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

[Stickerrocks]

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

Popping in a bit late here, just to say thanks to those who replied to me on the last thread. DD has just finished a monster shift at her part-time job, has submitted her online application for her provisional driving licence and has done what she needs to for college.

I've made a note of those other online quiz apps mentioned and might suggest them to her at the right point - but at the moment she's exhausted, and I'm interested to see just how many others' DCs are feeling the same. I wonder if there's an element of 'Right, this is really it' happening? The real workload is emerging, the novelty's gone and there's no way to change paths without a lot of inconvenience and wasted time.

I remember my own A-levels being a massive shock to the system if that's any help.

There are still a few movements & course changes going on. I know of at least one who has moved to another 6th form over the last couple of weeks. Another is currently on a trip to NY but doesn't intend to come back & enrol elsewhere after Christmas. I think one advantage of the mega 6th form is that there is always a space for you. They'll find you a course as long as you have 5 GCSEs, all welcome. DD has exams this week though, so the switches may be harder to complete now. She is being hassled by friends without exams about why she is being a party pooper, but is being resolute, as the grade contributes to her predictions.

Some brilliant results, and wow for Brain of Britain! DS applied for University Challenge team this year, didn't get through though. Except he will try again next year!
DD is doing ok at school, she got full marks in an essay she wrote in 40 minutes the morning it was due, so she clearly has the understanding and writing ability. Just the time management to go then!

Or BP?

That's interesting because I don't think PS students have any sarcastic memes about alternative establishments. Seems a bit chippy

The bulk of DD'S cohort went to BP or Brock as the transport links etc are a little less long winded and a lot cheaper than trekking to PS. Around 15-20 went to PS but they were all really from the same group of chums. Not sure why there would be any sniping as all 3 colleges have a good reputation in the area & none of them turn anyone down.

Ds has decided not to take part in his school carol service or any other Christmas singing events as he missed too many lessons due to the school show rehearsals and he’s on work experience next week. So it’s just dd’s Cathedral service to look forward to. The whole school takes part and it’s magnifucent. And this year for the first time she gets to sing in the auditioned senior chorale.

What's he doing for work experience?

Going to a music shop. Something like a recording studio or something to do with computers/music tech would have been great but wasn’t able to arrange it.

Still exciting in the run up to Christmas and it will probably open up a whole host of part time on opportunities in a couple of years. DD was asked to go back to hers over Christmas, but couldn't manage the hours.

DD is now 17!

She is getting slightly more organised. Her homework is up to date, she sorted out her provisional driving, organised a basic DBS and has signed up with an au pair agency with a view to working the whole of next summer

Two concerts down and two to go...

Hello all,
I found you! Have been off MN a few weeks after being virtually outed (ie MN name linked to another social media alias) in another thread and getting a bit of hassle. Have also been really busy But have read all of this new thread.

So much exciting news from your DC - jobs, quizzes, brilliant results. I agree with whoever said it's like "it's really happening now". DS is at one of those 8 schools (state, huge, 5% go to oxbridge but they're still listed..) We did have a useful conversation about why the outreach programmes are so important and also why you have to not dismiss everywhere else just because they're not oxbridge!

DS is having a good term, he had review meetings last week and has benchmark grades based on ALIS stats, gcse grades and current work. His are A/B for all 3 A levels, which he's pleased with as he's had a few wobbles. He's been going to outside talks/lectures to widen his understanding of his subjects and does lots of research for the debates they do in his debate society. He is also working a few hours a week as a lifeguard at our local pool, which he's really enjoying despite the banter and camaraderie!! They're all 16-19 and he's actually finding it fun to be involved in a 'cool' group like that. And it's £7.07 per hour

Christmas presents...welll...!! Both kids say they neither want nor need any 'stuff' so we haven't really bought them any. All my shopping has been charity shop, Christmas fete, or online independents so there's some Hitchcock dvds, a lot of booze for DH and me, smellies, a secondhand cricket helmet (one of the £100 types) for DS2, choc, nuts, biltong, etc. DS1 applied and paid for his provisional before I'd even thought of it and has a lesson booked for the morning of his birthday in mid-January.

Alexander I wondered how your DH is doing?

Years ago I bought the odd Nat Savings Certificate for DD which would automatically renew every 5 years. I realised that she has grown up when the envelopes started to arrive telling her (not me) that the bonds were maturing and she could do whatever she liked with them except reinvest then in another children's account.

I'm impressed with the plan to au pair & the lifeguarding. DD may not earn much as coaching, but as least she is doing something she enjoys. There will be plenty of time after she graduates to work in a chicken factory or call centre!

Feeling really frustrated with DS at the moment. Unlike most of your DC on this tread DS is doing less school work than ever at home. He claims to be doing it all in his frees, despite doing 4 A levels and taking his maths at the end of year 12. I know he is a bit of a maths wizz, but I still feel that he should need to do something.

I think it is particularly bothering me now as we have been having the getting a job discussion since the summer and nothing has happened. Now he has a gf and needs to pay for train fares to see her he is running out of money, but doesn't think he can "face" a "waiting" job, which are the main ones available round here. I am running out of patience, but also wary of being to harsh because of the self harm from a couple of months ago. We are still waiting for a psychiatrist appointment, so nothing is really progressing on that front. He does a lot of just sitting at the computer, which I'm not sure is helpful as well as the the long phone calls to gf.

abitofastate what are his predicted grades like? If he is predicted A/B in all subjects perhaps its not worth the battle?

Re the getting a job - dd had one over the summer at the local golf club in their kitchen. It didn't last long - she didn't enjoy it, too many icky jobs, she's a bit fastidious so she quit. I am happy for her not to work during term time since she has a busy enough schedule as it is....and to be honest, whilst I would encourage her to undertake some work during the long summer holidays I am not sure she is at attractive prospect for an employer since she will be away two weeks with us and another 5 days at a festival. So we have a tacit understanding that she won't be looking for work until the long summer holidays after A levels and prior to University. I like the idea of lifeguarding during that period however - I think I will encourage her in that direction

Abitofastate, I too was worried that DS was drifting and not seemingly putting many hours in when doing 4 a levels but he's come out with a strong set of effort grades and reasonable attainment grades - so we've come to the agreement that as long as he makes sure he understands every topic, and gets help/does extra when he doesn't get anything, then I can relax and let him chill and enjoy the experience of year 12 a bit. I think its more about greater engagement and awareness of what he understands and when he needs to get help that he has now and that was missing in year 9/10. He's also happy that he is doing ok now but knows he has slack time and the option of dropping one if things get tough. He knows he will need to put in the hours of practise questions next year so probably will end up dropping to three. He'll have a computing project next year which could take up time too (just hope they find a way round the CS gcse debacle).

Hope your DS is doing ok and gets some support soon.

We are lucky here that there's a whole chain of leisure centres owned by the same business (but not 'private' if you know what I mean), they're where all local kids do swimming and parties and sports clubs. And they run a lifeguard training scheme. Under 16s do 'rookies' and when they get to 16 can take the professional qualification. And almost guaranteed a casual job at one of the centres (zero hours contract). It suits DS as it's indoors and lots of sitting down His school mate is waitering at a posh Cambridge pub and makes about £20 per shift in tips (rich tourists)! And lots of his mates are in shops/McD simply because they tend to be flexible. School says no more than 8hrs working a week please. Another friend invested in a football ref course and has been reffing for about two years on odd weekends. It's FA standard so he can work for any local club and sometimes comes away with £50 if it's a weekend tournament. So many things out there but at the same time so many things to fit into their time

Has everyone's child been given predicted grades? As far as I know dd hasn't.

we haven't. But ds has just done end of term tests so I'm hoping for something in the end of year report. If not I'll ask for a meeting with Tutor or head of sixth from after Christmas as we're trying to start to research apprenticeships and uni courses but not sure what 'level' we should be looking at. School may be as much in the dark as us due to his slightly strange profile but some indication was helpful.

Would be helpful !!

I'm not sure if we have DS's predicted grades or not! We got two sets of grades: one was the ALIS predictions combined with an IQ test (I think) and the other was a set was the best he could get.

The implication was that the school expected he'd get somewhere in between the two, unless something unexpected happens. But that was in October and they'd only started to get to know him then.

We were given current & target grades on DD's first sixth form report but no predicted grades yet.