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

Solidarity with you Also. DS did mocks in December and got BCD when he needs AAB. That's it, no more mocks or before the real thing. He thinks he's going to get AAB, but if I had to bet I'd go for BBC on a good day. Like you, I'm starting to dread August.

@Monkey2001 fingers crossed for DS and the waiting lists. Could I ask you again about his A level subjects, I know we discussed it a while back. It's just that DD is choosing hers now and we had a teams meeting with her head of 6th form yesterday (all three of us have got covid). DD has chosen history, biology and psychology and the teacher warned her it could restrict choices if she wanted to pursue medicine/vet/dentistry and that chemistry would be better than one of the other sciences. DD says she doesn't, indeed she doesn't know what she wants to do longer term hut has chosen based on her favourites/strengths. As chemists ourselves DH and I kind of agree that its the most useful all-round science subject but as DS hates science we haven't looked into it this time round.

@PaddingtonPaddington - thanks for the reminder re DSA, with the Covid it had gone out of my head temporarily, I want to try and book for the Easter holidays if possible, will look into that today.

@Alsoplayspiccolo - sympathy re exam stress, worry about literacy etc. While DS has improved a lot it still worries me that if he does pick the history route his standard of written English will be found wanting, he still writes entire paragraphs consisting of one very long sentence, gets their/there muddled up etc.

Just sharing this info as significant sum. Open to students starting this autumn, for those in low income households and care leavers, closes 31/3/22.

www.groundwork.org.uk/one-stop-scholarship-programme/

• Courses that we will accept include Computer Science, Computing, Business & Computing, Mathematics, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Environmental Science, Sustainable Development, Environmental management, Environment and sustainability.

I'm now thinking that this whole predicted grades thing is a nightmare.

I think there has been talk of changing it around so only actual grades are used. That's what happened when I was a student in Canada. You got your final grades in May, sent them off to the Uni's you'd applied to and got told yeah or nay.

Predicted grades mean that the pressure is huge to meet them, if I remember correctly someone said most don't meet them so the kids automatically feel like they've done badly.

If feel like each grade is predicted in a vacuum of 'on a good day, with an exam that goes your way, you will get this mark'. But of course it doesn't take into account the exhaustion of the process, that each exam won't go their way etc. The whole thing is designed to be a nightmare of stress.

There's no way DD is going to get an A in Chemistry the way things are going. Teachers say she knows the content but she's stressing so much she's making silly mistake. We'd be over the moon with a B at this stage. I don't want to push her to accept Portsmouth, but right now, as she liked it so much, I really think her stress levels would drop if she would. Can't wait for open day at Swansea, then hopefully she'll hit buttons.

I just googled it and this is what I've read:

The system of predicted grades is inaccurate. Only 16% of applicants achieved the A-level grade points that they were predicted to achieve, based on their best three A-levels

Is it that far off reality?

What's the point of them then? I also think they're ridiculous because there's no standard between schools so really they are meaningless. there has to be a better way.

For Ds1 predicted gcse grades and predicted A levels were almost spot on. So I'm trusting the school for Ds2. He doesn't seem that bothered about exams, but it's difficult to tell with him. He told me last week he'd got his exam timetable. I asked last night (when I got back from being away at my mums) what his timetable is like, are the exams spaced out or close together etc. he replied he doesn't know he hasn't looked yet. I noticed there is a big brown envelope in his bag, I hope it's not got anything that needs signing as he won't look at it. Apparently school hadn't mentioned student finance, so none of his mates have applied, Ds is reluctant to fill his in, he has created an account, at least that's a start.
I'm glad to be home after my trip down south. Though I do enjoy walking by the sea, so I'll miss that.

So some news here, we have withdrawn Warwick and firmed Nottingham, insurance Queen Marys! Wedid that to try and get the accommodation that DS wanted. He loved Nottingham.

I literally got a 20 minute explanation of all the engineering facilities and then another 15 mins on the sports hall! That's unheard of for DS.

DD did her student finance application last night and it didn't take long at all. Now I need to get on and do the parent bits.

I still haven't had that finance conversation with exdh. I have saved enough to cover my portion of the maintenance top up but I know that will cause anger on the other side that I haven't saved half the fees as well.

That's great news @ChristopherTracy. Glad he loved Nottingham. I'm hoping DD will finally firm next week after her mocks.

@crazycrofter. When it works it's pretty straightforward :-) DD has her amount now (although not received any email ets - I can see the status in her account. We have to resubmit ater April 1st as our salaries have dropped massively from 20/21 to now. It's odd that for 22 uni entrance they want either 20/21 salary or 22/23 estimate and nothing re 21/22.

@ChristopherTracy - which accommodation does your DS want?

What accommodation is dd going for @heifer? Dd is completely undecided between catered and self-catering.

Broadgate park I think - it is the only self catered on campus according to him @Heifer

Pleased you've decided CT.

I'm a bit worried about having no info re Nottingham. Reading have invited ds to an open day next week 22nd, prior to PwC making their decision on Friday 25th. But no news from Nottingham.

@ChristopherTracy we looked at Raleigh Park self-catered. It’s near the Jubilee campus so it’s about a 30 min walk to the academic buildings area of the main campus - but there’s a free bus from Jubilee campus, about 5-10 mins walk away. Whereas Broadgate Park is right outside the main campus but on the wrong side so it’s at least a 20 min walk and no bus! Raleigh Park is cheaper too.

thanks @crazycrofter good info.

Glad you have made decisions @ChristopherTracy and that the engineering facilities impressed so much

@ChristopherTracy

Broadgate park I think - it is the only self catered on campus according to him *@Heifer*

We would have done same if Dd considered Notts. Looks fab, glad some decisions been made.

@ChristopherTracy it is so lovely to see them excited about the future, good to hear he has pressed buttons!

@EventuallyDelighted this is the summary of A level requirements for medicine. Chemistry and Biology give the most medicine options.
Biology and Psychology leave 10 medical school choices, but not the London ones apart from Barts. The most important thing for medicine is getting AAA, for medicine there is no point in doing Chemistry unless she is confident she can get an A. I think it is sad to see the number of applicants who take Chemistry just for Medicine and then don't manage to get an A, so they would have been better off with another subject.

DS1 did 3 sciences and maths in Y12, dropped Biology after AS as it was taught badly at his school (no A*s in 2017-2019), it made no difference to him not having Biology. DS2 started Y12 with double maths, physics and PE, expecting to do engineering. When he realised he wanted to do Medicine he dropped FM and did Y12 Chemistry in Y13.

A level subject requirements

Chem + 2 other sciences (Bio, Phys or Maths)
Most Cambridge colleges

Bio and Chem + anything else
Aston
Birmingham
Brighton and Sussex
Cardiff
Edge Hill
Exeter
HYMS
Imperial
King's
Lincoln
Nottingham
St George's
UCL

Chem + 1 other science (Bio, Phys or Maths) + anything else
Aberdeen
Bristol
Buckingham
Dundee
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Liverpool (3rd subject academic)
Oxford
QUB
St Andrews
UCLAN (3rd subject academic)

Bio + 1 of (Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography) + anything else
Southampton

Bio or Chem + another maths/science + anything else
ARU
Leeds
Barts
Sunderland

Bio or Chem + another maths/science/psychology + anything else
Manchester
Plymouth
Sheffield
Kent and Medway
Leicester
Keele

2 out of (Bio, Chem, Psychology) + anything else
Lancaster

Bio or Chem plus any other 2
UEA

Any 3
Newcastle

That's an interesting list. I wonder if each uni produces different kinds of doctors?

@Wheresthebeach

I just googled it and this is what I've read:

The system of predicted grades is inaccurate. Only 16% of applicants achieved the A-level grade points that they were predicted to achieve, based on their best three A-levels

Is it that far off reality?

That's based on UCAS predictions though - I do wish universities would stop perpetuating this myth that teachers can't predict. UCAS grades are always more generous.

It's also a bit unfair to say all three have to be correct! They are meant to be predictions which, by their very nature, are guesses!!

DS's UCAS predictions are A A A. He could get anywhere from 3 A*s to BBB , I reckon.

What are UCAS predictions / grades Piggy? How do they differ from teachers predicted grades?

@crazycrofter

What accommodation is dd going for *@heifer*? Dd is completely undecided between catered and self-catering.

DD isn't thinking about uni at the moment - in the middle of mocks so I haven't mention anything but I am going to be heavily pushing catered for DD. I truly believe it will be best for her. Even more social than self catered and easier for her just to turn up to eat. One less thing to think/worry about. I will be pushing for the 31 weeks contracts as it's so much cheaper but fully understand she may not get those so am willing to take the hit if she doesn't. Ideally we should be going for the cheapest option available and self catered but DD isn't the kind of child for cheapest (our fault I'm sure) she wouldn't want the cheapest, and I would worry that it would end costing us more in the long run as she may ask for more money to pay for food or she may go the other way and be tight with money and not eat properly. All in all for her 1st yr we are willing to pay to make it easier and less stressful for us all. We can then stick to what we offer ££ to help knowing if she asks for more it's because she is spending too much elsewhere and can say no :-) The plan is to help her learn to cook/food budget properly ready for Yr2...

@ChristopherTracy

Broadgate park I think - it is the only self catered on campus according to him *@Heifer*

Broadgate is listed as just outside campus but literally across the road so near enough :-) It looks nice.

@crazycrofter - I get that technically Jubilee may be nearer timewise to the pyschology block by catching the bus, but I would worry that other people on the course could be on University Park? As i've said to DD 20 mins walk isn't exactly far - but she has said the same re catered near to Broadpark!. She has had to walk 20 mins to school since 3 yrs old so used to it by now....