Xaverian college A level timetable-half empty

[Xaveriannewbie]

Does anybody have any experience of A level timetables, specifically for Xaverian College? I didn’t do A levels. Dd starts tomorrow and got timetable yesterday. She’s doing Biology, Chemistry and Geography. The timetable looks like Swiss cheese! She doesn’t start until 12.30pm
on a Monday and on other days she’s not got many lessons. Is this normal or is her timetable missing something? She will of course ask more tomorrow but I expected A levels to be full on, not lots of free periods. I’ve advised her to spend those free periods working rather than lying in bed.

I’m making suggestions/ offering advice/ helping when asked, but I think they have to make the decisions at this point. Trying to force will not work with mine

Yes. This is true for other A-Level-equivalent qualifications too. About 15-17 contact hours per week is normal, but she should still be expecting to top it up to about 30 hours with independent study and reading around the subject as well as doing the set homework.

At degree level it might be as low as 8-10 contact hours and at PhD level maybe 1 or 2 contact hours per week - a student who can't or isn't motivated to study enthusiastically when not in the presence of a teacher will not do well.

She’ll settle in I’m sure and the MDV programme looked excellent so I’ve no doubts the tutors there will be very explicit in what she needs to be doing. Dd is one that needs a fire under her and a tight deadline to be productive. I’ve long suspected ADHD and Autism but she doesn’t want the label of a diagnosis. It’s a tough balance between support and encouragement and being fb perceived as being on her case. I’ll check in with her at the end of the week and see how she’s settling in. As in a proper catch up rather than a hi how’s your day been type chat over dinner. I think it’s all a bit scary right now and overwhelming and she doesn’t communicate that well but gets arsey with me.

That's pretty unusual. Is it a private school?
Most state schools just don't have the staffing to supervise free periods.

Xaverian don't expect them to be in college for their free periods. They are looking at her timetable to see if they can change it to make it more balanced.
dd found her first full day hard going indeed!

I know your DD doesn't want a "label", but it means that various adjustments can be made to help her if you do go down the assessment route.

As someone who isn't a self starter she will struggle with A levels and struggle massively at university. University lecturers don't chase students up for assignments. They expect deadlines to be met. Late submissions result in marks being deducted.

DD did those subjects at A level. Biology has a very specific mark scheme and it is a good idea for your DD to familiarise herself with it and practise exam technique as it often trips even the brightest students up. Geography has an NEA (non examined assessment) worth 20% of the marks. This takes the form of a mini dissertation. Again, this requires a lot of self motivation. It is good preparation for university as your DD will learn about research, report writing and referencing.

Free periods are self study sessions. She'll have a pastoral sessions and an RE lesson added onto timetable if they aren't there already. It's a lovely, supportive college

No the local comp!

DS school they had supervised study. DS said it was like three hours a day of detention, they weren't allowed to speak.
He often had to go in and sit there for 2 hours in the morning before his first lesson.
I think this was to ensure that some work was done rather than preparing them for uni. It lightened up a bit in Year 13.

(bog standard state school)

Wow. At DD's school the emphasis was on preparing the students for university and independent study, so there was no supervision at all.

The 6th form colleges round here are far more hands off and are a good halfway house between school and university.

5 hours per A level is why lots of us used to do 4 A levels, especially if maths and further maths, or three sciences and maths. The subjects all support each other and timetable wise it's totally feasible. My 6th form then lobbed in prep for Step papers 4pm until 5pm. I think it's gone out of favour, as colleges are keener for students to get 3 A* rather than 4 A grades. And in terms on uni applications that's true. But in terms of a broader education it's a shame.

That's how it is unless you do music when you end up in basically full time!

My son’s at Loreto and his timetable is similar. The only full day is Monday.

My DD is at Xaverian, has all of Weds off. Finishes earlier on a Monday and starts later on Thursday. Free periods she is studying or researching uni options. At the open day talk by the headteacher the religious studies would have been mentioned. EPQ they start much later in y12 compared with places like Aquinas who start now. The bus strikes haven’t helped with getting trr hg n into a routine! But so far she’s coping with the early starts as to get in for 9 it’s a 7.10 bus!

Did you go to open days? It’s 4.5 hour class and 4.5 independant study per a level min

How is she getting on now @Xaveriannewbie? We are trying to decide if it’s a good fit for DC or Loreto