Y12 2023/24 - support, discussion and looking after each other

[BonjourCrisette]

GCSEs are over and we are beginning the next stage. Let's hope it's a bit less stressful than this summer has been! All welcome to discuss, share experiences and support each other as our children move into Y12/BTECs/apprenticeships and start a new phase.

Hello, lovely reading the updates, I'm feeling like a proud aunt reading these achievements.

DS2 is currently writing his Personal Statement, not easy as he's been too unwell for work experience etc but I'm just amazed at how far he's come. He's really excited about the prospect of going to university and his grades have shot up, so it's looking like a realistic prospect. We've alao had regular, positive feedback from his maths teacher and I'm even having pleasant exchanges with the 6th Form administrator, which is also a sharp turnaround from the start of the year.

The medication definitely lifted him up and he's just started his CAMHS therapy. He was 17 last Friday, not feeling up to driving lessons yet but we're going yo look into a train pass as he feels he might want to start getting the train to school and back. Only 1 stop but I currently drive him, so a good step forward.

That all sounds positive @PennywisePoundFoolish i hope he can manage the train. I do understand the joy of seeing those small increments in independence my 13yr is autistic & has managed the train a few times recently with her sister & when she did go to MS with school friends. She’s now going confidently into a shop on her own which is a big step forward for her as she likes using the self service tills. When you have a kid on a different development line to others it’s hard recognising those milestones sometimes.

Ds is on work experience this week. He's enjoying it, but finding it very tiring. I'm wondering if he'll change his mind about going straight for a job!

That's a lovely update @PennywisePoundFoolish.

Here, it's predicted grades day today, at some point, although DS is off doing his DoE expedition so won't find out till tomorrow.

I think we're done for open days this term – though we'll get one or perhaps more into September/October. I think the personal statement is well underway - there's quite a strict timeline for getting it ready at his sixth form, and he seems to be on track. I'm looking forward to reading it at some point.

Good that he’s enjoying it! My ds is doing his next week - it’s going to be a shock to the system being full time for a week!

Sorry I got very busy at work and had an unsuccessful interview attempt for a new job,😥so didn't check posts here. Level 3 might be difficult for DS to cope as mentioned by teachers. We attended an open evening for apprenticeship but hadn't thought about vocational subjects. Thanks for suggesting. Good luck to your DS. Hope he gets well soon. Yes time flies.

Thankyou@SummerChilling it will be worth looking on FB groups for more information, even though we are not thinking of HomeEd, I am sure it will be useful. One of the primary school teacher suggested some providers offer 3 years for Level 3 courses which students can do at their pace.

Sorry that you didn’t get the job, hopefully something better will come along🤞.

We managed to go to the uni visit and DS has chosen a science with maths degree and is happy with the uni. His brother managed to come with us and is awaiting a specialist’s appointment. It’s had a big impact. life has changed so much and now they have no income as their uni funding is being withheld until they are well enough to go back.

I hope that your DC finds something they really like. My other DS, doing the level 3, has finally found his niche and it has really helped with his confidence.

@Sadtimes1 yes I will keep on trying. Thank you. It's so nice to see when DC confidence grow.

Sorry to hear your eldest has had a difficult time @Sadtimes1 i hope he is able to complete his studies with time. You can transfer credits to OU if studying at home is an option.

Ds has made his UCAS account, now feels very real! Loads of welsh bacc being done too and he is very fed up!

Sorry to hear your son is going through a tough time @Sadtimes1 - it must be very hard for you all.

my ds has just finished a week of work experience and is on countdown for breaking up next Wed - can’t believe year 12 is all but over 🤯

@Monstermunchy hope work experience goes well. My DD has hers next week:

I am going to work in the office that day and so can make sure she finds it ok.

It went well thanks - it was an industrial cadets programme at the regional water company so had lots of structure - we came across it by chance and it just happened to coincide with the week that sixth form had asked them to find work experience.

Hope your dd gets on well!

Thank you @Monstermunchy & @SummerChilling It is v tough atm. It’s Not possible to study OU unfortunately and can’t claim any benefits while funding is paused, as counted as a student, so just wanting for the specialist appointment.

Other DS has also been to look at degree apprenticeships and likes the look of the tech one, so that is also an option. He is doing an EPQ atm so very busy with that.

Lovely to hear about all the DC’s doing so well with work experience. I also can’t believe that the school year is almost over, it’s gone so quickly!!

Well work experience did not go well on day 1- she was in tears last night and this morning.

Not that they did anything wrong - she just feels out of her depth and hates not knowing things. They are giving her little tasks to do which is obviously good as it's more interesting and productive than just watching people but she obviously feels she has to do it as per an employee standard which I have tried to explain she doesn't.

They also went out and grabbed lunch with her and then sat together - I imagine they were being nice assuming she might feel lost alone but actually she wanted a little bit of space and time to call me.

Hope today goes better for her, it’ll all feel less ‘new’ anyway and if nothing else, only 3 days left after today!

@Monstermunchy I hope so.

She's a young one - end of August baby so not 17 yet. Also very quiet and reserved until she gets to know people.

Making me wonder what the uni transition will be like.

Ahh, it can make a difference if they're more reserved. Although my oldest (v old in his year) is more introverted than my youngest, also not yet 17!

Work experience is daunting, though - suddenly being with adults in a completely different environment is hard, especially as your dd probably thinks they'll expect her to know everything, when in reality, they won't at all.

I think an office working environment is very new to our kids, @Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky but once you've had the first experience I'd hope it won't be quite such a challenge again. Just knowing what to expect can give you confidence, and I would think that your DD will gain confidence through this week before she finishes it. Hopefully she'll come out of the full week having enjoyed it and found it a good, useful experience. Or she'll know to aim for something different in her working life.

Good to be getting it out of the way, though. DS had a school trip during work experience week and hasn't done anything about his yet.

@Changes17

She managed to go out to lunch by herself today. She rang me and sounded a bit shaky at the start but cheered up a little on the call telling me what she had been doing. Shes realising that her £40 lunch money we gave her won't go far for the week at borough market.....I explained that why I take lunch every day....!

Fingers crossed it carry's on in an upward direction.

I bet by Friday she'll be much more in the flow, @Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky. Hopefully if she takes sandwiches she'll have enough left by the end of the week for a final borough market treat!

Thanks - doesn't help loads of her friends have just opted for local primary schools so firmly in comfort zones. But she should get far more out of it than if she had done that.

Ah @Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky it is so hard for her and a big step into the world. Hoping it gets better each day.

Nice place to go for lunch though! Glad today seemed better 😊