Year 12 #2: Carols, commutes & a few stocking fillers

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www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3410431-year-12-1-gcses-are-sooo-last-year

Today is the official start of Christmas!

I’m sitting in the city where Dd is studying. The annual cathedral carol service is today. It’s freezing & im in a cafe trying to warm my hands on a cup of tea.

Then I get to bring her home for 3 weeks.

Fantastic Alexander I hope you enjoy the service and the next three weeks. We start tomorrow with carol service and two home with the last one back on Sunday. Washing machine and fridge are primed and ready !!

Best wishes to all for end or term events and reports and extra good wishes for those struggling on onto next week

Hi all,

Just thought I’d update you about DD and the ongoing poor health v education battle she’s been facing.

Sixth form refused to allow her to drop to 2 A levels citing funding issues. Instead offered a swap to another subject that she would find manageable.

However, one of the teachers within that subject has made it clear they are less than impressed by this change at this stage of year 12, the additional effort required on their part and this is causing increasing stress and upset.

We have therefore resigned ourselves to removing her from year 12, abandoning all hope of A levels and rethinking her future.

We’ll apply to a suitable college for a course that suits her either next September, or 2020.

Thanks to you all for your support and helpful advice.

Best of luck to all of your DC.

A1ways

A1ways That's awful!

Have you removed her already? If you haven't, and the teacher is the sticking point, then could you do something about the teacher?

Maybe show her your post and try to appeal to her better nature?
Or show the HT your post and let them change the teacher's behaviour? or even make a complaint to the board of governors? Its a shame that one person's reluctance to put themselves out for someone else could have such a huge impact. Maybe the teacher / HT doesn't realise what impact it is havoign on your DD and therefore how it is backing you and your Dd into a corner?

I know Whistl, it’s unfair and shouldn’t be tolerated.

But we’ve had to fight for so much over the last thirteen years of her education that we’ve simply had enough. It’s not worth the grief right now and we’re banging our heads against a wall every single day.

She’s too poorly to continue like this and I’m now concerned that I no longer have the strength to fight for her, so I guess we’re both quitting year 12 for the sake our own sanity.

A1ways my heart goes out to you. I genuinely wish you and your DD all the best. I hope she finds a path that leads to happiness, and you are given a chance to breathe freely again.

xx

I'm so sorry, that's terrible. I hope you can benefit from a break (albeit enforced) and find something that works for you all. Very best wishes

Always I'm really sorry school couldn't be more accommodating. Although it is so wring they can't or won't support your DD I hope you both get chance now to recover and regroup.

I'm so sorry to hear that. Funding schmunding. I know she needs to officially do a certain number of hours to qualify as full time, but I'm sure they could fudge things for one student if they really wanted to. on your behalf. I hope you can find a college that has more flexibility and that can still offer subjects that your DD wants to do.

Ellen this is why we’ve given up. Although we don’t know the full facts, we are aware that other students have been granted part time study status while remaining officially full time. We have GP support, we’ve documented everything and we constantly face obstructions to overcome rather than offers of resolution.

I’m completely broken about the whole thing. It’s just so wrong that someone who has faced her health issues with such a stoical and pragmatic nature isn’t afforded the support when she needs it most.

Thanks for the kind words.

A1ways my heart goes out to you and your family, what an incredibly brave decision to have to make at such a young age, and what a mature person you have raised to be able to make it.

I wish the DfE and education ministers could meet children like yours, and the ones featured on the BBCs "School" and see the reality of their regimes and cuts and policies, and have to explain it to those families at the blunt end.

I hope you'll keep us posted on your DD's progress on here. I for one will be keeping fingers crossed for positive news (hugs)

I’m sorry and I’m sure you’re disappointed that her school hasn’t been more supportive. She sounds like a little star and her school have let her down. Not all schools/colleges are like that, though, and if she can find somewhere that will let her study at a pace she can manage I’m sure she’ll be an asset to them.

Be aware that funding in FE colleges is even tighter than in schools, though, but some do offer A levels as well as more vocational BTECs. She should have 2 more years funding to complete some qualifications.

If there are any BTECs she fancies, there are many different levels. A subsidiary diploma can be completed in a year and is worth one A level. A 90 credit diploma is worth 1 and a half A levels and can also be done in a year. Then there are diplomas worth 2 or 3 A levels which can be done in a second year.

*which can top up the first year of study to be worth 2 or 3 A levels.

I was also just looking at post 18 apprenticeships and some of them were only asking for two a levels for entry and not three.

I must say I am very surprised by the school because they would surely be funded for 2 A levels and 2 more hours' supervised study - it wouldn't need an exam. I hope A1ways dd makes a good recovery this year and finds a brilliant course from September.

A1ways sorry to hear that it has come to that. Wishing your DD all the best with her health (and you also).

Loose it sounds more like they don’t want to help rather than they can’t help.

A1ways I'm so cross on your behalf.

Which subjects spark your DD's interest most? I'm wondering if we can come up with an action plan to help keep her interest and motivation in the face of adversity, whilst giving her the chance to recharge her batteries. (Cliche overload acknowledged).

Ellen yes - I'm surprised as in very suspicious! It definitely sounds like the school has been deliberately unhelpful.

A1ways that is just rubbish. Cross on your, and your dd's behalf. X

A1ways So sorry to hear your frustration and disappointment. How stressful it must have been not only to worry about your DD's health but also to have to battle the school at the same time. Can't imagine how hard it must have been for you. Big squeezy hug for you - you are a great mum. How strong you must be, to get to this point intact, even if the outcome is not what you hoped for.

Let it go now and focus on your daughter's health. Who know what could happen in these 9 months - she might be well enough to go back (or to another school) in September 2019? Perhaps this is a good time to step back and re-assess where she wants to be. If A-levels is what she decides, perhaps she could self study during this time so if she returns to full-time education, she is not far behind? Can she prepare for A-levels in her own time as a private candidate or with a tutor?

I'm so sad to hear your update A1ways.

Who know what could happen in these 9 months
I agree with the above, A1ways which turns the adversity into something potentially very positive in the long run. Fighting against a wall is definitely not going to help her health and yours. Taking a break may have unforeseen good consequences.
Have you considered home ed? I am very ignorant about it but currently know of two youngsters doing their A levels at home.

Quite extraordinary response from your dd's school A1ways - it does rather sound like your dd is better off out of there. With the time and space to reflect, without the pressure of a battle with an intractable school, you may find that you find an alternative path for your dd which suits her better

A1ways I think I added to your last post recommending the OU as an alternative graduate pathway your dd might consideer in the future. They are incredibly flexible and supportive. Very shocking how the school have treated you both and I agree, your dd is probably best out of it.

Other news here is that poor ds did not get his Kitchen Porter job as they wanted 3 evenings 5pm-12. He was a bit gutted again but they have told him to get in touch over the holidays. He's also been rejected by the Boots on-line personality test (which I did with him, so no hope for me at Boots either...). Poor lad is so desperate for some work. I have told him to think about some tutoring again but he's not keen.

Better news is that I have been offered a new job - still NHS but a brand new team and service and not front line/urgent which I do now. I think it will be a much less stressful job day to day and managing a new team is an exciting opportunity. I still get to retain Clinical Specialist role too which give patient contact.

TheFirst - is this week Grade 8 week for yoour ds? I think he was doing it at school wasn't he? Nailbiting for results here - it's been 2 weeks so they may come any day now!