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Further education

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

Original poster

Thread 29 - Covid Cohort - Whirlwinds and Waiting

999 replies

OrangeCinnamonCroissant · 23/02/2022 22:29

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 28

OP posts:
Seeline · 27/02/2022 16:48

Yep, that's right NCTDN. We do as singing says, and pay the accommodation and DS lives off the minimum loan. I think his halls were about 6.5. His private 2nd year house is more partly because we have utilities on top.

Catered accommodation can be much more expensive, particularly if DCs aren't around awake at meal times or out in the evening and end up buying additional food/meals. Catered accommodation rarely has decent kitchens so they can't just cook a quick cheap meal for themselves - it's a takeaway or meal out.

NCTDN · 27/02/2022 17:28

It's a wonder anyone can afford to go to uni! She needs catered for personal reasons and where she is looking, the food is known to be good. I'm truly shocked at how the government expect people to survive. People on 30K more than us get the same amount of loan too. Hmm

Piggywaspushed · 27/02/2022 17:30

DH and I always fall out when we discuss accommodation.

singingstones · 27/02/2022 17:50

The other option is that you share the pain - you make up the accommodation shortfall and she gets a job for her spending money - if catered she wouldn't need too much, could do a few hours per week somewhere to fund herself?

Wheresthebeach · 27/02/2022 18:24

I had the same realisation a day ago @NCTDN. It’s hopeless that the loan doesn’t cover accommodation. 6-7k seems a standard amount which is insane.

KingscoteStaff · 27/02/2022 18:35

We are also paying the rent and DS lives on the minimum loan. Plan to do the same for DD.

We expect them to earn during the vacations - both have sports coaching qualifications that are quite lucrative, plus there always seems to be bar/waiting work in London.

sofakingcool · 27/02/2022 18:57

Assuming DS gets into Reading the accommodation is so expensive! He'll only get minimal loan, so our plan is that we'll cover accommodation as long as DS doesn't go overboard with wanting the absolute premium room, and then he'll live off the loan. Our hope would be that he doesn't have to work, but we expect he'll get a little part time job anyway. He should have a job to come home to during the holidays as his current job (pub/waitering) has said they'll happily keep him on Smile

Seeline · 27/02/2022 19:05

The problem with uni accommodation is that there is no guarantee that you will actually get what you apply for. You may end up with one of the more expensive options, even if your preferences are for lower budget options.

singingstones · 27/02/2022 19:30

That's my worry, Seeline - DS will be fine as long as his accommodation isn't more than £6.5k. If he ends up in catered en-suite halls that he doesn't want, that would be problematic. Doubly so if/when DD goes and they overlap.

whatsnext2 · 27/02/2022 19:39

@sofakingcool

Thanks for the new shiny thread!

So news in our camp... DS has firmed ShockShockShockShock

Uni of Reading - Firm
Bournemouth- Insurance

DD just firmed Reading too! Swansea as insurance.

Reading were so structured and containing with the joint honours programmes compared to York, who couldn’t even organise an online visit day with the two subjects, that in the end no comparison.

sofakingcool · 27/02/2022 19:43

@whatsnext2 , oh wow!

DS just loves Reading, it's not that far from us which we thought would put him off, but he just loves everything about it that he doesn't really care that he isn't far from home

Me on the other hand, can't help but feel a bit relieved that if disaster struck we aren't a million miles away..

sofakingcool · 27/02/2022 19:45

@whatsnext2 , Does your DD know what happens next? We just want to get on with accommodation! I know booking is now open, but we need a log in to do it apparently

whatsnext2 · 27/02/2022 19:47

@sofakingcool
The distance is not so bad from us too, a relief with the way the world is at the moment

whatsnext2 · 27/02/2022 19:48

[quote sofakingcool]@whatsnext2 , Does your DD know what happens next? We just want to get on with accommodation! I know booking is now open, but we need a log in to do it apparently [/quote]
Yes she firmed Saturday night and was able to log on via the portal and apply for accommodation this morning.

sofakingcool · 27/02/2022 19:53

[quote whatsnext2]@sofakingcool
The distance is not so bad from us too, a relief with the way the world is at the moment[/quote]
Exactly, just feels like the best of both worlds and gives him a bit of flexibility. A lot of his friends are taking a gap year or not going at all, so if he wanted to he could easily come back for a night out with them.

Also, if he wanted to save a bit of money, he could choose to commute for his final year or something to save for a deposit.

I can't see him doing it, but nice to have a choice

sofakingcool · 27/02/2022 19:54

Thanks @whatsnext2 , DS firmed this morning so hopefully get on with accommodation soon. Has your daughter had a look to see what's left?

whatsnext2 · 27/02/2022 19:57

@sofakingcool most seemed available, so I’m not sure if it is allocated later, once grades are in, as no deposit was needed.

sofakingcool · 27/02/2022 19:59

[quote whatsnext2]@sofakingcool most seemed available, so I’m not sure if it is allocated later, once grades are in, as no deposit was needed.[/quote]
Ah right! I feel like such a novice at this BlushGrin

Monkey2001 · 27/02/2022 20:16

Re allocation of more expensive accommodation than you applied for, I told both DSs that if their first choices of accommodation were low cost end, we would take the hit if they were allocated more expensive, but if they wanted to choose expensive accommodation they would have to fund the difference. Both chose low cost, shared bathrooms!

Cantonet · 27/02/2022 20:59

Hi Fferny1 here.
Has anyone else been put off a Gap year for their teen. by the MoneySupermarket Programme the other night? Essentially these students will be paying an extra 9% tax on every month's salary for the next 40 years ( if earning over £25000 I think) from Sept. 2023. So your kids will be paying this into their 60's. This coming year is the last year on the more reasonable 30 year scheme. The new scheme is penalising those on middle income salaries, not at the lower or higher end.

crazycrofter · 27/02/2022 21:02

For those with older kids at uni, do you know how popular the cheapest accommodation is? Or is it the en-suite stuff that gets oversubscribed?

Having looked at the cost of private rent in York for years 2 and 3, I’ve said to dd that she’d have to choose basic accommodation for year 1 so we can put some money aside for years 2 and 3. But given that York’s accommodation is already open to book, i’m wondering what choice she’ll have. We’re visiting on Saturday so perhaps I’ll be able to ask.

Congrats to those whose dc have firmed! Must be great to have a bit of certainty

Piggywaspushed · 27/02/2022 21:15

It seems the en suites are most popular. I am always surprised that the kids I teach go for the pricy stuff.

Wheresthebeach · 27/02/2022 21:21

@Cantonet DD applied for 2023, so we're stuck with a gap year I think. She'd need to reapply for 2022 and I don't think that's workable. We had no idea this was going to hit so didn't even consider a change in the regs.

Delphigirl · 27/02/2022 21:26

@cantonet my DS applied for this year but is going to defer to next. He won’t take a student loan so it doesn’t matter.

sofakingcool · 27/02/2022 21:36

[quote Wheresthebeach]@Cantonet DD applied for 2023, so we're stuck with a gap year I think. She'd need to reapply for 2022 and I don't think that's workable. We had no idea this was going to hit so didn't even consider a change in the regs.[/quote]
It's just rubbish isn't it? Feels like they should have given a years notice.