Thread 36 - Covid Cohort from GCSE 2020 - The Final Countdown to Results Day for Some?

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

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

Thanks @tryingmybest13! And yes, paper 2 was a tricky one because they threw in some questions that were not on the advanced info and said that because it was two topics then they were allowed to do this because that made them low tariff. Paper 1 had a question about waves that she was not impressed with. She seemed OK with the mechanics part of maths P3 but hated stats. I think you're right on how they focus on the bad bits.

Thanks @volterra!

DD is deferring for a year and hoping to go to Sheffield in 2023 with UEA as her insurance. I've been saying either would be a great place for her but her heart is settled on Sheffield.

Mumma My DD felt similar about OCR Biology - first two papers fine, 3rd 'not as good as the first two but okay'. Currently that has translated into Biology hasn't gone well....on top of the Chemistry anxiety which is justified if I'm honest.

@MummaMinnie Ah - that has reminded me that DS also moaned about the waves on paper 1 (never liked the topic). Indeed - advanced misinformation!

@Wheresthebeach "Currently that has translated into Biology hasn't gone well" - yes exactly that! That's good that your DD thought the first two papers were fine and hopefully that will carry her through. My DD only said they were OK and 'not awful' 😂Is your daughter planning to do a Biology based degree?

@tryingmybest13 "advanced misinformation" - exactly! I don't know if it was more of a hindrance in the end. 🙄

Good morning, so my daughter has received an email directly from the university to say there has been an update to her application and to follow the link to the next stage?! The link is to her ucas page and that's obviously shut down. We're hoping this is good news as otherwise they wouldn't be progressing to the next stage.

Mumma my daughter is doing Marine Biology so her Biology mark is important to her emotionally. Is yours set on Biology?

All the media coverage is just ratcheting up the anxiety I think. I agree that the letters/announcements are all designed to damped an angry response to the grades. They have learnt from the first algorithm year not to spring bad news on people as the reaction is then strong. Definitely managing things to try and mute the angry reaction.

The ucas page is shut down?

Yes you can't access your ucas now until Thursday at 8.15am so the link leads to a page telling her that, but the email seems to suggest she's passed as it says there's been a change to her application and to progress to the next stage

@Volterra Bath and Maths or Cardiff. Are you asking if your DC doesn’t get a offer for Bath will ucas update to Cardiff automatically?

Can I ask a non-results related question please?

Dd has her driving test booked for 22 Sept. Her instructor is dubious as to whether she'll be ready and so am I after taking her out yesterday. Can she put it back if need be and is there a cut off as to when you can do that, eg you can only change the date up to a week before the test or something?

Managed to stay asleep all night which was better than Sunday night.

Went for a run before work and The Final Countdown came on. Very apt.

DS is working (hooray) from 12-5 tomorrow. His girlfriend will be here tonight and then he’ll have to take her back “very early” in his words ie about 10. Not sure how early he’ll manage to get up on Thursday 😂

@BlueMarigold I contacted UCAS ages ago querying the removal of a formal adjustment process. They replied:

"The decision to not use Adjustment is that Clearing is more of a simple process to follow. If students find they get better results in August - they can still approach different unis to find out if they can be placed. "

I think you can approach a uni to get an informal offer (preferably by email). You can then decline your original offer and the new uni will update tracking for you to accept the new, higher offer.

@Fruitygal I’m rather badly trying to answer a question from @272Newnames a few posts back 😀. It’s about her DS’s Insurance being in clearing and whether if he misses firm choice whether he can switch to a different variation of the course he has confirmed as his insurance choice. I don’t know the answer and it had crossed my mind that DS is kind of in a similar position potentially though we haven’t actually had that conversation.

@crazycrofter - DS driving instructor arranged a swap for him with someone who wasn't ready - DS was about six weeks to his test so got one three weeks earlier. Might he worth asking instructor if they could sort that?

That's an idea @craggyrat . She seems to just want to go ahead and do it anyway, but it's so expensive and the experience of a failed test isn't great is it?!

@Seeline My son was an IB'er so had is results early and went through early clearing. He was able to approach another Uni and hold both offers for a few days until the clearing offer expired. In the end he decided to stay with his first choice but it did not affect his original offer.

Exam related nightmares started here. I dreamt the exams officer called to ask why DD had failed to turn up to two exams!

Anyway, I have a question if someone can help? DD was ill during the exams and her college applied for special consideration covering two exams.

I’m curious to know whether the Universities know this when they consider the grades? I’m thinking the admissions team may be a little more lenient should there be a missed grade. Perhaps I’m clutching at straws!

@crazycrofter - yes I would go by what instructor says if he feels putting it back is the right option. DS was lucky in that he got loads of practice in with DH during second lockdown when roads were quiet so was ready to go but sometimes they just need a bit longer.

In the absence of an insurance option, DD has been searching clearing and come across the Liberal Arts course at Royal Holloway. I think she previously discounted it as she didn't want a London Uni and it was too close to home. However, things change!

@Alsoplayspiccolo and @Zebracat I think you may both have Royal Holloway/Liberal Arts as an option? Any advice/info that might be useful if you went to an open day?

Sounds like good news!

@Seeline we went to Royal Holloway for open day for geology a few years ago - thought it was nice accommodation was good and facilities - DS1 put it in the five but was higher grades and chose others for firm and insurance

So many posts, so much useful information. Thank you everyone. Re divorced parents.we are having massive problems with student finance because our girl couldn’t live with either of her separated parents(safeguarding)and came to us after a spell in care. But Student finance in that circumstance say both parents should be assessed unless you can evidence estrangement. She is estranged from one, but we have spent 4 years carefully developing a relationship with the other, they didn’t know each other.They don’t count her as a Care leaver, because she wasn’t in care over 16, altho she was in a placement identified by Children Services and funded by them. We are on our 4th attempt at trying to get her assessed as an independent student. Currently they are offering the minimum and there’s no one to top it up. We would love to but can’t. If we can’t sort it out, she can’t go. So they actually discriminate against care experienced students compared to Care Leavers and students with separated parents. Obviously , I am fighting.

Are there any charities that can advocate for her. Is she a foster child or adopted or something else? Is she 18 or much older?

I know people who are 21 are classed as independent. I know unis themselves will support those who are refuges etc - maybe worth phoning the unis she is looking to go to?

@Benjispruce4 thanks for the offer let’s see what Thursday brings

@BlueMarigold Hi!! Saw your post re swapping courses - are you thinking about swapping? You are officially tied to the 1st choice or 2nd if don’t get second. BUT you can ring around and you find something else and they accept you can then ask the uni you have firm to release you.

That seems so wrong! I hope you can get it sorted for her.