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

[catslife]

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.

I think what is shocking is that in ds's school, no-one approached us to suggest extra time and no-one suggested to ds that it would be fair and just if he received it, I had to ask about it, and persuade him to go the spld assessment against his instinctive dislike of being in some way backward or different from others. In some independent schools I have noticed an entirely different culture around dyslexia and other SpLD, it is not a badge of shame, but that is possibly that to get into those schools in the first place they had already proved themselves.

DDs are all at state school but in an area with quite focussed and determined parents iyswim. The number of girls in DD2’s year who get extra time for various reasons is quite staggering. Of her friendship group of about 8 girls only DD2 and one friend don’t have an allowance of some sort - and they are all fairly high achievers. In DD1’s year those with adjustments seem to be mainly small rooms due to anxiety.

My youngest DD has extra time for exams, a scribe and a reader. She has neurological problems/dystonia which she has to take medication for. Since she was little she would cry in pain after writing a couple of sentences and her hand cramps into a position that makes it hard to even hold a pen. The medication she is on makes her nauseous and have upset stomach. It is a continual problem. DD2 had external examiners come into school last year in Year 10 and had to be assessed for extra time/reader/scribe. It is not that easy to get extra time and the Special needs department have worked very hard to help her.

DD had 25% extra time and a scribe for GCSEs due to being severely dyslexic with processing delay. Annoyingly the college would only let her have the same arrangements if she went out of every lesson to sit in Student Support. What teenager, let alone one with anxiety, wants to forego any opportunity to build friendships? Luckily she ended up doing all BTECs so didn't need special arrangements for exams this year.

That is shocking. It was really quick and simple to get DD1s arrangement organised. The exams officer and the SLT at the sixth form were great. It should be the same for everyone. I especially can’t understand making her go to Student Support Chocolate that is awful!

Chocolate that is really bad practice and what on earth was the point?
At least you didn't have to fight it.

Dd has extra time, rest breaks and a small room. She could also use a scribe but hasn't so far. Her secondary school organises it and college agreed to carry on even though the amount of extra time she has is unusual.

Incidentally if they do have special arrangements for exams that can be carried on at university but they need to check out how to get it put in place at the beginning of the year (or before). It is arranged internally by each university and their procedures and need for evidence varies.

I felt slightly bad for not fighting it, but honestly I was so tired after all the fighting I had to do at secondary school, I decided to leave it to a different parent to point out how bonkers it was.

Is a scribe someone who writes for them?

Yes Ursula - DD would dictate the answers to an adult who would write it all down for her. As part of her dyslexia testing, she was found to have severe delay in getting information out of her brain and onto paper, when compared to the speed she could verbalise what she wanted to say.

That is appalling Chocolate.

Well dds last season ticket is paid for. It's slightly odd occasion to mark, but it made me realise that in 28 days that's the end of college for her.

That must be so difficult to do. Does the scribevread it back to her and make changes etc.

I have residual guilt as when I was doing O levels and my db his A levels, I slammed the greenhouse door shut on him as he was chasing me and he put his arm through and severed the main artery in his wrist. He had to dictate his History A level to someone and I often wondered if he would have gone better without the accident.

Do you think we can finish this thread before next week?

I could witter on pointlessly about random shit?

Excellent

It must have been a traumatic time for you!

dd needs to book her prom hair do thingy. She managed to go to the hairdressers without remembering to do so today.

Does the scribevread it back to her and make changes etc. To be honest I can't remember whether the scribe read it back or DD did (it was a very stressful time) but the scribe would definitely make changes that DD asked her to do. DD was lucky that she found it easy to dictate - I can't imagine everyone with processing delay has that skill. I know that some DCs with dyslexia used a computer to type rather than dictating to a scribe.

I'm sure we can fill it quite quickly if we want to.

Chocolate that's really bad practice from the college. My school seem to test everyone they think might be eligible for any concessions and we really fight for them to get what they need to perform at their best. We end up with about 30-40% of year 11 having some sort of special arrangement, whether it is readers, scribes, extra time, separate room, etc. It drops for sixth form, but that's mainly because we only offer A Level and a higher proportion of the kids who are eligible for readers/scribes opt for college or apprenticeships rather than stay at school for A Level.

Dd is going to the prom this year, after opting out of the year 11 prom. She's bought her own dress, and looked at me as if I'd grown an extra had when I suggested make up or hair, I think I've persuaded her that she could have her hair done that day, but it won't be a posh up do or anything. I'm just happy she's willing to go to this one.

DD opted out of year 11 prom too. There isn't a prom as such for Y13, but the sixth form social committee has organised a meal, so she is going to that, although slightly reluctantly.

There is a 'formal' do next December when they are presented with their a level certificates in the Cathedral and have a do afterwards.

She hasn't officially left, they are meant to be in school until their last exam. Apparently though the teachers all said good bye and good luck last week and aren't really expecting them to be in.

Tomorrow we are going to sort out travel insurance for her trip to Italy after exams. Apparently the friends she is going with view this as an optional extra!

nettle think that was the same article I read.

Dd1 didn’t do prom but is doing sixth form meal. She’s quite looking forward to it. Less fuss than prom.

A meal sounds nice. I don't think their prom will be anything like the thing it was in Year 11. dd has a dress already. We are both a bit useless with hair, so unless she wants it in plaits she's going to need to get someone else to do it

Well done on the travel insurance raspberry. Definitely an essential!

DS1 decided he was going to the Y11 prom a week before it happened. Luckily I had foreseen this and so had bought him a ticket.

He has bought a ticket for the Y13 prom because there's no access to the after-party without it.

Prom here is a meal at a posh City Centre hotel then clubbing, then a group of them have hired an apartment to get some shut eye instead of cabbing it home. No outfit yet. Sigh.

I'm glad you're insisting on travel insurance raspberry! It's an absolute essential, although we all hope we never have to use it.

Dd doesn't have official study leave either. School have told them they should be in all lessons until they have done the exam in that subject. The teachers have told them not to come to lessons in the morning if they've got a different exam in the afternoon. The school have said they will phone parents once attendance drops below 90% , so I've told dd she can pick and choose which lessons she goes to. She's apparently going to go to physics, chemistry and further maths, but won't be going to normal maths lessons because she's very confident in those modules.

Raspberry I sorted out DS's travel insurance this morning. Found a decent one that has a specific gadget cover (I never realised you had to add on for phones).

DS's prom is at a hotel in the city and he said they aren't dressing up so just a casual shirt/trousers and trainers for him. He has already had several meals out for various different things so they are all out of the way.

I have inadvertently booked myself on a camping thing. It's an open air cinema night but I didn't realise you can't leave the site after the film ends as it's located across two farmers fields. I have never been camping. I am old. It's my worst nightmare. DS has been laughing at me all evening.

Starfleet if there is electricity at the site get a double depth air bed that you can plug in and blow up. Also on amazon you can get a "travel Jane" that saves you making late night trips to the toilet.