Year 13 2024 - General support thread part 2

[Rollergirl11]

All welcome as our young people head in to their last full term before the summer exams. Between UCAS applications, receiving offers/rejections, learning to drive and taking driving tests, revising for mocks and sitting them the pace hasn’t let up for our DC.

This thread has been a lovely supportive and immensely helpful place to talk as we guide our DC’s through this challenging time!

Old thread here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/further_education/4851165-year-13-20232024-general-support-thread?page=40&reply=132323436

DS left school yesterday for study leave. Lots of nice events in the last couple of days.
They can still make contact with teachers for help and marking, as far as I’m aware. They can also go in to work in library if they want. But my impression is DS and his friends want time at home to get down to serious learning in peace and quiet for most of the time available.

Odd feeling to be washing the school clothes this weekend and knowing that on Monday morning, he won’t be going in as usual.

It’s time though. He’s ready not to go to assemblies and tutor time and all that school stuff that they grow out of. Exams start for him in just under 3 weeks. Trying to focus on the lovely summer ahead.

I think at DDs school there's no official study leave at least before exams start but lots are staying home - DD has stayed home quite a bit but goes in on some days just depends if she feels can get more done at home or by going in.

She seems quite calm about exams - lots of singing to herself loudly going on until about 1am. But last night was talking to me until 2am about insurance choice. She has to choose between Bristol and Bath and both are fine. Asked her what she was worried about and she said food. 🤔She seemed to think she would have to cook every meal for herself at both and was worried she wouldn't manage that. I looked up and both have plenty of food options so she was reassured. Though she still can't decide as Bath has given the more attractive offer and better course and rated better but she has lots of friends going to Bristol including her boyfriend. Leaving it up to her but I wish she would just decide. I would go with Bath if it were me but either is fine.

She's doing her punting job today.

Congrats to those with recent good news and good luck to all the DC with exams starting already.
DS finishes school on Friday and then has his first 2 exams on Friday 24th. Very mixed feelings about it all at present. He has worked hard and I think he should get at least the grades he needs but he's very nervous. And on one hand I want it all over but I am simultaneously rather melancholy about my youngest leaving school.
We are away at an inter regional sports match today. It's the last match now until exams are over but they still have training which I am feeling a bit twitchy about. It's not the time - if anything I think the exercise and distraction are probably good for him - but the potential for injury. One of his friends was hospitalised with a sports injury this week which has made me rather anxious. I think he might have to miss a few sessions!

I hear you @MrsAvocet. DS is at his sports club all day today playing. He's taken organic chemistry up to do in between matches but I'm not sure how much he'll get done.

He's working hard and like others I think he's doing enough to get the grades he needs but you just never know.

Good luck to all the young people with navigating the end of their school careers and their upcoming A Levels.

Can't believe that a month today, DD will have finished. She is ramping up the revision to a level never before experienced with her. Just hope it pays off.

She's now convinced Exeter is where she will end up (not on this year's UCAS application). We'll see. It was a complete waste of her time applying this year (thanks, school!).

School leavers' event this week will be bittersweet. Can't believe the baby of the family is about to leave school. Where did those years go?

'Ds, which email did you put on the student loans application?'
'My school one obviously'
🙄

Question for you all...
DS and his friends (all 18) are planning to go out to celebrate finishing school. Just a couple of rounds at the local pub, they're a fairly quiet bunch as it is and obviously they are all focused on revision so nobody is planning on getting legless or staying out late. Anyway, there are a couple of teachers that they really like and have gone the extra mile who they wanted to invite. DS asked me if I thought this was ok, and I have said no. It would have been a complete non issue when I was a Sixth Former in the 80s but it's a different world now and I would think the staff would have to decline, hence its better not to cause them embarrassment by asking.
I did say that maybe after results day, or even once the exams are over and they are no longer actually official pupils of the school it might be ok, but even then I'm not sure. It's a shame really. Just a group of decent youngsters who want to buy their teachers a pint to say thank you but I suspect that there has to be rules against that kind of thing from a Safeguarding perspective these days. Anybody know?

@MrsAvocet, it seems to be a tradition at ds school but that might just be hearsay. Like you, I think teachers need to be more wary these days but we'll see come Thursday!

@MrsAvocet Yes, DH got in trouble once for communicating with students outside the classroom and that was in adult education. DD has was also officially unable to socialise with friends in the year above who have become teaching assistants both in school and at drama club (needless to say, this has been ignored). Once they leave however, probably fine.

Don’t think the teachers at my son’s school would go out for a drink tbh. Probably not worth the risk these days.

Gosh in our 6th form we used to go every friday to a jazz club with our English teacher (male) I don't think we were even all 18 at the time!

Things move on (probably for the best)!

I hope everyone is doing well with the last few weeks.

My DS doesn't get a vast amount of study leave. He finishes Friday and 1st exam Tuesday.

He's doing OK. I'm just trying to make sure he's eating,/ sleeping/ getting fresh air.

Only 3 more drop offs and pick ups for us. I know DC is quite sad about it ... so am l. Weird feeling.

My DD has her first exam today! Spanish oral/aural. She has been driving herself to school since passing her test a week ago, but starts study leave this Friday I think. She is working very hard but did take most of Sunday off to celebrate a family birthday. .

I can't believe how fast these two years have gone. It seems like no time since he went for his induction day and came back buzzing. Now he has two days left and then study leave.

I feel a bit sad today too as tomorrow is the last day that the whole Yr 13 cohort will be together. A whole new chapter will begin for us as a little family. We are also thinking of downsizing/moving areas to accelerate retirement so there are lots of possible changes ahead which feels a bit unsettling.

@Lightsabre - it's an unsettling time all round I think. DS had his leavers' service this morning which was lovely but a very bittersweet time.

They're now all in the pub. Not much revision happening today!

Ooh hope it went well!

DD is off now and flagging a bit, revision wise. First exam end of next week.

Beautiful day here - I got a big old pay rise this morning which makes everything seem sunnier. 😎 DD and I were going to go for a walk but she couldn’t find her AirForces and got stressed. By the time they turned up she didn’t want to go. Breeeeathe…..

She has an online thingy at 5 with school anyway, some sort of rapid fire Q&A YouTube thing - maybe she will be in the mood for a stroll after that….

Wishing all your DCs the very best of luck with their exams. I'm sure the next few weeks will fly by & they can then enjoy the long summer break!

It's the year 13 leavers assembly, photos on the lawn then mass exodus to the pub tomorrow & DS is allowed to join, along with a couple of other students who moved to year 12 recently. Hoping that DS can handle the peer pressure at the pub ok...it'll be a strange day for him but I'm pleased he's able to participate as he's been at school with some of the cohort since primary!

Good luck to all the DC with their last days at school/college and then the exams.
DS had computer science exam this morning and said it was decent. One down and nine to go.

@legosnowqueen - it's good that your ds can celebrate with his year group even if he's not leaving with them after all. How is he doing?

The year 13 history and politics classes are off for an Indian tonight - is at a restaurant where you can bring your own alcohol. Has been organised by the teachers who seem fine with the potential for what may ensue!

Last day here is next Friday - think they’ll get their yearbooks then

@QueenMabby he's doing well thanks, we are all adjusting to the new normal but there are still times when it feels weird. No word from Durham yet about rolling the offer forward so we'll have to see how that plays out but if he has to apply again, so be it.

@SooperOuting your airforce/aboeted walk so rang bells with me - could have been a scene from our hallway!

Glad to hear your ds is recovering well @legosnowqueen and hope he enjoys the day.

Good luck to those who have already started exams or are about to. It seems to have come around very quickly. Two weeks today for ds starting but they seem a bit more spread out than GCSE's thank goodness.

Two weeks tomorrow for DS's first. He's struggling a bit with motivation in this nice weather but I'm trying to keep him on track.