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

I feel miles behind everyone else - dd hasn’t even started her PS!

@BlueMarigold We we're told personal as they will have no access to their school account once they leave.

zebra: Well, if you are, I am too!

@BlueMarigold

I was worried they might delete the school ones once they finish school but DD was told to use a school one. Is it possible to change it later if needed?

Yes, you can change it later. DS did..... but you must remember to do it before you lose access to your school email address. (Lesson learnt the hard way by my gap year DS this year!).

Zebra - I've got to proofread DS's history coursework this weekend too. Joy!

Crazy - DS says his year group is a mix of not started / halfway through / finished PS. He is on his second draft, which I also need to go through this weekend, it needs a lot more work.

His transition to boarding has gone well, but it has meant a lack of time for us to do the things above, we are all tired on Friday night when he gets home, Saturday seem to be taken up with open days or hockey matches and Sundays with work and football. He sent me a link to his PS during the week this week but I haven't got round to it. We had a good look at some guides to PS writing last night to steer us back on track.

Orange - well done on taking up the MBA. I am thinking about some further studies as I have been in the same job for 10 years and while I like it I feel a bit stale (don't want to change job, just stretch myself a bit). I did about half an OU degree a few years ago and loved it but it was taking too much time (it coincided with going through the EHCP process for DS which was utterly draining). I'd have to pay full tuition fees now too, I was on the old, cheap fees then but lost the entitlement in the end.

Brilliant news for @Shimy and @Piggywaspushed. Hats off to @OrangeCinnamonCocktail - I've considered an MBA but have never taken the plunge. There is a brilliant one at LSE in public policy I've always fancied.

DD was very excited to receive acknowledgements from Oxford and Newcastle. She's postponed her driving test which was due to happen next week as she's feeling a bit stressed with her BMAT coming up on 3 November and coursework to do.

@Shadedog - DS did PS for Cambridge history just submitted. School a bit useless but one history teacher- not his - was great. He talked about two books in detail he had read that were outside his course but could provide insights into his course. He discussed his English NEA which was on a Russian novel that tied into his history course. He had a common thread throughout of feminism and the female experience which he also related to Thatcher. He discussed the silk road through a text he had read and the black death and covid - another extra text. He finished with open learn modules and spring pod work experience plus his lifeguarding and swimming and school duties- one paragraph for all of that. Hope that helps a bit.

@Piggywaspushed

DS has another offer!!!

York AAB or ABB with EPQ at C - no strings...

Just seen this, That sounds like a great offer, congratulations.

Thank you @estherfrewen . I’m a bit worried ds hasn’t put much (anything!) in about him as a person. He did have a bit about sport but it’s been squeezed out, as has stuff about how his other subjects have helped with history.
He’s got a paragraph about a future learn course and two books he read related to that, then a paragraph about Carr’s “what is history”, the UNIQ summer school and another two books which give different perspectives on the same event. Third paragraph about his EPQ (which he wrote before EPQ started ) and linking that vaguely to another book and an exhibition he went to see, then finishes off with his volunteer work and why he wants to study history.
To me it sounds quite good but I’ve got my mummy goggles on and I would just be more comfortable if an actual teacher had read it.

He also doesn’t feel he “knows” the books he’s read well enough to be grilled at interview about them. Some he read 2/3 years ago! The future learn course was I lockdown in April of y11. He could spend time refreshing but he may not even be asked and there is so much to do.

He’s finding y13 a lot tougher than y12. I think maybe the summer holidays were a psychological buffer. Having 3 courseworks on the go, the personal statement, the written work submission and the looming HAT and interview (I think he’ll get an interview on contextual regardless of the strength of his application) is a real ramp up. I wish they’d find a y12 EPQ, or at least mentioned it before the holidays so they could start thinking about it. It’s been in again off again all through y12.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=955Z7n2L_C0

Shadedog it is long but someone on here previously linked this and I think it is quite helpful.

@Shadedog - sounds good. DS did a pretty good one first go but feedback was more on the organisation of the paragraphs and linking everything back to his actual course. His personal stuff was only a couple of sentences. His swimming friend who is 2 years older got in through pooling two years ago for same subject so DS did get to see that PS which was v helpful. To be honest I doubt DS will get an interview and not even sure it is right place for him but the PS did look okay! He is predicted AAA . EPQ started this September but dropped almost immediately as just too much alongside 3xNEA and French IRP. Year 13 is intense. Neither history teacher has continued into year 13 - one isnt now allowed to take exam years (!) and one long term sick and 2 out of 3 French teachers also gone . Not a great start to year 13...

@estherfrewen That sounds like a lot of disruption for yr 13, that's the last thing anyone needs right now. The history teacher not allowed to take exam yrs is very worrying. Did they take your ds in yr 12? hopefully this is damage control and they can get a better teacher for the rest of the year.
I think they really are beginning to feel the pressure judging by DS who's been as cool as a cucumber, as of yesterday saying, 'I'm behind in everything!', personally I don't think he's behind in everything, but just overwhelmed a bit.

@Shimy - yes was year 12 teacher. Seemingly had already been removed from GCSE teaching. I would put this down to kids gossip but have heard from school sources too. The one who is long term sick was excellent. Hope she is okay. They have fab year 13 teacher replacements inc subject head but so much ground not covered last year.

Fingers crossed for yr 13. Hopefully, the new teacher will help them to unpack the curriculum to cover all the gaps in their knowledge. This is where the exam guidance coming out next yr would be of much use if released earlier so cohorts like your ds's can just focus on those topics rather than trying to cover gaps that might not even be examined.

Live from Warwick uni here! Ds has just gone in for a building tour - no parents allowed! It’s a gorgeous day which always seems like cheating but does make the process nicer!

@Isthisjustnormal Enjoy! Warwick is on ds's list. Perhaps you could ask how much face to face they are currently doing and if they are planning on increasing it for next year?

@estherfrewen It doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in a teacher if they are not trusted to take exam years! I hope the rest of Year 13 goes smoothly for your DS.

Thanks @BlueMarigold and @Shimy. As well as subject head their other year 13 teacher is ex subject head now head of sixth form so fingers crossed!

As there are only 6 posts left, I have made the next one:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/4370509-Thread-21-Corona-Cohort-Nervous-waiting-so-frustrating?watched=1

Congratulations to @Piggywaspushed @Shimy on the offers! It's all getting very real now.

School has asked for all PS to be submitted by 21 Oct. DD asked for feedback but they just suggested a few grammatical changes. DD was hoping it'd be more in depth feedback highlighting weak areas etc.

Congratulations to Piggy and shimy on offers. Fab to have something in hand. DD has been given the go ahead to submit PS by head of 6th on Friday so now we are just waiting for references. Really want to get it in as waiting is so stressful.

Congratulations Organge - a fab thing to do!

Thanks for all the congratulations. DS is very pleased. Good luck to everyone.