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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:
Wheresthebeach · 08/03/2022 21:10

So is that 2 hours a night on top of their homework? Yikes

EwwSprouts · 08/03/2022 21:11

St Andrews have declined the pleasure of DS. He's a bit disappointed but we've said it was just a numbers game all along. I'm glad a decision either way has arrived and he wasn't left dangling until May. On the upside he's lucky to have a Durham offer and he's booked in for applicants day which will feel much more real now it's number one choice.

ChristopherTracy · 08/03/2022 21:12

I think re the revision that I remember doing shedloads for my humanities subjects but DS with the likes of physics and CS is very much if he gets it he gets it iyswim.

crazycrofter · 08/03/2022 21:20

That’s a shame @EwwSprouts but they can only accept one offer at the end of the day.

In terms of workload, one of the reasons dd left her old school (high achieving independent -top 10 nationally) was the workload expectations. She worked harder through year 11 (until March) than she has this year. It was hours of homework every night and then revision on top. They get the results but we felt the cost was too high - dd got very stressed that year. I’m really pleased she’s more relaxed now, still working hard but plenty of time for other things. She’s only just started revising for tomorrow’s psychology exam so I’m guessing that will only get 5 hours or so at most but she’ll do more for the real things.

Ds is a different kettle of fish, he struggles with sustained concentration (ADHD) so I’m bribing him to do an hour a day of science revision , which started after half term. It means he’ll only have the humanities to cram at the last minute, which he seems able to do.

Fonty · 08/03/2022 21:37

Oh @EwwSprouts I’m sorry to hear that. I bet once you’ve been to the holder day at Durham, St Andrews will feel like a dim & distant memory.

Really pleased for you that you can now start to seriously think about firming & insuring!

On revision front, am concerned that DS only had 3 mocks, each one 2.5 hrs. I feel this is going to bear no relation to his actual exams. He did well, but revision was sporadic to say the least, concentrating on his weakest subject over 1/2 term with only day on the other 2….

Wheresthebeach · 08/03/2022 21:41

Sorry to hear your news @EwwSprouts, but the Durham offer is fab and I hope he enjoys the offer holder day.

Monkey2001 · 08/03/2022 21:41

Sorry to hear that @EwwSprouts, great that he has Durham to look forwards to.

EwwSprouts · 08/03/2022 21:50

Thanks everyone. It was the beach and the toasties...
We're pragmatists and he'll be fine. Learnt today that Durham open day is after many students go home for Easter so I hope it has a buzz about it.

Piggywaspushed · 08/03/2022 21:53

Success with driving test! DS got a text during band practice which, luckily , he noticed. He now has a test in the right town a week before the original one!

ealingwestmum · 08/03/2022 22:12

@EwwSprouts

Thanks everyone. It was the beach and the toasties... We're pragmatists and he'll be fine. Learnt today that Durham open day is after many students go home for Easter so I hope it has a buzz about it.
Their loss Eww. And for the heads up on most students being home for Easter break from Durham during offer holder days - thank you.
22Newnames · 08/03/2022 22:36

That’s a shame re St Andrews @EwwSprouts. I am not expecting DS to get both of his last two so will probably be in the same boat.

Great news in the driving test @Piggywaspushed

DS has just tested positive for covid this evening. I partly wonder if he was coming down with it last night and that contributed to his low mood. He feels a bit grim but not too bad. Older DS has already had it twice, DH and I have avoided it so far..

Revision is an interesting one. Two hours per night on top of homework is masses!! DS gets lots of homework though.

Piggywaspushed · 08/03/2022 22:41

Oh no. Hope he's OK. Lots of cases still in my school.

Bad luck on StAs sprouts.

Fiddlersgreen · 08/03/2022 23:02

Great to hear everyone’s revision plans.
Mine are both revising at the moment (yr13 and yr11) but for mocks so I think there will be a gap and maybe they’ll start again at Easter for the real thing?

Sorry to hear about St Andrew’s @EwwSprouts and well done on getting the test booked @Piggywaspushed

DS and I looked up his exam dates today as we’ve had no info from the college yet, it seems he’s going to have a clash - anyone know what happens in these circumstances?

He also has another day where he will have two exams on one day which he feels is not fair as others will have bigger gaps between exams!

Fiddlersgreen · 08/03/2022 23:03

Sorry @22Newnames I missed about DS’ positive, hope he’s ok and doesn’t feel too ill

Seeline · 09/03/2022 07:01

@Fiddlersgreen my DD has got two exams in one day twice (one am, one pm so no clash). Both times she has another exam either the day before or the day after as well!!

Fruitygal · 09/03/2022 08:13

@EwwSprouts sorry to hear about St Andrews one of DDs friends was also rejected for biosciences yesterday from there too - she had great predicted grades like your DS. Great he’s got Durham. We’ve booked an Airbnb and dinner yesterday so all ready for offer day

Fruitygal · 09/03/2022 08:21

@Fiddlersgreen we have a clash too! Maths and geography- there’s a great article on TES I’ll try and dig out for you. My DD has two in an afternoon but none in the morning. So they will give her one paper on the morning with strict teacher supervision over lunch plus no phone access and then another in the afternoon. From the article it appears the child can choose the paper that goes first - as geography is important and her maths is her fourth then she will choose Geography in the am while she is fresh and maths in the afternoon as she is not reliant on the grade.

Fruitygal · 09/03/2022 08:31

@GoldenRuby 95% of kids bring a parent to offer days. There are bits you attend together and bits they do on their own. Often there are things organised for parents while the kids are off doing taster lecturers. It’s super useful to see the accommodation with them as a mum you will spot things they don’t on offer days. Also if there’s tension in the teaching team etc or vague answers given to questions you’ll most likely pick this up. It’ll be such a good investment of time and money. I had a kid on his own adopt us after I spoke to him while waiting fir the welcome talk at York. He found us later in the lunch for biosciences and sat with us for lunch. Mum was working and couldn’t get time off. Even those without anxiety find it overwhelming on their own.

Fruitygal · 09/03/2022 08:36

Revision and finishing content ….. discussed at weekend - Biology will be done by or before Easter hols. So will maths. Geography one teacher will be done in two weeks other been sick since December but in and out for a few hours since Feb so will be end of April …. economics unsure ?!?!

Fruitygal · 09/03/2022 08:40

DD has NEA going in on Sunday?!? Plus still getting 10-12 hrs homework a week! But whiteboard on wheels has arrived and she’s buzzing!!! Revision starting on 15th March for final exams while still has homework and content to learn. Planned 3 parties and seeing both grandparents who are visiting us but not staying in house but close by so she can revise - over easter otherwise head down.

GoldenRuby · 09/03/2022 09:03

Thanks @Fruitygal. I think actually it is really good that she wants to do it. Given the number of rejections this week from St A she isn't holding out much hope there, so this may well end up being her favourite.

crazycrofter · 09/03/2022 09:08

Just had notification that year 11 ds starts study leave on 5th May so just 6 weeks left of school! He finds school, especially the long journey, such a chore and so do I, having to nag him to get up early/drive him if he misses the bus, so I can’t wait! The plan (assuming we manage to move house in time) is for us to live fairly near the school he’s going to for sixth form. No doubt he’ll still be late, but at least he’ll be able to have an extra hour in bed and I won’t spend an hour or more driving him around in the mornings.

crazycrofter · 09/03/2022 09:09

One question - do all schools start morning exams at 9?

Monkey2001 · 09/03/2022 09:16

I don't know whether exams start at 9:00 everywhere, but I am dreading morning exams for DS. I told him we will have to get into a different routine after Easter as he is a real night owl. I think we will have to have a series of virtual clocks going forward!

Hattifatteners · 09/03/2022 09:18

@crazycrofter the schools have an hour window to start their exams between 8.30 and 9.30am. It is up to the school what they choose. My school starts exams at 8.30am.