Page 5 | Y12 2023/24 - support, discussion and looking after each other

BonjourCrisette · 2023-08-31T19:36:47+00:00

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.

Hopeforb · 03/09/2023 23:39

@Wolfcub I am in exactly same position as you with my D showing exactly same traits because of ASD. It keeps me awake many times. @Sadtimes1 thank you for reassuring post about college and your Ds's success.
@DarkChocHolic. Thank you and good luck to your dd too. Since she is in the same set up I am sure she will find someone and hopefully she will see her friends around.

Wolfcub · 04/09/2023 06:48

Good luck everyone starting today

Rowgtfc72 · 04/09/2023 07:54

Good luck to everyone starting today.
I've managed to wangle today off so am home to wave dd off to work.

thewalrus · 04/09/2023 08:01

Good luck to all today's starters.

beansoup · 04/09/2023 08:04

Good luck to all starting today!

I'm about to start work (at home) then going in to the office to drop DD at college en route - she has 1pm start today!

Monstermunchy · 04/09/2023 08:28

Good luck to today’s new starters - a week today for my dc!

OvaHere · 04/09/2023 08:31

Hope the DC starting today have a great time. Wednesday for us.

closethedrawer · 04/09/2023 08:39

Good luck to all starting today!

closethedrawer · 04/09/2023 08:47

Just wondering what everyone is doing about food. The college has lots of places to eat and drink, and it's in a city so close to all those big name fast food joints. But I don't know how much money to give him each week!

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 04/09/2023 09:00

DS starts in his school sixth form today, so not a huge transition and he already knows many of his teachers. He has an induction today and needs to choose his compulsory elective (EPQ, core maths, sport leadership, business Spanish or a few other options). I have advised him to pick one that helps with his UCAS application but not sure what he will select. He also has a programme of life skills over this year, including budgeting, financial affairs (eg how APRs work, mortgages, investments etc), cooking, DIY and so on. Then once he's in the Year 13 (Upper Sixth) they try to treat them as much like undergraduates as possible in a school environment.

Letskeepgoing · 04/09/2023 09:12

closethedrawer · 04/09/2023 08:47

Just wondering what everyone is doing about food. The college has lots of places to eat and drink, and it's in a city so close to all those big name fast food joints. But I don't know how much money to give him each week!

I was wondering this. I think he's going to have to take a packed lunch some days as going to work out too expensive.

spiderlight · 04/09/2023 09:51

Good luck to everyone starting today!

DS was in a bit of a state before he left this morning, feeling very very sick and anxious. I reassured him that the first few days would be induction (as it says on his timetable) and just generally showing them the ropes. He messaged me at ten past nine to say they're doing a maths test!! Bit unfair in their first hour, never mind their first day. I hope this doesn't go badly and put him off, or we're screwed 😢

FellowClassicsMum · 04/09/2023 10:24

Oh for sake - just got a photo of DD timetable and she hasn’t been given a space on the EPQ course, has been given ‘academic literacy’ as the extension course. She is pretty angry about it which does not set her up well for the year 😕Has anyone heard of it before? Does anyone know if it carries UCAS points?

Changes17 · 04/09/2023 11:28

Letskeepgoing · 04/09/2023 09:12

I was wondering this. I think he's going to have to take a packed lunch some days as going to work out too expensive.

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We’ve given DS an allowance that rolls up what we previously spent on school bus (now walkable) and school lunches to cover all this type of thing - plus social stuff/extra clothes. Then it’s up to him. If he wants to take packed lunches he’s quids in.

spiderlight · 04/09/2023 12:15

I sent DS with a packed lunch just in case but have just got a message to say that everyone goes to Gregg's at the airport so he's done that instead. I don't care as long as he eats - he was too nervous for breakfast this morning.

bluegiraffe · 04/09/2023 13:30

spiderlight · 04/09/2023 09:51

Good luck to everyone starting today!

DS was in a bit of a state before he left this morning, feeling very very sick and anxious. I reassured him that the first few days would be induction (as it says on his timetable) and just generally showing them the ropes. He messaged me at ten past nine to say they're doing a maths test!! Bit unfair in their first hour, never mind their first day. I hope this doesn't go badly and put him off, or we're screwed 😢

Gosh a Maths test within the first hour is a bit harsh! Hopefully the rest of his induction is a bit more relaxed 😊

Just back from dropping DD off for her induction session. (Full timetable and train journeys start tomorrow 😂). She was feeling a bit scared. She is the only one from her school friend groups going to the college, so worried about making friends. Hopefully she'll find a few others in the same boat and come out smiling and chatty like she did from her enrolment session last week! 😊

Wolfcub · 04/09/2023 14:08

Ds has been asking for 10 days to add a fourth alevel. All requests have been ignored. He's asked in college today and has been told to ask again in two weeks. Not ideal. He seems to be spending most of his day texting me so not sure he's using induction day to find his way around etc as he should be doing

spiderlight · 04/09/2023 14:12

Maths test apparently went OK. Another test this afternoon - something to do with the Welsh government. He's happier, though. A friend from his old cadet squadron and a lad from the year above at his old school, whom he made friends with on an exchange trip in Y7, are both on the course with him, and he's in the same tutor group as his best mate, so that's all good.

It's brave of your DD to start college without any of her old friends, @bluegiraffe, but hopefully she'll find her tribe and have a load of new friends soon.

Gosh, this is worse than when they started Reception, isn't it?!

Original poster

BonjourCrisette · 04/09/2023 14:20

No word from DD so I am assuming no news is good news!

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spiderlight · 04/09/2023 16:51

DS is home, knackered but happy!

Wolfcub · 04/09/2023 17:31

Well apparently it was really boring because of all the free periods, sessions that were supposed to be an hour lasted half an hour and the bus pass is too big to fit in his card slots in his wallet so it's all fucking stupid. I hate his negativity at times

Original poster

BonjourCrisette · 04/09/2023 18:32

Free periods are an ideal chance to get as much homework out of the way as you can so you can have fun after school! Sympathies, though, it sounds frustrating. He is probably a bit overwhelmed and will calm down a bit when he has settled in more.

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bluegiraffe · 04/09/2023 18:32

spiderlight · 04/09/2023 14:12

Maths test apparently went OK. Another test this afternoon - something to do with the Welsh government. He's happier, though. A friend from his old cadet squadron and a lad from the year above at his old school, whom he made friends with on an exchange trip in Y7, are both on the course with him, and he's in the same tutor group as his best mate, so that's all good.

It's brave of your DD to start college without any of her old friends, @bluegiraffe, but hopefully she'll find her tribe and have a load of new friends soon.

Gosh, this is worse than when they started Reception, isn't it?!

DD messaged me afterwards- she had walked into town with "some friends I made" - she had plucked up courage to say hi to a couple of others, one of which turned out to be in one of her A level subjects, which is also first lesson tomorrow so they will meet up beforehand and the other has the same tutor.
Hopefully her first real day will go as well and the only thing she will still be grumbling about by the end of the week is the 'horrible' photo on her ID badge!

Original poster

BonjourCrisette · 04/09/2023 18:34

Also, re the fourth A Level, it really isn't necessary in most cases. Much better to do really well in three subjects than risk weaker grades by doing four. All university offers in the UK will be based on three grades. The only reason for four is either if you are doing Further Maths and obviously will need Maths as well, or if you are applying to American universities where they like to see a broad spread of subjects.

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spiderlight · 04/09/2023 19:10

Glad your DD's made friends already. My DS doesn't seem to have spoken to anyone he doesn't know yet! One of the kids in his group has moved over from South Africa into student accomodation just for this course 😮