Thread 28 - Corona Cohort Awaiting Offers, Advance Notice, Gap Years and New Jobs

[OrangeCinnamonCroissant]

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 27 Here

Piggywaspushed is that link something to do with the Eduqas sociology Health topic? Good luck to your DS on the driving theory test today 🤞🤞

That sounds like a very encouraging end to the weekend Orange although sorry you're ill.

Aw no Monkey how utterly frustrating if you can't use the 90% you did film. Yesterday was a shocker here weather wise too so kudos to you filming in the first place and for the team playing on probably awful terrain.

Hope everyone has a good start to the week. Half term for us is next week but I guess a few of your DC are off this week so enjoy.

Cross posted with Alsoplayspiccolo sorry you're having a hard time too. Year 13 is bad enough with hormonal teens and exam stress but add a disrupted 6th form experience and friendship issues it's so hard on them. We had it last year and I did feel drained trying to be strong one and not say the wrong thing and make things worse.
In answer to your Uni choice positions, DD purposely chose unis that were her predicted grades or less to limit the stress of the unknown. She actually has chosen her bottom two unis for grades as they are her top choices. We're still worried she may not get those grades even so we phoned up her 1st choice and asked and they said they get the grades before we do and look back at the PS, and in DD's case her interview, and go from there. They want to be sure they are capable of being able to do the course. We also mentioned the idea of a gap year and again they were supportive and said email and let us know. Her insurance Uni said we could let them know in Aug on results day but I don't want to do that as would be paying for accommodation up front and applying for finance unnecessary so DD has to make her mind up after these next lot of mocks. A gap year is 99% certain for her now.

DD seems to be over the worst with covid, apart from being really tired. She's now panicking about not be able to do any revision this week - doesn't know what to do, how to do it and is too tired anyway ☹️ All her teachers have said mocks aren't going to be changed to take into account last week's announcements, so that's really helpful too!

DH and I have been feeling rough all over the weekend so are booked in for PCRs this morning 🤞

Yes it is AoC!

Monkey that's incredibly frustrating.

Glad your DD is feeling better Seeline, hope your pcr's are negative.

Sounds a nice weekend Orange.

Is anyone else going to a Portsmouth open day? We have Southampton, Portsmouth and waiting for a date from Swansea.

@22Newnames now you've said about the offers I worry that DS actually wont keep up. Could it be that the schools statement was very honest about his GCSEs and how Covid had affected everything? His is a Ofsted outstanding comp so not sure it will be the school or our postcode.

He isn't sold on Uni as a pathway forward anyway. We will see.

AoC also for general inequalities question.

Only just seen your message monkey. Hope he knows that! DS 1 has never passed the theory but always did the hazard bit fine.

@ChristopherTracy oh gosh, I really didn't mean to make you worry, I think if the uni have made the offer then they think it will be fine. They don't make them willy nilly and they don't make it to kids who they think won't keep up. The last thing they want is a place taken by someone who drops out, they want the fees for the whole 4 years! I really wouldn't worry but would be pleased with the offers he has got.

My DS is also at an ofsted "outstanding" comp but it's in a very posh village (not the one we live in ) so very few free school meals, etc etc and none of the main criteria for contextual.

Oh no @Monkey. What a disaster & after all your effort too.
@alwaysplayspiccolo sorry your DD is going through a tricky time at the moment. Though at least she is telling you how she is feeling about things.
@anneofcleavage a Gap year is always a good idea. I want Ds to have one but DH disagrees & just says he will laze around all year & do nothing.
@OrangeCinnamon I'm glad you & your DD are friends again.
Anyone else exhausted?
Real emotional exhaustion after a very trying week.
I've not slept properly the last three nights & our 12 year old spaniel was crying for food from 5.55 am today.

Sorry Orange and Also that you're going through difficult times at the moment. DD had terrible periods which resulted in her being awful to us for about 2 weeks every month. She finally saw her GP who was helpful, and I think changed her pill. Things have improved. I'm also guilty of recently fuss potting which I know won't help in the long run, but for now is resulting in a much calmer and pleasant house e.g. running baths, endless cups of tea and a biscuit delivered to her room ......She has far too many clothes stuffed everywhere, so I offered to set up a mobile app shop which has been reasonably successful in clearing the tat.

@Isthisjustnormal DS has Exeter offer day on 26th March, but I believe there are other dates to choose from. It will involve an overnight stay for us, so really hoping for a full buffet

Good luck for the theory test. DD sat it 7 times and knew all the different scenarios in the end!!

DS passed!

Brilliant!!

well done @Piggywaspushed

@22Newnames actually just checked - it could be our postcode after all.

Can't get a practical test booked of course....

yes @Piggywaspushed its so painful, and then DS went and failed the first one so then it started all over again. The check sites do work though so you book one in July somewhere random in the UK and then set it to work back to March and autobook.

Well done to @Piggywaspushed's DS!

Well done piggy junior !!

He has booked 25 July in Northampton which isn't far away but obviously not where he learns so will see if he can get a cancellation.

That’s lovely Piggy

Well done "Piggy" DS! We concluded a while ago on this thread that you should look out for tests on Monday mornings, but also dip in when you have a free moment to see whether anything comes up. DS's GF failed in December, got a date 4/2/22, but the test was cancelled due to Covid and she was given end of March. Earlier dates have come up since, but she was missed them because she wanted to check with her Dad etc, and then they were gone.

Yes @Monkey2001 the problem comes when it autobooks you a new one and then the instructor isnt free. We got round that this time by always setting it at least a month away.

@Piggywaspushed If it's not too far from your area Kettering often seem to have availability.

Well done Piggy ds.

Thanks, Northampton closer/ the same! Just about familiarity with roads really.

Well done to Piggy Junior 👏👏