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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Thread 38 Covid Cohort, After Results Day

1000 replies

CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 20/08/2022 06:03

ALL our children are heroes of their own stories, they have thrived through a once in a century catastrophe and they will succeed

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results (life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). 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 Sept?

Previous thread

www.mumsnet.com/talk/further_education/4613457-thread-37-covid-cohort-2020-results-thread-heroes-of-their-own-stories

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CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 20/08/2022 06:22

Heroes of Own Stories quote attributed to @Tomnooktoldmeto..with thanks sorry Inspelt name wrong last time!

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CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 20/08/2022 06:22

Should say * I spelt..too early...

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CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 20/08/2022 07:58

Continuing the theme of the previous Distraction Thread...Ollie and Gareth ftom Made In Chelsea were in the same restaurant as us last night. Dd not a fan so didn't notice, DH thought I was attempting to whisoer to him about football.
(South Coast Village, reckon they were sailing ⛵)

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horrificbiology · 20/08/2022 08:02

Morning, is there a guide on what to pack for Uni? I don't want to waste money or space on stuff that won't be needed or used.

CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 20/08/2022 08:06

A lot depends on catered or self-catered and if bedding provided etc.

Most Unis should have a page like the one below;

www.cardiff.ac.uk/new-students/before-you-arrive/accommodation-and-moving-here/what-to-bring

I have been buying Dd stuff along...hoping to get her a bit more excited/motivated as she seemed to like the whole 'dorm decor' idea.

OP posts:
NCTDN · 20/08/2022 08:24

CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 20/08/2022 07:58

Continuing the theme of the previous Distraction Thread...Ollie and Gareth ftom Made In Chelsea were in the same restaurant as us last night. Dd not a fan so didn't notice, DH thought I was attempting to whisoer to him about football.
(South Coast Village, reckon they were sailing ⛵)

Dd was delighted last night as she got a selfie with one of the love islanders from this year!
@CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee sadly I'm not in that area for the railcard...

EquallyDivided · 20/08/2022 08:27

Morning all, thanks for the new thread @CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee . Glad DD is now on board with Cardiff, it’s a great city, Dniece has just graduated from there and loved it. That’s lovely about the doves. We had a long weekend up there the other week, staying at the water park, its a very nice part of the world. Going again on Mon for a campus tour. He has had his room allocation now so hopefully we can see into that building.

Singingstones - thanks for the updated list yesterday and for managing to keep up with my monthly name tweaks.

Thanks all for the nice comments about DS, honestly when he started 6th form we were thinking Cs might be a reasonable outcome so he has done amazingly. No worries about the academics now (his course is actually designed for those with a lower grade profile but given his ALNs I think he is going to appreciate the buffer when moving out of special school).

Zebra- I get you with the lack of socialising thing, DS got his results on Thurs, we were all at home, he asked if we could all go ten pin bowling which we did, then into school for a meetup with staff and other students for the afternoon, but no going out in the evening, we just had takeaway pizza. With going to special school, there aren’t many downsides but one is a huge catchment which means friends usually live far, far away and they are still reliant on lifts, we are all fairly rural too, so he has very little experience of pubs, parties, clubs or even just hanging out in groups outside school. He is quite content in his own company but I do worry about him being lonely. I am SO pleased your girl got her place, you have worked so hard for her, hope the finances work out and your MP is helpful.

Ealing and Craggy - my DD still swims for her club but no longer competitively, she is in the fitness squad now with just a couple of sessions a week, starts back next week and is looking forward to it. I’m on the committee (have been for years) but standing down at this AGM. The club has struggled financially in a massive way through Covid, its been very worrying.

Benji - I’m so glad DD has found a place she is happy to accept.

Long list of things to do for DS now, he needs a lot of support with his personal admin and only has three weeks till he moves. Starting with student bank account, he is staying with Nationwide as he has a savings account and current account there already and it’s a Martin Lewis recommended one. Then a whole heap of things to do with his DSA.

CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 20/08/2022 08:27

NCTDN · 20/08/2022 08:24

Dd was delighted last night as she got a selfie with one of the love islanders from this year!
@CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee sadly I'm not in that area for the railcard...

Oh I bet she was!

Shame about railcard. Hopefully you can get some good discounts on advance tickets .

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horrificbiology · 20/08/2022 08:30

My DD is looking forward to a ikea trip next week.

Monkey2001 · 20/08/2022 08:34

Thanks for the new thread.

My catered DS1 took too much cooking stuff with him, but as it all fitted in an under bed storage crate, it did not really matter, just stayed there, untouched, for the year!

My best non standard idea was a rug, which made his room look much more homely. I bought him one of those Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) T-Shirt folding things, but he just laughed at it! I love it and used it to help him pack every time he went!

Everyone says doorstop to encourage flatmates to linger and chat, but DS1 didn't because he was a Covid starter.

Obviously fairy lights, cushions, photos, pins for noticeboard. We got over-door clothes airer for drying stuff. Extension cables. Hangers.

singingstones · 20/08/2022 08:37

Just a quick update as things settle (and because I like to be able to find it at the top of a new thread 🙂)

@278Newnames / DS / Engineering / Bath
@Alsoplayspiccolo / DD / English and Film / Birmingham
@AnneofCleavage / DD / gap year + Primary Education / Chichester
@Appuskidu / DD / Psychology / Birmingham
@Benjispruce4 / DD / Sociology / NTU
@BlueMarigold / DD / Biology / Birmingham
@boxcar / DD / English and Drama / Birmingham
@boxcar / DS / / Swansea
@Cantonet / DS / Sports Science / Surrey
@cariadambyth / DD / History / RHUL
@Chewbecca / DS / Economics / Loughborough
@ChristopherTracy / DS / Mech Eng / Nottingham
@CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee / DD / Music / Cardiff
@coffeeandbiscuittime / DD / Medicine / waiting list
@collywobble / DS / / Loughborough
@Comefromaway / DS / Music / Leeds Conservatoire
@craggyrat / DS / History / Cambridge
@crazycrofter / DD / Psychology / Nottingham
@Decorhate / DS / Economics and Politics / Sheffield
@Delphigirl / DS / Oceanography / gap year + Plymouth (or Dalhousie?)
@DoggerelBank / DS / Biotechnology / Manchester
@ealingwestmum / DD / Middle Eastern & European Studies / Durham, TCD
@EwwSprouts / DS / Biology / Durham
@EquallyDivided / DS / Environmental Management / RAU
@Fiddlersgreen / DS / Journalism / Leicester
@Fonty / DS / History / Exeter
@Fruitygal / DD / Biology / Durham
@GoldenRuby / DD / Anthropology and Sociology / Durham
@HarrietDVane / DD / MFL / Warwick
@Hattifatteners / DD / Vet Med / Bristol
@Heifer / DD / Biology / Nottingham
@HibiscusIsland / DD / Biological Sciences / Warwick
@HoneyMobster / DD / Medicine / Oxford
@Horace123 / DS / Classics / Oxford
@horrificbiology / DD / Biology / Lancaster
@icanbewhatiwant / DS / History and Philosophy / Sussex
@Isthisjustnormal / DS / Comp Sci / York
@JustHereWithMyPopcorn / DS / Law / Nottingham
@KingscoteStaff / DD / Medicine / Newcastle
@kiwiandcherries / DD / Primary Education / Winchester
@Mango0 / DD / Maths / Lancaster
@MirandaWest / DS / gap year + Geography / Newcastle
@Monkey2001 / DS / gap year + Medicine 2023 entry
@mummabear74 / DD / Environmental Science / tbc
@mummyinbeds / DS / Law and French Law / Nottingham
@NCTDN / DD / Liberal Arts / Bristol
@Northumberlandlass / DS / Accounting / Northumbria
@Oblomov22 / DS / Accountancy / PwC Nottingham
@PaddingtonPaddington / DD / Music / RWCMD
@Pangolinfan / DD / Economics and Politics / Edinburgh
@Piggywaspushed / DS / Social Policy / Birmingham
@ProggyMat / DD / Classics / Oxford
@Sallyingon / DS / Lancaster
@sazzy5 / DS / Sport and Exercise Med Sci / Exeter
@scabby1 / DS / Economics and Politics / Bristol
@Seeline / DD / Liberal Arts / UEA
@Shimy / DS / Management /
@singingstones / DS / Neuroscience / Nottingham
@sofakingcool / DS / / Reading
@stephaniestephanie / DS / Film + TV with Innovation / Bristol
@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango / DD / Politics + IR / Bath
@Tomnooktoldmeto / DD / Creative Writing and Media / NTU
@Tomnooktoldmeto / DS / History / NTU
@Tryingmybest13 / DS / Archaeology / Bangor
@Volterra / DS / Maths / Bath
@whatsnext2 / DD / English joint hons / Reading
@Wheresthebeach / DD / gap year + Marine Biology / Portsmouth
@Zebracat / DD / Liberal Arts / Exeter

EquallyDivided · 20/08/2022 08:39

We don’t really want to go to Ikea, it’s a long way and I imagine will be rammed. We are hoping to manage with Sainsburys and Argos, I found Sainsburys do still have a small section of basic crockery hidden behind all the expensive Habitat stuff. DS might want a rug, can’t imagine fairy lights though, bedside lamp / desk lamp I guess will be needed. Need a list!

EquallyDivided · 20/08/2022 08:41

Not only do we have only three weeks but DD gets her results and moves to college in the next town in that time too. Yikes <looks at annual leave allowance>

horrificbiology · 20/08/2022 08:42

I have started a list of basic food stuff and basic stuff to take. No doubt I will forget the lists when we go shopping.

Monkey2001 · 20/08/2022 08:47

Forgot first aid kid including lots of paracetamol, Covid tests if you still have any and pulse oximeter for us!

sofakingcool · 20/08/2022 08:48

Thanks for the new thread!

We started buying bits a few weeks ago, I've been slowly filling up ikea bags Grin. Leaving bedding for now as still waiting to be able to book accommodation so unsure of bed size (DS is hoping for small double)

NCTDN · 20/08/2022 08:50

When you all say ikea bags, do you mean the ones that you use to carry the shopping around in store?

PaddingtonPaddington · 20/08/2022 08:51

DD and I are off out shopping today to get a duvet cover and sheets (have a topper and protector) and a few more things on the list. We used the list from WIWIKAU but trying to not take too much. She has a lot of kitchen things from my parents as they used to have a caravan and when they sold it put everything in the attic. Let’s just say it’s easily distinguishable!

CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 20/08/2022 08:52

Been quite lucky to get a few bits so far in my town as I see them. Within walking distance I have Tesco, Aldi, Home Bargains, B&M, Bargain Buys, Poundland surprisingly good (individual plates etc). This town likes a bargain. Also Charity Shops if you don't have fussy/wasteful Dd like mine !

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sofakingcool · 20/08/2022 08:52

Monkey2001 · 20/08/2022 08:47

Forgot first aid kid including lots of paracetamol, Covid tests if you still have any and pulse oximeter for us!

Ooh hadn't thought about first aid kit!

sofakingcool · 20/08/2022 08:53

NCTDN · 20/08/2022 08:50

When you all say ikea bags, do you mean the ones that you use to carry the shopping around in store?

You can buy blue ones by the tills

Benjispruce4 · 20/08/2022 08:59

Check the university list. We bought DD a clothes horse for Durham which she did not want but which came in very handy.
Also think about duvet tog rating. Her room was boiling and no way to turn radiator down. They all had window ajar all year! First aid kit and mini swing kit were good to have for piece of mind.

Benjispruce4 · 20/08/2022 08:59

Sewing not swing 😂

Monkey2001 · 20/08/2022 09:00

@sofakingcool if you get a small double, I recommend getting normal double mattress topper and bedding - they fit fine and can be used in second year accommodation when most have doubles.

sofakingcool · 20/08/2022 09:02

Monkey2001 · 20/08/2022 09:00

@sofakingcool if you get a small double, I recommend getting normal double mattress topper and bedding - they fit fine and can be used in second year accommodation when most have doubles.

Ooh good tip! DS has a small double at home and we've always used double duvets but hadn't thought double topper and bottom sheets would be good, esp for next year

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