Thread 17 - Corona Cohort Summer Vacation to Yr 13, Finding Freedom?

[Orangecinnamon21]

PLACEHOLDER FOR NEW THREAD ...PREVIOUSLY TO BE FOUND IN SECONDARY EDUCATION

History NEA to do here, plus revising last years topics, reading ahead for next year's BTEC modules, EPQ to progress (only just started), personal statement to draft - he has at least got a CV done, so hoping to use that as a prompt, but he hasn't completely decided what subject to apply for yet. He'd like to hedge with more than one but that is tricky for the PS.

Then volunteer shifts (half day once or twice a week), paper round to get up for, its enough for now.

We were away last week and hoping to go away again late Aug, so he needs to crack on with all the above before that. He's not hugely sociable but will meet friends once or twice a week hopefully.

Shocked at all this work, and saddened at 'miserable summer'. How has this been allowed to happen. This isn't right.

Ds has no work to do. He's almost completed EPQ, almost finished personal statement, both have been reviewed by HoY and advise given.

So I see no need for any work.

We have weekly / fortnightly school emails, really nice. Last one from yr12 said 3 tasks for summer:
Consider which unis you want, re-draft personal statement post advice, finish off the UCAS personal profile.

Ds has done all 3.

I’m glad we aren’t going anywhere over summer due to amount of work. I keep saying just grit your teeth and get it done so that this time next year you are where you want to be. It is just rubbish having to do all this. Personal statement pretty much done thankfully so that’s one thing. He is doing 3 hours a day and then will reassess in a couple of weeks if more needed. He is cracking on with it at least. Good job he has no social life really … sad though

DD had 3 days off relaxing at the end of term, then one day creating a UCAS account and filling in as much as possible, and now she’s in 17 consecutive days of playing in music groups, workshops and concerts, then her birthday with one week off followed by another week music course, then a week ‘off’ which includes driving theory test, personal statement and coursework before Y13 starts! I’m glad she said no to the EPQ.

Wow, what a busy lot!!

DS has PE NEA and is supposed to do most of his EPQ. He might be supposed to be doing PS, but the medical schools he is applying for only do a red flag check, so it will not actually affect anything, although it might be useful to focus his thoughts. The big thing for medicine applicants now is the UCAT (admissions test). He agreed to do an hour/day for a month and it's mostly managing. Planning to do it on 13/8, then take some time off before tackling EPQ. Both his choices use UCAT heavily, so if he does not do well in it, there is no point in applying this year.

Nothing required by school but DS is doing a couple of MOOCs and some reading, needs to draft his PS and is starting on some Y13 work so that he has evidence of his seriousness ready for potential conversations about predicted grades. He's not going overboard, maybe 3hrs x 4 days per week, so still lots of time for sleeping, Xbox and going out with his friends. We have a couple of trips to uni towns planned and a few days with family in August. He's ok.

..... Should have said, he is still fitting in 2 hours/day at the gym, camping trip with friends and 3 short breaks in Wales and Cornwall.

DD was meant to get vaccinated today but the centre was shut by the time she got there so is going back on Wednesday,

DD studying hard for UCAT, inbetween playing cricket and tennis.

Once UCAT is done, we're going to the beach!

*Oblomov/8 So jealous of your ds who has nearly completed his EPQ! DS decided very late in the day to do one, he had initially decided he wasn't going to then changed his mind in April.

DD has to re-draught her PS, and self-teach a biology module.

She wants to look over a few of last year's units which weren't included in the latest exams, but that's her choice.

Hopefully starting driving lessons soon so will start looking at theory.

It is interesting how different schools time these things. Dd completed her EPQ during Y12 and is now waiting for her result 10th August. She still has work to do over summer like getting her Art portfolio up to date and completing her PS.
Congratulations to everyone who have passed driving tests or received any good news.

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore

Good luck to the west london gang on the immunisations tomorrow. Our last day of school finally today: feels like our school is the only one left: any other dc finishing today? We are off to Cambridge tomorrow for a suss out and to stay in one of the colleges: ds is very unconvinced but wants to at least check it out. And then ds has a week of virtual work experience mornings on cyber security with smallpeice trust - I really hope he enjoys it as it sounds quite full on!! I think both of those were recommended by people on this thread so just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for sharing suggestions and ideas on this thread: it’s SUCH a great info source!

Let me know how your DS gets on with the cyber security course, my DS (year 10) is doing the Defenders course in a couple of weeks. Think it might have been me who linked it previously (but only because I saw it elsewhere on MN!)

EPQ out of DD’s hair in Yr12.
She’s currently at a language course that ticks her ‘consolation of vocab, grammar and wider reading’ to be done over summer.
Other language’s consolidation etc will be done alongside 2-3 weeks of paid work, once she’s home from current course
No draft PS required by school at this point in time but she has begun her bibliography of wider reading outside of her A level texts.

Having read all this, I just checked if Dd has any work to do! She said yes, it will get done ‘at some point’!

We’re in Plymouth, checking out the university on our way to a festival in Cornwall. It was fine, but she prefers Southampton.

Dd went out with friends every day last week. She’s back next week, then has a camping trip and a Christian youth camp. Then another week at home and then we’re away. At some point she’s also going to stay with a few friends at her friend’s gran’s up north. She’s also tutoring a girl for her 11 plus once a week. I’m not sure she’ll have time to do any work! She does have to do her PS at some point.

Ds has to start on his EPQ. But not mentioned any other work. No mention of personal statements yet either. He has his summer job 3 days a week, the other local lad who was working with him has dropped out. So DH and myself now have to do the 34 mile round trip twice a day. We are on holiday next week, so DS now can't get there. The other parents were going to cover next week and us the week after. So now DS wants make those 3 days up in the remaining weeks. But he has driving lessons booked, plus his test, so will be difficult to fit in. At least he can get on with any school work when we are away. I can't make him get up and do it if I'm not here though, so I have to just trust him.

At the moment DS is playing a lot of tennis and gaming with friends. He's been away with relatives to north Wales for a week and we have a week away in Aug.

DS has some maths and physics to do but not too much. I think it's extra reading for physics olympiad in the autumn. He's going to do a MOOC but hasn't chosen one yet. No EPQ and no mention of personal statement draft.

@PaddingtonPaddington: first day today and he was very impressed! Teacher is fun and the learning is exciting and challenging, plus a really nice and engaged gang doing it who already have their own discord server set up to chat and stay in touch. Hopefully your Ds will enjoy his too. I was nervous that with 3hours or so every day over 2 weeks it might be a bit much but he enjoyed today. Ds has less work than some here: finishing comp sci project and EPQ which has to be handed in on first day back, but otherwise just suggested they focus on researching next steps and prepping: they’ve given in first drafts of PS but no feedback so no pressure on that front. Ds is planning to do some ‘fun maths’

For anyone looking to reschedule a driving test I've just seen this suggested on WIWIKAU website. Someone was saying that the Testi app was too slow and kept missing out as by the time they get the ping, and enter their details it's gone.

Someone recommended Faster Driving Tests website...apparently you can set test centres you want and date parameters and it actually books the new test date for you when one becomes available. You can reject the booking and it will start searching again if the date/time they found is not suitable. £10.99.

I had success with 'Get an earlier driving test now' - red, learner sign on app. As recommended by pp.

I tried a different app before this, also recommended, but no good.

I’m still on the hunt for a vaccination. All the walk in centres I ring are saying over 18 only. Have found a letter from NHS online which I annoyingly can’t link to which appears to be saying until sorted there is flexibility under current protocol for ‘18’ to include those within 3 months of 18 Birthday.

119 had no idea what was happening so called our local CCG and spoke to a lovely person. They have had a few calls now about this and have been told they will be able to book via 119 or online on Friday . Wasn’t sure about the walk ins so is looking into it and calling me back.

Where in the country are you @FoolsAssassin ?

Dorset. If they are opening up the booking system on Friday then will just wait for that.

We are supposed to be going to visit grandparents next week. Have not see them for 18 months. I am now wondering if we should leave Ds at home. He is being a pita at the moment. Asked if he could travel back early so he could minimise his contacts to avoid any last minute cancellation of the festival he wants to go to. So booked his flight.

Now I am apparently ruining his summer by making him go at all, it’s stopping him getting a job/do driving lessons etc (he has done nothing about either so far )

He has cousins his own age there who he used to like spending time with. And of course grandparents are getting older & there may not be many more visits. But I totally appreciate that teenagers have different priorities & family holidays are not on their list!

Just musing really. Any opinions?

We were happy for him to be home without us if he is not going out. But not so much if he is out till all hours with friends. He has older siblings but not fair to expect them to be responsible for him.

I'm on holiday at the moment with DS1 who said he wanted to come. He is being a complete misery.