Year 12 - 2024/25 - Support, Discussion and Looking After Each Other

[BlackBean2023]

A survival thread for Y12 parents (24/25) now that GCSEs are over and our young people move onto KS5

Yes it’s £90 for a two hour driving lesson here too. Internet suggests it takes 40 hours on average to learn, but that includes those who repeat-fail and those who never practice outside of lessons. No way are we paying for 40 hours of lessons, hoping we can get it done with half that.

No sign of testing yet here, or predicted grades. The y12 parents evening suggested a rough timeline towards uni applications, starting with going to open days in spring of y12. But we’re signed up to go to our local university open day in Oct half term, just so he can get a sense of what open days are like and go to a couple of subject talks - engineering and economics - as he’s really not sure what he wants to do yet, or if he’d prefer uni or apprenticeship.

Blimey, the cost of some of these driving lessons !

DS 1 passed his driving test 16 months ago, lessons were £32 per hour or 10 hours for £300. He passed his theory as soon as he could and then the driving school booked the test. That way they had multiple tests booked between all of their instructors and could swap and change between them if one pupil wasn’t ready and another was. He had 20 hours of lessons (including the time for his test) and we took him out regularly for short practices inbetween, just to the gym, supermarket etc.

ds2 isn’t 17 until June but I’ll be getting in touch with the driving school just after Christmas to get his name down.

In maths we do a tricky algebra test just to let them know that things are now much more tricky than GCSE. We haven’t done loads of content for A-level, but it is useful to know early who needs extra support and who isn’t studying hard enough.

Well done on passing his theory test @JustHereWithMyPopcorn. Good luck to those starting out with lessons. I don't think DS is going to bother until at least next summer. He couldn't afford the insurance and running costs of a car yet anyway.

I'm amazed at predicted grades being given already @wonderstuff.

DP and I have just got back from a new parents' coffee morning at DS' school. They don't have any formal exams until after May half term. These are the mocks they will use for their university admissions. The change of schools is a huge culture shock for DS - he's gone from a mixed ability school where his year was only the third group to take GCSE's, to a single sex selective which is celebrating it's 900th birthday next year. I'm not sure he's handling the transition well. He has joined the rugby team but hasn't made any friends yet. As one of the few boys not taking maths A Level he is spending his study periods pretty much alone in either the common room or the library. He's also suffering from a nasty head cold and a twisted ankle from rugby so is feeling quite sorry for himself hobbling around and sneezing.

He is also losing weight that he can't afford to lose, despite eating enough for 3 people each day. I swear he eats the food and I put on the weight! I'm not sure if it's just stress but it's a big contributor to his current low mood.

Well dd has today moved to English lit and has just texted me to say she was scared of going into the room. Seems like she’s done it so fingers crossed it goes ok.
I did warn her that it would feel strange and not to panic if she didn’t know what was going on immediately and to think back to 3 weeks ago when she started.

My driving lessons were £11 each and I recall my Dad grumbling that they were expensive then! This was 1997 when I started learning!

@YellowphantGrey Mine were £9! 😂 I paid for them out of my Saturday job, I don't think any teenager with a Saturday job would clear enough to pay them now.

It took me 40 but I had no home practice, but I did pass first time thankfully. Hadn’t thought that dd could pass in less than that so fingers crossed ! I was a bit older too. It will only be an hour a week though, I definitely can’t stump up for two.

Is it worth a summer born learning now though? At best she’d be taking her test in the middle of a level exam prep, and then 6 months later off to uni. I’m wondering whether to suggest she waits until she finishes uni like I did?

dd is youngest of 3, so we have been through the driving route twice already.

With both, for their 17th birthday we paid for them to go on the insurance of our car (that cost £400) and then for £500 worth of lessons. After that they were on their own (paid out of saturday job)
That is about 15 lessons at the price they were 2 years and 4 years ago. (£35 per lesson)

We normally do about £100 each at birthday and Christmas, so this is way out of our normal league, but we felt it was worth getting them their license, if they don't it will be years before they can afford to do it.

15 lessons was enough because we took them out driving all the time in between. After 3 lessons, they drove everywhere. They got hours and hours and hours of practice. They both sailed through their test confidently.
ds then saved up from his Saturday job and bought a car.
dd1 didn't drive again for 18 months, (insurance on our car for a new driver was too much - £2,000) and has just got a car, and after a couple of quiet journeys to get back into it, is now driving confidently.

I just feel it is such an important skill to get.
I'm dreading the increase in lesson costs though

I agree that driving is a hugely important life skill, and that’s why we’re pushing forward with it now. My own experience was not great - as a late-August baby I was very young in the year and so by the time I was 17 it was a hectic time with 4 A Levels and Oxbridge entrance etc. So I didn’t start driving until university, couldn’t afford enough lessons, had no car to practise on between lessons and failed my test on my 21st birthday! So that’s why I want to help DD get it under her belt in Y12 before life gets even busier.

She’s in good form this week - friendships are solid and she’s trying out for sports teams. Apparently there is not a single fanciable boy in the 6th form 😯but she says she’s too busy for that sort of stuff anyway. (DS says she’s bluffing).

DD is doing Gold DofE for enrichment... what was I thinking... it's so bloody expensive! Just found out that the expedition cost (practice 5 days & qualifying 5 days) will be around £700, organised by the school but using an external expedition provider. Luckily she has all the clothing and equipment she needs as she did Silver, but still... On top of that she will need to do the residential, which is another £800 (in the UK, not abroad). :rant over:

Good luck @anoukis .

So glad DS decided to stop after Silver DofE. Hope he will not change his mind.

wow that is a lot.
I run a kids camp each year and I sometimes have teen helpers who use it as their gold Dof E residential, basically a volunteer week helping at camp.

Would something similar be possible for your dc?

Just had dd remark for science back and she went from 88 to 98, so that was a nice surprise, she was 1 mark off and one paper went up 4 marks. No idea where she gets her brains, must have skipped a generation, highest gcse i got was a B!

She went to talk to her economics teacher about exam access and ‘only shook a little bit’ bless her. Seems to be settling in well. No drama this week.

Has decided she might go to London with her mates for her birthday. I’m so sad to not be a part of her plans anymore but super proud she’s doing stuff on her own too!

Well done to your DD @wonderstuff thats greta news!

Great news @wonderstuff . My DD was 2 marks off a 9 in Maths and her teacher suggested one paper for remark - she said two questions were marked poorly and there was an opportunity for gaining 3-4 marks. It came back 1 mark off a 9 - so annoying. Luckily DD is very relaxed about these things.

@steppemum DD plans do a gold dofe residential next summer that is healthcare related, as she is considering applying to medicine. The cost is for accommodation, meals, and transport to the venue. If she changes her mind down the road we will try and find a cheaper one.

I guess my rant was directed more at the cost of the DofE Gold expedition. It's a hiking trip (actually two 4-night expeditions). They will camp and there is no food included. I know it also includes the rental of some group equipment and it pays for instructors' time, but the ratio of instructors to participants is 1:7.

Brilliant news @wonderstuff ! Glad things are more settled too. DD finds out today whether she has made various sports teams - otherwise trucking along nicely. Happy Friday to all.

Well done to your daughter @wonderstuff

DS is still full of cold and has now given it to DP and I. Thank goodness it's Friday at least!

Cost us £65 with Explorers for the practice walk and £180 for the final walk.

£1500 is a ridiculous amount to pay.

How frustrating @anoukis and I agree DfE seems ridiculously expensive!

We had tears again last night, dd said she didn’t know why she was sad, she just was. I think it’s just a lot, college, growing up, she’s got a couple of mates who are having a hard time at the moment, her cousin (in the same year and friend group) is being a bit of a knob and being quite unpleasant towards her best mate which really puts her in a tricky spot, we’re coming up to dbil birthday which is hard for DH and may be explaining my niece being particularly tricky (bil died a few months ago). We had hugs and an early night and hoped it would all feel better in the morning.

I had a rotten time at school and so college for me was just fantastic, but dd has had a much nicer childhood and I think that might make becoming an adult a bit daunting? I’m confident she’ll be just fine, life is just like this isn’t it!

@wonderstuff sending you both virtual hugs. Being a teenager can be hard, with emotions up and down all the time. Everything seems so important to them and they feel like no one can understand them. It's lovely that she shares these moments with you even though it's sadness. Time flies so fast though, you blink and it's gone.

So my DD changed her 4th subject last minute, deadline was yesterday. She switched from Further Maths to Physics. Her other three are Bio-Chem-Maths. She likes Physics and she's had a hard time picking between FM and Physics. I'm worried about the workload, but she is very enthusiastic about it. I guess it could always be dropped if it becomes too much...

She went straight to the Physics class yesterday after the switch was approved. Spent one of her frees yesterday going over what was taught in class until now, with one of her school friends, and decided this weekend to catch up on it using the PMT website as she has no notes or books. I don't know where the motivation is coming from but I hope it lasts... :)

DS seems to be doing well started getting tested in subjects. Still seems like a long day with bus delays etc. His enrichment choice was cancelled as not kids. He isn't doing DofE DD is thankfully no surprises when they get to gold as told all the prices at the start. We did get the first request for payment for Geography trip needed for ALevel course total of £350.

The twins’ bursaries have come through thank goodness. It covers their travel to college and text books so it’s a massive help.
They are both throwing themselves into college life, keeping up with their homework and enjoying the new routine. I’m impressed with the college too, it seems very organised (unlike their haphazard secondary!).

Morning 😀

@wonderstuff great news on the grade increase for your DD. Hope she starts to feel better about things soon after the tears. I think I underestimated how difficult it would be for my DD starting a new 6th form knowing barely anyone else. Even though she is confident and will speak to anyone, she has found it hard initially, but seems to have settled ok now. I am partly relieved she is going through this now though, and isn't stuck in some far away uni accommodation crying to me about not liking it! (that will probably happen too though! 😂).

@Waspie hope your DS feels more settled this next week. My DD is almost the opposite, went from selective girls grammar to mixed 6th form. She moved to get a new bigger group of friends because the old school cohort was very small and established with a few 'strong' characters who took a dislike to DD.

She has a sleepover with 2 friends who stayed at their old school and interestingly the same 'strong' characters are excluding others still. This helps confirm to DD she's made the right choice. I think they need to try and be patient and ride out these initial uncomfortable situations of being alone. Easier said than done though.

DD had a list of school trip options to various European destinations. We promised her she can go on one as she never got to do any from y7 to y11 because of covid. They range from £700 to £1100 for approx 3/4 nights (Rome, Paris, Berlin etc). It is going to be an expensive year with that and driving lessons/car next year!

DD has first chemistry test tomorrow so is going to revise all day today, it will be interesting to see how she does at A level now compared to her usual GCSE stuff.

DD is going to Paris in October half-term with all the French A Level group (Y12 and Y13). £650 for that. I do think it will be a good bonding experience for the group.

I think she’s having a wobble about university getting too close! She’s been very settled for some time on exactly what course she wants to do and her top two uni choices, but now that school are banging on about UCAS forms coming up “sooner than you think” etc, she doesn’t want to think about it! She’s declined to go to a forthcoming Open Day and just changes the subject. She’s a home bird really and although I think she will flourish at university when the time comes, the being away from home bit must suddenly feel very real.