Corona Cohort: Statements Scripted, Grades Predicted

[Monkey2001]

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue.

From OrangeCinnamonCocktail:

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

Previous thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/4339233-Thread-19-Corona-Cohort-Enrolling-on-Year-13-hopefully-NOT-unlucky-for-some?pg=1

Forgot to say that our school has said the predicted grades are “on a really good day, travelling downhill with a jet pack on your back”.
They are reluctant to increase predictions at parents’ requests, and only if it’s very clear that it’s the parent’s choice, not the school’s.

DD’s school officially base their UCAS predictions 60% on the year 12 exams and 40% on a few specific ‘UCAS assessments’ during year 12. But I’m not sure that was exactly what happened

@Piggywaspushed One of the students I mentor is applying for the same Cambridge course as your Ds. His other options are unis that offer a joint degree in 2 of the HSPS strands. He’s writing his PS focusing on those two elements. Would you say that’s ok in terms of the Cambridge option?

That's basically what DS did - so he is also applying for degrees with sociology and politics in them, apart from Bath which is social policy. He has focused on things in his A levels which are about society and decision making, social history, power or inequalities of wealth as that is where his interests lies.

I came across a useful thing from Bath about PSs which said to identify buzzwords of degree types rather than specific content and use those to hang your words around : their examples were power and inequality. DS hasn't mentioned anthropology at all. I gather quite a few applicants are very into climate change* and so DS will at least look different!

• I realise that sounds the opposite of what it means!

Thanks @Piggywaspushed

Just wish my own Ds would get on with his now!

Yes, that's what Winchester told me re buzzword, hence "heritage" covering History and Countryside management for DS. Also look for the people specs, if they all want team-working find examples from your education or hobbies/jobs

@icanbewhatiwant

Ds did mocks before the summer holidays. Those grades are going on his ucas forms. Isn't that how other schools do it?

DD has just been told that their Biology prediction will be based on the recent exam she has just taken - the exam with 2 weeks notice when they got backin Sept - rather than the mock they did at the end of summer where they had lots of notice.. DD scored a B in both but summer was 2 marks off an A so was hoping for an A prediction, but this time low B. Thankfully she has been told she will be predicted A* for Psychology but it's a Biology degree she wants to do so was really hoping for an A as that is what she believes she will achieve. Her teacher has told them numerous times not to ask for higher predictions as he gave them once and no one got the result... She have to wait and see what happens.

She is also worried that she can see her teachers references in Ucas - well can see how many words they have written but not what is says. Her PE wrote 1300 words, Psychology 1000 and Biology 600.. She is going to speak to her 2nd biology teacher to see if she had any input into what was said as she doesn't think her main teacher (teach the same amount but he is senior) doesn't actually know she wants to study Biology at uni.. She is very close to her other biology teacher so hoping she had some input...

Blimey @Heifer that is a lot of words for the teacher reference. Are they usually that long?

Unifrog has a minimum of 600 words (I struggle for some!) so if two teachers have done it that would be about 1000. The biology will be one teacher.

If you think about it, these references must end up like dissertations!

Ds didn't go in yesterday as he has a cold. Today was a home study day anyway so not in. Not sure if he's going in tomorrow. All his mates had been off last week with colds, he thought he'd escaped it. He's just got a blocked nose. We've done a LFT not sure if we are meant to do a pcr. I told school via email that he'd done a negative LFT and they didn't ask for him to do a pcr. I feel like I might have his cold coming now. I've not had a cold since feb 2020. The one before that was 5 years ago. I don't usually get them. I know everyone is getting more than usual as we've all been locked up or wearing masks. It's not good if they keep missing school with illnesses.

@Piggywaspushed

Unifrog has a minimum of 600 words (I struggle for some!) so if two teachers have done it that would be about 1000. The biology will be one teacher.

ah that makes sense, as she does have 2 teachers for all 3 A levels. Although I assumed that only 1 teacher for each subject would comment. Maybe the 2nd teacher hasn't written it yet for Biology.

Can I just check did you mean Minimum of 600 words or maximum?

@Heifer same thing happened to my DD. Was hoping for an A prediction for biology but got a B. I don’t know if her teachers have done the references yet

Minimum!

Bu, also , I meant characters, not words. Brain fog....

Just crashing the thread...

I do not know what yr13 DS is going to do post A-levels.
Older DC had definite plans and obvious paths to follow to effect their plans A & B & C.
But DS... anything at all could happen.
I think All I can do is try to encourage him to think about possibilities.
He's considering lots of options but I can't tell what is likely to happen, or what I should encourage him to do.

I've just told him to book some virtual open days.
We shall see what really happens.

@lljkk My older two knew exactly what degree they wanted to do starting 6th form. Ds2 has just about decided on his subject at last but keeping him on track for another 8 months will be a challenge...

@lljkk ds1 was like that. Still is really. He was adamant he didn't want to go to university, until everyone in his year started filling in ucas applications. Then he decided he'd like to go. Now he's in final year at university and has no clue what he wants to do next...though he does know he doesn't want to work in a lab. he's doing a biology degree.

@lljkk And to add to the mix, my DS says he wants to go to uni but is doing nothing at all to get himself there at the moment. So there are kids on the thread who have already sent off their applications and then there are... The Uncertains. It's gonna be a long few months.

Oh, don't worry! Lots won't send theirs off til mid January!

With regard to offers does it make any difference if you submit applications now or in January.

[quote BlueMarigold]@Heifer same thing happened to my DD. Was hoping for an A prediction for biology but got a B. I don’t know if her teachers have done the references yet[/quote]
Are you able to request it be amended? at DDs friends Grammar school they even have a form online parents can use to request grades to be amended! parents just have to sign to acknowledge responsibile (not sure of actual wording)....

[quote BlueMarigold]@Heifer same thing happened to my DD. Was hoping for an A prediction for biology but got a B. I don’t know if her teachers have done the references yet[/quote]
that is my fault @Piggywaspushed as I said words instead of characters..

DD said Biology was 608 so scrapped a few more words in - she definitely wants to speak to the other teacher now t see if she had any input (or if she is going to add some words herself).

ah I meant that latest comment to be in reply to Piggys post

[quote icanbewhatiwant]@lljkk ds1 was like that. Still is really. He was adamant he didn't want to go to university, until everyone in his year started filling in ucas applications. Then he decided he'd like to go. Now he's in final year at university and has no clue what he wants to do next...though he does know he doesn't want to work in a lab. he's doing a biology degree. [/quote]
Where does your DS1 study Biology? does he enjoy it?

@Nard75 I remember at DS1's info evening about UCAS they said that the early applicants seen to get offers more quickly. They said they thought it was because they were assumed to be Oxbridge applicants, so strong candidates. I think it is just because the Admissions departments are not yet sinking in a sea of applicants.

@singingstones I would really encourage a gap year if the they are not sure what they want to do. Particularly for boys, most of DS1's friends did and it have them time to take choose the right course/place, earn money and grow up a bit.