Thread 35 - Covid Cohort from GCSE 2020 'What They Did on Their Summer Holidays'

[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. It's all relative!
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 continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will find a thread within the Further Ed board.
Possibly a move to Parent of Adult Children Board in future? Post Results?

Previous Thread

@Benjispruce4 its really tricky my DS said he didn’t want to go to Uni today. I’m not sure what we are supposed to say. My DS has only one option and doesn’t like anything in clearing so I think is toying with taking a year out. I will see what advice you get as clearly I need to be careful in what I say.

Aww @Benjispruce4 : your dd can hang out with my Ds at York (if they both get in ;-). He’s also very nervous about being away (autistic albeit ‘high performing’ in old language, struggles with change and new stuff and is not very independent: also not sure why a uni 5 hours drive away seemed like a good idea to him ;-)

@NCTDN i guess if they don’t get the grades their accommodation will go to those who get in via clearing or as their insurance choice?

@Isthisjustnormal ah a fellow Yorkie! 👋🏻

DD has just been downstairs and seems to have calmed down, was overheard talking with her sister and agreeing to what she had asked….. watch this space….
I think sometimes I get the emotional baggage then they feel better and skip off feeling lighter while I trudge their worries around with me. Sound familiar anyone?

Oh yes @Benjispruce4my dd definitely does that!

Wanted to come home after a week or so - didn't like all the Freshers' stuff . Then after about three, he was fine.

Happy belated 18th birthday to your DD Orange!

@Benjispruce4 there is so much uncertainty for them at this time and not having done exams before makes it worse. I would be saying that if she feels wobbly, plan B could be a gap year - opportunity to earn money, grow up a bit, have a relaxing time before hitting university. I have probably said it before, but I think gap years are brilliant, if she gets the grades she can just defer and not have to worry about where she is going, but if she changes her mind and wants to go somewhere else or study something else, that is fine. Gap years are very popular in DS's school, the majority of DS1's friendship group took them.

Thanks @Monkey2001 she’s saying she wants to go but feels nervous. To which i said that of course she would and it’s a normal feeling and most will feel the same. For some reason it wasn’t the right thing to say! 🤷🏼‍♀️

When they are stressed they always lash out at parents! There is probably nothing acceptable you can say....

Maybe you can say try not to think about it until results day, and that there is plenty of time to change her mind if she wants to, but there should a big clearing of tension on results day.

Thank you 😊

Just popping in and catching up after a very busy week away with work - sorry to hear about covid, wobbly DC and emotional endings. And congratulations on degree results and to the IBers, fantastic news. I will post a new version of the list tomorrow.
DS returned safely from his trip to Greece with his mates, next we have DD's piano exam on Thursday and then our family holiday to France on Saturday. Slightly 😱 at the weather forecast, it's going to be 41 when we get there 🥵

We're off to France at the weekend too, 37° forecast for us, I am not a heat lover.

Hello! I hope you don't mind me posting. I have been lurking for a while but would love to join officially My son has just been accepted to the University of Nottingham for Mechanical Engineering. Luckily being an IB/Extended Diploma student he received his results on the 6th July. Looking forward to chatting with you all.

Hi @OverlySensitive, congratulations to your DS!

Update on my DD - she’s enjoying her holiday meeting friends and going out a lot shopping. We got an email from the school to collect the results in person from 8:30. It says the UCAS track will be updated earlier so we should start checking earlier but didn’t mention what time that could be.

Thank you @BlueMarigold Wishing everyone's DD/DS the very best of luck. It's been a nail biting few months.

@BlueMarigold this is what the UCAS website says:

We start updating records from 08:15 on A level results day (18 August) for all applicants.

II really wish A level grades came out so early. Nicer to have more time to organise everything. DD1 got an email from Durham accepting her before going to pick up results . It would be lovely if DD2 got similar. Made it more enjoyable and less stressful to go in to get them .

Prom tonight!

Thank you @singingstones

We will be driving to the school at that time.

Welcome @OverlySensitive another one for the Notts gang ..congrats !

@OrangeCinnamonCroissant Thank you!! Nottingham seems to be very popular this year!!

5 weeks tomorrow...

@singingstones
Spooky!
I was just thinking that! 😂

Welcome @OverlySensitive ! Dd is also hoping to go to Nottingham.

Dd’s school says results will be available from 8.30 in person or by email from 10. Dd says she’ll wait for the email as she can’t be bothered to get up early! It was the same two years ago - I had a restless night and woke up really early, dd slept in and seemed totally unfussed! I’ve booked that day off just in case but I think I’ll just get up and work as usual if we’re not going anywhere!