Year 13 2024/2025 - support, discussion and looking after each other - continuation from year 12 thread

[elkiedee]

I've just realised that the year 12 2023/2024 thread is full - oops! - last message on 16 August - don't know if someone started another continuation thread but I can't see it. This coming year DS1 does A levels and university applications, DS2 will be in his GCSE year.

If there is a thread already started please let me know.

FitnessIsTheOnlyWealth well done to your daughter. I would love to get DD's teacher's opinions on her Psychology papers but I know there's no point and it really doesn't matter anyway now. I do wonder about the marking, especially after a post by a social science teacher on another thread who said that the marking can be shockingly inconsistent. I'm just glad that DD is out of the 6th form system TBH.

@WombatChocolateabsolutely, holding up her head a bit higher this evening!

Ds got grades CDE. Is there anywhere to go with this? He's having a year out but then needs to look at options. I dont think a uni would consider him but I guess he could do a foundation year.
He has one yesr left at college if wanted. I dont think retaking them would be a good thing necessarily.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees Pls could you tell me which thread the comment from the social science teacher was on?
I would also like to get DC’s Chemistry papers back but school are charging £5 per paper just to look at them.

@Beabea8 Does your DC know what sort of industry they’d like to work in? They could look at doing a foundation year but maybe they could consider apprenticeships? I am starting to think that unless you need a degree to get into your chosen job/career then you may as well just start working or do an apprenticeship.
My friend’s DC finished their degree last year and is working in a fast food restaurant as they couldn’t find a job in their chosen field.
My eldest DC’s friend started work straight after A levels and has just bought their first property in their early 20’s, uni is not for everyone.

He wanted to do plant science. He would like to work somewhere like Kew in the plant research, plant conservation although we dont live anywhere near for an apprenticeship.
Every since he was tiny hes had a massive passion for plants. We use to and still do have seeds growing everywhere!!

Earlymornyawn, it's on the A-level marking, quick question thread on Further Education I think.

What lovely news @FitnessIsTheOnlyWealth . A lovely confidence boost, I'm sure.

Indeed! If she’d had the right grade on results day she might have ventured into clearing to see what’s there - we will never know..

It went up by 4 marks (we needed only 1) which was a nice surprise

Yes, thank you

That is good news!! I think ds has asked for a remark on 2 papers. He is now planning his gap year and it is definitely the right choice . I am glad he did not panic and go with his insurance choice as it did not fill him with joy.

Thank you, that’s good to know. Congratulations to your DC!

My DC had the DSA assessment today, it went very well well and the uni also seem to be putting a lot of things in place.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees thank you.

@Beabea8 that sounds like something that may have some apprenticeships in, sorry I can’t help more, mine are all science based.

That's great has he contacted his university Disability team and had a meeting with a disability advisor and set up an learning support plan or something similar?

During the DSA Needs Assessment, at the end they ask you if you want to consent to it being sent to the univeristy, so they know what support they are recommending your uni disability service implement (academic mentor 1-1, mental health services etc) and then the student doesn't have to chase all of it themselves.

Did he agree to this? He should be getting the summary report soon - only if he asked to get a draft copy before they send it off. If he did they'll send it to him and he has 3 days to reply and say he wants any edits or isn't happy with it, then they'll fix that and then send it off. If he doesn't reply in 3 days they'll just send it off. After that suppliers will get in contact with him (only if he said yes to the suppliers being able to directly contact him) and he'll get a DSA2 entitlement letter, stuff will start coming and depending on what he got he'll get training on how to use some of it.

Yes, thank you @TheLivelyViper . It sounds like all that has been put in place 😃. I am really happy about the level of support that seems to be available, as long as it all works in practice. Thank you for all the information 😃.
I had a bad experience with my older DC’s uni, they didn’t seem able to offer any real support for my DC with MH issues. They were so far away and I was seriously worried for their safety 😔.

Some really good and bad news here, and I hope that situations settle quickly for those still in limbo. Like others on the thread, as a teacher I see so many difficult situations on results day and through clearing.

My own DS did well. He has a gap-year job all arranged, coaching watersports in New Zealand (he's fully qualified here, and NZ uses the same certification system) and has now sorted his visa and accommodation. Then he'll be off to Cambridge. He might possibly have overdone the celebrating a little as it was also his 18th birthday recently!

Well done to your DS @PhotoDad!

@PhotoDad ds also heading to New Zealand to train in his sport, it is a fantastic opportunity and although i am sad he is going also excited!

Just popping in to say that we are now out of limbo - DD's history mark went up by 4 marks on a re-mark so she now has an A..

Yay @UnimaginableWindBird! That's great news, and I hope your DD is proud of herself.

Great news, @UnimaginableWindBird. Is she now off to uni?

Brilliant news!!!

@UnimaginableWindBird great news!! Well done to your DD.
We are still waiting for the teacher to have a look at the papers.

@Changes17 She's starting an art foundation course. It's at the college where she did her A-levels, so in many ways this just feels like back to school. She goes in to get her timetable tomorrow, so it was very good timing to get her final results yesterday.

Must feel good to have it sorted, @UnimaginableWindBird. Hope she enjoys her year!

Hope everyone is doing OK.

I'm in Exeter, we arrived last night as DS2 had a social session first thing. He walked out 🙈 because they were told to go and sit at tables and talk to each other which is not simply he can do. I told him to go back and sign out properly. He then text to say he was staying as they were doing something different. He's just rang to say he's finished, so I'm intrigued at how it went. Got a long ish drive home, probably about 4.5hrs.