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.

@swampwitch0.. did DD go back early, to catch up? DS went back yesterday, finished early due to snow and is “ working from home” today… No idea as to whether open for rest of week. How is the weather with you? Think all of UK hit?
Did you watch the Ballard of Wallace island? I haven’t! Recommended, if so? You just be sad with end of Stranger Things! I always think would be weird if you weren’t. It’s like finishing a book you love….. awful! I’m guaranteed to be disappointed with whatever I read next. 🤯😹! Any profiteroles left?! I’m eeking out remaining party food! ( do love “ snicky snacks”!)
Oooh, a trigger! Minecraft! Oh, the gcse hell fire ! The horror! ( DS19 has bloody made me agree to take ( and pass!) Spanish GCSE by end of 2027! 😹)..

Well. I hope your DD has a happy return, and she’s not too anxious at going back 💖🙏 🤞 x

Happy Return, everyone! Has everyone started back/ starting back this week?

@LarkspurLaneHas your DS gone back, yet? I do hope he meets a couple of people that he “clicks” with, as it roils be lovely to have holiday friends. Do you live near to his college? Isn’t it a world away from a year ago!! It really was a horrid time… how fab your DS is enjoying his course. I bet you couldn’t have hoped for this a year ago.,. I think a lot of us are seeing transformed DC!

@OhCrumbsWhereNow
.. oh utterly absolutely! Doesn’t the hell seem long ago?! GCSE’s surely were not just last year! No amount of money would make me swap my DS to see him return to that shell of himself. How excellent that all ours seem to be ticking away on good form at the moment!

Here is to Term/ Semester 2!! 💖🙏 🤞 🍀!!

DD goes back 1 day a week on Friday, but currently melting down about her placement not having animals, and what is the point? I can't conjure things up that don't exist.

@Sisublondie
Haha. No profiteroles/pannetonne or chocolate left in this house! 😊
Weather here very cold, very icy ❄️
Dd goes back tomorrow and is staying later to finish some work she missed whilst she was off ill.
She's been busy over the break, working on this competition thing.
We had a lovely day in London last week seeing a show (her main christmas gift).
The deadline for this first project is end of the month so no doubt it'll get a bit stressy 😬

@TeenToTwenties
I hope once your dd is at placement, she feels happier x

Re: ballad of Wallace island...it was ok. Quite gentle humour.

@swampwitch0… Oh no as to the profiteroles and pannetone going! ( I SO regret sending my DBIL back off with the lions share of what was left! Why?!!🙄🤯😹!)
Just picked DS20 up, roads slippy and grim! But, balmy now at 2degrees! Wait and see what the storm brings..
i so hope your DD has a good first day back, and best of luck of catching up on her work… I forgot to ask!! Sorry, how is all of your health?! How is your shoulder, too?

Oh yes, the competition thing, how’s it going? Any chance of her changing her not-so-good “ work” mates?!
Oooh, the show sounds amazing gun! Was it a girlie trip?
So, is the project practical or written?

Good Luck in the morning!

I’ll take OK for a tip! 🙏

Oh no, I’m do sorry… the college isn’t able to assist at all, are they? How is she feeling about going back generally? Or, is her upset at the placement overriding everything? I do hope things calm down and improve…. 🤞 🙏💕

@Sisublondie
Sorry, just realised I hadn't fully responded...🫣
Dd is going to talk to her course leader today re: the competition. Deadline is monday so she'll need to get it sorted.
First project deadline is end of month.
I'm not sure if its usual, but they've all had to combine some work with another pupil (?)
She's not delighted with the result but with a bit of jiggery pokery (i.e: CAD) she can make sure more of her work is shown on her project.
She's staying late today to use some of the college machines.
Hoping you're all ok weather wise?
Very cold here, with some black ice ❄️
Hoping we don't get more snow 😬

We've written to college so we'll see.
Have also applied to somewhere that states on website they take volunteers, looks like a fab set up. But it is 35-45mins drive away. We have said we can do it one day a week, but just can't do more. Each of us doing a 70-90min round trip is a lot to commit to.

@swampwitch0

How did it go with her course leader?! I really hope she managed to sort this… So, call me thick, I’m sorry!, but the competition and project deadline are different?
The project is where she is in a group of the ones who have provided zero work? I think we chatted about how her lecturers are aware of the situation? Definitely good if it can be clarified/confirmed with said jiggers! I hope today’s been productive for her 🤞..

Ooooh, weather! The village has been in and out of power- hence late reply! DH called to say he’d made it to Scotland with DS19 and DlovelyGF back to Uni, and woke me as I’d given up and gone to bed with the 🐩 ( DS college was cancelled and tomorrow, so I stupidly told him power back on and he’s “ having a quick game”! He did go in on his day off to start on his new assignment, so I’m not too worried… snow is forecast for all next week there, too, so I’m envisaging a lot of “ online learning”! 🙄

I hope you’ve escaped more snow ❄️ and black ice….. but I’m fearing not?! As you’re kind of my neck of the woods - ish?! ( Peak District)?

@TeenToTwenties

Oh, wow, that does sound amazing!! Yes, it’s a long way, and a huge commitment but hopefully she gets it and absolutely loves it! Which will make the trip less onerous 🤞 🙏😻, hopefully? When do you find out?

@Sisublondie
Lots of snow here, but turning to slush on the roads now.
Dd can't get into college today as the trams are not running/delayed. Looks like most of her class won't be in.
The project is her final piece of work for this year.
There was another "team" project that she did all the work for 🙄 which has been chosen to go to the next stage.
Then there's a national competition shes entered and that deadline is monday.
Sorry! Very confusing 😬🤣
Hope you're not snowed in! X

The most likely outcome is we hear nothing at all, but one can hope.
DD went off on the bus today so that's good.

I hope everyone is ok.
Lot of work happening here as DS has an external assessment next week and also resubmitting assignments to bump his grades - I love that they can do that. He seems a lot busier than his A Level friends, but I am hoping he'll be able to relax more than them next year as he'll have so much out of the way.
Work experience also needs to be found - not going great so far!

Dd is certainly working a lot harder than I did during my A levels! 😬🤣
We think dd has work experience sorted 🤞
She's anxious about not going in today but it would have been dangerous.
Where we are has had the most snow in our county 😕

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm. DD insisted on cycling this morning rather than taking the bus and then arrived 10 minutes late as the wind was against her (cold and rainy here but no snow). She is feeling really tired, adjusting back to college and all the cycling in the horrible weather is hard. Fingers crossed the wind will be behind her on the way home this afternoon!

@swampwitch0

Well! Village got snowed in! Power cuts! But, luckily DS was “ working online” anyway, which he managed once power back on. Still nasty road/ walking on lanes underfoot but…. apparently “it’s going to be as balmy as Barcelona” on something, according to something I just saw?! Let’s see!

Good that DD didn’t try to go into college and get stranded there… that is always my concern! Yes, it looks like her class were similarly stuck by the trams problems. I do always think of the staff…. I know at DS’s school, some parents would get cross when a “ snow day” called, but the roads around the school were ok…… some staff live out in villages too, and can’t always get in. It’s a tough call for schools/ colleges to make! Glad it’s not me deciding!

Righto, so The Project is a biggie. And, the “ team” one is different… But, the pressure on now is the Monday Deadline… how is it going?! It’s stressful nervous excitement?! Or, just stress?! 🤔😵!!

Hope her day went well, and not affected by the snow or wind! 💨

@LarkspurLane

All ok here, thanks. DS had most of week online, as college was closed ( very weather hit area), and he says he is “ on top of” his assignments, so I can only hope that’s the case!

Ooh, that is very interesting re your DS and resubmissions! I had heard that that was the case with some courses, but I will be honest and admit I did not know what that entailed. So, the assessment is external? Does it mean the assignments he had already done and REassessed? Or, he has the opportunity to “re-submit” them? In any event, k totally agree! I love that they can do that, too!

Yes, I am already beyond relieved that the hell of A Level exams won’t be re-hitting here. I think the method of assessment for my ND DS is so much better suited!

So, work experience! My DS has told me precisely nothing! I have zero idea when/what/how much needs to be done! If I ask him anything about his course, I usually get shut down…. he wants to be handling things on his own. Which, to be honest, to date appears to be going well. But, on the occasion it was mentioned ( by him) and I tentatively suggested ideas, bam! Shut down! So, I have no idea! Is it course specific? Or, all BTEC require it? My DS is Public/Uniformed Services. What sort of area are you needing/looking at? Is it a case of nothing being available? Or already full? Eek…… good luck with that 🍀!

@OWCAAgentP

The ❄️ is a mess of slush and ice here, now…. But safe and warm inside today, thanks! Hope you are, too.. cold and rain is truly the grimmest! High Five on your DD cycling in winter! Only 10 minutes late is an achievement, against the wind! I’m sorry she is exhausted, it must be.. I really hope the wind was behind her, and she had a fab day at college.
Hoping the weekend will be chilled, and she ( and you!) csn start the week refreshed! Allegedly, it’s “ going to be warm”… according to something I read…..somewhere…..😹!

… sorry! That was to @TeenToTwenties!

And, I hope you are having a lovely, restful weekend! 🤩

We are down south out of the storm region so no weather impact on Friday.
Though forecast to tip it down on Tuesday, first day of outdoor work placement!

Weather here is getting warmer, but the paths are very icy.
@Sisublondie dd seems ok. She might have a days work on Saturday (its well paid, but sporadic)
The competition entry needs to be sorted today 😬