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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:
crazycrofter · 09/03/2022 09:28

Eek 8.30! Another night owl here @Monkey2001. I’m dreading the exam period! Most of his exams are morning, the school says they must be in by 8.40. I’ve already decided to drive him in for all of them in case buses play up, which often happens. But dd also has some exams at 9 on the opposite side of the city. She gets the train, and it’s generally reliable (except in Oct/Nov) but I’m already a bit worried about the potential for there to be trains down. We only have one car. I guess dd will need to get an Uber. Actually, I’ve just checked and there’s only 4 days where they both have morning exams so that’s not too bad

Heifer · 09/03/2022 09:33

DDs mocks have been/are 9.00 & 1.30pm

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCroissant · 09/03/2022 09:49

I have completely laid off even asking about revision to Dd it just seems to cause arguments /increase anxieties. I have to have trusting her self-motivating abilities now or never her now, she does talk about how much time she dedicates but not in hours, she also has a study tiktok - that gives me some hope.

Sorry to hear about the covid @22Newnames.

As someone said @EwwSprouts their loss, great to have Durham in the pocket!

OP posts:
icanbewhatiwant · 09/03/2022 10:28

I asked Ds about reminding, he said it's too early to revise and that he's got far too much coursework to do at the moment. He handed his EPQ in last week, the teacher marking it is now off with covid. So he has a wait to hear how he's done. Not only that but the teacher is his best mates mum. The lad is the only one of his friends to have not had covid yet apart from Ds. Ds is sitting beside him in most lessons. Ds thinks it's funny and keeps chanting "it's coming home, it's coming home, covid's coming home" what do I do with him? I have to just laugh really.

I tried to get him to fill out student finance forms at the weekend. He said no, they haven't been told to do it at school so he's not doing it. Then when I was at work Tues he text asking for place of birth so I knew he'd started them. When I got home he asked for a hand. So he filled in the first part creating an account. Then the next part said it will take 30 mins. He looked at his phone and said no they've all started the fifa game online without me. He promptly shut the pc down. It is so hard to get him to do anything I want him to do.

Fiddlersgreen · 09/03/2022 10:35

[quote Seeline]@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!![/quote]
Gosh that’s so harsh isn’t it?!

Wheresthebeach · 09/03/2022 11:29

Sorry about the covid 22, hope its a mild case.

Fiddlersgreen I feel for your DD. In those situations we're stuck with saying slightly daft things like 'at least you've got lots of time in between exams, with a wild burst of energy for a couple of days'.

Wheresthebeach · 09/03/2022 12:25

DD has just texted - rumour is no study leave. She's beside herself.

Piggywaspushed · 09/03/2022 16:24

We juts had it confirmed today that we have none - or not until May half term anyway.

Heifer · 09/03/2022 16:32

I am really hoping that DDs school will at least do it after May half term - that would only be 1 week of exams whilst in school (and only 2 exams for DD)

sofakingcool · 09/03/2022 16:34

I've just asked DS, he says they are having study leave from May half term

crazycrofter · 09/03/2022 16:37

I’m not sure what DD’s school are doing but I really hope she gets study leave. She works better on her own. Ds will have one week before the GCSE exams begin, then he’ll only have to be in school for exams.

Monkey2001 · 09/03/2022 16:53

It is hard to get it right for everyone isn't it? I am glad DS is at school until half term as he would not do much studying without the structure of school. He would think 3 hours/day was loads if they were off timetable, but will have 3 hours in lessons and another hour or 2 at home as exams get close if still at school.

Wheresthebeach · 09/03/2022 16:53

I'm assuming...that they aren't expected to be in school when exams are on? Our May half term doesn't start til the 30th, but exams start for some on the w/c May 16th. They can't expect kids to be in class, and doing exams???

Wheresthebeach · 09/03/2022 17:05

Once classes are over - how many hours a day are everyone's DD/DS planning to study?

Just worried DD isn't doing enough!

sofakingcool · 09/03/2022 17:07

@Monkey2001

It is hard to get it right for everyone isn't it? I am glad DS is at school until half term as he would not do much studying without the structure of school. He would think 3 hours/day was loads if they were off timetable, but will have 3 hours in lessons and another hour or 2 at home as exams get close if still at school.
DS would be the same, although he doesn't really have a great deal of structure as he's at sixth form college so some days he's only in for one 2 hour lesson! However, it at least gets him up and moving.

I think an early study leave for him would equal many extra hours of sleep.. Hmm

sofakingcool · 09/03/2022 17:09

@Wheresthebeach

Once classes are over - how many hours a day are everyone's DD/DS planning to study?

Just worried DD isn't doing enough!

Not a great deal. DS has never been a studier, so he's bar has always been set pretty low, so his idea of ramping up the study has been going from probably an hour a week per subject to two hours?! I'm stressed about it, he's cool as a cucumber. He's firmed a place which has one of his grades needing to be one up from predicted, so I'm praying he pulls it out of the bag.

Actually dreading August Sad

Nard75 · 09/03/2022 17:20

DS1 study leave starts 11 May and DS2 year 11 starts 6 May.

sofakingcool · 09/03/2022 17:23

@Nard75

DS1 study leave starts 11 May and DS2 year 11 starts 6 May.
Fun summer in your house then?! Exams, exams, exams! ShockGrin
Decorhate · 09/03/2022 18:21

@scabby1 Has your Ds heard anything about offer holder days at Bristol or Leeds yet?

PaddingtonPaddington · 09/03/2022 19:03

DDs not sure about study leave yet but prefers the structure of school for revising. She’s doing mocks this week and recording her music performance (30% of A level) too so is a bit overwhelmed.

Student finance approved already. Waiting to hear on the DSA approval but the person I contacted seemed to think the evidence I’ve submitted is sufficient so fingers crossed.

Oblomov22 · 09/03/2022 19:04

Ds has confirmation that his student finance is completed, so that's a relief.

We have a school parent and child meeting with leadership, but the date was Durham Offer day, so I've asked for appointment to be re-scheduled.

Wheresthebeach · 09/03/2022 19:16

I guess as we're doing a GAP year I'll have to do all the finance stuff next year? Need to look into that. Would prefer to do it now, so it's done - otherwise I'm going to have to put reminders into every calendar we've got!

NCTDN · 09/03/2022 19:27

@Fruitygal I'd appreciate that article. DD has weeks with none then two on the same morning and another the next morning. Typical!

NCTDN · 09/03/2022 19:27

I also think the clash of Spanish and English would be quite common?

Fruitygal · 09/03/2022 19:51

@NCTDN here are the JCQ www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/blogs/supporting-exams-officers-with-timetable-clashes/

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