Thread 30 Covid Cohort, Mad March Hareing Towards Exams

[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 29

I've made this one a little bit earlier as things are so busy, at home and on thread, so please feel free to use up previous thread first

This whole accommodation bunfight is why we didn't pick Nottingham Trent some years back. It stems both Nottingham Unis do this. Perhaps it makes them think this means all unis have this system?!

ah thank you @Oblomov22 - it was a pleasure to help - and help people that are grateful is even better (not getting the grateful vibes from DD)...

You're right too Ob - this is such a lovely group, I really do hope we keep chatting once they go off their separate ways to whatever is next for our DD/DS. I love that this isn't just about university now. I'm interested also in those that aren't going.

That reminds me, how is @whoamitojudge doing? Any news on your DD flight job?

@Piggywaspushed

This whole accommodation bunfight is why we didn't pick Nottingham Trent some years back. It stems both Nottingham Unis do this. Perhaps it makes them think this means all unis have this system?!

@Piggywaspushed - they must know what others do, I think it's a sneaky tactic. If DD wasn't so keen to go there I would have suggested elsewhere tbh. As it happens it didn't make DD pick them any quicker or put them above any other offer she had so all ok in the end. Glad it's sorted now though and she can concentrate on revising, 1 less decision out of her way. Although do have to look at York next. Also got the appt with the Education Pyschologist on Thursday so need to complete lots of forms beforehand asking about her milestones etc - I really can't remember anything and seems I didn't record much in their little read books...

Still got another week until half term here. Hope those on holidays have fun in the sun (rain).

It is a very sneaky tactic but it's also amazing how insular the whole of education is. At my school, we only ever compare ourselves with one nearby school because an Asst head's daughter is there. We seem never to have a wider picture. My DF lectured at Strathclyde uni. He knew what was going on at Glasgow but had - and still has- a huge lack of knowledge of most of what was going on elsewhere.

I was told by an accommodation person at NTU that 'every university' uses their system!

Hope the Covid isn't too bad CT. It seems everywhere.

The Nottingham accommodation seems a nightmare and its not right that people are forced to do this without all their offers in. I'm stunned Durham as so late, April seems insane. The whole thing needs streamlining.

DD up and about now, DH still really quite ill. Strangely I've decided I'm pleased she got Covid now, so that it's one less thing to worry about in the run up to exams. I think with Covid being as it is, it's madness not to have study leave.

Thanks @heifer although I completely forgot (had it in my head it was definitely 8!) and only saw at 7.45 this morning. I also thought you can only put 3 so dd (or rather I as she was on the train going through a tunnel and couldn’t hear me!) put Rutland single, Sherwood single, Raleigh Park.

I’m getting the opposite of grateful vibes too, as dd told a school friend it opened at 8 and she missed out on the room she wanted in Cripps. Dd feels bad and implies that I also ought to feel bad!

Oh well, at least it’s done. It’s annoying that it’s first come first served, but I’m wondering if it means you’re more likely to get first choice? I’ve heard lots of people at other unis saying they don’t get any of their choices.

Now you say that Piggy I can well believe it - our school seems to copy the Heads old school despite it being a completely different cohort. Even the girls say how is that going to work here?

@crazycrofter - tell your DD that the room in Cripps had already gone at midnight - The Single Plus was DDs 3rd option but it wasn't on offer. Also blame me as it was me that said it opened at 8.00am as that is what I was told by the uni! I only checked at midnight myself because others on sm said it did last year and I hadn't had a recent reply from the uni to clarify it was 8.00am. I don't think anything is disappearing off the list now, I think things that aren't on the list went before today

Not uni related
What's your DCs attitude like atm? It seems that is as a family can do nothing right. I get that she wants to be independent but works it really hurt to crack a smile once in a while?

Thanks @heifer. I didn’t think rooms would be showing as unavailable just yet anyway as they’ve not been allocated.

Glad that’s over with. Now to get our house clear and on the market before revision begins in earnest.

@NCTDN - right now DD is ok, but tonight could be completely different! I keep trying to remind myself she is under a huge strain atm but I totally agree with you there is no need to take it out on us (well me) as she does sometimes. I refuse to walk on egg shells in my own house and tell her sometimes to go back upstairs if she is going to be rude/mean.

NCTDN, many of my posts on here are about DD’s vileness at home currently.
It’s 24/7, wall-to-wall aggressive rudeness; everything we do, say, don’t do, don’t say, is wrong and met with horrible attitude, and worse, by DD.
We’ve tried walking on egg shells, we’ve tried taking it on the chin, saying nothing, bending over backwards, pleading, shouting, threatening, but nothing has made a difference.
Both DH and I are completely worn down by it.

Re Nottingham accommodation. DS said he did it this morning and has a confirmation email that he has applied. Thats it though right - we now wait for an email saying what has been actually given?

@NCTDN DS' attitude is currently good. We really turned a corner attitude-wise a couple of years ago when he got a job. Workwise we still struggle to get him to do any but attitude much better.

@NCTDN Ours seems to hate us, can’t wait to get away, makes all sorts of excuses not to eat with us. Really has a functional approach in that she talks to us when she wants something. I understand that they are under pressure but it’s pretty grim. She’s not biologically ours, and sometimes I think we won’t see her for dust once the exams are over, and that might just be ok. But I have a vague memory that our others may have behaved similarly at this stage, maybe they need to do it in order to leave?

Isn't there a biological need for kids to break away from their parents at this stage. They do it by being so obnoxious & demanding, that you're glad to see the back of them.

However that doesn't really apply in my case as one of my 17 year old twins is lovely & kind and a pleasure to be around whereas the other one is utterly self centred. But then she gets upset when I get furious with her and that makes me feel guilty.

Can any of you recommend an alarm to wake up Ds in the morning. The only thing that works at the moment is a deafening school alarm bell, right outside his room. I'm concerned if he actually gets to uni he will probably sleep though all his lectures & not wake up until it's time for dinner.

Dd is fine but ds has suddenly decided he can’t stand school and it’s a huge struggle to get him in. It’s ridiculous because he’s only got about 3 weeks left. But he’s very extreme when he’s like this, he told me that school had made him suicidal for five years yesterday, which is totally ridiculous

Hope we can all get through this stage and have a lovely peaceful summer!

@ChristopherTracy I think they’ll get an email with their accommodation offer within four weeks.

@cantonet I have no idea but ds is the same, I’m in and out in the morning constantly.

Just Popping in with a question as usual as everyone else is way ahead of us in the whole uni prep process, DS having just received his final offer at the very end end of March.

He just tried to open a student account with Santander as was told he can’t open one until he has his results in hand. I don’t remember this with who I’m sure had his bank account sorted out before he even sat his finals. HSBC same the same thing. Am I mis remembering it ? Do they not open student accounts now so that their maintenance is pain in there on time? It’s now meant he can’t complete his student finance.

What are your dc doing?

I do feel a bit better now thank you! DD can't wait to leave home - well thanks a lot!! I know it's actually a good sign but doesn't make you feel great. We've tried the softly softly approach, ignoring, shouting etc and none of them make a difference. But at least I'm not alone...

And actually reaffirms DDs argument that it's not just her

@Cantonet This is what my heavy sleeper uses Alarm clock for heavy sleeprs

Apologies re: all the typos in my 15:08 post. Hope people can make sense of it. (Got a terrible keyboard that does delayed typing and sticks.)

NCT, I too think the early accommodation thing is disgusting. And what these Unis are doing who still haven't offered, is also questionable.

Both my ds's have been recently vile. Neither deserve the effort I put into helping them.

@Shimy DS has a current account with Halifax which he can use if he decides to actually apply for student finance and firm a university. They said it can be changed in august to a student account with same account details when he gets a confirmed place at university.

@Nard75 thanks for replying. DS also has a current account which I guess he could convert. I just don't understand what's happened to the usual just walk in and open a student account ahead of exam results.