Thread 27 Covid Cohort Snow or Like Spring? Let's Do This Thing!

[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 found here

DS isn't fussy and can't cook at all. One of the catered halls is definitely full of ex boarding school pupils : not necessarily a problem but that college did used to have a reputation for being a bit exclusive and snooty.

He does need to learn how to cook but I thought catered might be a good way to mix with others.

I’m also considering including the proximity of an Aldi or Lidl as a relevant factor!

I was wondering if ex boarders go for catered. I can’t decide if catered or self-catered is more sociable. DD’s friend has told her about flat meals cooked together etc.

DS1 never spent any time in the kitchen with flatmates.

Some of the newer York colleges do a weekly meal which is kind of cute.

I was in self-catered. Spent very little time in the kitchen, it was tiny and just had a small table and chairs, no sofa or similar. It was also in a disgusting state most of the time. DS thinks he'd prefer catered.

@Piggywaspushed we are 10am at Sheffield but better than York when we got up and out at 5am ! 😂

My niece says that catered has been brilliant to get to know others in a social environment.

@ExtremelyDelighted and @Piggywaspushed my DS2 was in a townhouse halls so two giant corner sofas with TVs on walls and two large dining tables. So they spent loads of time hanging out together in the evenings and partying. DD wants a townhouse halls as a result but many don’t have the sofas

DD's mocks were the same as the real thing - although crammed together in two weeks. So three papers for Bio/Chem and 2 for Geo. Lots of 2 30 hour papers, some short ones of an hour, but of course with extra time it meant some were well over 3 hours. Its was much more tiring than 'the real thing' as one after another, but they were in the hall so it helps with practice.

DD has allergies so want self catered, but the kitchen being a mess may be something I should mention...hmmmm. Southampton catered looked like they were really good with allergies so will checkout the options when we're at Portsmouth and Swansea.

So tomorrow we find out about content, and DD's school seems to think that it will be the final - exams are go! announcement too.

@Heifer we are off to Sheffield for possible second place or third place position. Will take photos and happy to share. Still waiting on Durham decision.

As it looks like exams going ahead and exams announcement is due tomorrow by exam boards/ DofE so DD wants to be sure of all options. Only 17% of kids get there predicted grades if they sit exams - she’s seen both brothers get second choice by narrow margins so more cautious.

Apologies ‘their’ grades! 😂

@Fruitygal & @Piggywaspushed see you there on Sat.
@Heifer see you at York instead!

Still waiting for Durham here too. DS got the we'll get to you at some point in the next few months email. I wonder what percentage of UK applicants receive an offer before the offer days are held? Assuming overseas applicants don't just pop over for a random Wednesday!

DS has study leave and mocks for the next two weeks. Just one paper per subject. Done most of his revising online so I think his handwriting will be verging on illegible and slow.

Fruitygal - only 17% get predicted grades? But that's madness!

@EwwSprouts - perhaps see you there.

Been warned offers at Durham for biology are slow I’ve been told can be as late as late March ?!? Which means there is no offer day to attend - let’s hope not. DD had the email too - has one friend with a natural sciences offer for Durham but she’s put it second as has Oxford place. None of her none Oxbridge friends have any offers yet from Durham 14 are waiting. No one else for biological sciences. Thank god x

Whether flats cook together is a luck thing - I don't think my DS will cook with anyone else unless there is another protein junkie in the flat. Some flats are really sociable, some halls are really sociable. At DS1's catered hall at St Andrews he has made friends through meals and the hall does lots of other social activities to build the community.

Yep that’s what is widely reported I would think it would be nearer 40% but I’m no expert - because many schools overplay the predicted grades - DD got her predicted grades in her December mocks but many didn’t. She’s chosen unis under her predicted grades but many kids chose places at their predicted grades so one bad day and an A* can slip to an A or a B to a C. Always like your second choice.

Unis tend to offer large numbers of teens places knowing many either won’t choose them or will not make the grade.

DS had still only had an invite for 2 offer holder days, 1 of which we’ve already visited so won’t go again.
He really wants to see the other 3 but I’m thinking we might just have to go and visit without an offer holder day or open day otherwise we are running out of time, he has more mocks coming up early March and he doesn’t want to take time off college or weekend sport to be able to go.
Thinking we might go at half term but wondering if it’s worth going if we’re not being shown around etc

@Wheresthebeach 9% get higher 17% achieve predicted and over 70% get lower.

I am going to ask head of sixth form whether he thinks 1 x 1.5 hour mock is really going to prepare them for 2 x 2.25 hours + 1 x 1.5 hours for Physics real exam. Bit worried, particularly as the same thing happened for DS1 at GCSE (same school) and meant that his Geography GCSE case study paper in the actual GCSE was the first case study he had ever done!

Historically 40% of medicine offer holders don't get the grades. That was why last year was such a mess!

@EwwSprouts DD has had no study leave - even teaching continued between mocks on exam week - which is bonkers as far as I see it ! We have a wipe-board on wheels coming for revision - DH not happy I’m excited 😜

We've got Southampton and Portsmouth booked.

Swansea has sent a date, but the same as Southampton, so hoping they will open up another day.

Think we'll give Liverpool a miss as it's the same offer as Southampton and finding the time is an issue. We did accommodation tour at Southampton last year, and DD really wants to see the Marine Biology facilities. After that - its choosing her insurance.

With DSs only went to two offer days but as Durham is late sending offers need to look at Sheffield now so DD can rank it against York

No wonder there are 20% fewer places this year.