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

NCTDN, I really hope you get some news very soon. I don’t know what to say on the variance of offers for the likes of Durham and Edinburgh, so many at DD’s school have been rejected with clean sweep of top marks (actual/covid grades for GCSEs and predicted A levels) or been given offers 2/3 grades higher then the entry.

I can only think languages are less popular and therefore not been hit it this way, all DD’s offers have been same as the entry requirements.

Thank you @seeline & @justhere.
I've told DH that.
I've been hassling him for weeks to fill the student finance form.
Happy Birthday to @Shimy Ds for tomorrow & @Piggies Ds a couple of days ago 🎉. 🤫 the forecast isn't very good tomorrow I believe.
DS has completed all Business Studies coursework & exams and has been told he's got a definite distinction. I hope his teacher is right, because it will still need to be moderated surely?

I think they get moderated module by module and you can get a distinction in the bag early because you don't have to get one in every module. One of DS's BTEC teachers told us at Christmas that they had three modules to go and DS only needed a distinction in one of them to get one overall. Or something like that.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn That was exactly what we were thinking, that was until DS said he was feeling very unwell and just tested positive too . So don't think anything will be happening anymore.

@Nard75 Well done to your DS that's a load off his shoulders. Got that one in the bag!

@ealingwestmum & @Cantonet Thanks for your well wishes. We'll try and make the most of it however we can. Someone will pick up the cake, I spotted dh had champagne in the fridge. All the disappointed cousins though

@Cantonet @icanbewhatiwant The well done above was supposed to be to your dc to. Well done them!

Oh shimy, that's crap. Sorry yo hear this. Champagne going on ice I guess.

@Cantonet it sounds like your Ds has done similar to mine with business studies. I think it's called applied business. Ds has had the written exam result. Then the teacher marks the coursework, I think a few student papers are selected at random for marking, to check the teacher has marked correctly. Also there's the option to re take the written paper.

Thanks @Shimy it's hard to keep up on here with who to congratulate (or commiserate)

Well done Nard 🚗

NCT it may be worth contacting Durham. I think I saw last week on a wiwik: attached. At least you'd know, even if it was a rejection?

Cariad, does your school allow resubmission of EPQ? I only ask because ds's do. He was told he was 1 mark off on A*, so did some more work on it, and re-submitted it this week.

Heifer and others, do you have any pictures taken of Nottingham accommodation? We couldn't get in to see. Someone posted this week about buying bedding for single bed or extra large bed. How do you know what's included, ie if I need to buy ds1 a bedside table lamp?

Oh @Shimy that's really bad Covid timing for you & your Ds. I hope you both don't feel too bad & can have as nice a day as possible tomorrow.
I am another one really bad at remembering any posts more than the last two. As I invariably MN on my phone.
@Icanbe yes that sounds about right.
It must be Applied Business, as many of his class are retaking the finance section apparently.

Thanks all for the commiserations.
First time DH & I have been out to have a bit of fun, it was bound to happen, we couldn't be hermits forever (which is why it took so long for anyone to contract it).

Aw what a shame @Shimy 😢 can it be rearranged for another weekend? My parents suddenly asked yesterday if dd was having a family do for her 18th. It hadn’t occurred to me but she seemed to like the idea so we’ll do it the week after exams (birthday is in half term).

I’ve been over covid for a week or so now, but still have the annoying cough. I was glad to get it out of the way (2nd time) before exams although of course we could get it again!

@Oblomov22
It tells you on the accommodation page what to expect. Re bed size that will depend on room type. BUT even though DD has single bed she will still be taking double duvet and cover. I will have to buy her a single matress topper and single sheet that's all. I've already bought 2 sets of duvet/pillow cases + new double duvet so that will do (will be more comfortable anyway).

Hope this helps

Accommodation options
Every room comes equipped with a bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, bookshelves, noticeboard, desk lamp, personal door lock, coat hooks, mirror, and power sockets. Rooms also have Wi-Fi.

Single Study
shower - Shared bathroom with 5 person(s)
Single bed

Single Study Plus
shower - Shared bathroom with 5 person(s)
3/4 bed

En-suite
shower - En-suite bathroom
Single bed

@Shimy sorry to hear about Covid spoiling the 18th plans. Same happened to DS just after Christmas. He ended up sharing his sister's 17th party at home in March. They have a lot of the same friends anyway so it seemed to work.

@Crazy & @mummyinbeds DS2 is 21 in August so a joint party might be the answer but ds1 is very introverted and we wanted the party (if he lets us plan one) be all about him. DS2 is more gregarious and his friends will just takeover, but I can see it working somehow, a little tweaking here and there.

'DS1' i meant, is 21 in August.

Thank you kindly Heifer.
Sorry to hear that Shimy.

Oh @Shimy , that’s rubbish, I’m so sorry.
@Oblomov22 , I’m not sure if school will allow a resubmission, it might be worth her asking the question on Tuesday. Thanks for the suggestion.

@Shimy oh no, what a shame!! 🙁 Maybe just a delayed celebration in a week or so? In the meantime I hope neither of you feel too rough with it.

Sorry to hear about the covid @Shimy but hopefully you still have a good day tomorrow and get the party rearranged.

Happy Birthday to little @Shimy Hope you can still have a celebration of some sort

Happy 18th to mini @Shimy for tomorrow. I hope you are all well enough to enjoy cake and fizz. Treat him to delivery of his takeaway of choice?

@Shimy sorry to hear you and DS have covid, what rubbish timing!

Happy belated birthday to the little @Piggywaspushed and to young @Shimy - hope he can still feel he has celebrated despite the covid fly in the ointment.

Yesterday was 'making your mind up' day for ds - having been set on Bath as first choice fairly solidly, he went back through all the course info and re-evaluated, and I think we are now with York (Comp sci and maths) as first choice. They are really similar places in lots of ways, and I personally loved York and think the college system will suit him, but it's a loonnnggg way away (5 hours + in the car, although the train is much quicker) and I'm stressing slightly that their accommodation opened ages ago on a first come first served basis.... I know we have some York experts on the thread: any recommendations for colleges for a non-drinking, slightly nerd teen??? Anywhere with an esp good reputation for pastoral? (He's also a massive birdwatcher, so is loving the idea of being near a lake to watch the ducks, which I realise is pretty much all the colleges!)

@Shimy thats rubbish timing, how annoying.
my DS had some horrible sick bug which meant he missed school and couldn’t revise. Wasn’t COVID but he lost 7kg in a week, which he’s not happy about (gym freak).
DS2 has his first set of exams this week, he is finally putting some work in. I’m trying to let both just get on with it. It’s going to be a tough couple of months.
@Monkey2001 still thinking of you and your wait. Hope it isn’t too much longer.

Poor @Shimy junior, a memorable 18th for the wrong reasons ☹️. Hope he gets through the Covid lightly and it does not affect his ability to revise.

Prom on Friday. DS can just about squeeze into his DJ jacket (which was on the large side before), but there is no way the pre-gym bunny trousers will do, so got some basic black trousers from Asda.

Thanks @sazzy5 , he is managing to put it to the back of his mind.