GCSE '18s (20) - half term beckons!

[mmmz]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3355907-gcse-18s-19-new-beginnings

DS2 will get target grades later this term, but won't get predicted grades until the end of Y12. The school bases these on their performance during Y12 and in the end of Y12 exams.

Girls were similar. Looked at published league tables to select those reputable unis that did their course and at around the right offer levels. Then narrowed it down a bit based on campus/non campus, distance etc. Then from a long list narrowed it down further quite easily based on course content. Course content and type is in my view very important and varies considerably from place to place. And this is what can be fleshed out from visits and sample lectures etc. I was surprised how many parents were desperate to see the accommodation on open days when in reality this is unlikely to be the accommodation they are in. I feel whether they enjoy the course and the ‘feel’ of the place is much more important - and that will be different for different dc.

The visits helped narrow down to 5 for the form but it was the ‘offer holders visits’ in the spring of year 13 that made their mind up.

We didn’t visit that many - I think both went to 4 and DD2 only went to a couple of hers on the offer holder days only - as not so many places do her course she wanted a certain type of that course she only ended up with 4 she wanted to put down and visited 2 before applying and 2 after

DD1 had more options but decided after the first couple of visits which teaching style she preferred and narrowed down from there

Same again here TheThird. DS has ‘targets’ based on the Durham ALIS thing (tho I haven’t seen them yet) but won’t get predictions until the end of this year after end of year exams

Sorry first post was a bit garbled but basically we did what the third said !!

I was surprised how many parents were desperate to see the accommodation on open days when in reality this is unlikely to be the accommodation they are in.

Totally agree with this. The accommodation open for viewing is likely to be the best / newest the university has to offer. Successful applicants will be able to indicate preferences for accommodation, but could then be allocated anything that fits their requirements (e.g. single room, self-catering). DS1 was not allocated any of the six preferences he listed, but was given a room with similar facilities.

Whether you like the accommodation you saw on an open day is not a useful factor in choosing a university.

Apparently today is World Ballet Day so to celebrate here is a picture (I think its relatively blurred so as to not be hugely identifiable)

Dd is 17 this weekend. I can't believe it.

No targets here that I know of. IN fact I have no idea whatsoever of potential A level grades.

Dd has been selected to represent the school again at a Model United Nations conference but this time she is going to be going to co-chair a committee.

That's a lovely picture Alex. I hope you all enjoy her birthday. Will she be home?

I have been thinking about how long it has taken for your DH to get a firm diagnosis when it was on your list of possibles for months.

bpisok DD struggling with perfectionism too. It's really hard to help.

Any tips anyone for helping?

That’s lovely Alex. MUN is great too.

@AlexanderHamilton - lovely photo

@PeggyIsInTheNarrative - I am working on the basis that she is doing background research which will stand her in good stead for later during the course. English isn't too much of a problem, it's gov and politics and history that are time consuming (plus she feels the need to debate it when she isn't reading about it).
On a positive note she's pulling off As at the moment which is a good sign since they claim to be marking them as though they were actual A Level essays.

We really need to see her target grades before visiting Unis so the sooner we see them the better (you were all correct it's the target that's going to be given not the predicted).

Peggy DS was falling into the trap of perfectionism a couple of years ago and there's no sign of it now.

The thing that got him past it was making the work more challenging so it was less about finessing the easy stuff and thinking 99% marks equated to failure.

i guess that's not applicable now?

Re University choices - ds has used similar methods - first decided on course, then looked up top performing uni's, discounted London as we live close and too expensive, discounted those with poor student satisfaction, looekd at course content again and made a list. We do need to look again though, just to make sure he has a wide enough choice.

We don't have target grades yet but he has a Maths AS already and the Maths dept are encouraging him to aim high.

DS is still saying he wants to go into the workplace rather than uni but wondering whether we need to look at some in case he changes his mind. I guess there is plenty of time yet - maybe have a look after Christmas and arrange some visits in the spring of year 12 so at least he s had a look even if he doesn’t follow it up. By then we may have a better idea of where he s heading academically - no idea at the moment as he s always been playing catch up until his spurt for gcse s

I've no idea what DS wants to do at university. I'm strongly recommending that he avoids pure maths (trying to ensure he avoids my trauma!), but otherwise, I just suspect it he will do something around maths/ engineering/ physics.
Also, i have no idea which A level grades he's likely to get.
So, until he has a better idea, it makes narrowing a university search a bit useless.

Enjoying your WBD post. Your DD looks very poised. Even if I had the physical ability, I would never be focused enough to do the things she can do. We're you a talented dancer yourself in a former life or have your DC sprung this all on you by surprise?

Currently catching up on World Coffee Day from yesterday with a Costa whilst waiting for DD's train.

Just the coffee in your mug Sticker ;)

No gin this time?

DS3 gets his first grade card at the end of half term. It'll be interesting whether it includes targets and/or predictions. He hasn't actually done any assessments yet apart from one in computing, which he says was 34/40 but no grade given. His school doesn't do ALIS.

We're going to school tonight for the house music performances. DS3 is accompanying his house choir on his flute. They're singing 'This Is Me' from The Greatest Showman.

I'm hoping there will be enough chairs for the audience. It's free with no tickets. I bent over awkwardly this morning at work and have done my back in. Moving is painful (as is staying still) and I feel like I'm walking like Julie Walter's Mrs Overall!

alex love the photo! Silly question but that's your DD, right? sometimes people just nice thematic pics so I wasn't sure...

Ha ha not sure there’s a house music event anywhere without a bit of greatest showman. Had DSs last week. Great fun - hope you enjoy it tonight Ellen.

Admirable poise and grace in that photo - I am sure that takes tonnes of dedication.

Lovely photo Alexander

Commiserations on the back injury Ellen, I’ve done that a couple of times and it’s no fun at all. Hope it soon rights itself.

No predictions here until the end of Y12 and at this point I have no idea what sort of grades DS will be looking at. There’s a parents evening next week and grades at half term but I think they’ll only tell us what sort of start he’s made.

Took DD back to uni today. Thankfully she’s taken a lot less stuff than she did in first year (just as well as DH couldn’t come with us). It all has to be packed up and transported at the beginning and end of each term, so I think she’s decided that travelling a bit lighter is the way to go! She’s got a great room this year so was chuffed when she saw it.

I can't remember who started the calculator discussion on here. We've ordered DS2 the fxCG50. £85 through school (rather than £113 through Amazon). Some of his friends are getting the Classwiz instead, but DS2 is keen on Maths and we're happy to pay for a graphical calculator.

Has anyone used www.calculatorsdirect.co.uk/? Are they legit?

DS's school still hasn't said which calculator they want. TBH I wish they'd just say so I could swallow the expense and put it behind me!

Their prices are certainly competitive.

Ouch Ellen hope your back feels better soon & you got a seat at the concert.

Yes the picture is of Dd. I have another lovely one taken on a school trip to The Hague but I was at work & dudnt have the software to blur her face.

Me & dh have zero dance ability although we both did music & I did drama in the past.