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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

GCSE'S 2019 Done, Results Received, Moving on to 6th Form and College

473 replies

ArthurtheCatsHumanSlave · 04/09/2019 14:06

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3671029-gcse-2019-support-thread-6

New Thread for all our DC's moving on to 6th Form and College to do ALevels and BTEC's, and anything else exciting and new.

OP posts:
Hahaha26 · 07/09/2019 07:35

I imagine the first few days are very tiring.

Dd had a better day yesterday, says each day she gets nervous and is then fine by breaktime. I’m worried how Monday will go after the weekend off.

Hope everyone finds some time to relax this weekend Smile

Theovertoad · 07/09/2019 08:09

Hahaha glad it seems to be getting a little easier Smile

fortyfifty · 07/09/2019 09:26

fivehourssleep I imagine your DDs btec will be very useful for employment or even going on to uni. After 2 years. That might be something DD2 is drawn towards as she's a bit of a computer whizz and very creative. We'll see how gcse comp. science goes before seeing which route she wants to go down.

DD1 is exhausted too. Eveythibg is new to her. A college environment, public transport, Alevels, new people. Its no wonder they will be spent this weekend. The week went well though so that's hurdle 1 over with.

I think there are lots of people who do maths a level

fortyfifty · 07/09/2019 09:27

without doing sciences. It's the most popular A level and if you're good at maths, a good balance alongside essay subjects.

Arewedone · 07/09/2019 09:57

Congratulations to all having survived the first week it sounds like they’ve all coped really well with the change, travel, environment.
@Foslady Hope Dd has calmed down and it was just stress.
Dd whacked from tons of homework but we have arranged a Sunday outing to chill. So far she has been far more relaxed because she is taking subjects she loves! Hope it continues she’s been far more pleasant in the morning.

Original poster
ArthurtheCatsHumanSlave · 07/09/2019 11:07

So, DD back to it. She will be fine for Monday.
DH now ill with a case of man-flu - urgghh......he's so much more trouble than DD was, and she was much, much more, poorly.

Thurs/Friday that she missed was thankfully mostly "hello, here are your books, and this is what we are going to do", the homework was start to read your books. DD read them all over summer (she really loves her subjects), so she will just re-read those few chapters set for homework to refresh her memory.

DD has free periods during the day, but still being at school, means they will be filled up with talks, and various extra curricular stuff, that they can choose to do. Otherwise they can just go to the library. At the moment they can't yet leave the site, which is a bit frustrating. They will be able to leave early, and sign in and out during the day, from after October half term, but they do have a 6th Form Cafe which is manned all day by staff for proper coffees, panini's and snacks, which go straight on our school bill.

So, for us, part way there, not quite as relaxed as a college, but good for DD as she likes a routine.

OP posts:
JetPlanesMeeting · 07/09/2019 11:10

Checking in, I name change on a regular basis but I have been here a long time, when it was the GCSE thread.

Ds1 has gone to the sixth form his academy feeds into along with about 3 other schools in the same trust.

He says he must have a friendly face as a boy came and asked if he could sit with him in the common area before the lessons started. It was whilst they were both waiting for their respective friends.

Wednesday afternoons are "enrichment" which can be anything from learning to paint, photography, book club, chess, film making, learning a new language, martial arts, physics club, debating, C25K, fitness suite, knitting, card making, netball, helping children to read in primary or secondary school! So really diverse not just physical fitness.

Saucery · 07/09/2019 12:12

Glad she’s over it, Arthur. It’s a terrible term for illnesses, I’m Vit C-ing and echinacea- ing myself up to the eyeballs in preparation!

DS was knackered last night and is still in bed. Partly his nocturnal summer lifestyle catching up with him and partly a very intense week of getting straight into the courses and extra-curricular talks on Uni applications, Aspire program etc.

Rugbylife · 07/09/2019 12:18

Ds got his timetable yesterday and he’s got into the Biology A level so head of sixth form must have fought for him or the 2 marks short didn’t really matter! Still waiting on his maths paper remark to come back, it’s worrying me slightly that it might go down as it’s taken much longer than the Biology no change remark 🙈
Next week will be the real test meeting subject teachers for first time and following a full timetable as well as training every day.

Hoooo · 07/09/2019 12:27

Ds1 went in yesterday and it turned out he didn't need to (?).

His timetable has altered slightly (geography and politics have switched sessions).

£150 of text books and revision guides purchased...

MollyButton · 07/09/2019 17:34

DD has her first day of college yesterday - or rather a 1/2 day induction, which ended with getting her timetable. She is going to the next town, she tried getting there by train but the walk is a bit far. She is going to try a bus next week. There is one very convenient one but it's infrequent, and a different company from the other buses (I wish we just had one service like London).
Being in the next town means there is hardly anyone she already knew there, but she is building a friendship group from NCS and trial days.
No PE, they do have to choose enrichment and can use the Gym (which she is keen on).

Blueandredandblue · 07/09/2019 18:14

My eldest ds started at 6th form, at his school this week. He's loving it so far, especially only doing subjects he enjoys. Is it normal to do 3hours of studying after school each day and 5 hours at the weekend. I know that his school wants them to do well, but I'm certain I never did that much at A level unless I had exams. Of course he feels compelled to do it, because it has been made a rule, and ds has ASD so always follows rules. I just don't want him to exhaust himself.

fortyfifty · 07/09/2019 18:50

I believe the recommendation is 5 hours out of school study per subject per week. Is he doing 4 A levels?

pointythings · 07/09/2019 19:31

We are told to do the same amount out of school as they are doing in school, so 5 hours a week per subject seems about right. DD2 is the kind to overdo it, so I'll be keeping an eye on that.

MaudBaileysGreenTurban · 07/09/2019 19:40

Yes, one hour of study out of school for every hour in, was what ds was told.

He is the type to not do it, so I will be keeping an eye on that Grin

Arewedone · 07/09/2019 19:51

Same here , 4 Alevels , 3 hours per day plus around 5 at the weekend, although today was a push so not sure how she will make up the time tomorrow:(

Foslady · 08/09/2019 08:16

Glad it appears we (and the dc’s) have all got through the first week unscathed!
When I got home dd and myself had calmed down (she still needs to speak to the guide leader but will se her on Monday (although if she fails to raise it then i’ll be less than impressed, I got fed up of saying to the leader I couldn’t afford to commit that much money but was sold it on the assurance that there’s help out there and that all she has put in meant she would be a great candidate.....)
@Hoooo I feel your pain. I estimate that the move to 6th form has cost me approx £1k in text books (even though they are 2nd hand), travel passes, remarking and other items (that new school bag had better last 2years) which I seriously underestimated (I’m going to start saving now for next years travel pass).
Bang goes the money I’d saved for shutters in the new room.......Hmm

Hoooo · 08/09/2019 08:45

Underestimated the ££££ here too fos!

Ds1 has been told same number of hours at home working as in lectures needed.

We shall see!

Theovertoad · 08/09/2019 09:12

Dd has also been told that the same number of study hours as the hours of lessons you have BUT that homework is included in this. Dd has 5 hours of each subject (4) per week so needs to find 20 hours. She’s got 5 free lessons per week in school that she’s going to use and then plans to do another 2 each school day evening leaving her 5 to do over the weekend.
We went to our first uni open day yesterday because she hasn’t worked out what direction she wants to go in. I left it far to late with Ds so I’m not doing that again! Really useful. Plus it was a nice day out with her .
Going to another in a few weeks time.
Can recommend opendays.com to see all the days coming up

Theovertoad · 08/09/2019 09:14

Bus pass / train pass/ smart dress code clothes/ school trip deposit / text books and now open day fares too!
Shock it’s all adding up here too!

onaroll · 08/09/2019 20:06

Dd having her 1st day tomorrow.
Timetable emailed out already ( on 2nd version already). Upset by lack of free periods in comparison to friends ( but then her choice to do 4 subjects Wink)
Staying on at her 6th form. Happy that a couple friends who were changing school have decided to stay on too. All friendship group together still.
Clothes all ready - have to wear suits / business wear.
Hope she’s happy - the early morning will be a huge shocker Grin.

raspberryrippleicecream · 08/09/2019 23:27

DS2 started last week and so far all good. He has just applied for his provisional driving licence, though we have a few weeks to go yet.

He is travelling an hour and a half away by train every Saturday for an extra - curricular programme and messaged me at 8 am to say he'd completed his Maths homework - let's hope it continues!

Theovertoad · 09/09/2019 07:16

Good luck to those starting today

Hoooo · 09/09/2019 07:40

Ds1 has gone off quite happily.

It's an hours earlier start than he's used to....

Arewedone · 09/09/2019 08:40

Good luck everyone starting today!
Dd is 17 today and provisional license has arrived which she proudly packed in her wallet, taking both a Colin and Connie caterpillar cake for the common room!