:33

We will absolutely stay together, to results day and beyond!
I can't imagine trying to navigate the next few years without you lovely lot!
Kitten I'm relying on you to hold our hands and take us to a "Next Chapter" thread, wherever it may be!