Thread 31 Covid Cohort - Hopping through Easter and Revision

[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 30

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

Totally off topic but I'm very excited as we've just booked out first summer holiday abroad in 3 years. I can't wait!!

As you were. 😄

She did like the idea of talking me through her revision, and she has been doing some. So I’ve just been told all sorts of things about Henry vi. I might get her to test me on it tomorrow. Dogs just eaten her Easter egg. We’ve done the calculations and it’s not a toxic dose. They have been total knobs today though, so one less is kind of appealing. Should probably add an emoji but they are, like so much of modern life, a mystery to me.😾

Hope you don't get too much 💩from the dog @Zebracat . Glad talking theough the revision was helpful.

@crazycrofter true, not too far and he has surpassed expectations of 6th form and boarding. I do have a tendency to worry!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn exciting, we've just booked our first foreign holiday for several years too, need to dust off those passports.

@Wheresthebeach congrats on firming, Portsmouth is such a great city.

Well done to @Wheresthebeach on the button pressing!

Had a long conversation with DS this afternoon after an email from a teacher about a disappointing mock they gave them first period back after Easter! DS was not aware of it so had not revised and got a disappointing grade. DS is really pissed off that the teacher copied me in, and angry that he didn't know about the mock (although some seem to have known about it 🤔).

Conversation basically boiled down to DS saying we are piling loads of pressure on him, he's doing the work required etc and that is all we ever talk about. We never meant to put pressure on but are not convinced he's doing enough (didn't say the last bit this afternoon). An emotional conversation all round. I said we'd lay off and leave him to it but then had to phone DH who is away with work and tell him that we have to leave DS alone and not hassle him. DH then immediately questions why he got the disappointing grade today, I said I didn't know as unsurprisingly bearing in mind the rest of the conversation, I hadn't asked in detail 🙄. He will take some persuading to leave DS to it, he says he will but we will see.

It's so blinking tricky to get the right balance, I am so scared of him being disappointed and not getting the right results in August but if we continue as we are, we'll totally break our relationship.

Yes, @JustHereWithMyPopcorn and @EasterDecorations ! Where are you going?

@Zebracat you did make me smile with your one less dog comment

@22newnames we're off to Portugal. Haven't been there since DS2 was small so hopefully will be nice to go back. To be honest, at this point I just need somewhere sunny and quiet with a pool and a bar!!

I'm sorry your having trouble with DS, it is such a fine line. DS and I aren't really speaking properly at the moment because I'm tired of his boundary pushing. I think everyone is just stressed and tense at the moment - parents and DCs alike.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn Portugal sounds good!😎

Thanks for the sympathy, it's such a hard age and as you say really difficult for all sides. All we want is the best for them but getting that across without nagging is nigh on impossible. To be fair, he is pretty easy in most ways but this is difficult.

Do you think DS is more pissed off because his teacher copied you in the email?
I ask this as DD has ‘struggled’ for want of a better word to understand why at 6th form she’s still subjected to parents evenings!
in regard to the ‘disappointing mock’ - the mantra in our house is that they are to be treated as a learning curve for the ‘real thing’.
Celebrate what went well and look at what did not.
We would normally start with ‘not enough revision’ - but in your case it appears to be no prior warning?
Has DS had the ‘mock exam script’ back so he see the areas he needs to focus on?

I'm excited to hear people are booking holidays - furthest I've got is just literally booking accommodation in Coventry for the Commonwealth games. Couldn't find anywhere decent in Birmingham without paying silly money so chuffed I found an apartment in Coventry for 2 nights for £210 for all 3 of us. Train is only 20 mins away to Birmingham so all good.

Springing mocks/tests on students is horrible. It's happened to DD a few times and she hates it. She is doing really well revison wise just now. Is mind mapping a lot. Quite pleased with herself and wants to share it with us. DH is being a sound board most evening. I am really worried that when she returns to school next week they will start having mini tests on certain topics - that DD hadn't planned to revise just yet. She has a plan, is happy to adjust her plan but only when it's her decision. She will not like being forced to revise what the teachers want....

I've found that changing some of my settings have improved the new look. Got it back to all on 1 page with latest on the top, and also automatically adding threads to watch list that I am on in case I forget. It's worth playing around with the settings to get it how you want it - well I want it back how it was but .... :-)

Well done on the latest offers - and sorry that some of you are STILL waiting.
Also good to hear of more firming/insuring.

I've had to log DDs plans for the summer on my work spreadsheet just so I can keep on top of it! She is off to Spain, Cornwall, Life guarding course, Commonwealth Games, Spain/Portugal, Results day. then no plans at the moment after that - We are planning on days/overnights camping with our boat as DD will love that too. Need to buy a tire to make it even more fun.

@ProggyMat Well there was definitely not enough (or any?) revision, as there was no prior warning! (Although I am sceptical as some people seemed to know it was happening).

Yes he is very pissed off that the teacher copied me in, also very pissed off that the same teacher set them loads of homework at the start of Easter, on a different topic, which probably took a sold 2.5-3 days to complete plus loads more last night. That teacher does irk him and I also guess he is disappointed with the mark as it is usually one of his solid subjects.

He hasn't got the paper back yet, they only sat it yesterday. I assume they will go through it tomorrow in class. There is another mock in a couple of weeks and the teacher very patronisingly said about it in the email followed by "please revise for this"!

Earlier in the conversation, I had asked him had he thought about what he would do if he didn't get his insurance grades (not yet pressed button but would be AAB). He said he may as well die and be a binman (have to add - nothing wrong with bin men obviously) and why on earth did I think to ask him that question, did I not believe in him? Difficult to say that we only see mock results and so far they haven't shown it. I know he easily has the capability though so fingers crossed his idea of what is needed is accurate.

I really think though for the sake of the relationship we need to back off, say we're always there to talk/help/go through stuff etc (DH can help with 3/4 of his subjects) but otherwise hope he is right and the day in August is a happy one. If not, then we can't be blamed.

To be fair DS is usually pretty easy but this parenting malarky isn't always easy is it?! sigh

Blimey @Heifer your DD will need a rest after that summer schedule !

Well done on her revising

We haven't really got any plans for summer yet. DDs 18th at the end of July and a family day at the Hundred cricket are it so far. DS is staying in his uni city for all but July as he hasn't got accomodation then - thought we might have a family holiday then, but he's announced (during his 3 days home over Easter) that he wants to go interrailing with some mates. Will have to see if DD wants to do anything.

@22Newnames I know - but it's nice for her to have things to look forward too following the crap summers recently. I will make sure she is well rested before heading off to uni!

Re revision - it was only the other week that I said I was really worried she wasn't doing enough (anything) and we argued. I did back off and she started to get on with it. She still says she was revising before but that I didn't see it... But it's all good here at the moment, she seems on top of things and in a good mood. Is going off out tonight clubbing in Liverpool. It's the only club she seems to like (very studenty) and seems safe enough (we've walked past it at night after having a meal out recently). Liverpool City centre on the whole seems ok tbh.

Tomorrow if you see me on here - tell me to get off and get on with our business accounts, they are already late to the accountant and I really MUST do them tomorrow... (terrible role model as I really have been procrastinating) Also have to go through DDs hockey videos for her Alevel and log details of her action (that will take hours) this also needs to be done for Monday.... oh well don't do as I do, just so as I say

Loving the talk of holidays. We will all come out the other side in one piece!

So hard for those still waiting for late offers. Good to see some button pushing.

@22newnames Agree striking balance in discussions about revision is a delicate process. DS certainly wouldn't want to tell me what he has covered each day and I don't have science A levels so am no position to help anyway. DH does but they would end up arguing.

@Heifer as an accountant I'll try and prompt you tomorrow!! Your DD's summer schedule sounds great, wasn't criticising it

DS and I are going away for a few days after the exams to Spain then planning a family week somewhere warm in early September here but nothing booked as we don't know if DS1 will be able to make it. He travels for work so want to know if he'll be in the country or not, and we won't know until nearer the time.

DS has a holiday with his friends, not yet booked and currently has ticket for Reading but is debating selling it and not going.

@22Newnames In your position I would reply to the teacher’s email tonight and copy DS in to ask for them to send you a scanned copy of his script given they’ve chosen to copy you in - but that’s just me!
Tis ‘early days’ and each script is a learning curve .

@heifer dd also has a few things planned this summer, although her passport is out of date so nothing abroad, just volunteering in Cornwall (and staying with some friends there afterwards), a camp in North Wales, a Christian festival and Reading. And ds is doing two weeks of NCS, the same camp as his sister and then a holiday with his friend’s church. We have nothing booked as a family as yet!

Ds is so non-compliant he’s basically stopped doing any homework since about Feb, he just does his two hours revision on Seneca every day! His teachers must be worried about him. I’ve thought about emailing them to say ‘don’t worry he’s actually working but he has to do things his way’!

I’ve totally stepped back from dd except for occasionally offering to take her phone. She’s always been independent, I’ve never seen any of her homework or had any involvement in school stuff since year 6. Well, except when she urgently needed me to cut 500 words from her history NEA!

@22Newnames it's ok I didn't take it as critism tbh - I am just very jealous myself :-) We have a few accountants on her I think so nag away :-)

Loving all the summer plans. I wish DS would plan something. He's going to a gig in August and that's it at the moment. There was talk of a lads holiday in Norfolk but that seems to have gone quiet.
DH and I are trying to fit in a holiday in the sun in early September but no firm plans until after results day.
Meanwhile, yr12 DD is off to Africa volunteering and travelling for three weeks. On her own 😱. Changes of flights, bus journeys, Covid rules....She's totally calm about it. I'll be a nervous wreck until she arrives back into Heathrow.

We are going to the French Alps in mid July. Much to DH's annoyance none of the rest of us like beach/pool holidays - I wouldn't mind without the DCs so long as I can sit in the shade and read I'm fine but both DCs hate beaches and DS is like me and not keen on too much heat. I'd like to fit in a UK break too but it would have to be squeezed into the gap between that holiday and A level results or the gap between GCSE results and DD going back to school. We traditionally go camping for a weekend just before the schools go back.

New layout looks odd and I’ve stopped getting notifications when someone posts on here. I use my mobile but not the app.

great to hear of holidays being booked, we are hoping to book in the next few days but need to clarify with both schools as to what date they actually finish. I assume they just don’t go back after their final exam?

DS1 starts study leave on his first exam day (23rd) but DS2 (GCSEs) isn’t having study leave at all so has to go in on days he doesn’t have exams

@Fiddlersgreen Your DS2 has to go in all the way through his exams? not even study leave after half term?

DD was told a few weeks ago their last official day would be Friday 27th May, after that it's study leave. They were also told, that on their last day there would be : no fancy dress, no teacher skit, no pranks etc. The new(ish) Head banned it all a few years ago (covid since) despite it being a tradition at the school, They are to go to the tennis courts and have their last day "fun" there instead.. DD has no idea what that will involve (hope it's not raining). There are exams in the morning for some apparently but as DD said they could have done this stuff in the afternoon or had the official last day before the exams started but I don't think it has anything to do with exams, it's just the Head doesn't like the traditional last day for Yr 13 stuff. The previous cohorts have done some very funny skits and practical jokes (nothing too bad) in the past so it's a shame.

Mexico booked for July here: nervous of the heat but planning to spend much of the time in or underwater: hoping to revive my diving skills! Ds might try for a week in devon with mates but not much seems to be getting organised!

22 I'm not surprised your DS is irritated, sounds a very passive aggressive email.

All the talk of summer holidays is making me wistful. DD's sport does rather dominate the summer so we're thinking of next Easter...

Fiddler no study leave at all? That's hard !

DD's school has announced an exam prep week. DD was initially sceptical and planning to stay at home as attendance is optional (teachers will be in class during timetabled lessons and students can go in if they want to) but they've now announced that they are going to do a lot of social stuff so the kids relax in the run up to exams - so movies, picnics, games in the field etc so she's now keen.

Plymouth sent DD a 'we wish you the best for the future and thank you for considering us' email after rejecting them which I thought was a nice touch!

IsIt - ohhh diving. We love diving but haven't been since 2019. Mexico is suppose to have some amazing sites.