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

@Shimy it was a topper but I misread- @Monkey2001 suggested a double for a 3/4 bed not a single. - glad I'm too slow off the block to have already bought a double ;-)

DD only got 1 contextual offer (York) and that was because our postcode is something 2 (the other unis only used 1) basically it's a lower area of population going to university. DD felt a bit of a fraud for 5 mins as we live in a very leafy part of the pc, our neighbours consist of an author, artist, retired teachers, surgeon, 2 architects, etc. She happily took it though and used it as an insurance.

@Monkey2001 DD has always loved doing things with DH (running, cycling, fishing) I'm more of a hold their coats sort of person ;-) Although I do love playing tennis with them both.

To add to the duvet/topper conversation, DS1 did have a double duvet (and single topper) for his single bed, mainly for the benefit of his GF's visits. Worked well.

@Shimy yes ds1 went to UEA that year and we made our own thread. No one else on here has firmed Sussex like ds2.

That was my plan - hoping DD will moan less re having a single bed if at least the duvet stays on her :-)

Congratulations on Bristol, Hatti. Lovely offer and sounds like it’s in the bag.

Finally, some encouraging news here - DD got 78% for her English lit NEA, which might turn out to be an A*. Given that it’s 40% of her final grade, her teacher has told her it puts her in a good place for the exams.
She also got a much-waited- for A in a timed essay question on Hamlet, done in class.

Well done to your dd @Alsoplayspiccolo thats a good confidence boost for her! Is she still keen on Birmingham? Or am i getting confused?

That's encouraging {mention:Alsoplayspiccolo}.@Alsoplayspiccolo. Anything that further boosts their confidence is a great thing.
Yes, Bristol offer seems very achievable 🤞

@icanbewhatiwant That was a very excitable thread, and it seems all the dc settled in well and have had a great time. It was one of ds1's choices and he got an offer but ended up going elsewhere (where he is also happy).

@crazycrofter It's a bit weird how they sometimes decide parameters for contextual offers isn't it? Lucky for your DD though.

@Alsoplayspiccolo That's fantatsic news and a great booster needed for her this time. DS did a Geography NEA and I wonder if he might get results soon or maybe it's just specific subjects.

@Shimy I am on the 2019 UEA thread too with DS - I can't believe how fast the last 3 years have gone; he is almost ready to hand in his dissertation. DD on the other hand is still waiting to hear from 2 Unis. On the bright side she did really well in her two NEAs. I'm hoping she gets good news on her Durham college allocation - it looks as if they have started to come out, but she has been involved in something after school so not sure if she has been able to check to see if she has had an email yet.

@GoldenRuby Did she do a Geography NEA? hope she gets her preferred college allocation.

Yes, Birmingham seems to be her first choice, Crazy, although not firmed yet and last night, she was saying she thinks she’s made all the wrong course/uni choices…

Shimy, DD did a geography NEA too, but hasn’t had the marks for that yet.

@Alsoplayspiccolo ooh! Pardon my ignorant question but do you know if they are marked by the school or external markers? I thought it would be externally marked together with their exam so they get just one mark when all results are released but it seems not.

@Shimy yes, she did NEAs for Geography and Product Design. And she got into her preferred college (St John's) - one very happy girl tonight!

@GoldenRuby That's fantastic news!

@GoldenRuby @Shimy I hadn't even realised you were both on here and UEA thread. But then I can't remember anyones name when I see them, let alone a written name.

Shimy, I don't actually know, now you ask! I assumed they would be marked by teachers and then moderated by external examiners, but I'm wondering if that's the case now.

NEA marked by teachers.

Great news Also and Golden. Nice positions to be in.

Been chatting to a friend who's DD is still waiting on Durham, they are climbing the walls.

Hi all !!

New job so crazy few weeks amd really need a big catch up if all the news. DSA all agreed and finance done so focused on revision now.

DD having tears and smiles over revision stress and school finishing - which she has loved.

Downton Abbey film on Saturday as we binged the series over lockdown - DD enjoyed it and revised for rest of weekend. With another dinner and cinema outing one evening for a break.

After DD being close to a breakdown over the NEA geog as poorly near deadline ( worse than EPQ stress ?!?) she was all smiles as very good provisional grade from school (most will go to moderator too)

Durham college allocation today and was very happy with provisional allocation - Did other Durham offer kids hear about college too?

@EwwSprouts did your DS hear Re college today?

DD has pushed the button! Bristol firmed, Nottingham insurance. Now she can really concentrate on the revision 😊

That’s great Hatti. A real relief when button pushed

@Hattifatteners great news! What's the course?
DD STILL waiting on Durham but think Bristol will be the firm choice regardless of what they say.

Anyone else struggling with fitting revision in? DD getting very disheartened. Classes are revision, but not necessarily what DD wants to revise. Most are still setting homework - again revision but usually past paper questions and if DD hasn't revised those topics yet, they are a bit pointless. She has her last mock today - biology. She hasn't got the real thing for that until after half term - it's actually her 5th paper so would have preferred to have been concentrating on other stuff at this stage. She leaves the house at 7.30, rarely home before 4.30, and is already exhausted. She came home last night looking really pale, barely ate dinner and more or less went straight to bed. How are others doing?