BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

[BTECnewbie]

Hello all. My DS will hopefully be starting a level 3 extended diploma in September (assuming he gets the grades). I know very little about BTECs having come through the A level route myself. So I’d love to have a support thread for parents of kids taking vocational qualifications this year.

Dh and I are holding off on the transport season ticket...
We will buy it once we know she is happy at college

Dd's college you can get a refund if you drop out, but not if you decide to travel by alternate means.

There was definitely a soft spot - music department 😂and it was an ongoing battle for years so he could have just handed out detentions.

I've had long talk with DD and said to just give it time and see how everything works out.

My guess is that they may have a lot who drop out - it's the kind of course you might opt for thinking it would be a bit of a doss and then realise that actually there's rather a lot of theory and writing and what is fun in your bedroom might not be so much fun when it's 'school' and you're being marked on it.

And no, DD is not in tomorrow... not in until next Monday... which is v annoying having bought a weekly season ticket for the train. Have suggested she go and see lots of friends while she still can.

I've got all her logins and passwords and am now trying to find my way round the VLP... which is not particularly intuitive, and lots appears to be in the process of being added but I think I'm getting there.

Her dyslexia means she can't just scan things and say 'Oh that's where that is'. So our method is that I work it all out and then in 3 weeks time when she's wailing that nobody gave her the assignment/notes etc I can just tell her where it actually is on the system.

She's doing a L3 extended music course (but in a niche specialism) - I pretty much spoke to every option in SE England in the Spring, and this was the front-runner by a very long way. Their team were great over all those weeks, and put up with me being a nightmare (I like to have ducks in row before making decisions so no nasty surprises later) so it's slightly annoying to find that what both DD and I were told may not be the reality.

But, there are no other options as only this college has this course, she really likes the tutors, they were very keen to have her, and if there are gaps then we can fill them through extra-curricular if necessary (I was rather looking forward to not doing so much of that 😭)

DD seems a bit happier this evening, so a lot may just be nerves - with any luck I will be back in a month saying it's all perfect 😂

As expected...dd very anxious and panicky.
Sigh.

Ohhhhhh…. I’m so sorry. I hope she ( snd you!) managed to get some sleep, and it’s now nervous excitement, as opposed to nerves for her.

I hope she manages to take a massive breath and walks calmly in…….and that it all goes so, so much better than she may be panicking about.

I’m sending a ton of positive vibes, and huge 🤗……!

Good Luck to all today’s starts!!! I’ll be keeping everything crossed for your DC ( and you 😸)…… 🤞🙏🤞 🍀

DD has her first day today, she was a bit nervous when she left. Fingers crossed she will have a good day, she really enjoyed the taster days in July so I'm hopeful. Also she has found out two of her friends on different courses will overlap two days with her (they do three days per week) so that's good.

It doesn't help that there is an Indian qualification called BTech.

Well.
Trial run on transport done. Then a look around the shops - dds idea.
It was ok...except dd refused to speak to me, or even look out of the window...
Apparently thats what young people do and IABU for expecting at least to be acknowledged.
So, all in all, I'm feeling pretty fed up.
I know she's anxious, but ffs 😡
I'm so utterly done with it all.
If it goes well tomorrow, I'll be glad, but of it doesn't, dh needs to step up.
I'm not dealing with it.
I think - after months of doing everything I can for both dds - I've simply run out of stream :(
Hope first day's go ok for everyone x

@swampwitch0 how infuriating! I hope things are better once she's actually started the course.

Me, too!
I'm utterly fed up and then feel guilty because I'm utterly fed up 😬
Dd has had sime positive news today re: work so 🤞

Is your DD NT?

Just mine, unmedicated, does this kind of thing - or demands that we 'chat' but then answers everything with monosyllables and doesn't generate conversation topics... and then sulks if I dare check my phone.

Drives me INSANE.

Medicated she is a normal human being.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow
I believe she's NT.
She's actually pretty self aware the majority of the time.
I'm just feeling sorry for myself today.
I'll pass.

Dd says she is fed up of people (adults including her counsellor and teachers) telling her that it's normal to be anxious about future/new things.
She says she wants to be around people her own age and talk to them...but she doesn't. She tends to seek out older kids/people?
No idea.
I'm winging it, frankly.

DS first day today and not a brilliant start.

Most of his friends and girlfriend have gone to the local 6th form college, he doesn't know anyone at his college and spent today on his own pretty much.

I've tried to reassure him its only the first day but he's annoyed he's not on the level 3 course and said tonight he can't face the thought of having to spend 3 years there.

Problem is there aren't many other options so he'll have to stick with it for the time being. I'm hoping if he excels at the level 2, they might bump him up to the level 3 course earlier.

In all honesty I suspect he finds the environment a bit intimidating. He's a bit of a nerd and as its primarily boys that attend I can imagine it's a bit of a shock.

I’m so sorry I haven’t checked in sooner ( DS19 has had car accident… you really couldn’t make stuff up, sometimes).

Oh, I’m so sorry that that was how today panned out. I’m really crap in those type of situations and my default is starting to tear up, which always makes a shitty situation far, far worse. I can understand how you must, literally, have felt, “ Are you f KIDDING ME?! SERIOUSLY?!”….. because I would have been a mixed up combo of upset, sad, stressed, feeling like it was clearly MY fault, that my DH was a total arse, DS hates me, everything I’ve done for him in his life, and certainly this year, has been a hotbed of a shit show and waste of time I won’t get back….., whilst I angrily tried to wipe away hot tears, before he looked up from his phone, noticed them, then absolutely snd utterly erupted….. all while he ( I am meaning your DD in this scenario : analogy!), is, literally, probably “ just” nervous and stressed and you, as DM/parent, gets it in the neck. Because, she knows, that she could be the most unbelievably cruel DC to you, but you would still wrap her up in a big hug and hold her tight, even if she hadn’t whispered “sorry”, if you knew that she’d let you to make her feel better…..

I am so sorry that you had such a shitty day. I hope you are fast asleep and I hope you wake, refreshed, ready to face what is a whole new day, one of hopefully smiles and laughter ( and maybe, just maybe you to get some acknowledgment of what a fab ass parent you are! Because, you really are!!!!!

Sending massive positive vibes 💕 🤗 x

@Sisublondie
What!?
Is ds ok???
You poor thing...you must be so shocked 😲
Really hope he (and you) are ok x
Re: dd...she's up. I'm in bed drinking tea and putting off going down to see how she is this morning 😔
How sad is that?...😔
Anyway.
I have so much to do today so that may keep my mind off dd. Older dd is picking her up later so I don't succumb to asking lots of questions of her I the car 😬
I've told her im not going to text her but she's welcome to text/phone me if she wants to.
Right!
Wish me luck...I'm going into the lions den downstairs!

@Sallycinnamum
Oh, that's a tough one, I'm sorry x
Dd knows one person on her course who lives quite a distance away.
I genuinely habe no clue what today will bring.
Just hoping she doesn't do what she did wrt the 6th form and just say "nope!"
Hope your ds has a better day today x

Dd's first year in college, having missed all y11, she phoned me every day at lunch for at least 20-30mins where i had to calm her and talk her down.

First "day" over for us. Went well. No uniform seems to be the main plus so far.

Glad it went ok.
No word from dd.
Older dd picking her up so I won't see her til 4.30 ish

DS had his first day yesterday. All went well. Hopefully he’s having a good second day today.

Great to hear 👍

Dd seems to have had a positive day