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.

Glad it is going well @OhCrumbsWhereNow . It is music related isn't it? What does she want to do afterwards - performing?

Yes - and yes. 😱She does composition, writing and production as well, but she wants the sell-out stadium tours and her name in lights (god help me! 😂)

She's been performing professionally since she was teeny (West End etc) so feet are very firmly on the ground and there are no stars in her eyes.

As I mentioned to @swampwitch0a couple of days ago, I would post something about my DS when I had a bit more time, which may be a positive to other parents of bullied ND DC, and those who may be concerned about a change from the structure of school, to the college “vibe” instead.

As those who may have known me for a long time, my DS was bullied throughout his whole years of education. He started his Level 3 BTEC at a college in a different town in September. He is settling in well, has made a few new friends and is no longer withdrawn, isolated or self harming. He is positive about his course, and got a Distinction in his first assignment. On Thursday after school, we were in town and I had to pop into his old school ( I am still involved with the school, and there was an event on). I fully expected that he would ask for a lift home before I went, but, instead, he asked if he could come along. I am so happy he did…. It was like a miracle, watching him walk into the same building which had made him physically quake for years. He walked in with his head high and with purpose, greeting one of his old teachers with confidence and his voice strong. He engaged with students who were passing, and, when a fellow student jokingly egged him on to “ drop and give him ten” in relation to training sessions they are having to do, he did so! Which would have previously been unthinkable! When we were driving home, he himself actually expressed that he couldn’t believe just how much he had changed in terms of his confidence, since he left there.

Anyway, I always like hearing positive stories about fellow ND DC, so hopefully this may help even one person out there, who may not be able to see any light at the end of the tunnel right now. If you are considering a change of school/ college, perhaps it really will be the thing that may work for your DC, too. 🤞 🙏.

@Sisublondie That's a brilliant update. Just shows how important being in the right environment on the right course can be.

Since this morning I now have another 10 businesses that could be contacted for DD, and she is outside happily planting a hedge with DH.

Oh, that is just excellent!!!! You must be so much more positive…. and the planting of hedge is positive in all aspects, from the getting outside in fresh air, to the optimistic nature of watching them grow! That’s really good news 🤩!

@Sisublondie that is so encouraging to hear and what a lovely change of environment for your son. He was very brave to go back to school - and must have done a lot for his confidence.

Thank you. It took a lot of effort to act nonchalantly when he said “ No, it’s ok, I’ll pop there with you, it’ll be nice to go in again”….as I was just waiting for the “….,,AS IF”…! He left literally walking taller…. And, the fist bump he returned to a “ cool guy” as we left, well, my tears were pricking my eyes…. Best moment I’ve had in years 🏆 😻! It’s little moments like that, that are literally life changing and make all the crapness sometimes, worth every second! 😸

That's such a brilliant and empowering update @Sisublondie! You must be so proud of your DS – and you should be really proud of yourself too. Advocating for a ND child can be exhausting and thankless but we keep going because we have to, and because they need us to. So when you have a moment like the one you've just had with your DS, it's amazing. Here's to him continuing to thrive.

Thank you so much. That’s so true- it’s the little things, the things you just don’t mention to some friends as they, through no fault of their own, would not really necessarily understand the magnitude of such baby steps, and such dreamed of moments, finally coming to fruition. It’s all we can hope for, isn’t it, when things are tough 🤷‍♀️.
🙏

@swampwitch0.. 👻 AND DS19 Uni Update!

👻 and Vaults tour was fab! Suitably creepy, at dusk, and welcome break from essay hell for DS19! I think the highlight for him is when the wonderful Lafayette picked me to be the witch 🧙 in the experiment…..🙄🙀😹!

Then, after DS19 reluctance, he let me go to his Halls last night… flashbacks! It was so lovely and reassuring to meet his new friends, and see the environment overheard so much about! ( loving the huge orange Fatboy bean bags! ).
He is a little stressed ( bored) about one of his language choices ( preferring the new one), which is a little concerning as that was his passion previously, but, in all, he seems to be settling in well and that’s all you can hope for at this early stage, I guess!

Hope DD’s break is going ok, fun with friends tonight, and that you’re feeling better? 🤞 🙏

I'm so happy to hear your update on your ds @Sisublondie
It's so hard when your dc struggle and can feel very lonely.
As you know, dd has had a rough ride, too, and although she is still seeing the counsellor, she is loving her course and the FE college was definitely the right choice - even if it was a rather stressful and late one!
I was really baffled to see the posts criticising you and I @Sisublondie for trying to keep the thread active and - god forbid - chatting.
I suggest that that particular poster just not engage with my posts, or, of course, if we are that irritating, just use the "hide thread" option?
Thread police are not needed and not welcome.

@Sisublondie
Ah, that sounds like such fun! 👻
I'm just so delighted for you that both dc are thriving 🙌
Dd is working on her coursework but - as usual - the perfectionism is hitting. This is something she is working on with her counsellor. She was told by her tutor she is currently working at distinction but is SO critical of herself.
It's difficult to know what to say.

Morning! Yes, I was rather baffled, and quite upset actually. I know you shouldn’t let some things upset you, but, as you know I’m in Edinburgh to see DS19 for first time, and understandably excited to see him, but it certainly ruined yesterday morning for me. I am still at a loss as to how our chatting, keeping the thread alive, could be offensive. I was quite hurt, especially with personal digs at emoji use ( maybe I do overuse them, but 🤷‍♀️, I like them)…. I fail to see how it was harming anyone. When people post, everyone generally joins in the chat, posts are replied to and conversation starts….. I would have thought any potential newbie, or lurker, who wanted advice, or to just join the group, would be reassured by our friendly chats, and the thread itself, by seeing it’s inclusivity and nuturing nature of advice, when required. I thought the purpose of this thread was to know each other and our DC, so when problems DO arise, as they will, we know what is going on with others DC in order to best give support. So, not necessarily only post when something is wrong, which is obviously fine, too, but.. anyway……hopefully all done and dusted now 🤞!

Yes, FE Collrges, I really do think that enough is publicised about them, certainly within most schools, and zero at DS school. I’m so happy your DD is thriving, now, there. I know it was a late choice, and remember the stress at the time. But, hopefully things are just going to keep improving for her now… Did she get the last assignment/ work completed?

I'm sorry it upset you @Sisublondie, but I understand. You are so kind and supportive - it did feel like an uncessessarily unpleasant remark.
I love an emoji 🤪
I've come across such posters before (I've been on mn for donkeys years...) and it's a shame.
As I said, there is a hide thread option 🤷
On long running threads - which I hope this will be! - posters do generally start to chat/share info/ask for advice...I think that's what MN was started for tbh..support and not feeling so alone.
Please keep posting and being you! 😊

Oh gawd...dd just had a letter from college about industrial work experience for year 2!
Another thing to think about 😬
Students have to find placements themselves.
Dd may have an opportunity next year to travel with dh to an industry show...but that won't count as work experience.
I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I've been surprised at how much work BTEC students have to do so early on in the course? I know its continuous assessment, but its been very full on and dd will need to work a fair bit over half term.
I did A levels and I remember just writing the odd essay!!

Yes, it’s been a lot of work. I think DS must have submitted at least 6 assignments so far. Plus he’s had to respond to feedback and resub some parts of some of the assignments. He seems to be working almost every day on it. It’s a lot more than I anticipated and I think it’s definitely something for people to bear in mind if they are considering a BTEC next year. Fortunately DS loves his subject so it doesn’t feel too much like work to him but at least one person on his course has left because it was too much work and they weren’t interested enough in the topic to tolerate it.

I did say yesterday that it wasn't my intention to cause upset. Personally I don't like emojis on MN, but that's just me! Really not fair to peg me as one of those MN posters who are nasty for the sake of it when that's clearly not the case when you look at my other contributions on this thread. I just wanted some practical advice and chat yesterday and I did offer to set up a new thread but was talked out of it.

Think I'll do that anyway, because I really don't feel comfortable staying on given your comments about me. Maybe you should reflect on how you've come across too.

Perhaps we should all just draw a line under yesterday’s discussion and move on. It would be a shame to dilute the discussions across two threads. Especially since support and chat about BTECs and other vocational course can often be a bit limited on MN (certainly compared to A levels).

@MotherMary14
Entirely your choice.
I'm not the poster making hurtful personal remarks about others...that was you
I'm pointing out what MN was created for, which this thread is a good example of (imo).
As I said, you have the option of just not responding to posts that irritate you. It's not difficult.
I generally find people who make hurtful, unnecessary remarks, then act like they are the wronged party when called out on it really irritating - but that's just my opinion.

Agreed

@BTECnewbie
I think dd has found it tough, too. She had an awful day a week ago...came home really frustrated and upset (broken machine) and was feeling really stressed about the workload.
We sat down and made a list of work and deadlines and it all got done.
It doesn't help that she has a new CAD tutor who they all dislike (I sense because he's had to catch them up after 3 weeks of no tutor!)
She's currently printing loads of work off prays to the printer gods 🖨
Dd has been asked to re-do some work, too. Turns out the previous CAD tutor hadn't given them the correct info so most of the class had to re-do whole boards of work 😬

@BTECnewbieDd's course has had a few join in the past 3 weeks (so they've had a LOT of work to catch up on..) but no one has left yet,
but dd feels that two of her coursemates might be asked to leave...they are already not turning up for classes and are behind with work ☹️
There are kids coming from a long way away to study at dds college, so I'm not sure how long that attitude will be tolerated...

DS has had to resub quite a few things. But it’s been mainly adding a little more detail in here and there rather than any major rewrites. I think pretty much all the people on his course are in the same position. His tutor told me that the criteria for passing each component are fairly prescriptive and it’s a fairly steep learning curve when starting a BTEC. I guess this is where doing a level 2 could be helpful so that you can get into the BTEC way of working.

I think three have left DSs course. Two were kicked off and one chose to leave. I think there may be 1 or 2 others also considering their options at the moment. Several travel quite a long way so it’s quite a commitment if you aren’t massively interested in the topic.

@BTECnewbie
I'm a big fan of level 2 courses and foundation years at undergrad...they are SO helpful (I used to work at an RG uni)
It is a huge learning curve after gcses, no doubt.
Dd got a 9 at gcse in one of her btec modules and she's finding it harder than she expected wrt expectations and layouts etc