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.

oh no Starfleet!
Have you any camping gear?

One of these is what you need starfleet

www.argos.co.uk/product/6341213

UrsulaPandress - I invigilate exams and sometimes act as reader/scribe for candidates with concessions. The reader can read anything the candidate asks her to read, but can't guide the exam in any way (i.e. by saying "Do you want to try that question again?") It's hard to read science and maths papers because you can't read out symbols or numbers but can only pause and point at them which makes whatever you're reading sound very disjointed. If scribing, you have to write exactly what the candidate says - so if it is an ungrammatical sentence or inappropriate phrase you have to write it verbatim. You can't add extra punctuation either, unless the candidate specifies e.g. by asking for a phrase to be put in inverted commas. But you can read back what they've dictated if asked to do so, and they can ask you to amend it if they wish to improve their answer. My experience of a large comprehensive is that a fair number of candidates do have concessions. However, this does have significant cost implications for schools as they have to employ additional readers/scribes/invigilators, as well as pressure on space where candidates have to sit in separate rooms.

No camping gear. A sleeping bag and mat. Oh and a head torch. I will have a rummage in the garage as DS went to a festival last summer so there are probably some bits but will have to buy a tent - DS and his pals bought a huge 6 man one between them but I won't be putting that up!

decathlon are good for little tents for festivals.

Good luck with the camping Starfleet.

Do you mind me asking who you used for insurance? I hadn't thought about phones, though DD's is not an iphone or anything very grand. We haven't been abroad for many years so am not used to sorting insurance other than a cheap random uk insurance each year to qualify for Meerkat Movies.

With regards to continuing threads after they get their results. I suppose we could call them something like Class of '18? or is that too awful?
We could do an empty nest thread, except some of our group aren't moving on to university this year.

We really should get dds phone insured!

I think that sounds ok Kitten. I suggest we keep them tucked into Further Education too, it covers all the bases a bit more.

Alpha Travel Insurance Raspberry. They have a live chat thing on the website when you go though the different policies so you can ask them to clarify stuff.

Thank you Starfleet

ok, we will try that :)

I'll create a new thread now for when this one is full as I've got a bit of a full day tomorrow.

New thread for when this one fills.
Not before

Ah thankyou Kitten for being on it as always with the new thread!
I like the Class of '18 idea - easily identifiable and not at all excluding for any dc on different paths.

Maybe we should get hoddies?

Hoodies!!

Look at me using up the old thread with my spelling mistakes!

NoHaudinMaWheest Thank you!
dd is going to the formal, has decided to leave dress shopping to after exams, her final exam is 3 days before the formal. They're having the formal, though a lot of the school has refused to pay for the ticket, then meeting everybody (from what i see this is genuinly everybody all 600 odd of them) at spoons then out clubing, then back to hotel for the night/morning. No idea what people who are under age are doing.

That sounds like it's going to be quite a night Lilac

I agree. We need hoddies for all!!!!!

I was just reading on another thread (boy spent £1500 on business class flight) where someone said that her dd was just finishing uni and the bank of mum and dad was closing down. Is that the general expectation? Will you stop 'helping' when they have a job?

Does anyone have any exciting plans for the weekend?

I'd like to say we do, but we don't.

Just work, food shop and ermmm that's it. Might try and drag dd out for a walk, but the deluges mean that we have to choose where we go carefully.

That's a good question Ursula.

My expectation is that we see dd through university as best we can. Help her out with deposits for rent and stuff if she wants to go into research then just keep an eye on her for any major crunch points after that, but not on an expected basis. She doesn't know it, but I think that the savings plan we have for seeing her through uni will be just kept going while we are earning, for just in case money.

I've one eye on retirement. We need to make sure that we don't end up paupers through being overgenerous with dd. We really need to sort out our garage roof and driveway too, they are getting a bit desperate.

I'm probably far far too soft. But it is a real challenge for today's youngsters. After we left university, we lived really frugally, but we could get on to the property ladder by tightening our belts massively then hang in there while things improved.

Supporting DD's revision and providing regular meals.

I kind of feel that my life has been put on hold right now.

Nothing exciting planned here. Just trying to contain the nerves.

My parents helped me with a deposit for my first property, bought me a car when I was made redundant, and paid for me to go with them to visit my DB in South Africa. Even in recent years my dad would pay for dd and me to fly out to SA. Any time we went out I was never expected to put my hand in my pocket.

Hell I was spoilt!