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Original poster

Post GCSE’s 2022 - Year 12 2022/23 General support thread

999 replies

Rollergirl11 · 02/09/2022 14:57

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2022, regardless of their educational setting.
Our DC’s may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed)
Everyone is welcome!

OP posts:
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8
FairyHannie · 05/09/2022 22:46

It's a 6th form that's affiliated with a religion, we aren't, I did try and speak to them about it but they didn't realise the things connected with that they would have to do
They can't do a subject because they don't do a outside hobby anymore they used to do (I was not aware of this, they were but "forgot")
They are encouraged to spend sometime in a day helping younger children, not happy with this either and weren't aware they would have to do it
Picked a subject and was told on the first day "oh, we don't actually do that anymore but you can do this instead" but it's not what they picked to do and not really the same!
I am trying to let them deal with I. Themselves as a nearly grown up before I feel I have to get involved!

sashh · 06/09/2022 01:59

@FairyHannie

I'd be looking to move him. Are there any FE colleges near?

TeenDivided · 06/09/2022 06:27

I'd be looking TODAY at plan B options.
Anywhere else that does do his desired options - maybe a college or old school? Then phone them up and explain that new location 'mis sold' regarding subjects.

aramox1 · 06/09/2022 06:42

Yes, I agree. Independence at this stage still needs support from parents!

FairyHannie · 06/09/2022 07:52

They have all the support they need. Speaking with form tutor today and we will take it from there.

Womblesaremyfavouritefood · 06/09/2022 07:56

Agree. Look elsewhere NOW @FairyHannie . It's so early in the term that a move may be possible. Good luck. From what you've said it wouldn't suit my DD either.

DD is back tomorrow. Last shopping trip with me today. Bridging work nearly finished (finally) and will be done by the time they need it. I think she might be in classes of only 1 or 2 for a couple of subjects (small private school) which she is not sure about.

TeenDivided · 06/09/2022 08:06

@FairyHannie There is a very short window for moving if that's what you decide to do. I think you doing research on other options whilst DS talks to tutor today is important.

LouisCatorze · 06/09/2022 08:24

I thought DD was finishing her bridging work last night (yesterday seemed like an induction day for Yr 12) but it turns out she'd fallen asleep she was that tired. So she's gone in today (she has lessons in two of the three subjects) and hasn't finished either completely. Hmm Not impressed and neither will her teachers be, I'm sure.

Generally though, DD was very positive about her new school and her cohort. The frenemy (from previous school) who she had fully expected to be there wasn't (not so far anyway). It seems as if she's potentially dodged a bullet there. Phew!

Agree that if your DS is expressing negativity @FairyHannie, now is the time to make that move. Good that he's recognised the school may not be the one for him.

Having read another thread about the increasing demands on family income, I've just been reflecting on expenses related to DD starting in her state sixth form. I reckon £400 spent (including on books for English) over the past 10 days. And that's not including the £30 pcm 'donation' (there seems to be nothing voluntary about it from the forms) for the next 22 months, or the text book deposit which I only became aware of yesterday. Gulp.

StColumbofNavron · 06/09/2022 08:30

Induction day seemed to go well for DS1 yesterday. There was some issue with the timetable software printing so he has a 10.30 start today and then lessons from
11.15.

He was a bit disappointed that his secondary form tutor is now a year 12 tutor but he is not in his class, but his friends are. He was a fantastic tutor, so it is a shame.

sheepdogdelight · 06/09/2022 08:48

Having read another thread about the increasing demands on family income, I've just been reflecting on expenses related to DD starting in her state sixth form. I reckon £400 spent (including on books for English) over the past 10 days.

Wonder if this is school/subject dependent? We've also spent money on English texts but only £30 so far, which I think is all the Y12 books, and to be fair this was not required - texts are provided, but they can't then annotate them, and of course DD has a complicated colour coded system she likes to use.
Other than that it was £50 worth of deposits (but genuine deposits that we get back). And then just pens and paper. Hoping I don't get fit with some big unexpected cost!

MirandaWest · 06/09/2022 08:57

DD has gone off to school - today only year 7 and year 12 are in so we saw a few year 7s looking nervous.

I was nice to her and gave her a lift to a nearby friend’s house. I think usually she’ll walk. And we were both realising that when she does have a lesson first thing that it will generally be a 9:20 start as they only have a form period occasionally

Original poster
Rollergirl11 · 06/09/2022 09:44

DD doesn’t start back until Thursday. All the bridging work is complete. She’s awaiting a delivery of clothing today that will complete her Business wear dress code. She’s still not well and while she didn’t spend all day in bed yesterday she’s still tiring really quickly. Feel like we’re all in limbo just waiting for school/college to start back.

OP posts:
TwinkleToesStrikesAgain · 06/09/2022 13:08

We still don't know which day induction is this week. And it wouldn't matter so much except that going to sixth form means getting the bus at 6:30am if you need to be there by 9am, and that's traumatic for all of us. And we don't live anywhere rural - 10 miles from the city centre but infrequent buses means it's a 6:30am-6pm day for some. ..

legosunqueen · 06/09/2022 14:42

DS back from today's induction. I actually wondered if he would make it in as he had a dizzy spell this morning - bad timing & unusual for him, but seems fine now. He enjoyed meeting his tutor, but was surprised to only know 4 people in his tutor group. Full timetable starts tomorrow...

Lightsabre · 06/09/2022 17:31

Wow., 6.30am start @TwinkleToesStrikesAgain! That's going to be a drag, especially in the winter. I was hoping Ds free periods were first thing so we could all lie in but no such luck.

For those requesting scripts/reviews - Ds got his Lit grade changed from an 9 to 9. Three marks added which is pretty substantial I think. He didn't need it but was curious and his teacher felt his script had been marked harshly. We'll get the fee refunded. Worth trying I would say if you are a mark or two off a Grade boundary, particularly if it's needed.

aramox1 · 06/09/2022 17:35

Managed to grab a shot of ds's timetable - a lot of free afternoons which he says you can do whatever you like with. I expect he'll get the idea of study periods eventually! He doesn't know anyone at all, so it's a big step. It's a relief they've started, hope everyone else has an easy first few days.

miserablecat · 06/09/2022 17:51

Please does anyone know what it means if teacher is asking for consent to see a priority copy of a marked exam paper? (English lit)
They said it was for review of how the exam board marked, but does this mean the paper is going to be re-marked?

Lightsabre · 06/09/2022 18:03

@miserablecat, in Ds case we had to pay for the priority script which was forwarded the next day by email to Ds. Ds then showed it to his Lit teacher who felt both papers had been harshly marked (she normally examines). She advised us to pay for a review of marking for paper 2 which we did on Monday and he got a letter from the exam board today via school exam officers to say his grade changed and he was awarded an extra 3 marks. I thought it was going to take weeks.

They don't re-mark - they just look to see if the marking was fairly applied, any admin errors etc. We should get our fee for the review refunded..

miserablecat · 06/09/2022 18:16

Thank you @Lightsabre
Will wait to hear any further from school, they said there was no cost. We were happy with existing grade

StColumbofNavron · 06/09/2022 18:25

DS1 already said he isn’t interested in any reviews but I took a look today and it looks like his Business was 3 marks off a 9. He still isn’t interested so we won’t because, frankly, I have enough life admin.

First day of lessons and Classics has been spoken about quite a bit. A very full timetable though as (currently) 4 A levels. He is busy moving some of his bookshelf to mine so he can store all the folders and paraphernalia. Only 3 boys in a class of 20 or so, but we were expecting that. Given he has been at a boys school for the last 5 years it could be interesting.

shazshaz · 06/09/2022 20:27

Oh well we are off to a start here albeit a bumpy one. DD had a meeting today with an academic learning support teacher & found out her timetable, got given her timeout card etc. However I've found out she hasn't done any of her preparatory work. So she's off to do a tiny bit tonight instead of relaxing ahead of her first full day. She's also not taking any food with her because apparently ½ hour is enough to find the cafe, order, eat & get to her next class in the lunch rush - so we had a bit of an argument about that. I think she was in the routine of buying lunch at her old school and is finding comfort in sticking with it at her new school. Im going to have to stealth bomb her bag with emergency crisps & croissant.

DD doesn't have to wear a uniform but in some ways I wish she did. She's already complaining that the waistband on her jeans are giving her stomach ache but tbh I think its anxiety coming out. Apart from the new lunchbox that she doesn' t want to use our main cost is the bus fare which is nearly £400 per year and we will be buying texts because she likes to highlight & refer to page numbers in her notes.

MrsAvocet · 06/09/2022 21:26

First day tomorrow here.
I'm feeling a bit hacked off re transport. I've got to take him tomorrow as it's year 7 and 12 only and the main buses don't start til Thurs, but we've just had a call from the bus company this evening informing us that the bus that has for at least the last 15 years stopped opposite our house is not running this year. Instead DS will have to walk to another stop and get an alternative bus. It's only about quarter of a mile but is mostly along an unlit A road with no pavement so I'm not exactly thrilled about it. "Oh he doesn't have to get on there " says the cheery employee when I point this out "He's free to use any of the stops on the route." Yes, the one 3 miles West on the same road or the one 3 miles East on the same road will clearly be a lot better. Grrrr. And a bit more notice would have been appreciated.
Still, it gives him incentive to pass his driving test asap and then he can drive himself.

NameInUseAlreadyAgain · 07/09/2022 06:25

Lightsabre · 06/09/2022 17:31

Wow., 6.30am start @TwinkleToesStrikesAgain! That's going to be a drag, especially in the winter. I was hoping Ds free periods were first thing so we could all lie in but no such luck.

For those requesting scripts/reviews - Ds got his Lit grade changed from an 9 to 9. Three marks added which is pretty substantial I think. He didn't need it but was curious and his teacher felt his script had been marked harshly. We'll get the fee refunded. Worth trying I would say if you are a mark or two off a Grade boundary, particularly if it's needed.

That’s hopeful for us ! DS was 1 mark off getting a 4 (he got a 3) in Eng Lit. His only fail

assume you mean an 8 to a 9?!

Lightsabre · 07/09/2022 18:03

@NameInUseAlreadyAgain , yes meant 8 to a 9! Definitely worth trying but perhaps let his teachers look first. You don't get your money back if the grade stays the same I think.

Lightsabre · 07/09/2022 18:10

Ds had sports this afternoon- forgot his suit so had to get off the bus and return to school to get it then got home and realised his shoes had been left too! It's like he's in year 7 again. Told him to have a long soak tonight and an early night as he's feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything I think.

Text books are expensive- I think between those and 6th form suits, I'll need to get a second job.