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

@ZittiEBuoni - am sorry to hear about your DD. The Dd of a friend is in a similar position but wont engage with her mum or counselling at all and has left school totally now.

Re offers. 4 offers now in. Other one was Cambridge so am thinking no news is bad news! DS not fussed. Was always v long shot

@Wheresthebeach Lol. I think we did Divinity at one of my schools. Between mine and my siblings and my kids, it's been called theology, RS, divinity, RE, T&P (theology and philosophy) and scripture - and perhaps more I've forgotten.

@ZittiEBuoni I think it would be a good idea to seek advice from perhaps one of the SEN charities (eg SOSSEN) about the pros and cons of moving to private tuition / private entry to exams. Or perhaps the local SENDIASS who are a statutory independent support team at the local authority.

@ZittiEBuoni I’m sorry things aren’t going well. It sounds to me as if she should do her A Levels if possible, as she enjoys studying and it will give her a focus. There doesn’t seem much point putting it off until next year if school is the issue. She obviously needs the pressure taken off with regards attending school. Can she stay enrolled at school til May without attending? I’ve a friend who’s home educating her dd through A Levels, using workbooks etc so it’s definitely possible but you’d have to pay for exam entry and for the counsellor of course.

Could I change the subject completely?

Christmas presents. I am stuck for DS again. Doesn't need any tech, doesn't want clothes, home stuff etc. I think it might have to be things related to his sporting interests. What are you all buying for your DCs?

Just to clarify - staying enrolled at school would mean no exam entry fees, but I’m sure you know that . But I think you’d be looking at less than £1k for exam fees, maybe in the region of £600?

I totally understand that her mental health is your priority but I wonder if you took away school as an issue, if that would help more than you think?

It’s great that he already has an offer from his top choice Esther. I don’t think no news is bad news, as the bad news tends to come out same time as invites. And invites still have a rolling circa 8 days left, subject to college!

@ExcessiveIyDisorganised my DSs have had money towards holidays or adventure trips they were planning. Experience days are fab!! Last week DS1 did a super car driving day at Brands Hatch. Check age limits and reviews of the different experiences to make sure you get a good company and it’s suitable. (Some I’ve done in the past using clubcard vouchers - if people are on a budget)

@estherfrewen There were a few girls at DD's school who applied for Oxford/Cambridge - they've not heard either.

@ExcessiveIyDisorganised the brands hatch one was a birthday gift from 2 years ago and he’s driven around in a small car since passing his test so DB9s, Ferraris and Lamborghinis were fun x

Thanks @ealingwestmum - at least by Friday will know one way or the other I guess!

Re Christmas- have gone for pans for university and a big teddy armed cuddle cushion from Dunhelm again for uni bed. Aftershave and bits like that. Snowman board game. Some daft stuff. He is 18 in January and is getting expensive watch so Christmas is quite bitty.

With a deep sigh, contribution to her first ‘ink’. I know I know, but I also need to allow my 18 year old to express her own individuality and to hold off my own views, slowly relinquishing control.

And to not sound defensive 😱

Thanks @Wheresthebeach - that's interesting to know as DS doesn't tell me much! I think there are about 18 applying from his sixth form, they usually get about 6 in.

Christmas - well...she got a puppy not so long ago....ahem.

So a coat from H&M which she does actually need, and other bits and bobs.

Eek @ealingwestmum, I would find that hard!

Unfortunately he's showing no signs of interest in cars or learning to drive, I have suggested the driving experience things a few times in the past and he's said no. He is also not likely to be going on holiday or away with friends any time soon - all his friends have similar SNs to him.

We'll have his 18th soon after Christmas too, no plans for that yet either.

Ugh @ealingwestmum that will be me soon too! I don’t like them but it’s not our decision is it

There have been conditions on where Excessively. I don’t find it as hard as DH.
Does. But I had one at 18 (when they were SO rare!) so I can’t be a total hypocrite now.

Having said that, one of his friends is a confident traveller despite the SNs, I might nudge him to see if they could maybe go away for a few days somewhere next summer as it's such an important life experience. I loved my first holiday without parents, it was only to the Isle of Wight but it was great going off on our own.

I held off for as long as I could crazy

@DoggerelBank I think it is not surprising that the Scottish offer rates are lower - most Scottish people stay in Scotland for university as it is free and Edinburgh and St Andrews are often the aspirational choice, whereas the RUK applicants will apply to Oxbridge, Durham etc, where the offer rates are also lower. Scottish medics have a massive advantage as the competition ratio is much lower - only about 50% more applicants than places, whereas there are about 200% too many applicants in RUK.

@estherfrewen no news is no news! I agree that at this stage interviews and rejections go out together and Cambridge interview most applicants.

@ZittiEBuoni really sorry to hear things have slipped after the good progress. I don't want to be a gloom-monger, but another thing you need to think about if she withdraws from school is what happens if exams are cancelled. It is feeling like a 50/50 chance that might happen and it is really complicated for private candidates. It works be awful for somebody with anxiety issues to face all that extra uncertainty. Best of luck working through these complex issues.

That’s true @ZittiEBuoni there is the complication of exams being cancelled. My friend whose dd did GCSEs last year managed to get ‘teacher assessed grades’ through Tutors and Exams I think - but obviously there’s a cost.

Thank you, all, for your thoughts - there is a lot to weigh up, so not rushing into any decisions yet. Thanks especially ExcessivelyDisorganised for those extra pathways to advice. I will look into them today.

We've been out for a bracing walk along the seafront followed by coffee (thank goodness I WFH at this point!) and had a really lovely open and honest conversation. She is still keen to do the A-Levels but understands that there is no pressure to do them this year. I'm going to see if I can hang on to her enrolment as long as possible - but taking each day as it comes right now tbh.

DS has his first offer! AAA from Birmingham. It suddenly feels real.

Oh @ZittiEBuoni I feel a awful posting that and seeing your posts above. I hope you manage to steer DD back on path, so lovely that you can have the open conversations with her, it is so important. Sending hugs.