Year 12 - 2025/2026: Here we go again!

[QueenMabby]

A new thread for the new school and college year. A friendly thread for parents of those going into year 12 in September 2025.

One question about siblings and uni going, if you have one sibling who has a much smaller bedroom, and the other sibling goes to university, do you swap the bedrooms around?

We did - DD1 did it right after A-levels didn't need my involvement other than to say it was fair to do so. DD2 loved the extra space - though she was mid end of year exams so not best time for her to move.

DS know we'll likely make changes - as IL need proper bed to stay here not hotel on visits. Though he'll always have a bed here when he needs it may not be in that room.

DD1 not been back loads though - and when she is she'd in shared spaces downstairs despite small room having some space and a desk. She has own studio flat from y2 onwards which she loves. DS will be quite a distance from us - as far as we deemed possible -- so don't think he'll be back that often either - he did look at many closer options but that by far best course - and second choice wasn't closer either. He's off Friday with us - gets room day early Saturday and we have to head back DH has something on Sunday and busy week after- suddenly seems very soon.

DD2 been fine - it's her second week - she catching up missed maths due to orthodontist appointment. We asked next time for it to be in afternoon to avoid her missing classes - they made it in the morning . They did say though finger crossed they may be off next time -

Late reply sorry @NotDonna -he is doing philosophy and politics in addition to hopefully swapping to economics.
I think it’s a shame to drop Spanish but have got to get over it.

@SB1971 will he keep up his language in other ways? Those A levels lend themselves to PPE - is that what he’s thinking? If he keeps up his language via Duolingo or similar, lots of universities offer a language as an almost extra curricular, which he may fancy.

@NotDonna there is an option to do Portuguese as an extra curricular which I will encourage him to do but will it win over 5 a side football!!!?

That made me giggle @SB1971 Portuguese v soccer 🤔

DS is doing his EPQ on doping in sports, especially cycling. He's very keen on this topic and they have already started on it in school.
We are still debating whether it's worth putting in some of his papers for remarking. He's 1 mark away from the next grade up in English Lit and 2 marks away from English Language. Also couple of other subjects he's 1 or 2 marks away. None of it effects his A/L choices and it's £50 a paper, so quite a lot of money if putting in for all of those that are close to the boundary, especially when it won't change anything for A levels. His English teacher has mentioned he should put in for both the English papers. But otherwise no advice from the school. To be honest he got a 7 in Language which is higher than what we thought he'd get, so we were fine with it till now. But now doubting it as the deadline looms closer.

DD who's a year younger than DS gave up her massive bedroom for DS's box room last year as she was fed up of it being too big(!!) and difficult to manage- and seems very happy with it so far, so if and when he goes to Uni, not sure she'll move back, so we might end up with a huge spare room. DD and I were talking about perhaps making it into a dressing room for both of us!

They are both at home today as it's entrance exam day at the school.

@DataColour - I put in for reviews for both DC , one Eng lang , one lit , both 2 marks off , both school supported - neither moved at all . I think we hear a lot about the successful reviews but not those that aren’t . £100 down - don’t regret doing it but not so sure I would next year when DS2 does the rest of his GCSEs . I think if it’s borderline for next steps then it’s worth a punt which is a bit different .

there was a thread specifically about English reviews which might be worth a look …I can’t now find it

@waitingquietly thanks! Isn't it £50 per paper, so £100 per subject. Or did you narrow it done to just the one paper each from reviewing the papers?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5399087-gcse-english-lit-and-language-review-of-marking?reply=146909125

Here's the thread. My dd went up by 4 marks in English lit to a 7 but we did it because she was taking it for A level and predicted an 8. We haven't done any others that are borderline as no impact on future plans.

@DataColour - yes my DSs teachers told us which paper to put in . I didn’t know but one of them is now on maternity leave so feel rather guilty that she was checking papers !

@DataColour - yes my DSs teachers told us which paper to put in . I didn’t know but one of them is now on maternity leave so feel rather guilty that she was checking papers !

Studying of another kind: whilst pre-booking DD's first driving lessons, the instructor said to start using the 4-in-1 app to study for the theory test, before she's even had her first practical lesson. I think this is because a practical test can only be booked once the theory has been passed.

Is anyone else starting revising before lessons, and are you doing it the old fashioned way by reading the highway code???

DS has only had one lesson , he downloaded the theory app in August - no idea if it’s been used . His driving instructor told him to get on it after his first lesson . I bought the 3 books - not been touched ! I booked the theory test a while back and booked for November - that was the earliest for our most local option . It’s just after half term so I’m expecting him to work on it in half term

@waitingquietly thanks, that's a good plan. Have you also booked Learner's Insurance i.e. are you planning on taking DS out in your own car? I don't recall doing this apart from Sunday mornings in an empty car park.

I think we have a subject swap here - DS has decided that chemistry is not for him. Ability-wise, its always been about the science - all 9s across the board for sciences/maths/comp sci. But, he's done a week and he says that whilst he could tolerate half of the curriculum, the other half is unbearable.

So... we are on a hunt for other options that fit with the timetable. Technically, he could swap to most things but some options would require switching maths/FM and physics groups. The other maths/FM group comes with a teacher that he just can't tolerate and he's not willing to do it - maths is 'his thing' and he won't compromise on the dodgy FM teacher. So, he's limited to a couple of blocks of the timetable and by the process of elimination we are left with biology, economics or history.

I think its likely to be economics, although its quite a risk. Its a new subject and when he did a new subject at GCSE (business studies) he didn't like it, didn't put in much effort and came away with a 7. He particularly disliked the teacher and it is this teacher that takes A level economics. He also hates essay writing!

He had originally been aiming for A/A* across the board with chemistry in the mix and he admits that he doesn't think he'll get as good a grade in economics (he's already saying he'd be okay with a B). But, he also says he wouldn't get as good a grade in biology or history either. It just seems a shame to be thinking like this so early on - but it seems he really can't stand chemistry!

Doing something slightly different might be good, it introduces him to a slightly new subject, different ways of thinking and economics isn't too heavy on essay writing in comparison to history, they'll be graphs and sources etc. Are his other subjects Maths and FM? Or does he have a third. Sometimes broadening out can also be good to develop the skills you are weaker in and a B is not a bad grade. So get him to have a look at the history topics see whether he'd be up for that, if not economics is very respected and might open him to different paths alongside his maths, which will help him massively with economics.

@mojobrojo Will he enjoy Economics if he didn't like Business and it's the same teacher? Would he be better off sticking with Chemistry where he likes half the syllabus and just tolerate the other half? Doing an essay subject requires different skills which are good to have but most will be doing 3 and not 4 and will require extra effort to learn as he isn't getting reinforcement from other essay subjects like English. History has a NEA, not sure about economics. Biology is surely similar to the bits of Chemistry he doesn't like?

Maths, further maths and physics.

He can analyse stuff - he got an 8 in History and 9 in English Lit. But, he has always been a minimalist when it comes to writing - he'll write 'just enough' and that is where he's struggled with the essays.

He was going to have a look at the history topics today - we did look briefly before and its a pretty modern syllabus that he thinks he'd find interesting. He did say that he thinks he would enjoy studying history more than economics, but would find it harder to get a good grade.

@mojobrojo - is there no DT? Or CompiSci option? Psychology? Is it literally just those 3 he has to choose?

That is my worry about economics - half is taught by the teacher he doesn't like. Although her specialism is economics so there is the chance she's better at teaching economics compared to business.

But, of the options available, I do think it might be the best of a non-optimal bunch. His leaning is very much the maths-based sciences, so chemistry and biology don't quite fit (I did both at A level myself). Equally, history (my other A level actually!) is never something I saw him doing so would have my doubts about that.

I think he's pretty certain about not doing chemistry. He says he's not sure he even liked it at GCSE, just found it easy and had his best mate in the class to keep him amused.

Well he's already got his main 3 then which is good, economics likely fits in more and his maths skills will help. Depending on the specification, the highest marks are 15 markers and 25 markers but they will require graphs to be drawn etc. If he has his main three then getting a B int he 4th subject will be more than fine and he might even do better as he clearly has the attitude. Also I'm sure he does have analytical skills etc but obviously A-levels are harder, and so the skills of history in particular are more developed, harder, they require more understanding and nuance as is to be expected. If he's a write just enough, he'll likely have to work on that but he may find it fun and interesting and that's something to value if you are doing 4 A-levels, you want to make sure you have something for why you are doing each subject, for some that can just be learning for the sake of it, history will always keep you more informed or enjoying something new, learning some new ideas and economics is central to lots of ways the world works.

On the teachers as long as she isn't actually bad then sometimes you jut have to get on with a teacher who you don't personally gel with, he'll have another one but he should be open minded that she'll be better at economics hopefully. This is only if she wasn't actually a bad teacher just he didn't personally find her interesting or engaging, if she was quite bad then that's slightly different.

Yes - only options available that fit with his timetable.

He could do psychology, but that would involve swapping further maths group and he's said that is a definite no. Also, as a psychologist myself, I'm not entirely sure that suits him much better!

I think CompSci would maybe involve the same, but he was definitely done with that after GCSE.

DT - don't know - possibly not because its a small 6th form and very traditional in its subject offering. But, he wouldn't entertain it anyway. Didn't do it at GCSE and hates practical stuff!

From our discussions yesterday he's starting to see physics, maths and further maths as his three main A levels and whatever else he chooses as the fourth bonus A level. But, the school definitely views further maths as the bonus extra and would be the one he would be made to drop if he said that four A levels was too much.

I've told him exactly that about history - I did A level history myself and know the step up that is expected. I think we're probably heading down the economics route - I had just hoped I wouldn't have to coax him through essay writing or listen to him complaining about this particular teacher again. Chemistry felt safe because I knew he has the ability to do it well, but I totally get that sometimes you just don't like something (despite being good at it)!

Does he have to do four A levels @mojobrojo as he seems to be casting around for the least worst option? Is there the possibility of doing something else if he feels he needs an extra eg EPQ, a new language?

Only two more years of the moaning and hopefully she's better than last year. If he enjoys it and will find the maths good to help him then he'll be fine. It's his 4th A-level and he should get the highest grade he can but with his main 3 he should be fine and so sometimes having something you find interesting is better than going through the motions with one you don't. Especially with the amount of work from 4 A-levels, it can be good to have one like that. Hopefully he finds he likes it and he'll likely do very well.