Year 12 #3: Open Days and Predicted Grades beckon

[whistl]

Yikes! The title has just hit me! It's too soon! I'm not ready!!

Thread number 2 link: https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3443840-Year-12-2-Carols-commutes-a-few-stocking-fillers

Yes English Lit.

Although DS2 has only attended state schools, he doesn't tick any other boxes for those programmes and summer schools that focus on widening participation.

He doesn't meet enough eligibility criteria for Sutton Trust or UNIQ. He could apply for the Eton USS but won't because the dates clash with the Senior Physics Challenge that he is applying for (although the chance of him qualifying for this is tiny). He is eligible to apply for the Bath (ASD) summer school, but that has more of a life skills focus rather than academic.

DD is giving it a go, as we technically live in a deprived area with low participation rates. She is hoping to get a place for PPE or history. She is in a scheme sponsored by Cambridge at College & is loving every minute so far. She's hoping to get some inspiration for her EPQ.

Is she doing the history masterclass at Cambridge on 9/3 or have we had that conversation.

Lovely bit of squirrel

She's doing the politics & IR masterclass rather than history, but she's on the history scheme at College, so she's hoping to win a place in the ballot for a history day trip at some point in March. She's applied for a couple of UNIQ summer schools which are obviously a lot closer to home.

Comefromaway I wonder if the Wiki teacher is a little out of their depth if they are new, and cutting corners if they aren't used to teaching A level. I would get DD to ask for more recommended resources, rather than putting in a complaint at this stage.

Comefromaway the Wiki thing doesn't make sense at all but I agree the best thing at the moment is to go back and ask the teacher for extra reading (or ask another teacher at the school).
DS is allegedly bright and has gone to school without a coat as he'll 'be on the bus most of the time'. It's forecast to snow again later and that hoody is not waterproof!
Ellen to your DS!

Dd is refusing to go into college today as she has seen a poll result no doubt set up by another student asking 'are you going in today - yes /no' and apparently 68% of those replying have said 'no'. She only has one timetabled lesson and tutor group but nevertheless! Makes it difficult because I am making her younger brother attend school (where there is late opening)

Snow day !

Limits DD obviously didn't see that poll as she has gone in to meet chums for breakfast, despite not starting until 11.30. She did get the train from one of the main stations though, just in case.

Good on your dd - she's obviously not a flake like my dd! (I am sure I was much hardier when I was her age)

Slush day here and the joy of teaching fractions to Year Six after wet play...

Evening! I was on the GCSE threads with you but fell away in the summer! Found this thread on active convos so thought I would pop in.

DD enjoying 6th form mostly but her anxiety keeps rearing it's head. She tried a part time casual job but couldn't do it. 8 hour shift was too much in a busy place. Told her not to worry about working just yet and to get her studies and school attendance under control - currently on 85% but managed a full week this wweek. Progress assessments show she is is already achieving B grades in two of her subjects and a high C in the other, so not noticed any dip in that yet.

Hope everyone is doing ok

Welcome in Androbbob - still quite a few of us chatting away, some of us have changed names along the way.

Glad to hear DD is doing well. Yes concentrate on studies and let the rest fit in around as appropriate is the main theme I think for all our DC coping with the step up to 6th Form and A levels.

androbbob you’re right to tell her not to worry about the job - maybe she could think about doing something over the summer if she feels up to it, but it sounds like she’s doing well with her A levels.
DS is looking a lot less grey and fatigued as there hasn’t been much homework this week - teachers are busy marking mocks - but he definitely doesn’t regret cutting down to three A levels from four. I’m wondering if he should be doing an EPQ but he says he hasn’t heard anything about them.

Hi all. I am back too. Horrifically busy time a work this week but I have now caught up on the thread.
Shocking to read about the late (or lack of) diagnosis for dyslexia. DD had a provisional diagnosis at 5 when the mis match in intelligence vs 'progress' in writing was identified (and her 'class mates' thought she was thick). Many years later it turned out her IQ was over the 99 percentile with her phonics on the 10th....so I guess it wasn't a hard spot :)
As for what others think about extra time - yes she def used to get stick about it since her grades are good anyway. Her standard come-back of "they could give you an extra 24 hours but you still wouldn't know the answer" normally slaps them down....and personally I don't care what the other mums think so it has absolutely no impact 😀

.....oh, and it's my DD that's going to the Cambridge history masterclass. Who else's DC was going? Too many name changes!!!

Yes it is my DS doing the history masterclass

DS2 is happier and more relaxed now that music exams are done. He is still playing in various orchestras and ensembles but will stop regular lessons at half term. He is no longer planning to do a diploma, which is a relief.

His parents' evening was cancelled due to the snow, so will now be after the February mock exams. I'm not sure why they need mock exams in the middle of Y12 when they won't be doing any AS exams this summer.

Phew, first week of new job over, pretty full on but I have a lovely team so I'm happy.
I'm not surprised at late dyslexia diagnosis - many schools are pretty bad at recognising it, particularly in bright childrem who learn to compensate.
Ds is doing a Cambridge Maths masterclass in the easter holidays which I hope will inform his choice between Oxford and Cambridge. We applied for a UNIQ school but I have little hope as despite him being a state school applicant he doesn't meet any other criteria. It was more a long shot as for Maths they also do an online course. His job seems to be going ok although the initial thrill of getting a job has already worn off and he's muttering about giving it up in Y 13! He's doing 2 shifts a week, one evening and one weekend which has not yet impacted on homework or study - though music practice has been a bit skimpy!

TheFirstOHN I suspect yr 12 mocks are to get a good idea what level they are performing at now and remember despite to as or public exams their yr 12 exam results will very much form the basis of those predicted grades for their UCAS forms.

Not " to as" but "no AS"!

I remember you androbob - I have had a name change so you won't remember me. My dd suffers from anxiety too and we had a very similar discussion about work (she was waitressing at the Golf Club but finding it too much) and concluded that she too will just focus on A levels for now (and her passion - playing football).

She has agreed to try and find some work experience for a week or two in either Easter or Summer holidays though - in something relevant to future plans (like graphic design)

On the dyslexia I have now booked ds (Y10) to have an assessment, with the Ed Psych I used for dd, for a morning in the half term. Bit perturbed that Ed Psych said the following:
"I would of course be very happy to do an assessment with [insert ds name] as I can understand why you are wondering about him possibly having a specific learning difficulty. It is a tricky situation with the school because even if the results show that he would meet the criteria for extra time they will not be able to use my scores to support it because the teachers are not seeing that he needs it"
Wtf?

No Year 12 mocks here.
Downside - no kick up the bum to anyone heading for disappointing summer exams and therefore low predictions.
Upside - no pause in learning for revision/exams/paper reviews.
Hmmm. Not sure.

Limit - take each stage at a time. Get the report (proof) he does and present it. If school then refuses to implement suggestions at that stage be ready to fight then. They would then be discriminating against him if he has a specific SpLD as it is classified as a disabilty under the Equality Act! I suspect an appropriately worded letter pointing that out would help them see the light.

DS's teachers feedback before assessment was that they were not aware of issues but all have said that they have come across this before in 6th Form because of the nature of the school/bright kids adapting. They are all being very supportive and positive.