Thread 33 - Lovely Jubbly Jubilee Break, then back 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. Possibly a move to Parent of Adult Children Board in future?
previous thread

How is the weather @Oblomov22 ? Hope you're having a well deserved break.
I suggested DD wait re Freshers Week tickets - there are so many types (some with dates before her accommodation opens). I had read previously some students thought they ones they bought beforehand were a waste of money as other people they made friends with weren't going etc and they bought new tickets once there. But if he is chatting already to people then I guess he can suss out what they are buying (assuming they get the grades) .... ;-)

DD not talking to anyone yet - she wants to wait until exams over and possibly even get results to make sure she is going there (and the people she is chatting to). She plans to get on facebook (she says it's for middle aged people).

DD completed her "chat" with DSA earlier in the week. Had me sit in the office with her whilst she did a video chat - it was really good. They have recommended loads of software and support to help her at uni. I can't believe what's available - if only she had got that support earlier! - oh well can't be helped now. She was really impressed herself - said it's as though they actually want her to graduate (as opposed to school system where you have to fight to get any help). They have recommended a new laptop (we pay £200) with loads of software to help with orgnisation, essay writting, recording, speach to notes, dictation to notes, notes to speach etc also 1 to 1 training to use the software and also specialist help whilst at uni for organisation, Study Skills and Strategy Support. Now just waiting approval from DSA - then we need to go back to uni to complete their form asking what DD would like. It's very impressive - I am so pleased I paid for the private diagnosis - even if DD hadn't got the extra time for A levels it would still have been worthwhile for the support she can get at uni.

Found you!
Very surprised to discover that our candidate doesnt see any need to revise this holiday. She had a sore throat yesterday so I may be being somewhat unreasonable to be cross that she hasn’t yet appeared even tho we were due to shop and have lunch together today. I have a diy project that I’m thoroughly sick of and could have finished if I wasn't sitting here in going out clothes. Grr off to get changed back into my paint spattered rags. I hope she gets the grades because I am ready for her to fledge now. One look at her poorly woebegone face tho and I expect my hard heart will melt.😒

DD beginning to flag I think. Nothing really planned for half term, so feels she should be working, but feels pretty much studied-out. Yesterday she wanted to go and work in a library as she is finding things at home to distract her, but all our local ones were closed. Most are only open 3 days/week round here, and our local ones are open/shut at the same time

She has gone to one this morning so we'll see how that goes.

DS hasn't touched. a book since last Wednesday as far as I can tell. He tells me it's all fine. Year 12 DD is doing homework to avoid revising for Core Maths paper 1 next week. School have generously given her 1 hour of study leave that morning 😱 I've gone to work ( actually in the office) to avoid getting stressed by the pair of them.

@Heifer That sounds great. From the conversations I have the support at Uni is massive compared to school.

I wonder if a lot of the kids are just a bit 'done' now. DD certainly wants to get going as she's fed up with the long wait and stress.

I'm fed up with it all now as well. And it's ages till results day...

Yikes fresher ticket buying already?!! I hope DS is keeping a look out on his emails (I doubt it...)

I spoke too soon. DS has done 'some' revision, got himself a part time summer job and is in a good mood. I think I need to go to the office more often. I've been three times since Feb 2020 😂

@Oblomov22 where is the Rutland group chat? On Snapchat? Dd hasn’t heard about it, she’s just on a Psychology group one.

Anyone else got York as insurance and being asked for £200? Website says only for firm offers but email says for insurance too...

DD has York as insurance but we decided not to bother with accommodation (as by the time she decided it had been open ages so decided if worse comes to the worse she can join the bunfight on results day and was 1 less thing to worry about). I also had to be very careful that I didn'tmake it sound as if I didn't think she would get the grades for Nottingham and needed to be York ready... We are VERY prepared for Nottingham though ;-)

When we booked it, I was pleased that insurance people got to pick accommodation but this thing about £200 for insurance offers is new. As DS said if he doesn't get grades for Birmingham, he won't get them for York either!

Just posting this in case it affects anyone here:

UK universities cut Arts, Languages, humanities and social science degrees.

Crazy will send it to you in a private message. I might have to wait till I get home on Friday to do that though, can't seem to on phone.

Thanks @Oblomov22

Yes it's Snapchat.

Happy, happy special birthday to your DD, crazy! Hope she’s had a fab day and has an even fibber evening celebrating.

DD has been revising all day, every day this week; I persuaded her to come out for a dog walk yesterday but that’s it.
Her first exam is on Tuesday and it’s straight in with the harder English lit paper, so she’s worried she won’t be warmed up for it.

4 weeks today is exam contingency day, people - the end is in sight, even if it still feels like a mountain to climb.

fabber , not fibber!

Oh yes, Happy Birthday mini crazy !

@Alsoplayspiccolo dd had that exam too, but because of a clash she's got a 2.5 hour Spanish paper first then that 3 hour one in the afternoon

Always dd here has barely taken a break either.

Happy 18th Mini Crazy - hope she had a great day (and even better night coming) :-)

Can you also send to me @Oblomov22 just in case DD does want to join in with the chat.

Re revision - sadly DD isn't working as hard as I would like - she has done this before, relaxed rather than keeping going - but then does kick in again. She if off riding her bike right now with a friend but only around 3 hours revision done each day rather than solid 6+ hours like some. She has 4 exams next week (2 Wednesday, 1 Thursday & 1 Friday) so she can't afford to slack too much. Hoping to see more done in the next few days...

Thanks! We had a nice meal at Perio’s and all her presents arrived apart from the photobook. She’s taken ownership of her trust fund and got loads of cash from family so she’s feeling flush! Plus I transferred way more to her than I think she should need for cocktails part 1/ meal /cocktails part 2!

Dd has been to the uni library every day apart from today. I’m not sure how much revision has been done as lots of her friends have been there too but I think she’s done more than she would have done at home. We’re all enjoying watching Stranger Things every night too - is anyone else watching?

A very happy b'day to CrazyJR, sounds like her day was brill.

DS too has been revising all day, praying it all pays off for them all. Theyve worked very very hard for these grades.

Happy birthday to mini @crazycrofter. Sounds like everything came together beautifully.

@Heifer What a positive update! As you say sad that the same empowering support wasn't proactively offered through secondary.

DS has decided he needs to do more revision. He thought he had another week before his next exams but has three next week...