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

I'm back Thank you @Isthisjustnormal and @Heifer for trying to get me back on here. I could read the posts when not logged in, but when logged in couldn't even see the thread!!
Lots of catching up to do now...

@Oblomov22 yes we're still waiting on Durham

We have just had a new boiler so sympathies there.

DS suddenly seems to have his appetite back, just like the flick in a switch. Bizarre but good!

Mock today went well apparently. Will see when he gets the actual results.

Glad you have good news @Volterra.

Thank you all very much, so good to have something positive and there is a possibility DS might join her there 🙂 Crazycrofter that really sucks with the boiler. Family member's house went on market and had 10 viewings booked within a couple of hours, madness.

@Volterra yes, it was crazy how easily and quickly we sold. Last time we moved it took 18 months! And now the buyers will get a new boiler too!

Fingers crossed for everyone still waiting, especially @Monkey2001 . Has he got a good plan B for a year out?

@Piggywaspushed hope ds’ EPQ presentation goes well!

Thanks @Hattifatteners I don't think the school are deliberately being difficult tbh, but the problem is that my assessor really does believe DD has filled the criteria. She has said that "to reassure you, I attend detailed training on JCQ regs every year and I hold the relevant practising certificate required by JCQ to assess for access arrangements. My understanding of this academic year’s training indicates that she meets the criteria, and I will be putting this in the report. The school may not agree with me, but they can contact JCQ and ask for this to be clarified". She goes on to show how DD complies so I've just emailed the school again with this info and have asked them to take another look and to phone the JCQ if they don't agree etc - I've said I know it's cheeky to ask but the extra time would be so helpful to DD.

My problem is that how do I know if the person at school is right or not? I have no idea what the reply will be but it's worth offending them to ask. I don't know where else to go for a 2nd opinion with DDs scores so this is all I can do.

Looks like lots to catch up on, so I will take a read later and be back. Hope all goes well @Piggywaspushed for DSs EPQ today (ridiculous timeframe).

@crazycrofter AAHHHHH re boiler - that does suck.

Good luck to your DS today @Piggywaspushed 🤞🏻🍀

Thanks @crazycrofter if he doesn't get an offer this year he will be doing A level Chemistry next year and will try to get a job as a hospital porter and do a diploma in piano or singing. He is also auditioning for National Youth Choir, and medicine application is a pretty big task, so should be busy enough!

@Heifer You are right. There is no way for you knowing if the person at school is right either. There is no harm in asking.

Yes, good luck to your DS @Piggywaspushed, from all you have said about him, it sounds like he s should do an excellent presentation.

Good luck to your DS @Piggywaspushed and fingers crossed for everyone still waiting on offers. Bad luck about the boiler @crazycrofter that's all you need when moving.

@Piggywaspushed Hope the EPQ presentation goes well.

@Heifer Fingers crossed you get a positive response from school. You've got your DD's back and that's the best a parent can do.

How frustrating for the DC of @Monkey2001 @NCTDN and others still waiting for late offers. We need the power of MN to come good one more time. It does not instil confidence in those universities that can't sort themselves out in three months.

Thanks everyone! However, in yet another example of chaotic communication, it turns out it is next Wednesday!!

Ooh, that must have been a welcome turn of events Piggy, a little more breathing space to get prepared?

Crazy, we recently had a new boiler supplier and fitted for free, under the government efficiency scheme. Worth looking into?

Monkey, that sounds like a very productive gap year. Hopefully, he won't need it, but it's great he's got substantial plans just in case.

That must have been a relief Piggy, at least having a week to prepare is reasonable.

Gosh Hatti if they are doing inspections now does that mean kids could lose extra time just before their exams? They seem to make it harder every few years. With DD I remember some schools saying that they don't allow extra time in exams until the exam years as its so awful to have to take extra time away at the last minute if there are changes. DD school had the attitude of 'let them see what they are capable of, and we can work on techniques for speed after we've build their confidence up in terms of them believing they know the content'. Its such a difficult situation. I really feel that they ought to give a years notice of changes as it impacts the kids so much to lose extra time.

@wheresthebeach I guess the inspections at moment is to see if the schools have done their paper work properly. Although, I do know schools where the students did have extra time in their GCSEs, but no longer got it this summer for their A-levels as their school didn't make the application under the old rules whilst they were still in Y12 and they did not meet the criteria under the new rules. (A new application needs always to be made when a student moves from CGSEs to GCEs.)

Hatti - gosh it's a minefield. Its so hard on parents, and students.

Great news for DD is that the school is now happy to make an application for extra time and are gatheing evidence etc... I am so grateful for this group as you've taught me that I need to push harder for things. Years ago I would definitely have accepted the first response from school that they can't apply and that would have been the end of it. Fingers crossed DD gets it but I've done all I can now.

The bad news is that the accommodation we have booked to watch the Commonwealth games in Birmingham in Aug- have cancelled - siting family illness.. I really hope that haven't cancelled just so they can readvertise for more ££. It was a good deal which is why we booked it - took ages to find something suitable and now back to square 1 - nothing on the scale some of you are experiencing though so just a slight niggle.

At least we don't have to pay for a new boiler for the next home owner ;-)

@Piggywaspushed good news it's a week later.

Fingers & toes crossed for those still waiting.

Today's drama for me was a pigeon deciding to fly at my car. Took my wing mirror clean off.

That's fab @Heifer . Glad they are now supporting DD. Fingers crossed it all comes through.

That happened to DH once, gave him quite a shock (I expect it wasn't great for the pigeon either).

I am having a frazzled week with DS, his BTEC sport exam is looming and they have to do some prep work under controlled conditions in class this week and next and he'a stressed, I'm stressed because it's messing about his work experience which I have to take him there and back from and it's very complicated and I can't even begin to explain properly. Anyone who thinks BTECs are an easy option is mistaken IMO.

Hope to catch up a bit more later

So pleased Heifer.
Oh dear Piggy.