Thread 21 Corona Cohort - Nervous waiting, so frustrating

[Monkey2001]

Continuation of OrangeCinnamonCocktail's threads

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.

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/a4354626-Corona-Cohort-Statements-Scripted-Grades-Predicted?msgid=111487286#111487286

Good luck to Ealing DD.

I have looked to try and book DS driving test but I can’t find any dates, I don’t really understand the system - why can’t it just show me the next available dates at each centre? I’ve tried 4, 6, 12 and even 24 months from now and it just says no dates available

@Wheresthebeach 3 years ago my DD applied for medicine deferred entry for 3 of her 4 choices. We were worried, as we felt they would be less likely to take her deferred when they didn't know the calibre of the people that would apply the following year, and they could only take so many. But it all worked out fine. In the end, she didn't take a gap year because her top choice said all along they wouldn't allow deferrals, and she went there. But she did get offers from the others too. It didn't seem to make any difference at all. Either they're up front and say it's not allowed, or it is allowed and you're treated the same as everyone else. I guess the only difference is you're less likely to scrape in if you drop grades. (This all dates from pre-Covid times, though, so I suppose it might be a different picture now.)

@DoggerelBank oh thank you. My worry is chemistry where she’s predicted an A but I think that’s optimistic and a B is more likely so worried about deferred. She is now determined to have a gap year due to sport and diving so I guess we will see

@ealingwestmum

Sorry to hear about the test Justhere, it’s even more disappointing when they know the backlog to next.

DD has hers tomorrow. Been postponed twice, and she failed her mock with instructor yesterday. Not holding my breath but it’s all about what they’re up against on the day I guess.

Thanks ealing he failed on something literally minutes back to the test centre. A sharp stop at red lights as they changed on his approach. It’s a serious fault apparently. So close and yet so far. Good luck to your DD tomorrow, I shall keep my fingers crossed for her. 🤞🏻

Thanks everyone, sadly I can’t get a test booked at any time at the moment to be able to use the cancellation apps. Might book somewhere far away and try and wait for a cancellation near here that way?

@Fiddlersgreen

Good luck to Ealing DD.

I have looked to try and book DS driving test but I can’t find any dates, I don’t really understand the system - why can’t it just show me the next available dates at each centre? I’ve tried 4, 6, 12 and even 24 months from now and it just says no dates available

It is the worst designed booking system ever, so unintuitive it’s ridiculous.

@AnneOfCleavage I am going to get petrol tomorrow, since the weekend it has suddenly sorted itself out again around here but not sure about the rest of the SE.

@Monkey2001 so sorry about the Covid confusion and that you have had to miss the funeral .

@Heifer I'm not NHS so I'm not sure about the exact requirements but it may be that some courses are accredited to their system and some aren't.

Well, today DS went through his PS with his form tutor and got some useful feedback so we will look at that again at the weekend. His history coursework is ready to submit. His mocks are the second half of Nov but as he's only doing one A level (and two BTECs) it might only be the one or two exams. Hoping he stays covid free. I haven't heard much about cases at his school. Breaks up for a two week half term tomorrow.

DD's school have a lot of cases, she says half of year 9 are off (she's y11). Her mocks are in Jan, which coincides with her birthday and will make for a stressful Christmas holiday. Been to two college open evenings with her both of which have been crowded, indoors and mixing with kids from every school in the area, probably not the best idea covid-wise but we've done it now. She's got another week to go.

Didn’t we conclude that driving test slots are mainly released first thing on Monday morning, so you should be able to get a starting slot at 8am on a Monday.

@Piggywaspushed - someone could do with your expert advice on this thread. (I didn't want to link you on there in case you didn't want to comment :-)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/a4374561-help-finding-a-uni-that-fits-this-criteria-please

@Monkey2001

Didn’t we conclude that driving test slots are mainly released first thing on Monday morning, so you should be able to get a starting slot at 8am on a Monday.

Thank you I must have missed that! I will try then

Hey all: some good news for ds yesterday - EPQ has been internally marked and on last years grade cut off would be an A* , so hopefully will be safe with an A at least. He’s still finalising his last 3 choices but might give him a bit of flexibility on grades depending what he chooses. Last minute decision to go up to Lancaster uni this weekend as he’s decided he really likes the look of that course …

@Fiddlersgreen: yes driving test slots are realised early on Monday mornings: 6:30 maybe??

@Isthisjustnormal Congrats on EPQ prediction. DS must be delighted

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn

Thanks everyone, sadly I can’t get a test booked at any time at the moment to be able to use the cancellation apps. Might book somewhere far away and try and wait for a cancellation near here that way?

My kids just widened the search further and further until a test date came up. Typically it's a port somewhere (places on the coast obviously have less of a catchment area as they have sea to one side not a pool of young drivers!).

Then, when you get a slot, you just have to sit on the website waiting for a cancellation... and they come up all the time. We had no success with the app as they tend to check every 5 minutes - which is useless when test slots get snatched up by live people on the website within seconds.

DS had a test recently in Winchester at 8.20am. We arrived at the test centre at 8.15am to be told the examiner was unwell so his test had been cancelled. He got straight onto the government website looking for.a short notice cancellation and got one the same day - 2.30pm at Newport, Isle of Wight. So we jumped on the ferry over and HE PASSED!

I know someone in a "townhouse" at Lancaster uni. Three floors of four students, massive kitchen and lounge area which leads to a little garden area.......ducks have been visiting!

I was wowed at your DS’ test adventure the first time I read it Midlife, and still in awe of you both for your tenacity!

Hearing that history coursework has been handed in worries me! I’ve raised it with dd a couple of times and asked if there’s a deadline but she just gets cross and tells me to stop stressing her out!

We’ve moved on to her maybe favouring dual registration Child/mental health nursing which reduces the options somewhat. I still can’t see her getting her UCAS form in this side of Christmas!

Hope the driving test goes well @ealingwestmum. Well done to those with good EPQ/mock results! Dd had exams last week and I’m not sure when the next mocks are - maybe after Christmas?

@MidLifeCrisis007: that’s such a fab story! Your Ds must be a cool cucumber to take that so calmly and manage to test in an area where (I assume?) he had never practiced?
@OrangeCinnamonCocktail: that’s adorable! Ds is a bit of a bird-nerd so has been keener on campus/green unis in general so will tell him that!!

Well done @Isthisjustnormal DS. I think a good EPQ really sets them up well for study style at university, so to do well at EPQ is super helpful.

@MidLifeCrisis007 - I am very impressed with your DS (and your commitment) :-)

Good luck for driving test today - and commisserations to that that have failed recently - DD still not taken her theory yet (posted 3 so far) next one early Nov so wonder if that will happen or not...

Interesting to see all the different Mock dates and surprised to see it's not just DDs school with 1 set (mentioned anyway). It's the lack of notice that bothers DDs the most - I am very relieved we didn't book a holiday during half term (she does get 2 weeks so that's something).

Talking of holidays - has anyone booked anything? has any of your DD/DS booked anything with friends? is it just DD that has booked her flight as is off after the exams to her friends house in spain (with 9 other girls)?

Just seen on Twitter @Monkey2001

@janemerrick23: BREAKING: NHS Test and Trace have suspended operations at the Immensa Health Clinic’s Lab in Wolverhampton following negative PCR tests after positive LFTs

@Wheresthebeach went to DD’s A level options talk last night - there were representatives from UCAS team and learning support team so I asked about uni offers for students with diagnosed difficulties like dyslexia. As I remembered, this is not something that is considered when offers are made. There is an assumption that schools and exam boards will have made necessary arrangements to level the playing field. Once place is secured unis are then supposed to put their arrangements in place to continue support. So no lower grade requirements or similar. That will be very tricky for a lot of students.

Can I just share my proud mum moment as DD isn’t telling anyone outside of the family but she has got an online interview for RyanAir and has passed the online assessment for EasyJet. We are so excited and proud of her ✈️

@Horace123 Thanks for update...sadly what I expected.

@whoamitojudge - fab news! Congrats.

DD says her personal statement must explain why she wants a Gap Year - so I guess that means she can't apply to some for a gap year, and others for normal entry. Rats.

Congratulations to mini isthisjustnormal and whoamitojudge - fab achievements!