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Further education

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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:
Downeyhouse · 17/05/2018 20:53

Hope the horse is soon on the mend Ursula.

DS had his last full day of school today.

Dropped him back at school at 7pm as the whole year group is camping out tonight. Is a beautiful hot sunny night evening and He happily disappeared into the meadow with his cooler and tent.

Lots of tears at school today. Emotional DS tonight. His is DS1 and I can’t bézive his school days are over.

FantasyAndHope · 17/05/2018 22:01

second
That seems good! Must be a relief to you
Hopefully things will work out soon ursula sorry about the horse

downey
Dd I would have thought to be emotional by now even though it’s been a tough year but no emotion here

LoniceraJaponica · 17/05/2018 22:10

Sending get well vibes to various DC and horses. DD just crashed out while I was testing her on some geography.

TeresasGreen · 17/05/2018 23:02

DD has her last day in school tomorrow and they have been asked to wear their old school uniforms. After much hilarity DD is playing safe by borrowing from DD2 and DD3. She looks like an adult in it though, which is slightly terrifying.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/05/2018 07:15

Downey that sounds like a perfect way to end school. Camping out, ahhhh!

Ursula I hope the horse starts behaving.

TheSecond, that's brilliant :) I don't doubt that things will still be hard for your ds, but it's good to see a little crack in the dark hopefully.

LoniceraJaponica · 18/05/2018 08:05

One of DD's friends has struggled academically through 6th form. She has dropped one A level already, and was told this week that she can't do another. So now she is only doing one A level.

I can't help but feel that the school have let her down. She should have been advised to take a different route for post 16 studies. Telling a student she can't do an A level just 3 weeks before the exams must be soul destroying. Surely the school have already paid the fee for the exam?

If schools weren't judged on results the way they are these days this wouldn't have happened.

UrsulaPandress · 18/05/2018 08:06

That's terrible. Poor girl.

Nettleskeins · 18/05/2018 09:10

lonicera I suppose for the student it feels like a relief - only revising for one set of papers, but then six months they will probably think, why oh why couldn't I just sit the other A level anyway? Ds1 was thrown off his Business Studies -encouraged to change to a Btec Subsidiary and I feel annoyed that they didn't support him to take it through Year 13, even if he had got a D. It was such a waste of his energy to have done all that work in Year 12.

Still perhaps she will resit the exams next year? I hate it when schools obsess about their results and statistics ...everyone passed A-C...grrrr.

Brilliant about the geography result, so you see, without any help your dd has managed to get the highest mark. I 'm noticing with ds2 that the less intervention with his actual work (I can intervene with his socks and pencil case Wink) the better he does. I think these very thoughtful dedicated minds do better following through their own thoughts without interruption.

Ds1 still fine, I'm waiting for the crash to hit him and the I cannot do it - which I'm sure will happen when study leave starts. Atm the sheer momentum of school day gets him through.

Second glad your ds has felt better this week. Hand holding for all the gcse layered A level parents on here..the minutae of the gsces seems to be much more pressing, every question fiercely discussed, today I am dreading what will happen after ds has finished his Drama exam, he so wants to do well, and it is just up in the air whether he will get that essential 6.

Nettleskeins · 18/05/2018 09:13

The house has collapsed around my ears again today (not literally) and dd is at home refusing to go into compulsory school as she wants to revise at home. I need to tidy up without interruption, but I think she wants me to take her swimming. Hope I can put it off till 4pm.

Icouldbeknitting · 18/05/2018 11:22

Ursula sorry about the horse. My dog preferred one of the vets over the others and we think it was because she was the horse vet and smelled interesting.

Nettles I am also waiting for the crash, woe, I should have revised more, I'm so useless, I do this every time, why don't I ever learn? It is only five exams rather than the huge number that he had at GCSE so maybe this time we'll escape the crash.

LJaponica dropping them down to one A level this late in the game is strange unless they have something major going on like zero attendance. A levels are not for everyone and alternatives are available but you'd hope that this would have been pointed out somewhat earlier than a few weeks before exams.

My news for the day is that I have booked all parts of a holiday - holiday, insurance, car parking, adjacent seats on the plane - for the first time in my life.

UrsulaPandress · 18/05/2018 12:06

Ooh exciting. Where are you off to?

raspberryrippleicecream · 18/05/2018 12:34

Well done knitting. I hope the break gives you and your DS a boost

Nettleskeins · 18/05/2018 13:15

knitting that is very brave of you, I find those booking things very difficult/anxiety provoking, so I feel for you, and it is fabulous that you have achieved it. --I need to book a holiday now that ds's grade exam dates have come through, been putting it off, since the last holiday where we felt so tense the night before we actually vowed never to go on holiday again, (although the holiday itself was a real tonic)

Nettleskeins · 18/05/2018 13:21

Downey I think ds finds it very difficult to imagine his school days really are over. Tbh I think he imagines university to be a form of school, and if he ever gets a job that will be "school" too, with a boss (HOY)

Camping sounds sublime.

back to housework Hmm I've managed to spend a fair amount of the time watering the garden, my kind of housework

Icouldbeknitting · 18/05/2018 14:20

We're off to a beach club in Greece for a week. In the last 18 years I've had two holidays that weren't self catering in the UK so it looks hugely expensive to me. The idea is that the extensive activity programme doesn't leave me any time to think and we'll both be shattered at night. If I like yachts we might go on flotilla next year, I can go on my own if he doesn't want to go.

Original poster
catslife · 18/05/2018 14:23

Only one week of sixth form to go before the Leavers Day next Friday. dd is now on a reduced timetable as she has already completed the Graphics and Health and social Care A levels.
She has now started job hunting more seriously.

OP posts:
UrsulaPandress · 18/05/2018 18:34

I always fancied one of those flotilla holidays. But I'm too crippled to consider it now.

FantasyAndHope · 18/05/2018 19:55

Loni
Surely that would just add to the exam stress frenzy? That must be horrible
nettles
Dd has been like that for a while, hope she feels better soon
knitting
A holiday sounds nice I think we’re all in need of a holiday

Dd is exhausted she has an opticians appointment tomorrow. Her eyes have got worse since this whole abcesses again

Downeyhouse · 18/05/2018 20:10

Sorry to read about your daughters eye issue Fantasy.

Hard having to deal with health problems and exams :(

DS had a great time camping - only slept from 7am to 8am!!

They all stayed up to watch dawn break on their last day together.

Fortunately the weather was fantastic hard 20s and sun. An idyllic way to end school. They have been together since the age of 3!

Littledrummergirl · 18/05/2018 20:13

Thanks raspberry. Ds1 is out on his prom now. His year wore their old school uniforms their last day as well. His actually still fitted him!

He went to a pre prom party with alcohol, the first time this has happened. I just hope he's more sensible than I was at his age.
Knitting your holiday sounds fabulous. We are camping for two weeks in Cornwall, the dc have loved holidays there in the past and wanted to go again before they leave home.

There was much excitement at ds2 school today when 3 fire engines had to put out a fire on school grounds. Ds2 wasn't in an exam but some students were. I hope it hasn't affected them too much.
Ds2 has five GCSEs next week. Thankfully he doesn't have study leave so I know he is working hard. He does much better working in school than at home.

LoniceraJaponica · 18/05/2018 22:25

Why do they have their prom before the exams Littledrummergirl? Every school round here has them afterwards so the students can really relax and let their hair down, and not worry about losing a day of revision due to having the hangover from hell.

Nettleskeins · 19/05/2018 12:49

I think it would probably be a tonic if ds had his Prom now, I can certainly see the advantage of it. And also you know that everyone is still available, whereas after exams people do peel off with different plans.

Ds is asleep now, I'd almost rather he was at the Barber's or out choosing a nice tie Confused

we are watching the Royal Wedding, or rather I can hear it in the distance. Her dress is really beautiful but terribly dull, I think Brides need to be a more theatrical.

trying to book holidays. Very difficult for everyone to agree . The thought of being a holiday home with loud arguing people (my children) does not appeal. Perhaps staying at home is underrated looks out at floaty garden

LoniceraJaponica · 19/05/2018 13:20

"Her dress is really beautiful but terribly dull, I think Brides need to be a more theatrical."

I don't agree. She is so stunningly beautiful that I think an elaborate dress would detract from her beauty. A less is more kind of thing.

UrsulaPandress · 19/05/2018 13:24

I think her dress is simple elegance. Perfectly judged.

LoniceraJaponica · 19/05/2018 13:33

Ursula you might be interested to know that they did the Lancaster fly past on Thursday.