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

[Rollergirl11]

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!

I think DD said there are 4 maths classes although not sure if that’s 3 single maths classes and one further maths or 4 single maths.

Yes, there's a couple of schools without 6th forms in our area too Rollergirl though we also get pupils from other schools that do have 6th forms but don't offer particular subjects or some who just fancy a change. The school is very oversubscribed generally so I think quite a few people who didn't get places in year 7 reapply for 6th form when the geographical restrictions no longer apply.
I've got mixed feelings. Obviously it's good to have a school that's thriving and I understand that more pupils means more income, but physical space is a real issue. I don't think the government really thought through the implications of saying everyone has to stay in education or training til 18 as there's so many more young people to accomodate across the system now and simply not the capacity.
Admittedly it's a long time ago now, but there are more pupils studying maths A level at DS's year than there were in my entire 6th form. It's a very different experience than in my day and I was absolutely flabbergasted to find that the year groups in 6th form were so big.

I think it is tough having large a-level classes. There are four or five maths a-level classes in DS's sixth form but only about 12 in each class.

We had DS's review back for his Spanish paper. Only 1 mark extra so not enough to push him over the grade boundary but never mind.

DD is doing 2 design type subjects, there are 7 people in one class and I think 4 in the other. (Not sure how many in her more academic subject)
They are allowed to leave school at lunch time but have to stay in the 6th form study area (ideally studying!) for their free periods. I think this is more of a disadvantage for those doing practical subjects. Easier to research or look up things on a laptop or continue with an essay for example than work on a piece of art.

That's a really big class @Rollergirl11 I think DD's biggest is Chemistry which is 19, there are only 9 in German and expected to fall when people "lose" a subject..........like @MrsAvocet school is massively over-subscribed and some do join the 6th form who missed out on a place earlier. But they do have a fair few leave to go to college as they only offer more academic A levels and nothing vocational at all so it balances out.

DD doesn't work but does coach junior football on Saturday mornings, they do holiday clubs for the full week in half-terms so she gets money for that but it's cash in hand. Luckily she doesn't spend much (apart from a merch habit) so her pocket money is enough with the coaching on top. I don't think she'd actually have time to work with football 5 times a week so we're lucky that way!

I think our sixth form is quite huge. It has multiple eateries and a large study area over a large campus. It’s the only independent sixth form here and only one high school runs to year 13. So here most kids got to the sixth form or the many local college campuses. It works well as overcrowding seems to be kept down.

DD has 13 timetables sessions and 11 study periods. She only had to attend for lessons and can come and go as she pleases, but it’s recommended that she studies in sixth form for at least a few study sessions and her timetable kind of facilitates that anyway with gaps between lessons being the obvious choices.

Anybody else's DC doing absolutely no work in the evening?
I've deliberately not mentioned anything as trying to back off from umbrella parenting in preparation for university but I am starting to worry that he's going to fall behind.
He is spending all his time chatting to some girl from a different school and gaming. I know it's only been one week but I'm sure they'll have stuff to do and he only has one study period a week. His school is selective and recommends four hours a week per subject which is OTT in my opinion. Eeeeeek!

I've heard the 4 hours a week per subject thing as well, and think it's probably about right. Although DD has quite a lot of study periods at school (they have 4 hours timetabled per subject).

As a minimum I think they should be making sure notes are up to date and doing anything set. I think the main issue for DD will be understanding how far to take independent study. Ironically DS was at the "bare minimum" end of the scale; DD likely to be the other way!

DD has 2 teachers per subject, and they are all setting homework so it's like having 6 things on the go.

She has to pick her EPQ topic soon as well. - how many others are doing EPQ and do they have a clue what they want to study?

DS works a few hours a week at a local pub. Pays for his costa habit!
He has 4 hours timetabled for each subject and he is supposed to spend 4 hours on study for each. Doesn't seem like much!

DD is studying when she gets back from school but she is very different from DS who did A Levels this summer. He really didn’t do much or at least not that I could see for much of year 12 but then revved up in year 13 and ended up with 2 A* and one A so I think the only thing I know is that different children do things differently 😃

DS has been set very little homework to date, easily covered in supervised study & frees. It will ramp up I'm sure.

His class sizes are between 10-15 students.

Poor DS was 'let go' from his Saturday cafe job today, called in after asking about 3 weeks holiday at Christmas (trip to see grandparents in New Zealand delayed by covid) on Saturday. They told him that they feel the staffing dynamics are wrong, too many under 18s & as he was last in & is still in probationary period they have decided to let him go. It's a bit rubbish really as he's not been given any negative feedback...they have told him they'll provide a reference. He's quite calm about it but I'm really annoyed! It's a weird set up, church cafe with mum & daughter as manager & supervisor so perhaps he's better off out of it, but it brought home to me how dispensable this age group are...

Just a comment, my DDs aren't doing A levels, but from reading previous threads it is clear DC aren't just meant to do set homework. They are also meant to read around the subject (humanities) or do independent practice questions (sciences).

Well we've had a rollercoaster of a first week at 6th form!

Dd did all her bridging work went into school and decided on the first day she hated one of her choices - first words when I picked her up were "I'm dropping geography!"

Then she realised that her timetable won't let her get to her sports training - she's national level and needs to leave school early one day a week (which she's done since year 7) and in her eyes that was non negotiable.

She's been meeting with her head of year 12 every day since Wednesday to try and sort out a compromise which they appear to have reached at last. She's dropping down to 3 a levels and has swapped biology for psychology which fits her timetable needs better. She's also finally done some research on what she wants to do post a levels and has realised she needs to resit maths gcse as she needs a 6 not the 5 she got. (Uni entrance requirements) so she's off early again this morning to register for the November resit and try and find a maths teacher that will give her some extra help with that - unfortunately she cant access the resit lessons as it clashes with her other subjects.

I must say I'm proud of the way she's stepped up to sort this out herself - up to now she would have been begging me to speak to the teachers but she's just cracked on with it.

I think she's made the right decisions re her subjects- I was worried that she would struggle with biology especially as it was one of 4 choices - with her training schedule her free time is limited so would have meant little free time for homework or study at home.

Also hats off to the school for supporting her and being open to her swapping everything around - they have bent over backwards to try and find a solution and have been so understanding about her training commitments.

DD did well in her GCSEs and has started the A Levels she wanted at the college she wanted ... AND IS SO BLOODY MISERABLE!!!

I don't know what to do, I can't look at her without her screaming at me, she won't speak to me. It's like puberty all over again. Anyone else?

Sorry to hear that @daffodilandtulip . Is she at the same school or has she moved? DD was on a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions last week. One day didn't like one subject but by the end of the week it was her favourite one. One minute saying they'd never make good friendships, yet by Friday listing about 10 or so girls they've become friendly with. And then yesterday she was sick so didn't go in (suspect an anxiety related element to it).

Isn't it the shock of the new?

Also, think from the off there's a marked difference in the type of work they're doing. Much harder, with no gentle easing in really. Sure that's a shock to many.

Hopefully by the end of the month, things will have settled down. However, I fully appreciate that it's still three weeks away.

Can you get your DD to tell you exactly what it is she's not liking?

Sorry to hear your DS was let go from his cafe job. Let's hope there's something better out there for him. Sure working for a mother/daughter boss double act wouldn't have been easy.

@whojamaflip your DD sounds very mature. Hats off to her.

On the subject of girls being unreasonable, we had a 'tightsgate' incident this morning. Don't ask. All my fault of course. Told her that wearing 20 deniers would be an expensive and impractical choice, and that I wouldn't be subbing 'the habit'. Guess what? Holes in every pair but the 30/40 deniers "are too thick". I despair.

Yes we don't have school sixth forms so she is at a huge college. She's not sociable as in chatty, and doesn't really bother making loads of friends - but she does do lots of activities that involve being at different places with different people that doesn't usually bother her. She'd completely outgrown school and was very ready for some independent learning.

I didn't think it would phase her, but it must just be the new. She loves her subjects and constantly talks about doing them at uni. She's thrown herself into the extra reading already. So I don't know, she certainly won't talk about it.

@daffodilandtulip I hope your DD settles. It's still very early days for them all.

It's difficult to judge what are just 'teething issues' and what could be a 'gut instinct' that it's not the right school/college (and/or courses) for them, isn't it?

DS started lessons yesterday and I could tell he was quite nervous about it on Sunday evening so I was also feeling a bit nervous but he came home happy yesterday afternoon. The bus journey was very straightforward (though he said the bus was very full and he had to stand on the way there.) He had a 45 minute gap in his timetable yesterday so managed to use it as a study period and got some work done which I am pleased about.

He has deliberately chosen the "less academic" (less pressured and more supportive) college because he didn't want to do an EPQ. Doesn't seem to have been set much homework yet but obviously very early, he doesn't have anything timetabled until the afternoon tomorrow so I hope they set him some work today so he has something to do! He said there were about 20 in his Chemistry and Maths classes, I am interested to hear how many there will be in his Further Maths class today. It's a big college but there is one person who was at his school in his Chemistry class. Only a few of the schools in our county have sixth forms so there are these two huge sixth forms that people travel to from all over.

Hope your DD feels a bit more settled soon @daffodilandtulip Well done to your DD @whojamaflip I am surprised to hear some schools are starting people with four subjects and expecting them to drop one, I thought that was quite unusual these days? It must make planning quite tricky!

Ds has stayed on at his inner city comp 6th form. Enjoying it so far. Doing maths/further maths/history and English. They do all the maths this year and further maths in year 13. He has quite a lot of work to do already but is still managing plenty of time for gaming😀

@IThinkIMadeItWorse DD’s 6th form is also one where they start with 4 and drop 1 after half term.

@sheepdogdelight and yes DD will be doing an EPQ. I don’t think she’s given it any thought so far. I doubt they will start on it until they have dropped their 4th subject.

I don’t think DD has been set any homework so far. All of their lessons are doubles and they have 5 doubles free every 2 weeks and each subject 3 times a week. They’ll obviously get more frees when they drop down to 3 subjects but I think they will add in EPQ sessions in their place.

DD had her first Waitrose shift last night after a full day at college. She was absolutely shattered when she got home. At least that only happens once a week. Then she does 7 hours on Saturday. Seems to be going okay at the moment. She has her 30 day appraisal on Saturday so hope she gets some decent feedback!

@mushroom3 DD is doing the same. I thought it was quite intense but she's a maths geek and was like "thought this was meant to be harder, I still have to sit around waiting for the others to finish" 🙄
I hope she chills out a bit soon, I've been "shouted" at by text because she forgot her ID card this morning 🤷‍♀️. She's never been like this!

@daffodilandtulip I think newness can phase them. My dd is at her school sixth form but found the first-week challenging, with having to deal with two subjects she chose but has never done before. She was fine at school but at home she was like a volcano and her anxiety over things got the better of her with a lot of shouting and some tears. This week so far has been much better and fingers crossed this continues.

@lookthisway that's good to hear. We're only on day 3 of lessons so 🤞 it settles down!

Think I've had an easy ride compared to some on here. DD has gone to her school sixth form, so not new for her, but about a third of the year is new to the school, and one of her closest friends has gone to sixth form college, so that's left a hole.

She was a bit unsure about her subject choices before hand, but she's absolutely loved every lesson, and says she's really enjoying learning all the new things. Plus, she used to be a child that tended to keep her head down and try to stay invisible in lessons, but she's now feeling she can speak up and contribute to the discussion. She was so fed up of GCSE revision by the end, it's nice to see her happy and motivated!

Really hope that others who are having a more wobbly start find their DC settle in quickly.

Place marking as dd also having some wobbles.

After speaking to teachers today I hope things settle down a bit.