Thread 23 Covid Cohort Stepping Into Christmas, Tests, Mocks & Interviews

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

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

@20newnames/ DS / Engineering
@Alsoplayspiccolo/ DD / English + Film
@AnneofCleavage/ DD / gap year? Primary Education
@BlueMarigold/ DD / Biology
@cariadambyth/ DD / History / Southampton, Bath Spa, Warwick, RHUL
@collywobble/ DS / PPE, Economics / Lancaster (AAB)
@crazycrofter/ DD / Child (?) + Mental Health Nursing
@Decorhate/ DS / Economics + Politics
@Delphigirl/ DS / Oceanography
@DoggerelBank/ DS / tbc sciencey
@ealingwestmum/ DD / Middle Eastern and European Studies
@EerilyDisembodied/ DS / History or Environmental Management
@estherfrewen/ DS / History / Birmingham (ABB), Cardiff (ABB-BBB), Warwick (AAB)
@EwwSprouts/ DS / Biology
@Fiddlersgreen/ DS / Journalism / Bournemouth (104 pts), Brighton (BCC), Cardiff (ABB)
@Fruitygal/ DD / Biology
@Hattifatteners/ DD / Vet Med
@Heifer/ DD / Biology
@Hopeful201/ DS / Medicine
@Horace123/ DS / Classics / Edinburgh 34/665
@icanbewhatiwant/ DS / History + Philosophy
@Isthisjustnormal/ DS / Comp Sci
@JustHereWithMyPopcorn/ DS / Law
@KingscoteStaff/ DD / Medicine
@Knickerthief1/ DD / Child nursing / York
@Monkey2001/ DS / Medicine
@mummabear74/ DD / Environmental Science
@mummyinbeds/ DS / Law + French Law / Birmingham (AAA), Kent (AAB)
@Nard75/ DS / Maths
@NCTDN/ DD / Liberal Arts
@Oblomov21/ DS / Accountancy / Southampton ABB
@OrangeCinnamonCocktail/ DD / Music (uni)
@PaddingtonPaddington/ DD / Music (cons)
@Piggywaspushed/ DS / Social sciences / Birmingham (AAB-ABB), York (AAB-ABB)
@ProggyMat/ DD / Classics / Bristol (BBB), Edinburgh
@SandyBayley/ DD / Medicine
@Seeline/ DD / Liberal Arts / UEA (AAB), Kent (BBB), Nottingham (AAA)
@Shimy/ DS / Business + Management / Birmingham (AAB-ABB), Loughborough
@singingstones/ DS / Neuroscience
@Volterra/ DS / Maths
@whatsnext2/ DD / English joint hons
@Wheresthebeach/ DD / gap year? Marine Biology / Southampton, Portsmouth
@whoamitojudge/ DD / RyanAir cabin crew training
@Zebracat/ DD / Liberal Arts or Anthropology
@ZittiEBuoni/ DD / tbc applying next year

Morning all: struggling to keep up with this thread as I’m in a new role this week and struggling to keep on top of life (&work!) Dh has taken Ds up to York yesterday (which it sounds like he really liked: personal tour of the department seemed to go well! Heading to Nottingham today then he’s into the space of making his final decision on his last three choices. Will be good to add those onto the form and just stop thinking about it!

Ds is also in the middle of mocks - has one subject to go next week. Did not prevent him from going out last night! It was an 18th birthday meal for a friend at a well known London restaurant & I was quite jealous!

@Oblomov21 I agree, best that your DS gets a shock now. Mine has taken his foot off the pedal a bit but doesn’t have mocks until the end of Feb. I fear that may be too late for the shock needed.

He is going away for the weekend at midday but still has homework due tomorrow 😬. He keeps telling me he’s nearly an adult and will sort it when I ask about stuff like that 😬😬

Mine is in the middle of what school call landmark tests. They have major tests every half term, unless having actual exams, as well as the normal end of topic tests. I think I'd rather mocks as those are coordinated across departments, kids don't have ordinary lessons going in, no homework from other subjects being set, no prefect duties, and don't have to be in unless an exam. With these, ordinary school life continues, so she isn't really getting time to revise, the tests keep being shifted around as no strict timetable, and she has homework. She is exhausted. Two weeks ago they were suppose to be finished by yesterday, but her 2 biology ones have been shifted to Monday and Tuesday this week, which means more revision this weekend. She was meant to be writing her admissions essay for Birmingham this weekend, but that won't happen, which only leaves next weekend when she will be shattered. I think she is unlikely to do it now - she wasn't keen on Birmingham, but it seems a bit of a waste of an option ☹️.

School haven't mentioned the DfE required mocks before Christmas so I presume they are intending to use these which isn't ideal!

Interesting. To read what different schools are doing. He has November mocks, then Feb mocks, and I'm happy with that.

He doesn't like his new sociology teacher and thinks she's a very poor teacher. Plus crime and prevention? (I keep wanting to call it crime and punishment - Dostoevsky) is trickier than most of the other topics they've done. I've rung HoDept over this. Ds didn't want me to, but I wanted it noted.

I also want to admit to you lot that I'm feeling extremely guilty. I persuaded ds to apply to 2 positions for a big accountancy job, one in London and one at an office nearer home. You are only allowed to apply for one. So they banned both. My email pleading was fruitless. I'm so angry. At myself.

Mocks start 2nd December here. Homework seems to have stopped since yesterday but classes continue as normal around mocks and apart from when doing the exam it is business as usual. No other mocks or exams scheduled at the moment but am sure that will change given what Ofqual or whoever said recently

@Oblomov21

Interesting. To read what different schools are doing. He has November mocks, then Feb mocks, and I'm happy with that.

He doesn't like his new sociology teacher and thinks she's a very poor teacher. Plus crime and prevention? (I keep wanting to call it crime and punishment - Dostoevsky) is trickier than most of the other topics they've done. I've rung HoDept over this. Ds didn't want me to, but I wanted it noted.

I also want to admit to you lot that I'm feeling extremely guilty. I persuaded ds to apply to 2 positions for a big accountancy job, one in London and one at an office nearer home. You are only allowed to apply for one. So they banned both. My email pleading was fruitless. I'm so angry. At myself.

I have some bits and bobs on crime (although I don't teach it myself). There was a good Durham taster on crime and social harm.

I can recommend good hard copy revision guides (is it AQA ? The best ones are OCR) and tutor2u (worksheet type things + YouTube videos) and revisesociology.com are excellent. Just google sociology A Level + topic.

Mocks next week for DD to be done in timetabled lessons. DD really struggled last time they did this as it’s not completely quiet and people go past the corridor and they even had a couple of people walk in the room. I’ve got her some noise cancelling headphones to wear so hoping it might help with distractions.

Still no news post auditions and interviews and the longer it drags on the more despondent DD becomes.

Thank you kindly Piggy. Yes it's AQA. I'll talk to him.

Don’t worry about the missed opportunities @Oblomov21. Sometimes fewer options is better! He’ll get there one way or another as it sounds like he knows what he wants to do. There are millions of different routes into accountancy..

We try are hardest Oblomov. Sometimes too hard, but don’t dwell on it, there are other routes in.

I know this. But I'm frustrated, so angry with myself that I scuppered this route.

@Oblomov21 that’s a pain but really don’t beat yourself up.

@PaddingtonPaddington hopefully DD will hear this week - does she have a favourite ?

@Isthisjustnormal DD loved York so much too! Hope he enjoys his other visit too

Was at a school music concert end of this week Paddington; none of the conservatoire applicants had heard back. But completely get that this waiting game is a killer.

oblomov

www.tutor2u.net/sociology/collections/crime-and-deviance-student-revision-videos

Dd has just added a few more unis that she - and best friend - want to look at. Friend is also undecided on subject! It feels like this process will never end! Am I right that she could submit the application with two unis and then add the final 3 in January?

Hope your dd hears something soon @PaddingtonPaddington

Yes, that is correct!

Cheers piggy. I have sent both to ds. He is at the Ivy with girlfriend to celebrate anniversary of him asking her out!
I actually watched most of the first one and enjoyed it.

We found out something interesting this week from a friend not useful for us but might be for others. Now there is the 14 day cooling off period on UCAS IF a DC is rejected from a uni course in those first 14 days you can apply for another course to Replace it. Obviously after this point you can’t. This isn’t useful for the likes of Bath, Durham or Oxbridge but might be useful for fast replying unis - my DS1 who was Bs &Cs and did get a rejection in the first week from his aspirational choice he could have added his sixth choice if this was available 5 years ago. Might be useful to someone - please double check my info.

@DoggerelBank Is your DSs EPQ due to be submitted in May?
If so, and since he wants to do it, there’s plenty of time to ‘pull it out of the bag’!
Assuming he’s at ‘mid point’ for a May submission ( to the board) there is no need/ he wouldn’t be in the position to complete the work requested by his school.

@Fruitygal that is correct. You can change within 14 days of submitting even if there is a decision

@ProggyMat, no, I think he's not gone for that date, unfortunately, but an earlier one, so it's done and dusted before A level pressures start in earnest. Not sure of the exact date though.

Awww, @Oblomov21: how incredibly frustrating! I'd be beating myself up too. BUT we can only do as much as we can, and take in a certain amount of info - sometimes stuff falls between the cracks. You ds sounds to have so many options and routes that you have put all that energy and dedication into helping him find, remind yourself of that!

The orange household is at a bit of a stalemate at moment, still no UCAS reference (have to wait max 15 working days apparently). Will probably have to wait for interviews/auditions anyhow before offers. DM funeral not until week before Christmas...honestly feel like putting all social activities and merriment until then, already said no to two work dos. I just can't do Jolly.

I'm pondering making Dd a recipe book in Canva to keep myself busy...I absolutely would do this if I had a Ds too..but I don't. Any ideas?
So far my chapters are
Basic pomodoro sauce and variations with pasta
Bechamel and variations
Spaghetti carbonara (the egg yolk version)
Chilli con care
How to do a roast for Sundays, special occasions, midweek
Ultimate roast potatoes
Bestest Mash
Toad in the hole
Hangover foods ( All day Brekkie/cheese and potato pie)
Salads
Basic brownies/ blondies and sponge recipes
Microwave Mug cakes
As you can see..she likes a bit of stodge. Have I forgotten anything...her favourite is pasta so that will be the base of the book.

Also thought of buying a couple of cheap white plates from Ikea and using ceramic paint to decorate the back with her name.

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail sorry you have such a wait for your DM funeral. Sending a hug xx

Recipe book is a good idea and distracting. Some others ….

Lasagne
Stir fry
Curry
Shepherds pie
Easy Salmon dish

Budgeting is worth teaching and cooking in smaller amounts.