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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:
Heifer · 28/02/2022 09:28

@Wheresthebeach which element of teenagery? :-)

crazycrofter · 28/02/2022 09:30

@heifer, thankfully not as she’s dark. But that is definitely a big expense!

Teenagery… it seems to come and go doesn’t it?

Heifer · 28/02/2022 09:33

Anyone else got a letter from school re Covid today? Ours have just sent one saying anyone who tests positive for Covid requested to isolate for 5 days. Twice weekly testing is not required , but take a LFT if symptomatic. Masks are now optional in all areas.

ExtremelyDelighted · 28/02/2022 09:41

Yes, we've had the same instructions from both DCs schools.

Wheresthebeach · 28/02/2022 09:47

@Heifer - the tone of voice that says ' you're a moron' and just generally short tempered and grumpy. Currently it's having to attend parents evening which she considers a monumental waste of time. Other parents have just said they aren't going, and we are now unreasonable to waste her time by going to parents evening. Sigh.

Wheresthebeach · 28/02/2022 09:48

We've had a same request from school - don't come in with Covid.

Seeline · 28/02/2022 09:51

I think a lot of students have term time jobs unless they are on very intense courses.
Once in private accommodation where the lease is usually a full year they don't tend to come home for all holiday time and they can continue working at their term time job.

DS has never worked before, but after Christmas applied for a load of jobs and got interviews for most and was offered several so I don't think they are too hard to find. He is in uni for approximately 2.5 days so has plenty of time to do uni work as well as do paid work.
I think his minimum loan was fine last year with lockdowns and restrictions. Most drinking was done in the flat on supermarket prices. This year the pull of clubbing, eating out etc has been strong, hence needing extra finances.

Wheresthebeach · 28/02/2022 09:58

We're debating how to respond. Depending on the day, and our mood about it all we flip between
a) Cut her slack considering all the stress
b) A version of 'don't use that tone of voice with me young lady'
c) Quiet conversations later that start with 'I don't think you realise how you're sounding'.

We've been doing a) and c) but she just gets defensive when we go for c) and we get nowhere.

Heifer · 28/02/2022 10:04

@Wheresthebeach

We're debating how to respond. Depending on the day, and our mood about it all we flip between a) Cut her slack considering all the stress b) A version of 'don't use that tone of voice with me young lady' c) Quiet conversations later that start with 'I don't think you realise how you're sounding'.

We've been doing a) and c) but she just gets defensive when we go for c) and we get nowhere.

To be honest I've found A it is the best policy for DD (which I find REALLY hard to do) but it's best at the moment. I just give a look (raised eyebrows) and let it go mostly. I do get the chance to talk about it later (not same day) when DD is in a more respective mood. Like @crazycrofter said previously it does seem to come and go and luckily its happening less often at the moment, mostly because I am learning to read her moods and give the slack when needed (and stop nagging her). I do find the more I treat her like an adult the more she behaves like one.
Heifer · 28/02/2022 10:08

@Seeline - yes I agree in theory with students working but it will depend on the course. At Nottingham Biology is approximately 36 hrs (18 hours of contact time with 18 hours of self study per week) so along with hockey training, matches and socialising I think it would be hard for DD to work during term time. But we will see. She may decide she can fit it in and wants to earn.

ChristopherTracy · 28/02/2022 10:13

DS funds everything for himself bar the most basic toiletries and his £7.50 mobile data out of his salary and his Christmas and birthday money.

But then we are going to pay his fees I think. Sounding weirdly the wrong way round here.

Cantonet · 28/02/2022 10:16

@Heifer dd2 swops clothes with her friends too. Though she's good at finding clothes in variety shops. I did have to replace her Brandy Melville trackies as she was super- attached to them with holes showing her knickers. She also highlights her own hair & got ds1 to help her do the back over lockdown.
All my kids use Cerave as skincare as it's relatively cheap & the Inkey List products.
Our biggest cost recently has been ADHD drugs prescribed privately ( for several kids) so I'm looking forward to the Gp taking that over. I'm not sure how it works with students though.
Anyone know?

Wheresthebeach · 28/02/2022 11:15

@Heifer yeah we're pretty much doing a) but she's testing my patience at the moment. Another quiet chat this evening if she's not in a huff.

Seeline · 28/02/2022 12:36

I see Student Finance England has just opened applications for existing students and those starting in September 2022!

You don't have to have firmed a uni to apply, just use your favourite for now, and change it later if necessary. The earlier you apply, the more likely your DCs money will arrive at start of term.

sofakingcool · 28/02/2022 13:43

@Seeline

I see Student Finance England has just opened applications for existing students and those starting in September 2022!

You don't have to have firmed a uni to apply, just use your favourite for now, and change it later if necessary. The earlier you apply, the more likely your DCs money will arrive at start of term.

Thanks for that @Seeline . I didn't realise you can apply without firming? Will pass on that info to DS's friends
Oblomov22 · 28/02/2022 13:55

Seeline, I didn't know that either, thank you.

Monkey2001 · 28/02/2022 14:13

@crazycrofter I think we must be meaner than I realised! DS gets £20/week when he goes to choir because I bribed DS1 and to be fair had to pay him even though he would have gone anyway. As he doesn't get anything in the holidays, it probably averages just over £50/month. I also pay for SIM only phone, around £7 and he still gets the £3/week he has had since he was about 11. As his social life revolves around the gym and he doesn't drink, he seems fine with this.

crazycrofter · 28/02/2022 14:28

@Monkey2001 I think (from my sample of two!) that boys are cheaper than girls! No birthday presents (dd must buy around 20 a year for friends), no make up, fewer clothes. Ds has just got into the cinema though, which is an expensive hobby!

sofakingcool · 28/02/2022 14:35

[quote crazycrofter]@Monkey2001 I think (from my sample of two!) that boys are cheaper than girls! No birthday presents (dd must buy around 20 a year for friends), no make up, fewer clothes. Ds has just got into the cinema though, which is an expensive hobby![/quote]
I wish DS had fewer clothes, he's already fretting how he'll fit his clothes into his Uni wardrobe and more importantly his shoe collection HmmGrin

ChristopherTracy · 28/02/2022 14:58

@Monkey2001 good point, I pay for the gym membership too as that was his main 18th present.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 28/02/2022 15:24

All the talk of student finance makes me very glad we live in Wales.
We had an excellent talk from Student Finance Wales a couple of weeks ago, which clarified things. No requirement for parents to top up grants, although of course that means that our DC will have more to pay back.

EwwSprouts · 28/02/2022 17:25

I've told DS all along if he gets a St Andrews offer we'll support him but yikes Sheffield would be cheaper.

DS currently earns from life guarding sessions and mini tennis coaching. He gets a small amount from us and we pay for his phone, match fees & subs and most of his clothes (he's not bothered about labels).

I don't think clothes swopping happens amongst boys? Can't see DS doing it.

Fruitygal · 28/02/2022 17:46

Party was a success! No breakages and everyone had fun! we set things up and then left them to party at 7pm and came back at 0.30am in the morning.

crazycrofter · 28/02/2022 17:56

Excellent @Fruitygal! Definitely the less stressful option to absent yourselves!

I’m struggling to fine the balance between talking too much about finance (which made dd feel that there was no point even looking at York) and making sure she knows the implications of different choices. Dd will get a £1k bursary at Southampton and accommodation is cheaper (1st year and subsequent) so I want her to go there really! But obviously it has to be her choice… but we’re part funding it. Tricky!

GoldenRuby · 28/02/2022 18:06

My DD had just had an offer from Durham - Anthropology & Sociology, AAB. She is very excited!

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