Thread 24 Covid Cohort - Oh Come, Oh Come offers from Emmanuel - and all other universities aswell!

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

I tried to sing the title... It kind of works...

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 posts 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 goodwill continues.

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

Good luck to your DS today @Monkey2001.

We had a few hours of snow here last night and DS had to drive home from work in it in the dark. I was at my wits end til he got home. I am not a fan of driving in snow, or snow in general!

Good luck to those starting mocks today.

@Fruitygal Drat

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/nov/29/english-universities-risk-breaking-law-over-offer-withdrawals-say-ministers

Interesting article

Does anyone know anything about Aston University (Birmingham). They may be quite high up on the league table for Biology (top 30) but having looked at their website - seems very small (only 1 hockey team) and I can't find what facilities they have.

@Heifer don’t know a lot but thought it was in the city centre? Never visited campus but seen signs

Hi @heifer I wrote some stuff about Aston a while back if you do a search (because I can't remember what I said!) - I think it was for singingstones?

I don't think it's tiny - there's at least 10k students. It's also very diverse - I think partly because a lot of local students go there. But I had a colleague that had gone there from elsewhere and he really enjoyed it. It's right by the city centre, so a very urban setting. I don't know anything about the sports side I'm afraid.

It's got a very good reputation locally - I worked with a few Aston graduates at PwC. I think the university is particularly strong for work placements.

Aston had a good rep back when I was at university, no idea now. The campus used to be quite centrally located in Brum but I think they have a shiny new campus now.

At Sheffield students from SHU can join clubs at Sheffield - it may be the same in all cities, so Aston students may be able to join Birmingham Uni clubs.

@Monkey2001 Good luck to your DS

Gah - email from school about TAG's. Detailing plans if no exams, and confirming that if they have to cancel in some areas, they will cancel nationally.

Yikes.

Gah - email from school about TAG's. Detailing plans if no exams, and confirming that if they have to cancel in some areas, they will cancel nationally.

Eeek! No contingencies here, not even mocks until end of Feb...

The mumsnet positive thinking worked, he passed. As we hadn't managed to get a real instructor and he was taking it in our car, I was not at all confident. Examiner was lovely Welsh lady who chatted to him throughout the test!

We don't have mocks until 28th Feb either, but DS would prefer exams to be cancelled, I think it is because it is so daunting for your first real exams to be A levels.

Fantastic, well done to your DS Monkey

I think my DS would be distraught at the idea of more lockdown and exams being cancelled. He has coped fairly well so far but was really despondent yesterday when he saw some new rules were coming in.

Fabulous Monkey, happy freedom driving to your DS!

Well done to @Monkey2001 ds!!

Congratulations 🎉 @Monkey2001 have been checking in every 2hrs to see if there was news this am !!! Super well done without the instructor x

Congratulations @Monkey2001!

Excellent Monkey!

Congrats to your DS @Monkey2001

DDs next set of mocks are in March so I’m glad she had a set last week. I know DD would like them to be cancelled but my DS in year 11 seems to excel in exams. I think it’s the uncertainty of it all that’s the worst part and 7 February(?) more info on adjustments will be made but who knows what may happen before then.

@Monkey2001 well done to your DS, it is fab when they pass but now I worry all the time about the driving conditions-I made him drive the long way around today as it was very icy and we have an ungritted hill near us.
My DS has his first A level mocks in March. They are having lots of mini tests but it isn't the same. My other DS doing GCSE's has had test after test and has mocks straight after Christmas and again in late Feb. I would've thought this cohort of A level students need more prep than that?

Very well done to @Monkey2001 junior.

Yay to Monkey's DS. Congratulations.

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail

Doesn’t state specific requirements in terms of grade for a particular subject. So it’s:
BCC 15%
BBC 23%
BBB 15%
ABB 15%
AAB 13%

Congratulations to @Monkey2001DS! Happy driving!
DD will have mocks straight after Christmas holidays. These were originally timetabled to be after February half term but have been brought forward.