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

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

Further education

Starting y12 - vocational courses support threasd

51 replies

TeenMinusTests · 02/09/2021 08:10

Anyone up for a thread for those off to college (or apprenticeships) and not doing A levels?

My DD2 missed all of y11 due to MH issues, so I am just hoping she actually makes it in regularly. DD1 did a BTEC at a different college but that was 6 years ago now,

OP posts:

Report

TeenMinusTests · 22/10/2021 12:55

Ah.
I thought they had decided that English Language was needed, but perhaps not.
Maybe start a direct thread asking about that?
Many employers ask for English Language....

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mauisummerblu · 26/10/2021 13:30

Looking into different college until too late.

How are the others getting on?

Comefromaway · 26/10/2021 15:16

Many universities also ask for English language.

Unfortunately the wording only says English, it doesn't specify whether language or literature.

Comefromaway · 26/10/2021 15:19

UNfortunatley in the Table Prior attainment with GCSE English literature and GCSE English language here www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-maths-and-english-condition-of-funding It does show that a Grade 4 in English Literature meets the requirements.

LynetteScavo · 31/10/2021 14:05

I've only just found this thread @TeenMinusTests - Thank you for starting it DD has settled really well into her performing arts course, but I'm finding it hard not having and written feedback- she says they get verbal feedback on College but I've no idea if her written work is a thorough as it should be. If she were doing Alevels, her essays would be marked, but this is so different!

TeenMinusTests · 31/10/2021 15:43

Hi Lynette . I agree with non-A levels it seems very hard to know how things are going, it must be even harder with something like performing arts where I'm guessing a lot of the assessment is performance based?

I'm struggling because I don't know anyone else with a DC who is or has ever been at the college at all, let alone the course.

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mauisummerblu · 31/10/2021 19:12

Especially as well, when I am not born here and the system is very different than ours.

No feed back, very vague comms.

LynetteScavo · 01/11/2021 06:56

I'm struggling because I don't know anyone else with a DC who is or has ever been at the college at all, let alone the course.

I'm the same - because of Covid the first time I went to the college was on enrolment day. We've taken a huge leap of faith. Apparently there will be a parents meeting at Christmas, which I'm quite impatient for.

TeenMinusTests · 16/11/2021 09:47

MN makes be laugh sometimes. You can have a thread on something niche like a particular school in London and you get more posts interests than a general thread on vocational courses.

How's it going? We are still taking things day by day. Practical days go better than more classroom based ones. Weeks that start with DD being exhausted by therapy on a monday are tougher than those that don't.

It is the second 'progress review' week this week, which means a home learning day tomorrow. So that's stressful.

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TeenMinusTests · 16/11/2021 09:49

They were all told they were behind on their portfolios last week, which stressed DD as she didn't think she was. Turned out she wasn't 'behind' as such but hadn't been writing enough detail. Now she understands she has to view the prompts as '4 mark questions' rather than '1 mark' I think she'll be fine. I hope. She sounded OK about it anyway. They turned 2 theory lessons into portfolio ones to help everyone catch up.

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SE13Mummy · 16/11/2021 10:03

@TeenMinusTests

MN makes be laugh sometimes. You can have a thread on something niche like a particular school in London and you get more posts interests than a general thread on vocational courses.

How's it going? We are still taking things day by day. Practical days go better than more classroom based ones. Weeks that start with DD being exhausted by therapy on a monday are tougher than those that don't.

It is the second 'progress review' week this week, which means a home learning day tomorrow. So that's stressful.

I didn't join in with this thread because DD is doing a mixture of A-levels and BTEC so doesn't really fall into either camp!

TeenMinusTests · 16/11/2021 11:42

@SE13Mummy oh please do join in, there aren't many of us, so we're hardly quorate! What BTEC is your DD doing? How is she finding it so far compared with the A levels?

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TeenMinusTests · 17/11/2021 15:08

Yay! Survived the home learning day and even finished early.

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SE13Mummy · 17/11/2021 17:00

DD is doing digital media/film alongside her A-levels, only really because she couldn't do the combination of subjects she wanted to. So far, she seems to be enjoying the style of teaching and assessment although it's taking some getting used to. There seems to be a much more steady stream of work that's required for the BTEC than for the A-levels at the moment although there hasn't yet been anything practical which is a bit of a disappointment. Still, it's early days and will reduce the exam pressure in Y13 which is a definite plus point!

TeenMinusTests · 17/11/2021 18:14

although there hasn't yet been anything practical which is a bit of a disappointment

We found that DD1's travel & tourism BTEC was a lot less practical than we anticipated too. In my very limited view, I think BTEC courses are much less well explained upfront in terms of balance of different types of work, what type of assignments etc.

Even DD's 'work based' course only has 6 hours practical per week.

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Comefromaway · 20/11/2021 18:35

Ds’s music course is very practical. He did a concert last week but unfortunately is now at home with Covid.

TeenMinusTests · 17/12/2021 10:57

Well, we've finished the term with a whimper, with DD being off sick.
Attendance ~80% or maybe a bit below after this week.

It's a good course, DD is enjoying it, especially the animal handling, but she isn't getting as much support as she needs for her MH needs hence low attendance. EHC needs assessment in progress. Omicron doesn't help either.

How are you all getting on?

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TeenMinusTests · 27/01/2022 09:26

Oh, thank you very much for asking Teen
We are limping along here, waiting for an EHCP updated with our initial comments and hoping DD gets the support she needs.
The course is good, but the maths & English are still stressful.

Started conversations on what to do from September.

Come I hope your DS recovered quickly from Covid and was well to enjoy Christmas.

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LynetteScavo · 01/02/2022 22:28

I'm still here

DD resat Maths and frustratingly got a 3 again. Her maths teacher in college is bonkers, and obviously can't teach the class. I had a telephone conversation with the teacher which was quite bizarre in many ways. Apparently DD had told the maths teacher she was definitely going to pass the resit so the teacher hadn't bothered to try to teach DD anything . DD has asked to move to a different maths teacher, which I think was quite assertive of her.

It seems I didn't receive the letter about parent meetings, but I'm not convinced anyone received a letter about parents meetings. I've been told DD is doing really well, and is very passionate about her subject oh, indeed she is

TeenPlusCat · 02/02/2022 07:48

Lynette I think at 6th forms it seems so often to be a case of no news is good news. We don't get 'letters' about parents evenings either, but dates are published online. Then one side or other has to be proactive otherwise it is assumed everyone is happy. Do I take it the enthusiasm for PA gets overwhelming at times?

My DD is also enthusiastic about the practical aspect of her course. She is campaigning for a mantis / snake / hedgehog / ...

TeenMinusTests · 02/02/2022 07:51

(The other Teen is me too, forgot to name change back. We are no longer without tests, but did adopt a cat.)

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SE13Mummy · 02/02/2022 18:36

I'm still here too! Y12 A-level exams have been and gone but a huge piece of BTEC coursework is due in the next ten days I think so we seem to hear a lot about that. Course sounds as though it's got more involved and more interesting than in the first term which is positive.

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TeenMinusTests · 19/02/2022 07:45

Hope the coursework got done OK SE13
We've made it to half term, so officially half way through DD's 1 year course which she is enjoying. She is definitely learning stuff too and quite randomly comes out with info on animal welfare act, or how to hold piglets, or why poison dart frogs aren't poisonous in captivity.
English GCSE is still hampered by her lack of stamina, and the less said about maths right now the better. But she is enjoying her course, and making it in to college mainly and that is a win compared with y11.

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eatthatfrog · 26/03/2022 11:22

Hi
not posted for a while also posted as bfghmum.

DS doing really well on his BTEC level3 sports & exercise science course averaging a D from parents evening, he's also involved ins some course inter college competitions. How is everyone else DC getting on?

Have any of your DC started to think about UNIv, apprenticeships or jobs yet?

TeenMinusTests · 27/03/2022 12:23

Hi eat

DD went for an interview for summer work experience last week. Really hope they take her on (dog daycare) as it it what she wants to do after college and it would be fab experience.

Averaging a D is so much better on this board than it would be on an A levels board - well done your DS!

College have agreed for DD not to sit maths this June which is a relief.

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