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

[scandinavianyellow]

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

My son’s report also has one grade below predicted. He was fine and said all his cohort had the same. He thinks it’s so they don’t rest on their laurels ahead of mocks just after Christmas.

Dd really struggling at the moment, I’m not sure if there’s more to it, but her driving test seems to be causing most stress, we had a complete meltdown last night with snotty tears, which isn’t like her. Thinking on it she’s also had braces tightened and her period in the last couple of days, so maybe they are contributing factors.

She failed her first test and has only managed to get one in the next town, which her instructor won’t go to, so she would have to go in her own car and with my mum or stepdad as neither I or DH can get time off and she’s got herself so anxious about it, she’s not been going out regularly and when she does she gets panicky, part of me wants to tell her just to cancel, but the public transport isn’t great and a driving licence will give her more options for next year. I really feel for her.

That’s a lot for her to cope with all at once @wonderstuff. Is she on half term this week? Last half term was full
on so hopefully she can recharge her batteries this week.

All being well DS should get the cast off his wrist this week (it’s quite pongy so I really hope so!) and get back behind the wheel too. His test isn’t too far off, but with 6 weeks with no lessons or practice we’ll have to see if he’s going to be ready. His driving school book all of the tests so can jiggle things around if someone else is ready and he’s not.

Happy half term!

Yes half term this week, thank goodness, it’s been a long term. Best of luck to your DS. Her instructor doesn’t book tests, I think she only has a few students, driving is a bit of a side hustle, but she is lovely! We shall do lots of practice this week (wish me luck).

Finally got some time together to talk about it with oldest. He seemed to have a handle on why - one of 2 history teachers isn't very good and has been setting too much work that's not relevant and Biology has stepped up since last term, but he's consolidating with past stuff and thinks he can catch up. Also agrees maybe EPQ was taking a lot of energy. He is planning to spend time sorting things out this half term.

Oh that sounds so stressful for you all, I hear you, my DD's first driving test is in just over a month and we had a mini breakdown after she had a mini mock test recently and stalled the car. Luckily her instructor is good and (poor man!) has seen how emotional DD can get when she is stressed and he seems to have a knack of calming her down. No idea if she'll be able to hold it together for her test but like you, we are very rural so it would really help if she could pass. She is a good little driver, if a bit slow still but the test does involve a bit of luck too on the day.

All we can do is take DD out as much as possible, her main area to crack now is town driving, she has to go out when it is really busy but that is the most stressful time when you are sitting next to her!

DDs subjects are ok, still on track but she is now in interview prep mode, with the wait still on to see if she gets any. Still probably at least another month before we find out, I am trying to put it to the back of my mind, unsuccessfully!

Teachers can make a huge difference to grades if things aren't quite right can't they. DD had new chem teachers for Y13 which threw her off a bit at first because of their different teaching styles to the Y12 ones. She really loved her Y12 teachers and was sad to change, I'm still not sure one of them will be that good but I've just told DD to focus on areas she is unsure of learn it herself or ask other teachers to go through it. So far seems to be settling and her grades haven't altered but it is a shame they can have the same teachers for both y12 and 13.

Congratulations to all that have had offers.
@gingercat02 so envious your son has finished his Geography NEA just getting from DS no rush got ages aah.
How do you find out about what level the uni maintenance loan that they may qualify is for ? After reading how much some will be paying and St Andrews a possible choice is expensive feel I need to start planning for DD in 2 yrs.

@Tebheag This is the student loan calculator - you’re in England, is that right?

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

@Tebheag What we have also found useful are the cost-of-living analyses provided by the different universities on their websites. E.g. this one for Edinburgh:

https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-funding/fees-costs/living-costs

Hi all - I mistakenly posted on a year12 thread a couple of days ago😆. Having a bit of a moan they were very nice & said I could stay.
I'm currently in hospital having had a brain bleed on Monday morning😵‍💫. Got seen quickly & went into theatre & i've been so lucky.
DD rightly distraught (she had her CAT last Friday & im so thankful my aneurysm waited).
Driving tests for so many - good luck & everyone take care💐

Oh my goodness! Hope you are ok 🥰

Crikey @GirlsInGreen . Hope you’re recovering ok. Glad the year 12 bunch are a nice lot!

Ds (and I) were very keen to see the end of his cast today. He’s in a splint for a couple of weeks but at least he can wash his arm and hand properly! They’ve advised to wait to restart driving practice until the splint is off which he’s disappointed about, but so be it.

@GirlsInGreen how scary for you! Hope you are recovering well now. Glad your DD got her CAT out of the way.

@Muchtoomuchtodo It will be annoying that driving practice has to be delayed a bit longer but I guess you don't want to hinder the healing process at this stage. How long until his test? DDs is about 5 weeks and we are trying to get her out as much as possible but it is not that easy when they have lots of commitments too.

@bluefineliner ds’s test must be at a similar time to your dd’s.

I think it’ll need to be moved, but as his driving school do all of the test bookings they should be able to sort that.

They brought Ds1’s test forward as he was ready and someone else wasn’t so hopefully they’ll be able to do the same for someone else this time 🤞🏻

Gosh @GirlsInGreenthat must have been terrifying. So glad you got seen quickly. Hope you are recovering well 💐 and that CAT went well for your DD.

@Muchtoomuchtodo it must be a relief to get the cast off despite frustration. Hope the time before the splint comes off too flies by.

Good luck to everyone with driving tests coming up. We have finally managed to move DS’ test to our own town, but at the cost of moving it from Feb to the end of March. With everything else going on though that’s no bad thing.

The TSA is finally done, it’s a relief to get it out of the way.

May I join?

DS1 is currently sitting yet another aptitude test for a graduate apprenticeship position. University is his plan B. He’s doing 4 a levels and is predicted all A’s so he’s hoping if he doesn’t get into an apprenticeship that he’ll get into university of Birmingham. Which handily we live a couple of miles away from so he’ll stay at home whilst he studies. I believe Bath and Warwick (and maybe Bristol) are his other choices. He’s trying to be financially savvy and not have too much in the way of debt.

Welcome @KellySeveride and best of luck to your DS for his applications. What’s his intended subject area?

Thanks @JessyCarr ☺️. Engineering, mostly software but there are a couple of other areas he’s also looking at. He’s just sat a Job Simulation for one company and feels it went horrifically bad. But we’ve tried to encourage him and tell him at least he knows what to expect if others use a similar test during their applications.

There is nothing worse than answering questions to a camera with no one the other end, it feels to stilted, and he felt that too.

I’ve just realised I put graduate apprentice in my first post I meant degree apprenticeship 🙈.

There are online free versions of these tests to pratice and they give you feedback, I suggest he does some. Also if he searches up on YouTube, aptitude tests for finance (these are often used across industries) and also some for engineering there are videos with lots of tips on how to do well.
https://www.graduatesfirst.com/
You can make an account and access free ones here, they have paid things but lots of them are free and you can do I think at least each one twice. But I may be wrong on that.

https://aptitude-test.com/

Also, ZeroGravity is a free platform for students from Y12- post degree, he should make an account. It has free mentoring from a student whose done or is doing what you are applying for, so at uni on x course, or on a degree apprenticeship. Also they have lots of different very organised forums, where people in uni/degree apprenticeship, on grad jobs, in 6th form etc, ask questions, get advice from others, also older students post resources for free, people ask for help with neas (generally), personal statements to be read, again help for interviews. Once you get a mentor they can do pratice interviews with you, help with cover letters etc. ZeroGravity also works with lots of companies who do exclusive webinars and talks online and in-person for free, so there are some on these aptitude tests, maths tests, again ones specific to industries like software/CS, engineering etc and from companies in that area, and also from people on those apprenticeships now giving their tips. Again also for interviews and other application stages. They also offer like opportunities with brands, which they may prioritise someone from ZeroGravity (no criteria to get on the site), or only have exclusive to ZeroGravity and other sites they work with, in-person and online, building your CV etc, networking events, all sorts. The more you use the site, the more offers they give you.

Anyways I sound like I've designed it, but it's just really great, and I and many people I know have gotten great benefits from it, I also mentor students on it, would highly recommend. Another one is Futures for All (formally Speakers for Schools) and Springpod, offering in-person and virtual work experience, events, useful webinars etc.

Hi all, I have fallen off these threads for a bit as getting DS to do anything proactive is like pulling teeth. We finally got a draft PS together and his teacher has basically said not good enough and to show more passion but he doesn't know how to do that (not sure he has passion for the subject but definitely likes it!) and I don't know anything about Chemistry to be able to really help him. His head is now firmly in the sand about it all and my stress levels are rising! He applied for one degree apprenticeship but was rejected within a week saying he didn't meet the criteria. He more than than met the criteria so that's nonsense, I wish they would just provide real feedback so he can learn from it.

Also still not been able to find a part time job.

And breathe.

@TheLivelyViper ds applied to
Zero Gravity but didn’t get accepted. He’s a state school pupil applying for university so I’m not sure why.

DD has had confirmation from 2 unis that they have her application. No confirmation from the one she actually wants though....

Any advice for helping a DC relax over Oxbridge? She has achievable offers from three out of four of her other possibilities (hasn't heard from Nottingham yet) but is so fixated on getting an interview offer that she's not really enjoying that success. She was happy to review the modules for the first uni that offered, but with the most recent one - which she loved when she visited - she just said she'd look at it if she didn't get an Oxford interview.

I would really like her to be excited over one of these other options, just in case Oxford doesn't pan out...