Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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:
LoniceraJaponica · 27/05/2018 09:26

Are you not in the UK Downey?

I wish DD was more driven, but she gets so tired so easily.

chocolateworshipper · 27/05/2018 09:56

Welcome likelyLilac - glad you decided to join us Smile

Downeyhouse · 27/05/2018 13:51

Lonicera no we are in continental Europe but are British. Ds has never lived in the uk but will start Uni there in September.
I think it could be a culture shock for him however British he feels.

UrsulaPandress · 27/05/2018 16:10

I want a lake to swim in.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 27/05/2018 16:15

Me too! I suppose I could dangle my legs in our little wildlife pond but I'm afraid the tadpoles would nibble my toes.

Nettleskeins · 27/05/2018 16:37

in London there is the Kenwood Ladies Pond (on Hampstead Heath). My mother used to take me there frequently when I was a teenager. For some reason I've never been back, but I must make an effort this half term, a bit of a trek. London is full of Lidos, but they usually get unbearable crowded when the sun shines. the trick is to go open air swimming when it rains!

Son is behaving alright, and has woken at decent time which is better than nothing..seems to be working a bit. Now off to the cinema [by himself alas] everyone else IS working and won't go out.

lashingsofgingerbeer · 27/05/2018 18:07

Gosh this thread moves fast! Good to hear those exams that have started have been ok. Excellent news about D grades Nettles & Chocolate. Do hope your DD is enjoying being back home away from those awful bitchy girls Fantasy! & your DD's not so run down Lobster what an exciting experience for your DD's trip to the palace Ursula* & hope horse ok - vets are expensive!

Well we have had the Prom, 18th party - which was enormous fun (if lots of work!) with all age groups letting their hair down & having a good old dance together, with no trouble at all! Then Leavers's Day in old uniform, 6 hour pub crawl, meal, club & sleepover = not much revision the next day! DD also found out she got an A for A Level drama portfolio after all the stress it caused & I received such a lovely e-mail about her from a teacher it made me cry - but in a good way! This really is it now & end of an era, until the next new chapter! Fun is over for now though with 1 week to go until exams - gulp!! Confused

LoniceraJaponica · 27/05/2018 19:14

DD has had a friend round this afternoon to revise biology. She has made loads of flash cards and they are testing each other. They have done some geography as well (and played croquet and another ball game in between)

Downeyhouse · 27/05/2018 21:49

The lake is 20 mins drive away and is used for drinking water and is so clean and cold it is great. Surrounded by wooded hills and fields. Did not get ds1 there but ds2 and I got out of the House.

End of half term here. Ds has revision sessions this week in the subjects he is taking written exams in so will be in school all week either in the library or at the sessions.

He wrote 2 English essays today which he hopes he can base exam questions on.

It has been heavy and muggy here today we could do with some rain as the pollen levels are through the roof.

Good luck to everyone for the half term revision.

UrsulaPandress · 27/05/2018 22:05

I've been to similar lakes in Switzerland.

marmiteloversunite · 27/05/2018 22:09

We've been learning Othello quotes today. Only done Act one so far. Just seems like such a waste of time and brain power. It really is a memory test rather than concentrating on a well written answer/argument to show depth of knowledge. Why they changed from open book policy I just can't fathom.

Nettleskeins · 27/05/2018 23:01

marmite I don't know, I sometimes think learning quotes really embeds understanding, and I've been surprised how ds2 for example who never reads a book has benefited from it with the Eng Lit gsce and learnt quotes very easily. Anyway, I don#t think ds1 is ever going to have a particularly good argument up his sleeve hey ho.. Noticing what the characters actually say rather than learning the synopsis will benefit ds1 certainly.

Ds1 loves Othello.

Nettleskeins · 27/05/2018 23:04

"there's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we will"...a quote I remember from Hamlet essays 30 plus years ago.

marmiteloversunite · 27/05/2018 23:26

Nettle I'll make do with her remembering them for three weeksWink

I might be more sensitive to this because DD2 has processing and memory problems and I can see how the new GCSE curriculum is going to be so difficult for her.

likelyLilac · 28/05/2018 00:46

marmiteloversunite I'm not a fan of remebering quotes either, dds friend doing english a level has to use up an awful lot of time remebering quotes, I think it depends on how easily you remember them on whether it an issue. I know i wouldn't be able to do it!

chocolateworshipper · 28/05/2018 10:06

I can still remember some of the Shakespeare I learned for O level GCSE

If music be the food of love, play on.
Give me excess of it so that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken and so die.
That strain again, it had a dying fall.
Oh it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour. Enough, no more.
'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there

LoniceraJaponica · 28/05/2018 10:16

I'm impressed. I hated Shakespeare. I really don't get any joy out of reading something that I have to work out what it is saying. That's why I don't like classical poetry either - or any poetry either, apart from limericks.

That makes me sound like an uneducated oik I know Grin

HesMyLobster · 28/05/2018 11:27

DD is currently making flash cards so I can test her on History.
An afternoon of American History is not quite how I imagined spending the Bank Holiday . . .

I really dislike quote learning, and all rote learning to be honest, I see little benefit and the added pressure is too stressful.
Seeing the difference between DD2's GCSE preparation this year, compared to DD1's actually makes me cross. I'd much rather the emphasis be on detailed analysis rather than being a memory test.

That lake sounds heavenly Downey. That is exactly how I'd like to spend the Bank holiday. No chance in this country though, especially as the sun seems to have gone into hiding. History it is then! Grin

raspberryrippleicecream · 28/05/2018 11:54

I have let DD down with flash cards bu not being able to speak for 3 days.

Before that I've done lots of Tudors, I've found it quite interesting. I think I'll be less enamoured with the American Dream that we are moving on to.

Sun shining here up north for a change!

Downeyhouse · 28/05/2018 11:55

Ds has worked with another student - they cut the curriculum in half and both made revision notes and then uploaded them onto a shared google drive.

So much to cover and has speeded up tie process for them both.

They plan on selling their guide to the kids on the year below when they leave Smile

LoniceraJaponica · 28/05/2018 11:56

Sun is hiding today. Thick mist this morning, but it has lightened a lot and I think it will eventually burned off. We had dreadful weather on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday have been glorious.

DD is concentrating on chemistry today.

Nettleskeins · 28/05/2018 11:59

chocolate that is perfectly lovely. It brought tears to my eyes.

and then at the back of my mind, steals the thought of an exam question on Shakespeare's use of music and the loveliness is diluted Hmm But I don't even know which Shakespeare play it is from..I'm very ignorant. Twelfth Night, or As You Like It?? Dd had to do a question on Much Ado in her Gsce on the relationship between Beatrice and B, and all I could think of was a moment as a student watching a play where B (which one I cannot remember) is swinging on a swing. That's Shakespeare for me, youth and happiness.

UrsulaPandress · 28/05/2018 12:07

I can still remember shed loads of quotations.

marmiteloversunite · 28/05/2018 12:16

Ursula I think you either have that kind of mind or not.

History day today apparently. DD is lying on the lounge floor surrounded by A1 sheet of facts looking stressed and fed up. I do feel for them. Lovely weather and she is inside with German history. She did walk the dog earlier to get some fresh air.

HesMyLobster · 28/05/2018 14:25

I'm planning to drag DD out with the dog in a bit.
I tried to convince her to revise in the garden yesterday but she lasted about half an hour before the breeze messed up her notes and that was it - back to her desk.
I do worry about her vitamin D Levels.

Downey that sounds like a great idea re: shared revision cards. I'm not sure DD would trust anybody enough to share with though - she's a bit of a control freak when it comes to revision!