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

@JessyCarr oh, your poor DD! How come the school already started this talk? Mine on the other hand, asking kids to stop talking about “I want to go to this uni” and didn’t let them go for an Oxbridge open day recently because they should focus on learning right now than UNi.
@bluefineliner I wanted to say the exact same thing that the friendship issues/ getting into new situations are better now than at uni! But didn’t want to say it wrong. DD is too comfortable with all her friends in same school even though all different tutor groups and it’s just another new class for her right now rather than the big change others are experiencing. Uni would definitely throw her into deep end :(
congrats on every one who managed to get to remark stage, we did try with German but the examiner didn’t respond in time/not given papers to remark, so left it like that. Would have been good as it was only one mark less than grade boundaries.

@Newlease DS’s school were the same, saying there not going to authorise time off school for uni visits yet, triggered by requests for upcoming Oxbridge open days (it’s a state selective grammar that normally sends a fair few kids there, and some parents are very invested) - and that spring is soon enough to start all that. Just as well, as DS doesn’t have a plan of what he wants to study yet.

I wish we got a list of upcoming trips! We had this problem a couple of years ago, when we committed to one trip then they offered another and we couldn’t afford both. He’s just heard about a trip to CERN in Switzerland (studying Physics) and you have to think, when would he ever get that kind of chance again? She says, forking out for driving lessons.. . think this might be peak parental costs right now!

Can I ask - of those whose DC do part-time jobs, what sort of jobs are they doing? DD wants to earn some money, and her babysitting is quiet right now. She’s going to go around the local cafes, shops and cinemas in case any of them desperately need an unskilled 17yo on a casual basis (!). We also have a large teaching hospital nearby but I don’t know whether any of their roles would be suitable. We’re in London with excellent access to public transport - if there’s anything inspired we haven’t thought of that works for under-18s and doesn’t require a commitment to more than a few hours a week, I’d be grateful for ideas!

Can you recommend online learning resources for a levels. History business and media.

DD and her friends are all started with 11plus centers, marking jobs/ help with homework. If that’s any useful for you. DD only did in year 10, and now looking at Kumon/Explore learning. None of them replied to her emails. Another Kumon near her school asked but she can only do one day out of three. So I am in same situation, not sure how others find jobs, not that DD does many after school jobs.

@MiniMidiMaxi Glad to know there are other schools, doing the same. The teacher who talked about during info evening but came out as negative as he can, on kids aiming for Oxbridge and we are in a super selective. We haven’t started any talks at home and DD don’t have anything in mind explicitly.
we don’t have any trips on anything, is this school trips we are talking about? I thought it’s DoE.

DD started at a local pub in June and absolutely loves it. She is working one full day on a weekend and one evening shift (6-10) midweek just now but that will reduce as time goes on and the school work increases.

She waits on tables in the restaurant part, takes orders, bills etc and sometimes goes over to do a breakfast shift. We live in a touristy area so it is always busy. She is on a zero hours contract but there are always loads of hours if she wants them.

She has settled in well to the team and it has given her something else outside school to focus on. Obviously on top of that she is earning money (£10p/h!) so has now treated herself to a pair of expensive boots that we would not have bought for her. It is one of the most positive things that has happened for her in the past year and her confidence has soared too.

DH was a little concerned about it being a pub, but our older DD did the same and DD2 will not work on the bar until she is 18. It also helps massively that the pub is less than a minutes walk from our house, so no transport issues. All the local kids have p/t jobs like this in the village.

Again it’s so interesting to see how differently things happen in various settings.

Our school publish a list of trips every 2 years for all years. That includes the dates and approximate costs of all trips from the fairly local residential for the year 7s, trip to the mosque for year 9s etc right up to the skiing trips and South Africa trip in 2026 for the then years 11,12 and 13. It’s really helpful for planning and making choices.

in Wales we have the Seren Foundation for high achievers. DS has already been to an information session in school about Oxbridge and we’ve got 2 sessions on Teams coming up about it too. There will be summer schools available next summer, they’re usually in Oxford and free of charge as well as lots of other completely optional opportunities available through that which will be useful in university applications. School give them a special book for recording this type of extracurricular activity in preparation for their UCAS applications so that they don’t forget what they’ve done!

Job wise I know 16 year olds working in McDonald’s, Costa, Pets at home etc as well as in local cafes and restaurants. One has a lifeguard job at our local pool and another does some hours with a local landscape gardener.

Thanks @bluefineliner. I certainly agree with your comment that "I think they need to try and be patient and ride out these initial uncomfortable situations of being alone. Easier said than done though." I'm glad your daughter is feeling that she has made the correct decision. Her school trips sound good too!

DS has a potential history trip to Vietnam next year but it's not confirmed as they are having difficulties with arrangements/internal flights and timings.

@JessyCarr - DS is coaching tennis lessons for 8 hours spread over Friday evening and Saturday morning which leaves lots of time for other things. His friends are doing things like - washing up in the pub kitchen and another at a coffee shop. One is managing orders at the local Dominoes, another has a weekend job at the garden centre as a general dogsbody.

DS' girlfriend went to the Fulbright event in London on Saturday and a few of DS' fellow classmates went too. She is planning to go to a couple more open days this term. DS' school have told them (and us) that the boys are not to attend open days until the summer as it's their belief that it is too early and there is no merit to going. After their mocks (just after May half term break) they are allowed up to three days as approved leave for open days and they will go with predicted grades in hand. As DS has no idea what he wants to do, or where he wants to do it, I don't see any point in open days just yet. I have suggested that he register on the UCAS website so that he can use their resources.

No, sorry. My son is doing History but all of the online resources they are using currently are internal; via Teams channels and the LRC. I've also bought the CGP revision books suggested by the school for Economics but that's all so far.

It's probably not suitable but DS is a referee. He's gets paid £20 a match and does under 11s

He did 3 matches on Saturday so got £60 for that and each match was 40 mins

jobs - ds worked in a small high street shop at the weekends and in holidays
dd1 did shop work, then in a soft play, and finally in Toby Carvery. Toby's was by far the best -- kept to the rules about breaks, only put her on shifts she was free for (Clarks shoes kept giving her extra shifts midweek, which she couldn't do) but best of all, you get loads of tips waiting tables at Toby's which doubled her pay some days.
It alos started midday or later, which meant a saturday lie in.

DD tells me she has applied for loads of jobs and got nowhere, what she hasn't done is go round the businesses in our village in person asking, which I'm sure would be more fruitful, she's too shy. She's just been looking online. A couple of her friends have jobs in pubs, one is working at M&S at a local service station, I did encourage her to do her referee badges years ago when she was playing football but again, too shy! I really think it would be a boost, I loved my Saturday job when I was a teen. I am hoping shops in town will start recruiting for xmas temps soon and that will be a way in?

DD1 was paid to support younger children with her sport. Then COVID struck and it closed so she set up a pretty successful Etsy shop and made a couple of thousand with that over a year. Then closed it due to A level work pressures. DD2 volunteered at our church cafe drop in over the summer so may try for a cafe job as they'll give her a reference and she enjoyed it.

DS has been applying for jobs, but no joy so far - we’re not in a tourist spot, but we’re close to a big retail centre with a fair few chain hospitality businesses too, but after 20+ job applications so far, no success. The Christmas temp jobs are starting to appear, so fingers crossed, but there’s a big student population nearby so may be a challenge.

Morning,

Would appreciate your opinions on a little issue DD is having. New 6th form, used to good teaching (with the odd rubbish one) but is aiming for As at A level and capable of getting this. She has 2 biology teachers, one (head of Biology dept) is amazing, really supportive yet demanding and pushing them all to achieve well. The other an older male, been in post many years, teaches by telling students what subject they are doing, to go away use google and learn it, answer the questions set for homework, then go over it when checking their answers in class. No guidance or teaching prior to this.

DD is struggling with his method of teaching as she is spending huge amounts of time trying to understand complex things with no guidance, she is upset and feeling like she is already behind her peers in other classes who don't have this teacher. She did some work over the weekend and teacher looked at hers first (she had missed one question out as she had no idea) held up to class said it was basically rubbish and how disappointed that the whole class are rubbish and won't do well as they aren't trying. He told DD that A level biology is 'self taught'.

It is early days yet, and DD can be a drama llama but I've just reassured her we will get a tutor if this carries on as I can't see the school doing anything if he's been there years. DD is not the only one to feel like this about the teaching (or lack of) her peers agree but are maybe less vocal/concerned yet. I agree they should be more independent when studying, but the difference between the approaches of the 2 teachers is huge and I'm not sure what (if anything) to do about it?

DD is very motivated and driven, loves school and got a 9 at GCSE, so is not not making the effort. What would you do?

ETA She is going to speak to HOD but hasn't had chance yet but I don't hold out hope of anything other than DD being singled out as a trouble maker. I don't want to be that complaining parent either (never done this in her whole school years so far).

@bluefineliner That sounds tough for DD. Just a couple of thoughts as we had similar a couple of years ago with one teacher that was very 'hands off' and one that was very supportive and lovely - it was very much a Miss Trunchball and Miss Honey scenario. 😂

Firstly I would reassure DD that when she gets used to this teacher's style it can actually be quite effective and more line with teaching she can expect if she goes on to university. It's a very different approach but getting used to independent study and researching, making own notes is a good skill to develop.

Rather than going to the HOD and complaining about him can she speak to the teacher 121 after class with some specific questions that she'd like advice on? Ask him to explain xyz as she's not sure she's got it? Could she show him her notes and ask whether she's on the right track?

I'm not condoning his approach of holding up work and making comments but do bear in mind that teenagers are prone to exaggeration at times. Some teachers do go in hard at the start of Y12 as it is such a leap from GCSE to A Level and they want the students to work consistently from the beginning.

Finally, my DD ended up with a lot of respect for Miss Trunchball. She found the first term very hard but once she understood the expectations and demonstrated that she really wanted to learn, she had a very good relationship with her. Having two different teachers worked well - there were times that Teacher A could explain something in a different way to Teacher B and vice versa.

Oh @bluefineliner that sounds very difficult. At least your daughter has two teachers rather than just this one. Could she set up a study group with some of the other students to discuss their work? They all seem to be having the same issues so working through assigned work together would be helpful for them all.

As @RomainingToBeSeen says there can be some longer term benefit in two contrasting styles of teaching and learning how to deal with both. I rather disagree that any subject is "self taught" - what would be the point of sixth form if this were the case? I don't see any harm in your daughter mentioning the differing teaching style of the other teacher to the HoD. Not to criticise him, but to suggest that the group would like more support in these early weeks than he is currently providing and, more generally, are there resources she could suggest which would help the group add value to their studies.

It could also be that the teacher is just stamping his authority on the class in the early days but it's not working as he intends. He may come round and improve the lessons. It must be fairly boring for him to not teach the subject which, presumably, he is passionate about.

@bluefineliner I'm sorry your DD is having to deal with this useless teacher. My DS1 had similar when he did Biology A level, one good and one bad. He knew she was terrible but didn't realise quite how bad until he did an external Easter revision course in Yr 13 and realised how little of the topics had been covered and how little he knew. He basically taught himself her side of the syllabus from scratch again from Easter to the his A level. He managed to get himself an A so it can be done even with a terrible teacher. I think there's some good YT accounts out there - I seem to remember Biology Carol?

https://www.youtube.com/c/biologycarol

I know we have all moved on from the joys of GCSE results now, but have a look at this TES analysis of Ofqual stats. In 2023, 64% of all GCSE challenges resulted in a finding of marking errors, and 21.8% of all challenges resulted in a change of grade. A Level marking looks to be even more fraught with errors, although the proportion changing grade is about the same. Interesting.

I had no idea that many remarks were requested, or how many resulted in grade changes! It is worrying, especially if you are looking at A levels and the impact the wrong grade can have on students at that point.

I have paused on the biology teacher problem for now as DD has not mentioned it the past two days. Thank you for your thoughts @RomainingToBeSeen @Waspie @JustHereWithMyPopcorn I agree different teaching styles could be a good grounding, and she will need to get used to this. I will monitor from a distance and see how the next few lessons go.

I do disagree that A levels are self taught. I did an access course a few years ago in biology and psychology and know how in depth the bio was. If I had tried to google and teach myself I would have failed. I loved the subject too so hope things settle a bit soon for DD.

As a teacher, I really would like anyone unhappy with my teaching to come forward and ask me in a constructive way to do things slightly differently. I don’t think poor teaching should be accepted.

@Pythag that is what I would have hoped will happen but I know DD is intimidated by this teacher so may not be able to confidently articulate why she finds it difficult to learn from him without sparking a defensive response.

I will give it another week or so and encourage her to speak to either the teacher concerned or the other one who is HOD.

@bluefineliner ,

It is never good to assume a teacher is useless. What the teacher might be doing is a style of teaching called ‘flipped learning’ which I like in theory, but seems much harder to translate into practice. The theory is that school teachers are not necessarily the best lecturers and there are loads of excellent lecturers online. So, a pupil can learn the subject by listening to one of them. What school teachers should be very good at is knowing individual students and helping them apply the learning and that is what class time is best spent doing,

My personal experience is that pupils don’t teach themselves well at home, so you have to explain it again anyway but it is still useful to do from time to time to develop independent learning skills.

Having said that, a lot of what you say does make the teacher sound lazy rather than just using a different method.

I don’t think pupils have much voice so I would politely e mail the head of biology, explaining your daughter’s concerns and asking for a phone call/meeting to discuss it. You could ask what his results are like, although you may not get a clear answer, but at least they know that you are looking at it.

What your daughter could usefully do is talk to Year 13s and find out how they have found him over the course. A few weeks’ experience is hard to make a judgment on.

Thanks @Newbutoldfather for your wise words. I agree with you that the method of teaching does have its merits, just maybe not for every lesson.

It is still early days and there is a chance she may not get the same teacher in y13 which would help. Good point on asking the Y13s, she is new to this 6th form so doesn't know many yet, but I'm sure she can do some searching and find out.

ETA at no point did I assume the teacher was useless. I have huge respect for all teachers, I could never do it, I have no patience. I just need DD to know I am listening to her concerns from the start and will support her if she needs to address it at school herself.