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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Thread 26 - Covid Cohort Hoping for a Stable, Successful 2022

999 replies

OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 04/01/2022 08:35

previous thread

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.

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singingstones · 15/01/2022 16:36

Great news Oblomov - a fantastic option for your DS. Embrace your inner semi-rural labourer Smile
How's he doing with his alternative route, apprenticeship applications etc?

Alsoplayspiccolo · 15/01/2022 17:17

Thanks, fonty and icanbe.
Sounds like an alert system could be just what my DM needs.
I’ll have a look at the one mentioned.

Glad it was a correct offer, Oblomov - you must be thrilled.

Oblomov22 · 15/01/2022 17:42

Thanks all. Singing, He's got interviews this week with Mazars and Grant Thornton. All the others, 6? have finished / he was refused.

Wheresthebeach · 15/01/2022 17:43

Wonderful for him to have Durham in is back pocket for his interviews Oblomov.

singingstones · 15/01/2022 18:29

Fingers crossed for him Oblomov. But if nothing comes of those, an offer like that from Durham is a great option.

Oblomov22 · 15/01/2022 18:50

Agreed. Durham is his top choice atm. PwC Flying start degree at Nottingham, which he hasn't even been offered yet, have assessments end of Feb, the week of his mocks.

Oblomov22 · 15/01/2022 18:52

Durham - Accountancy is AAC or ABB. Instead of AAA. Which I think is a significant lowering.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 15/01/2022 20:11

@Oblomov22

Durham - Accountancy is AAC or ABB. Instead of AAA. Which I think is a significant lowering.
All seems to be ticking along nicely then @Oblomov22, best of luck for interviews!
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Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 15/01/2022 20:20

Someone mentioned a hotel in Cardiff ? DD interview is also a taster day type affair so she has to be there at 9.30, DH thinking of going up night before. The Music Dept is in Cathays behind Welsh Govt building if it helps but they don't mind a walk those two!

Any help appreciated 🙏 ...also DH says he feels quite nervous about hotel staff thinking he is some kind of deviant if in his own HmmConfused

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Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 15/01/2022 20:20

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail

Someone mentioned a hotel in Cardiff ? DD interview is also a taster day type affair so she has to be there at 9.30, DH thinking of going up night before. The Music Dept is in Cathays behind Welsh Govt building if it helps but they don't mind a walk those two!

Any help appreciated 🙏 ...also DH says he feels quite nervous about hotel staff thinking he is some kind of deviant if in his own HmmConfused

If check in the hotel with just Dd that should say
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Piggywaspushed · 15/01/2022 20:30

The Premier Inn near the Welsh Senedd is really nice.

Piggywaspushed · 15/01/2022 20:31

It's literally right next to the Music place. I walked past it all when I was there recently! Someone on here told me where to get proper beer for DH iirc!

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 15/01/2022 20:35

Ah brilliant thank you @Piggywaspushed!

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EwwSprouts · 15/01/2022 20:50

@Alsoplayspiccolo MIL had a lifeline alert that she wore round her neck. When she fell they could talk to her. They always rang BIL (half a mile away) or us whether they called an ambulance or not. Gave a lot of peace of mind.

PaddingtonPaddington · 15/01/2022 20:54

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail DD and I stayed at the Premier Inn in Cardiff too. Everywhere is walkable and it was a great location.

Well done on the latest offers and EPQ results. So fast moving at the moment.

EwwSprouts · 15/01/2022 20:58

Gosh lots of updates. Delighted for those who have received offers.

@Oblomov22 Pleased Durham has been cleared up and he's got a great offer.
@Monkey2001 Good to hear of an interview that went well. Fingers crossed!

Sorry some are seeing rejections come in. Friend's DS a couple of years ago (pre TAGs) seemingly ticked all the boxes including 4A* prediction from a comprehensive. He only received 2/5 offers. I may have mentioned this more than once to DS to manage his expectations.

singingstones · 15/01/2022 21:10

@Piggywaspushed

It's literally right next to the Music place. I walked past it all when I was there recently! Someone on here told me where to get proper beer for DH iirc!
Yes me, The Packet! That music place isn't the one Orange needs though, it's probably 30-40 mins walk from there.
singingstones · 15/01/2022 21:14

Should say, it's a nice walk, once you get to town you can go along the river past the stadium and through the park to come out by RWCMD. The university music dept is just across the road from there.
If you want fancy, there is a Hilton and others close by, or plenty of budget options in the centre of Cardiff. The bay is a nice place to be based though, plenty to see and places to eat and drink, real ale or not!

singingstones · 15/01/2022 21:19

There is also a water taxi up the river from the bay to Cardiff centre but I don't know what the timetable is like.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 15/01/2022 21:29

@singingstones

There is also a water taxi up the river from the bay to Cardiff centre but I don't know what the timetable is like.
Ah yes, we did walk along the river back to the city centre from the lovely coffee place down by the bay, the one on a pier. DH is a walker so he'd probably like that.
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Piggywaspushed · 15/01/2022 21:35

Oh whoops singing!

Alsoplayspiccolo · 15/01/2022 22:52

Piggy, you’re talking about the WMC in the Bay, which is very close to the Premier in, in the bay.

Orange, there are also lots of small hotels/B&Bs on Cathedral Road, which is on the other side of Bute Park from the uni and RWCMD.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 15/01/2022 22:53

Thanks, Eww, that’s exactly the sort of service I’d like my mum to have, as I’m 200 miles away.

Monkey2001 · 15/01/2022 23:31

@cariadambyth I think there unconditional offers can be counter productive! If her favourite is Southampton and second favourite RHU, I would advise her to wait until the May/June deadline and if there is even a small chance that she might get the grades, choose the ones she really wants. It is very likely that Bath will be in Clearing. You/she could email them and ask whether they have been on Clearing in recent years.

Ha @Oblomov22, thought it might be that, you are not alone! Congratulations, must be nice to have that when getting rejections from the sponsorship schemes.

BlueMarigold · 16/01/2022 07:45

I am getting nervous seeing all the advice to wait till May/June… I hope we haven’t rushed into anything. DD was pretty sure what she wanted even before applying so it seemed like a good idea to just go ahead and aim for the high grades. It’s spurred her on to work hard and she needed that motivation.