Thread 32 - Corona Cohort 'May' the Mumsnet force be with them for their venture to 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 31

CONGRATULATIONS ZEBRACAT !

Slaters, Miss Bros or even Amazon - DS had to have a dinner suit at 13, and we found one that fitted him on Amazon, icanbe.

collywobble, we had a similar issue with DD’s choices, but she’s firmed the highest requirement one in the hope that they’ll give some leeway on results day. Her insurance isn’t much lower, so she says she’ll take the risk and hope for the best.

Theres no way real way of knowing which unis might drop grades on results day, so I think I’d choose the uni he really wants to go to, in the hope it’ll come good.

@icanbewhatiwant Have you looked at TopMan under ASOS? you might have to get stuff from different shops. Unfortunately TM Lewin has undergoing change of management etc so not available online at the moment. Ebay has some decent shirts by Charles Tyrwhitt. Trousers or shirt from TOPMAN or River Island.

Another place where I've got some gems for the DS's is a shop called 'STAG London'. I don't know if you have one near you? they don't seem to be online but have them dotted around the country. Depending on where you are, there is one the Hatfield Galleria shopping centre. They sell full range of sizes and sell very nice Italian made good quality clothing at very good prices, they also have regular sales, so a very nice cotton fitted shirt for £15 sort of price. They have loads of blazers or suits as well in the type of size you're looking for so it's actually worth a trip to your nearest one just to get everything in one place.

He was originally predicted all As but the momentum has dropped a lot since discovering nightlife at 18 and he's got Bs in his last mocks so we don't really know what he will pull out of the bag on the day. My thinking is that Loughborough might be more lenient if he drops a grade and that's where he wants to go but Lancaster is a safer bet but he's just not as keen as it doesn't have the nightlife he would like now he's discovered it. Which might not be a bad thing thinking about it

ASOS quality should be fine. However to ensure a decent fit I would take him to a big Zara. He’ll get something there at a decent price.

@Shimy he's checking out ASOS now thanks. He wants pale grey. I've ordered age 14 shirts to try from next and a small mens shirt. The kids suits just don't look the right shape.
I looked up the stag London shop, the Hatfield one is our nearest at just over 100 miles away. I just measured his neck 12" he's skinny.
@Delphigirl thanks. If we have no luck we will try Zara. There is one in Norwich, though no idea whether it's a big one. I'm not one for shops and never go to Norwich usually.

I don’t know these Unis collywobble but still remember the advice given to me when trying to decide on DD’s secondary school.

Whilst not undergoing the same growth and development (like puberty in the mix), try and see where may be best across the 3/4 years vs just freshers. Their needs will change, and hopefully, so will maturity, so where might be best across the UG duration vs just the 18 year old DC they are now?

@icanbewhatiwant STAG London go all the way from teenage sizes in suits etc to men's so they should have his size in jackets, trousers and shirts but 100miles is a bit of a trek!

@collywobble - in that case I think he should choose as his insurance the one he would rather go to - ie Loughborough. If he gets three Bs they will probably take him anyway and if he does worse (unlikely from what you are saying), then there will be lots of things in clearing this year, and he can sit down and work out what he wants.

@icanbewhatiwant Look up Suit Direct. DS got a suit for a wedding at one of their stores at an outlet. Or Next have a reasonable choice.

Thanks @Delphigirl I think that's the way he's swaying to and what I needed to hear . I'm scouring the Student advice boards on leniency at Loughborough to try and get a feel for it but I guess nobody knows until the day but like you say there's always clearing or even next year if nothing else .

@Icanbe Tk Maxx is good for small size Italian suits in really good quality fabrics. I bought ds2 one for school socials.
I've also bought ds1's suits for six form from H&M. There's lots of slim cut styles as D's wanted an on trend look - not M&S or Next. The wool mix jackets & trousers are very good. Plus they do lots of small sizes.

Incidentally a discovery I've just made that if my school emails go frustratingly unanswered, a sharp email follow up always get answered. Has anyone else found this?
I can't believe it's taken me until late 50's to learn this .

@EwwSprouts thanks. The only suits he likes on the next website are sold out in smaller sizes.

He's ordered one to try from ASOS. We will see what it is like.

@collywobble there were lots of Lancaster DC on a thread I was on when DS1 started university and they all had an amazing time socially, the townhouses seemed to have a real buzz during the dire 2020 Fresher week which was not experienced anywhere else. I agree with @Delphigirl that he should choose an insurance that he actually wants. May also be worth comparing accommodation policies for insurance offer holders. To get an indication of actual grades accepted you can look a The Student Room for last year or look the courses up on discoveruni.gov.uk

Thank you I will take a look at those and see if I can get more information. I'm sure he will be fine wherever he ends up in fairness he's pretty laid back- well almost horizontal!

Still getting my head round this new site update. I'm up to date with reading the posts but can't go back and see who said what so sorry I can't put names.

Lots of the posts are in bold for me too - very weird.

DD also doesn't seem to have a prom either (there was talk of one but nothing has been forthcoming so teachers prob can't be bothered) and no muck up day planned either. DD loved seeing the costumes on muck up day and had planned hers years back.

There was talk on gifts a while back: DD has made homemade bookmarks for each of her teachers as presents and tailored them to their subject, their interests and fave colour - she has been nonchalantly asking questions about all that for weeks. I think she will also write cards to her favourites esp those who have been so helpful and kind.

No study leave granted either and she's attending before school revision sessions as well as some after school ones too. She now just wants the exams to start in some ways as she's worried she'll get burn out. She feels stressed she says but she seems to be coping well - I'm constantly popping in to her room with drinks and snacks and last night we watched Derry Girls together.

Well done to all those who have pressed the button - they have til June 9th or something don't they to finalise? Is May 19th the last day for uni offers?

The French speaking exam went well apparently. One down, eight to go.

I also need to take DS suit shopping. He's never worn a formal school uniform - it's always been polo shirts and hoodies so getting him in a shirt, tie and jacket will be interesting 👔

Piggy ds1 is going to buy a posh bottle of wine, and write a notelet for his favourite sociology teacher. She's the only one he's doing it for.

Oh that's nice!

I got told I was 'just too nosy' today and 'no one likes me'.

Not by a sixth former, I hasten to add!!

@Piggywaspushed Was that said jokingly??? I honestly can't imagine saying to someone, 'No one likes you' such a spiteful thing to say.

Nope ; not a joke!!

Apologies all for inserting this question but a very good friend just told me they're in a quandry over Kings v Leeds and I remembered I read something about the woeful situation at Leeds and lack of face to face in some departments. I cannot remember which thread it was and I didn't contribute to it so do not have it stored in my list of threads but definitely read it somewhere and would like to share it with this friend's dc, so if anyone remember's this conversation or thread pls direct me to where it is. Thanks

@Piggywaspushed Well I hope they shared their survey with you ?

(It wasn't a colleague I hope?)

Piggy
Cheeky monkey!

Not a colleague, no! Wouldn't put it past some of them.... 😉

I’m sure your pupils are very appreciative @Piggywaspushed - if not now, I’m sure they will be when they look back as mature adults! It sounds like you put loads of effort in.

Im sure ds’ history teacher thinks he’s unappreciative as he’s known for ‘falling asleep’ in her lessons! However he often focuses much better with his eyes closed and he tells me she’s the best teacher in the school. I doubt he’d ever send her a thank you card though 😬 Maybe I should?’