Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other (new thread from y12)

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Hello
I have started a new thread following on from this one
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/further_education/5340007-year-12-202425-support-discussion-and-looking-after-each-other-thread-2?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Yeah I'm very glad DS sixth form didn't split it this way. Sure they have their reasons but think it's better to do both across the two years if poss for most kids. Good luck to him with the resit @AuntyBulgaria, sucks to have to deel disappointed by an A after only one year's study when that's actually very good.

My son is doing maths and FM (all sat in Y13)

It has made A level maths seem easy and he is doing really well in the normal maths but FM is HARD and he currently only gets about 50% and can't finish the papers (with extra time also). And he very much has a maths brain. He just doesn't have the time required to give to practice because of the workload of four A levels and he needs to give the others more attention as he has to get a certain grade in physics and maths for his uni offers.

Four is swings and roundabouts I guess as he will definitely get a much better grade in computer science than FM but if he hadn't spent all that time on CS maybe he would be flying in FM instead?

He will knuckle down now before the exams but it's not one to take unless you are really really good at maths. His class is getting smaller and smaller as time goes on, started at around 24 and I think there is ten left..

@SilverBlue56 agree FM being a fourth a level is hard. DS does 3 including FM and has no problems with uni offers and his work load is fine.

@AuntyBulgaria thank you for the reply DD has no idea what she is doing but enjoys maths. Good luck to your DS hope gets the A star

Thank you also @pinkdelight and @SilverBlue56 DD school split the year so there will be exams in yr12 yr13. She is coasting GCSE year and bored so think she wants a challenge 🙈 couldn't do gcse further maths as had a clash in timetable.

Just booked a holiday for after A levels! Something to look forward to. Mad to think that in almost 5 months a levels will be over.

@AuntyBulgaria I have booked to go away the same week that DS goes with his friends post A levels. I can't wait.

I love the idea of a post exam results holiday!

DS is still umming and ahhing about holidays. I’m staying out of it!

Driving test today. DS is a bit stressed… I do hope he passes 🤞

Post A levels holiday, not results. Sorry! DH and I are going to Sissinghurst after the exams. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go.

Good luck to @Ventress junior!

Our DS will go on a holiday with friends, but he will also come with us on all our holidays 🤣❤️
He loves his rest.

Sissinghurst is going on my (endless) list of places to visit.

Good luck to your DS in his driving test @Ventress

DS has also booked a second holiday with a smaller group of friends and wants to go away with his girlfriend too - I'm not paying for a fourth holiday for him with us! 😄

DS got his report yesterday, it was lovely but I'm slightly (unreasonably) irritated by the comments from all the teachers telling him they are confident he can hit A stars in the real exams. Shame they didn't say that prior to December in his UCAS application. I shall not be putting that extra pressure on him now as he doesn't need A stars to get where he wants to go, if he achieves them that's just a bonus for him.

Parents evening last night all as expected, needs to push on with revision and get more depth in his essay questions. That's my genes showing through 😂
We're skiing next week, DS is going to Greece with 8 friends for a week, in early July, we're all going to the Dutch F1 in August (his 18th gift) and DH and I are going to Iceland in October/November.
That might have to do us for holidays this year as they were all ££££

Nice to talk holidays! We are going to Cornwall for the teens to surf in July.

Meanwhile DD has mocks spread over this week and the week after half term. Seems OK about them so far. DS is inspired by the Winter Olympics and wants to take his snowboarding to the next level (tricks and jumps). Might take him to sunny Milton Keynes and its snowdome for a day at half term while his sister revises.

DS got his final mock results BCC fingers crossed he can stay at them results at least.
Love hearing about the holidays our kids picked halloween horror at universal so got a while to wait for this year's holiday. DH and I booked our first holiday just us, since having kids for 2027a cruise been on DH list for years.

Well done to your DS @Tebheag - it's a worry I have - the stamina to continue performing. They could so easily flag and just when it really matters.

DS is coming with us for our post exam holiday. Off to Croatia - I've never been but the coast line looks lovely.

DS has booked a holiday with friends after A Levels he’s a bit worried as he will still be 17 - August birthday. He did pass his driving test on Monday which was good to get out of the way. Hope your DS also got on well today @Ventress

We are going away on Saturday but DD is staying home, im gutted, will miss her! Tenerife sunshine should cheer me up a little though. Shes just ticking along, she’s decided against Zante with her friend group, they are wanting to party every night and that’s not really DD bag, she’s talking about a solo trip to Spain, but no firm plans.

Still hasn’t rebooked her driving test. I’m trying hard not to nag her about it. She’s got a car in the driveway!

DS passed his test - hooray 🙌. He got a minor for driving through a puddle (hard to avoid at the moment!)

I’m very relieved. Means he can get himself to his job and DH and I can get on our weekends away 😊

I am loving to hear of all your holiday plans! They sound fantastic.

Tenerife sounds dreamy @wonderstuff. Have a great time. I’m sure your daughter will firm up her plans. DS seems unwilling to discuss anything apart from A level plans at the moment. I’m just leaving him to it.

We spent a lot of time at the place in MK too @JessyCarrwhen DS was learning to ski in year 9/10. It is excellent there. I hope your DS can master those tricks 😊

Fantastic news @Ventress one minor is very impressive!

That's great @Ventress! So much water on the roads so the minor seems a bit unavoidable! The next step is sorting out the incredibly high insurance. We've done that recently and DC started driving last month which was a bit scary as a parent (he seemed pretty confident though!). He has a black box and his score is almost perfect so hoping the insurance will come down if he continues like this.

Well done everyone who is booking holidays! Aside from OHD trips to Durham and Warwick (not really a holiday - especially with the Durham rail replacement service!!) I'm planning a long weekend break away with DH over the Easter break (maybe to Spain) but no definite plans for the summer yet. DC is planning a trip away with friends, and a separate one with his girlfriend, and then needs to find a job for the rest of the summer.

That’s brilliant news, @Ventress, congratulations! Can’t believe driving through a puddle is penalised, how are you meant to avoid puddles in this weather?

Lovely to read about everyone’s holiday plans. DS and his friends have booked their post A level trip, they’ve changed the destination and are now going to Malaga.

In other news, DS got his gigantic geography NEA back, he got very close to full marks so is pretty pleased. It can still get externally moderated down but should still take some pressure off the exams, which is helpful.

That’s great news on the geography nea @ComingInByAnsible ! DS has English and history still to do. Although his deadline for English part 2 is today but he’s quite happy with it (fingers crossed!) It is in two parts and part one has already been done last year.

Lovely that your DS has booked his post A level holiday. Malaga is lovely!

A minor on puddles seems fairly inevitable doesn’t it? I’m so pleased he has passed. Makes life so much easier 😊 we have just insured him on our insurance for the time being (upgraded from the learner insurance) We will worry about black boxes and his own insurance when it renews in the autumn. Well done to your dc on passing theirs too!

I hope the OHDs go well @Fabfabfabwe shall have to compare notes 😊 Spain sounds lovely too, great time of year to go.

@Ventress congratulations on DS passing his test! another life hurdle under his belt! I must admit I have a tracking app for DD which I never really used until she went out driving on her own. I am more relaxed now a couple of months down the line but do still check she's arrived if it is bad weather.

Well done to your DS on his geography NEA @ComingInByAnsible a welcome comfort knowing he has done so well ahead of his exam.

DD finally got her invite to Leeds OHD so has booked in for the end of Feb. She can go there on her own too as it is our nearest uni so it will be a good test for her to find her way around. I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes as I'm not sure she took everything in on the open day as it all felt a bit surreal with the uncertainty of the application process. Now she can try and actually visualise being a student there!

That’s great news about Leeds OHD @bluefineliner

I have a tracker app too! I haven’t really used it though 😊 DS is enjoying driving on his own. DH is going to take him for a session on the dual carriageway/motorway.

DS does seem to be doing a lot with his half term. He’s done a lot of history and is going to spend the afternoon and evening doing economics with his friend. This is good news as economics is his weakest subject.

Hope she enjoys the Leeds OHD, @bluefineliner! How are everyone else’s OHDs going? We are off this Saturday to our first one at Bath.

@Ventress, hope the English NEA part 2 went in without a hitch and history is progressing well. Sounds like your DS is being super organised with revision.

DS has his mocks after the half term so is revising a lot. And he needs to ramp up his driving practice too as his test is coming up at the end of March.