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

Took dd out in her car today, my nerves are shot, she tells me she is driving well in her lessons but her car is the issue. Her clutch control, gear changes, stopping and steering are all quite scary in my opinion! I’ve said maybe her dad needs to go with her next time..

😂@wonderstuff that will be me with DD! Having no control sitting next to them can be terrifying. I did it with my older DD and that was stressful but DD2 is the worlds greatest drama llama so both DH and I are dreading it!

Maybe you will get used to the feeling of fear in time 😁.

Oh it’s terrifying. The steering! The lack of width judgment! The burning clutch…

I have a whole new level of respect for driving instructors.

Hi all, have been lurking and reading along although not posted much since GCSE exams (seems a long time ago now!). All going well this end although I was hoping some of you wise lot might be able to help with work experience suggestions - DD wants to be a social researcher (hoping to do Sociology at uni). Have tried the bigger organisations but no reply. It seems quite a broad field to me so not sure where to try next. She is stressed and claims absolutely everyone else has stuff sorted as they all have family connections! Any ideas of places she could try?

The only social researcher I know works as a university lecturer. Local government will employ policy researchers is that similar?

She could try the large quant social research organisations, I’m not sure who is big right now. NatCen I think have a lot of government contracts. There will be others. However.. those industries do not pay well, if you’re on the ground doing fieldwor/ survey calls. She’s right to be sceptical.

If she has good academic credentials and good analytical skills she might want to consider the big four type consultancies like PWC, McKinsey, etc, or if public sector the National Audit Office. The NAO is really interesting work and reasonable pay and promotion opportunities but not
big bucks like major private sector consultancies.

How often do your children have driving lessons per week?
DS is in school 8.45 to 17.30 on weekdays with just two free periods when he is not allowed to leave school. (Some of it is sports training and he does four subjects.) On Saturday he has a match and on Sunday he revises all day. He only really goes to the gym and the occasional restaurant trip with mates. He is just shattered.
It will be tough to fit driving lessons in.

DS's mates found the hazard perception test hard.

Does anyone have experience with TMUA? DS will have to sit that.
He is one of those kids whose maths GCSE was not exceptional (7), but all those years of hard work are finally paying off. He knew maths was going to be hard, and he is OK with that. So far he is doing really well.

@Wehaditsogood DD has a two-hour driving lesson 9.30-11.30 on a Saturday morning. She finishes early on a Friday (3pm) so doesn’t mind too much getting up on Saturday.

@Wehaditsogood revising all day Sunday! Wow... I don't think mine is doing any revision!
But I'm sure you could spare an hour or two for a driving lesson?

Or just wait until they are older...

@SunblockSue I am quite shocked at DS's work ethic. But you are right. Sunday seems to be the best bet.

My dd has Tuesday off college, she has a 2 hour lesson then, crazy how different 6th form is, dd college puts on 15 hours teaching and expects 15 hours of studying, but gives the kids freedom to do that whenever or wherever they choose.

@Wehaditsogood my DD is yet to start lessons in April but she is booked in and will be picked up one day a week from her school bus for an hour's lesson. She does finish school earlier than your DS though so it fits well. The driving instructor said that is the usual time for a lot of 6th form students, straight from school around 4pm.

Will your DS get any more freedom to leave school in their frees as time goes on? DD had to be in school all the time up to Christmas and then based on their achievement and attendance most students were given the freedom to leave school during frees from January. This gives more scope for driving lessons too.

I suppose it depends how important it is to learn to drive right now for your DS. My DD does need to do it as we quite rural.

@bluefineliner DS only has 2 free periods a week, all the rest are lessons. I have no clue if it changes. 🤷‍♀️ Those specific 2 frees, that he has, are compulsory revision periods. I might speak to his head of year to get him out of those. Although with the mocks coming up that might be difficult.

Being able to drive is an essential skill.

I think it's just a juggle. DS has had two lessons so far. They have been Saturday early evening (5pm - 7pm). Not ideal as it's dark by then but we can't find any better time at the moment.

I have been looking at the price of driving lessons, blimey! No way I can afford them for my twins. Even insuring my car for them would be more than I earn in a month! It’s a shame as I really would like them to learn.

Driving Lessons are financially difficult here too. I think I can just about pay for one hour a week but I won’t insure her on my car until she’s essentially learnt and just needs to up the hours practice. And then when she passes she will have to pay the insurance , although as she is summer born it will just be hols while at uni. I have a battered old car which I’ve said she can have after uni once she is working and can pay the insurance . So somehow I need to find the money for a new car too. I looked at cheap cars but they all cost more than mine is worth and yet were older. Mine is a tiny hatchback so perfect first car really so I’ll take the hit.

I can’t even find an instructor for ds. Phoned loads but they just don’t get back. So frustrating.

Ds2 won’t be 17 until the middle of June but I know from ds1 that the instructors are all in high demand so he’s been on the waiting list of a local driving school since November to start after his AS levels which is around the time of his birthday. I still need to get his provisional license sorted and get him looking at the theory ready to take that test asap after his birthday.

How did you even get on a waiting list though? I can’t even speak to anyone! Gone through all the local ones and left messages but no one phones back. I’m obviously doing something wrong but I don’t know what. Going to try to get ds to phone them all next

Took ages for some of them to get back to us. One took nearly a month to explain he was busy but would be in touch thankfully he did a few weeks later over a lesson 2 wks later. 2nd one got in touch too out of the blue. So they must just save the texts messages till they have space! DS is currently being fitted we think in gaps or cancellation slots as have no set day but enough to keep him driving he did do the wk young drivers course after his birthday and really enjoyed it. Theory took a while too book has that today so fingers crossed.

I found instructors started responding once I left messages saying “she’s got her theory test booked for X date”. They like to have students who are getting on with their theory so that they can then get a practical test booked and have something to work towards. DD’s instructor says that otherwise students can be really flaky and keep cancelling lessons or pausing their driving so that the instructor can’t put together a reliable diary of lessons to fill their working week.

Good luck to your DS today, @Tebheag 🤞

Thank you so much for the advice. We have got his theory test booked but hadn’t thought about mentioning that. Will leave some more messages!

@OfficeAccount i just WhatsApped them and they got straight back. It’s a big school of motoring though with at least 10 instructors and a lady who does this type of admin, test booking etc so perhaps that makes a difference compared to a one man band.

I must have contacted at least 20 and 2 got back. One only does 90 min lessons which is too ££ for me but I’m on his list. The other one has a ten month waiting list and is apparently the best in the area. The timing should work for him but we’ll see!