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.

Sorry to read ican. Ds2 found it tough when ds1 was home recently. And they ended up having a physical fight! Which is clearly totally unacceptable.

I haven't spoken to ds1 recently. He's too busy running Nottingham 1/2 marathons.

Ds2 I'm having to push, he and Dh are still at loggerheads and he seems to be doing not much. But I really think 4 A'levels is tough, kinda silly for school to insist all do 4 this term, till tests today and tomorrow, then one us dropped by 1/2 term? No wonder the boy is knackered.

No driving has been done, little theory, he's struggling to fit in refereeing with him only just managing to play football.

I myself thus can't wait for this 4th A'level to be dropped. It'll make my life easier.

Glad Ratty is thriving. Always like to hear hi so updates! Can we all borrow him? 😉

I like @frozendaisy's style. The difference is when she said 'obviously I didn't say any of this', well I did.

I sat ds1 down and said to him, normally I do this, and that, and we talk about it, and we will do that at the end of this conversation, but before that I'm gonna tell you how I really feel because I think it's about time you heard it. So I did. " I've bust a fucking gut over the years, for you, doing abc".

so I did tell him. Once. And I'm glad I did. I need to be shown respect too you know!

I too am in awe of @frozendaisy sensible advice. Teens can be absolute wotsits sometimes.

That said, the nest here is empty and I am bereft. DD1 and foster daughter are both living their best lives at uni, and DD2 was with us for exeat weekend but that's it until half term.

Sixth Form seems to be going well - I'm impressed by those managing four A-Levels though - having to keep reminding DD that she needs to keep up the extra self-directed work as I think she'd otherwise use all her free periods for the selection of fun projects she's taken on that she'd much rather do. And occasionally to practise.

Anyone else started thinking about the next stage? We know DD2 will have to act fast next year as both conservatoire and oxbridge - if she goes for it - are early application. Went to the Royal College of Music open day on Friday with her. Certainly wouldn't be my choice for her as uni looks much more fun but I bit my tongue.

Sixth form goes very fast!

Yes, we're visiting everywhere this year as some only have 1 open day in a year (looking at you Guildhall), and the closing date for conservatoires is sooooooo early.

I had a lovely chat with RCM - they manage to disguise their shudders over 'popular music' very well, and invited us to all kinds of things. Sadly DD is incapable of disguising her shudders over anything classical so zero point. I think we now have a shortlist - a very short shortlist - and totally expect that madam will decide she doesn't like anywhere as she has a firm favourite in her head already.

I've said she has to look at a decent selection - even if it's just so she can explain at audition why she has only made one application without looking like an ignoramus.

Off to Goldsmith's on Saturday... and Trinity in a couple of weeks.

Ah apologies - @OhCrumbsWhereNow - wrong one - it was RAM we went to. As you can tell I'm an amateur at this and they all seem very similar to me!

You are very on it!

DD2 is wildly classical, but not like a genius or anything, which makes it hard to tell where she should go for, especially since she seems not to like sticking to one instrument . We were at a woodwind day so it was all very classical (except the saxes). She says she wants to audition RAM, RCM, one out of London and Guildhall but I definitely want her to cut it down.

There's a lot more choice for classical so I think that makes it both tricky and expensive! And really hard if you don't have a definite primary study - I know some will allow 2, but heck of a workload.

DD is refusing to look outside London - she wants to live at home and commute, and I can see the reasons for staying in London from an industry point of view as well. So I will be shocked if she ends up applying to more than two at most. And quite possible she will decide she doesn't want to go at all - which slightly terrifies me!

She has instruments but wants to specialise in voice which massively reduces options - she does a lot of jazz, but wants more breadth, and I suspect Guildhall won't allow that - but we will go and see.

She's super happy with new course and college for now, so I am hoping to knock off all the visits this term so she's got a clear picture early as tends to fixate.

I’m not too sure where to start with DD thinking about university / apprenticeships etc. She has no clue what she’d like to do.
She’s studying History, Politics, Psychology and Business but not sure she’d want to study any of those at degree level. We’ve a prospectus at home but nothing in there jumped out for her. Maybe I take her around the local uni for some inspiration.

this is what AI came up with when I asked it for medical careers without biology or chemistry a level

• Paramedic: Entry requirements for a Paramedic Science degree often include at least one science A-level, but this can be subjects like Psychology or Applied Science, not necessarily biology or chemistry. Some ambulance trusts also offer apprenticeship routes.
• Diagnostic Radiographer:Operates imaging equipment, such as X-ray and MRI machines. University degrees usually require a science subject, but specific A-level choices can vary.
• Occupational Therapist: Helps people of all ages overcome challenges with everyday tasks. While biology is often preferred, it is not always a mandatory requirement, and some universities will accept alternative qualifications.
• Speech and Language Therapist:Works with patients who have communication or swallowing difficulties. Entry requirements vary by university, with some accepting a range of Level 3 qualifications.
• Sonographer: Uses ultrasound technology to create images. Entry typically requires a relevant degree in a health or science field (like radiography or nursing) followed by a postgraduate course, rather than specific A-levels in biology or chemistry

@NotDonna - having done this for two of them over the last two years I reckon the visits are illuminating (didn't stop one of them having a massive wobble on results day though and trying to change).

The more they see the better I think. Some open days have sample lectures - Warwick was good for that - which helped one of ours see what they day would be like. I was surprised how much just seeing places helped. One liked campus, one didn't - it certainly firmed up all sorts of things.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow - great she wants to live at home, especially for the budget. DD2 honestly still isn't sure if it even really is music- also very enthused by English and History right now - guess all will become clear in time, but I wish we had more of it!

There are career fairs on round the county:

https://www.whatcareerlive.co.uk/

They do one London and Birmigham. The colleges often takes them to local ones here as well.

It got DD1 thinking but Birmigham one for her Y12 felt too late and Y11 to early for DS so we're trying London one for DD2 - she not quite sure what she wants to do - and her current ideas are few courses and really high grades.

DD1 and DS both changed their mind on courses while looking DD1 mid UCAS application she applied for 2 first ideas and three new courses though she picked only three uni - and DS just before he got to UCAS application itself.

My other two were easier as they knew what they wanted. DD1 applied for economics degrees but ended up getting a big4 apprenticeship & DD2 knew she wanted Business (ideas if being a CEO I think 🤣🤣) Wheteas DD3 no clue. Lind list if what she doesn’t fancy so somewhat helpful.

I had to visit Southampton and Queens London, for ds1 because his part time job refused him time off! He and I went to Durham and Nottingham.

I loved it all. Visiting, travelling. (Looking forward to this next part of this thread as we talk about our dc's plans and where all other posters are visiting.) (Enjoying the music discussions content ongoing below). I'm sure I'm Judith Chalmers reincarnated, all my friends tease me I'm Judith. Sad to think I may not get the chance to go with ds2 as he's currently not really interested. Ds1 is trying to persuade him to reconsider. He's hasn't a clue what he wants to do. Like others here. Not a scooby doo. I'll talk to him again. (Not holding out much hope). 🙄

This is me! I want to have the fun of looking at dreaming spires, wood panelling and libraries (even halls of residence).

DD just likes glass boxes 😭

@OhCrumbsWhereNow
Me and You then Crumbs, off on a Uni visiting sesh, anyone else who wants to sign up, please do so. If you want to go visit loads of Uni's, eg beautiful Oxford spires aka Morse, even if your kid isn't going there, sign up! 😉

@CatHairEveryWhereNow have you been to one of those events previously? I’m wondering if it’ll be too chaotic for DD as she’s easily overwhelmed - the photos look like it’s crazy busy. We could possibly do the London one.

Yes I loved the uni visits too! Apart from one which was a 9 hour drive. Shouldn’t have been. We didn’t stop once and I was desperate for a wee when we finally got there. It’s a lovely opportunity for a a bit of one to one time. No oxford spires for us though, just

Newcastle, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bath, Lancaster, York, Leeds, Warwick & Loughborough, oh & Reading (which was very early days) across the eldest 2 DDs. Now where do I fancy this time? 🤔

@NotDonna I've been to Birmigham NEC one twice in recent years once with DD1 and then DS and then many years prior my own Dad when I was the student - hence me knowing about it.

They are really busy and TBH fairly noisy - earlier you get there the better TBH.

Having said that DD1 was overwhelmed with one college took her to she had to go outside for a bit and that was on a smaller scale. DD2 is prepared to go to London one with us if we get there early and she can have her headphones and we do something in London later.

It focused their minds on thinking about next course/location more than getting anything definite TBH - there are talks but mostly it's stands with representative with varing degrees of knowledge.

I loved them all, apart from the packed early train out of Euston what felt like every Saturday morning- and the insane cost of transport.

We did Nottingham, Cardiff, Swansea, Sheffield, Warwick, Manchester. They did Sussex and Oxford without me.

This time I think it's Cambridge, Durham, Guildhall, Manchester (again) and Royal Northern. And, inspired by it all, I've just booked to finally graduate with my fake Oxford MA thing, so she can come to that to see my dreaming spires - even if my college didn't even offer music.

I enjoyed the uni visits. But ds1 wanted to stay local, so we only looked round Essex uni and UEA (he went to UEA) he’s 24 with a biology degree but still hasn’t had a proper job. Ds2 only wanted to go to Sussex uni as dh’s dd lives in Sussex and it was one of the only places we’d been on holiday to. So we looked round that uni, the others he applied to he didn’t want to visit. He got his place at Sussex. He’s studying history, but has no idea what he wants to do next. Neither of them thought they wanted to go to university when they were in year 11. So it would be great if ds3 could come up with a plan. But I’m sure he won’t. Our year 12’s go to Essex university for a higher education exhibition. But the older 2 dc’s didn’t think much of it.

I enjoyed them too, but it turns out that when you have a child looking at nursing then you just have to look at a lot of life-size dolls with dilating pupils. For someone with a classics degree this was ...unexpected... The linguistics lectures for the other one were much more my scene.

Public service announcement by the way for anyone who IS looking at nursing or the other healthcare things that aren't nursing but are a bit like it (including midwifery, paramedic science and physiotherapy). At present Wales will pay the uni fees and a £1000 non-means tested grant for anyone who studies at their universities - though if you are english you can't get the full maintenance loan. The quid pro quo is you have to work in Wales for 2 years after, but the welsh NHS has to find you the job.

Given it's tricky out there I'm glad DD has done this as with some judicious use of her Junior ISA and the expected parental contribution from us she should graduate debt free with a guaranteed job. IF it all works out. But this is worth knowing if you don't.

Public service announcement by the way for anyone who IS looking at nursing or the other healthcare things that aren't nursing but are a bit like it (including midwifery, paramedic science and physiotherapy). At present Wales will pay the uni fees and a £1000 non-means tested grant for anyone who studies at their universities - though if you are english you can't get the full maintenance loan. The quid pro quo is you have to work in Wales for 2 years after, but the welsh NHS has to find you the job.

I didn't know that and we're in Wales - though my DC have no interest in that area sadly.

I will say keep on eye on what happen after next May senedd election- as depending on who gets in next it may affect uni funding.

I'm keeping an eye for my kids who get welsh funding (been here ten years) likely to be less generous but NHS course funding could go other way as they do want people in Welsh NHS and at welsh universities.

You can have him!

It's his b'day today, he's just about to go out and terrorise other motorists just trying to get home after a day at work!

We've got as far as looking at the university guides of past 2/3 years seeing which might be the best courses for nuclear physics!

I think Oxbridge is out for Ratty, will see what his college say next week but not sure it's the right social environment. I think Manchester would suit him down to the ground.

As it's his birthday today and he is just about to go out for first driving lesson, I have been, I guess you call it, nice to him all month, I've told him it stops tomorrow!

I did try and get him a season job at our local postal sorting office, show him a bit of the real world but all our local sorting office jobs already overapplied for it seems. The option of being a "Santa's Little Helper" at the local garden centres is his idea of absolute hell, Christmas Magic would not be upheld.

So might have to wait until next festive season!

After a strong but brief flirtation with the idea of medicine dd has decided to go back to Biochemistry or Biomedical sciences although her dream is to study Biological Natural Sciences at Cambridge. So we’ll definitely be doing Cambridge but probably also Oxford to check out their Biochemistry programme even though she can only apply to one. Then Durham is likely as is Bath and Lancaster and then maybe Edinburgh and/or St Andrews. I’m so excited for the Open Days. I wasn’t allowed to go with dh and ds when ds was looking and didn’t see his uni (Lancaster) until the day he moved in! One tip though - take notes as you go!