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.

Yes.
It's a bit stressy.
Hope everyone else is doing ok?

@swampwitch0

Oh, bloody hell!!! What an utter nightmare! Oh, the dress thing would have driven me insane!! But, the lurgy?! That’s horrible! I’ve been at hospital/ scans with wrist so sadly been quiet on here, as can’t just whip my phone out and use my right hand like normal, I have to prod with left habd pointy finger (😳!) but the point is I did see some lurgy ridden people, and I did think, “ yep, I’ll take my wrist fracture 😼”… I’m really sorry! See, with poor DD and migraine, let alone DH and arm, are you even able to get any rest??! Because, at the risk of sounding like my mother ( oh! I said that to DS19 on the phone from Uni the other day!! I literally said, apropos walking back safely from pub ..” I don’t mean to sound like your mother”… cue pause… and then I hear “Bloody Hell, I can’t believe you said that”, just as I went “ Ah!!! Which I AM” 🙄)..anyway, yes, rest is really the only thing that can work…. Are your symptoms the horrid traditional lurgy ones? Any “symptomatic relief”, or whatever, you can take for specific symptoms? Lemsip, or Vicks?

As for DH… oooohhhhhh……. That is rubbish, I’m sorry. Just, why, why, WHY do they not listen? I’m guessing that means you will have to assume all driving duties, for the recovery (and physio) period….. 😤…

Well, is DD migraine any improved? Is she able to go to college? That must be brutal, suffering migraines, I mean. I hope she’s all better….or, at least, on the way!

DS has Wednesday off, but has chosen to go in to college to get cracking on his first assignment, due in on Monday. Between us, I am very cynical and think a little ulterior motive going on?! 🤔.. He has mentioned a few new friend names. And, because he generally had never had this before, I remember names he says… one of the Year 2’s ( they do practical work together (?!), the Year groups, I mean!) has been teamed up with him on something, and it’s a girl, and I am thinking that maybe it is because SHE is in college today….🤷‍♀️🤔.. and, he doesn’t want to say in case DH jumps in with some rubbish quip about “ girlfriend!”.. I don’t know. But, he’s gone into college, so, at least I do hope he doesn’t get cracking on his assignment!

Anyway! How are you feeling/ is it all going, today? Sending you a huge Get Well ❤️‍🩹 🤗 x

Hey all! Sorry, still in cast, so having to tap tap away with a finger on my left hand.

Hope everyone is doing ok? Been sunny here! Hopefully with you, too.

Has anyone had an assignment due in yet? DS has his first one due in on Monday. I’m still trying to ascertain the Pass/Merit/Distinction differentials. DS is wholly resistant to assistance of any kind, so I’m feeling very nervous! And, very conscious of the fact that he is still on a “ six week probationary period”…. I’m also aware I underestimate him at times, which does lead to him getting cross with me.

Anyway! I hope you all have a happy Wednesday!

Hi @Sisublondie
I'm sorry your wrist is still painful x
I'm going to the drs later...I must look pretty awful for dh and the dds to notice 😬
Sadly, migraines are a family curse failing. Older dd gets them, too, but not as badly as dd2.
It's her first one since her exams and was totally caused by stress about the dress.
I'm quite cross with dh tbh. I've been telling him for months to just phone the drs for a referral and then contact bupa (it's really not that hard...) but in the end I had to do it.
It infuriates me when people use weaponised incompetence 😡
So, he's left it so long, the he'll need intensive physio, too.
Grrr ☹️
Dd seems to be enjoying her course, and has made lots of new friends.
She has a potential selection activity for her hobby on Sunday so no doubt there will be last minute stress about that 🙄
Gosh, what a moany post! 😬

DS is still enjoying his course but it seems very full on. He’s already submitted two assignments, has one to submit later this week and another one to submit next week. He seems to be spending a lot of time on it. Far more than he did for his GCSEs. He’s had some feedback on his first assignment and has been told he needs more detail to hit the pass criteria. Seems everyone has been told the same and they’ve been given another 2 weeks to update the assignment based on the feedback. I am slightly worried about whether he’ll keep up with this but he seems happy at the moment.

Hey @swampwitch0….oh, nooooo!! Ok, to start- that is NOT moany! And!, to be honest, with all that going on right now for you, I would be dreaming of getting in bed and pulling the duvet over my head, until it all went away!! And the fairies 🧚 fixed it all!!

Well, “ weaponised incompetence “!! 💕.. LOVE that term! ( obviously, I don’t love that it is necessary that you had to use it!!) It was DS19’s lovely GF who taught me that over the summer. I didn’t know they were at home and she overheard me muttering a loud “ oh, FFS”🤦‍♀️ rant in the boot room about laundry and DH’s crap, ( can’t even remember specifics??!) but it was just before the GCSE results, and she came in, was so lovely, concerned and, being nervous about results and having wound myself up, over utter trivia instead, I promptly burst into tears on her…. Anyway!! She calmly talked me through the “ weaponised incompetence “ of DH that had led me to such a point, (🙄😈😹!), at which point, we sniggered, bitched about her BF ( DS19!) too, and all was good!

So! My point being!, is that I think you have EVERY right to be extremely pissed off with DH! Quite clearly, had he done what you had said, many moons ago, then you wouldn’t be in this position now.. and that is infuriating. 😡😤🤯.. Has he offered any words, of anything? Be it apology, or?? Well, I guess the only positive you can glean is that at least YOU have got it done, sorted and the process is now in place. But, you have EVERY right to be fuming!

@Sisublondie
Thank you!
I feel bad that he needs an op, obviously, but also really annoyed he didn't sort it out sooner.
I think I might watch the latest only murders in the building episode 🤔
Thank goodness dd1 is here today so can do drop offs for dd 🙏
I am contemplating making sad eyes 👀 at dd1 to see if she'll bring me back a treat 😄😄
Sounds like ds is enjoying it @BTECnewbie?

@swampwitch0… ( post froze?!).. anyway!, I hadn’t finished!

I deeply sympathise with your migraines. I’m very lucky that don’t suffer them here. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to be faced with experiencing them. Of course, it is the disruption to DD’s lives when they have them, not “ just” the pain…. I’m really sorry. And, how sad that her really lovely gesture in helping with the dress 👗 has triggered it ( and your wanting to scream! 😹). I hope she’s over it, now!

SO good that she’s enjoying her course! And, it’s brilliant about the new friends! Is she still seeing her old friend that, I think, was getting the same bus, or was in college on similar days/ free period?

Ooooohhh!! I hope 🤞 🍀 that her selection activity on Sunday goes well!! I would expect the hugest amount of stress, in the hope that anything less than that is a bonus!!

I’m happy you managed to get a Drs appointment today ( yes, good barometer there! 🙄), and I hope that it goes really well.. hopefully prescribing a little hotel stay, with room service, and sod all else to do but watch crap TV and rest!! 💕🙏🤞💕x

Morning! Well, good DS is enjoying the course!! But. Yes, it does seem very full on, that must work out to an assignment a week, so far? Which subject is it, again? (Mine seems to differ between “Public” or “ Uniformed” Services, a lot being practical ( which I don’t know how they assess)).

It’s great that your DS is cracking on with his course, and his interest is obviously there! It is, or seems to be, wholly different to the way of learning and studying they have experience of, to date.

Is it the case that if they don’t pass the assignment the first time, they get guidance on what IS needed to do so, as you and pp, I’m sure, have mentioned? I hope this additives well for him! It does sound like a few on them are in similar positions, so that is heartening. Good luck to him!

He’s studying aviation operations as he’s plane mad.

I’m not actually sure about the feedback rules. They are definitely getting a chance to resubmit this time but not sure if this will be the case for all assignments once they’re into the swing of things. Perhaps @TeenToTwenties would know the answer to this?

@BTECnewbie I'm not at all clear on resubmission rules. I know you get chances to get things up to a pass, but I'm very unclear on other opportunities.

@swampwitch0

Yes! You MUST! You must make the sad 👀 eyes and demand DD1 brings back a treat!! Ummmm, you GREW her!! (🙀😹!).. and you must pop the latest murders in the building ep on! Snuggle up, keep warm, and watch it now!

Well, of course you’re going to feel a little bad he needs op, (🙄🤔💕!), but! ( this is where my DH anticipates I want to, but will resist, from trotting out my “legal speak” of .. “ You’re the author of your own misfortune”..!), it is a FACT that he needs more invasive surgery/physio because he prevaricated!! It’s not your opinion! I think I would be desperately trying to smother in my “ we both know I’m in the right here, but I’m going to be the best person and not keep reminding you of it, but you and I both know it….. “ just saying”…..!😈😹!)…

@Sisublondie
Basically, I want to be treated like a sick edwardian lady and be sent off to the seaside "for my health" (perhaps solving an interesting murder whilst there a la poirot...)
Sigh.
One can dream
...

@BTECnewbie.. Ah, yes! I think you have said! Now, THAT is very cool!! Does he know what he wants to do, going forward?

@TeenToTwenties… thank you! Ok, so it looks, at least initially for @BTECnewbie, that some form of feedback / resubmission is in place in order to get at least a pass? I still don’t know a full ( or any!) Spec of his course. I think I will email DS ALS contact, and see if she can shine any light?

@BTECnewbie, how is your DS feeling about it? Does he feel he knows what is required of him? I’m not at all sure mine does.🤔

@swampwitch0…

Basically, you deserve it!! Sick Edwardian lady! Seaside air! - sounds like you need to be sent to my hometown! You can build up your strength to maybe walk down the pier in a few weeks! If you can tear yourself away from the A La Poirot Murder Hunt!, of which I definitely think you need a blonde 👱‍♀️ sidekick to help you solve!! ……🤔🕵️‍♀️..

I give you “Swampblondie”!!! 🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♀️! 😻

🤣🤣
A dynamic duo, indeed!

He wants to go into air traffic control, probably in the commercial sector but he hasn’t ruled out RAF. Most of the people on his course want to be pilots.

He doesn’t seem at all worried about the feedback (although he generally isn’t the sort to worry too much in general). I think the feedback has been positive and it’s more that he needs to add more detail rather than what he’s done is wrong. Also I think everyone has had the same feedback. I’m just not sure to what extent they will continue to give feedback and chances to resubmit. I think it will be a case of what this space and we’ll see as the course progresses.

I’ve just done a bit of internet research on this. It looks like you can resubmit each assignment once assuming that you handed it in on time the first time around. The assessors can give general feedback, eg add more detail but cannot provide specific info on what you need to achieve a mark. You then have 2 weeks to resubmit and you must submit on time.

I can imagine the opening credits, now…….!! 👩‍⚖️ 🕵️‍♀️!

I hope the Doctor’s Appointment went well! 🤞🙏, DD’s migraine and dissipated and things are generally a heap perkier for you tonight! 🤞.. sending 🤗 x

Ahhhhh, oooh, excellent!!! Thank you SO much for researching that!! That is so helpful- and a world away from the seeming comparable insanity of exams! ( certainly for DC like my ND DS).

Your DS sounds like he really has got an aviation passion! My DS is in that field, but more on the less fun side 🙄😹. I love how you DS has confidence to know his passion, and is open to where that may take him!

It’s great he has feedback on what additional work is required for this assignment, and I hope it goes well!!

🙏 again for the heads up. Much appreciated! 😸

@Sisublondie
I got some antibiotics 💊
Dd still not feeling 100% but we'll see how she is tomorrow 🤞

Awwww as to DD…. 🤞🤞🤞 she takes a positive turn over night.

And, yay as to antibiotics 💊! Sometimes they are just needed to squish nasty ass lurgys 🤒 in their tracks…. Pop your nighttime one, plenty of liquids. And snuggle up 💕 x

Anyone else got a "parents evening"?
We've got a "meet the teachers and ask questions" evening coming up. Quite unexpected as DS1 attended same college (different course) and we were told nothing ever.
I'll be browsing this thread again before I go to check I ask everything I could need to know.

We had an information evening last week, which was a very waffly presentation from the principal followed by a talk from the tutor. There's also a proper parents evening happening later in the term, with individual tutor meetings.

Dd off today as she's no better ("oh, X from college was throwing up all night on Tuesday"...🙄)
She's doing some work on her portfolio (watercolours)