BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26 - part 2

[BTECnewbie]

New thread for those of us with DC doing vocational courses (and for those with DC looking for an alternative to A levels next year and looking for advice).

My DC is currently doing a level 3 extended diploma. He struggled academically at school and was pretty miserable in year 11. With a lot of hard work he got the grades needed for the level 3 BTEC and is now thriving at college.

@Sisublondie
Hope you've damaged to get some clarity from ds college x

@Raven08.. Well! We have a result!!!! What a frustrating time ( mixed in with mammoth unexpected 10 hour round trip up north!) but!! I’m more relieved than fuming! It transpires that … the 18th magic date he had got into his head from somewhere, but didn’t remember where! (🙄@TeenToTwenties!), is the week he is SUPPOSED to be doing the work experience!! And, the message he got that set off the horrific meltdown was bloody inaccurate- and the sender had him down as a student on a totally different course!! If I wasn’t so drained, I would have wanted to make a fuss, but he has completely “ moved on” … “drama over”.. and I’m now ploughing through a list of places others have previously been at to see if he can get a place there.. ( a bizarre mix of riding schools, golf clubs (!) and care homes… with some outdoor adventure places, which I think is most suited!)… it’s exactly as you said @TeenToTwenties- with your DD! Up to the student. Least we have something to work from!

So! I’m mostly bloody happy at where we are - and don’t have the energy to kick off ( mind you, I’m seriously not a kicking off type!).

I guess a huge positive is that I am actually more aware of where he is up to. I’ve had a gradual feeling that I wasn’t being so kept up to date, if you know what I mean? He says he is up to date with assignments. And that the extra English revision classes start after Easter. So, next step is hoping he does revision UNPROMPTED over the holidays!!! Older bro is apparently not breaking up till Good Friday? ( has anyone heard of that at a Uni, before? ), and says some of his mates are staying up there so he’s not coming home till the Tuesday 7th? But says he’ll be back till the end of the month.. which is fab! But as @LarkspurLane we were saying, May isn’t far away!! I mean, it’s APRIL next week!! ( and the damn clocks tonight!! Less sleep!!!) ..

How are we all feeling about Easter?! @Raven08, am I having a false memory….. or.. are you going away?! European trip, I thought? Anyone else?

Thank you for all your ongoing support… it means a lot.. 🤗x

@Sisublondie
Phew!
So glad its getting sorted x
We are away up north the week after Easter. Hoping the weather isnt too awful 😬
I think dd has almost done her w/e hours, but I'm just letting her get on with it...she's only got about 2/3 hours left to do.
I'm glad of the holidays, we are all pretty tired 😴

Hope the first day of your Easter holidays went well? Yay on the work experience front….she will get those ticked off in no time at all!

Hoping the rubbish weather gets used up this week, so your trip has better! The M6 was pretty grim today… stationary on my Northbound whilst police stopped the Southbound carriageway next to me….. nearly 6 hours from mine to my Mum’s.. Luckily you will have hopefully a nice cottage/hotel/airbnb at your destination!

I hope you enjoyed a morning of not rushing around!!!! 🥳

Just replied! 🙄😹!!

Well...it turned out, dd and I went for some retail therapy 😬
Very spendy 😬
She's happy, though ☺️
We were trawling the charity shops for fabric for dds next project
M4 sounds horrendous!
I've done no prep for next week...dd has a friend coming to stay on Thursday and then its easter weekend.
Hope you all have a lovely non- stressful Easter 🐣

Happy Easter everyone!!!!

Got back from Mum’s.. M6 was worse than going up on Monday! Funny, as tons of other people were also stuck on the M6 round Manchester and calling up Radio One.. ( makes you not feel so alone!). Today- Been a bit of a non-event, really, DH went up to Scotland to collect DS19 from Uni,( back Tuesday) and DS17 ( and GF) haven’t been sociable… and I wasted time making a big meal that wasn’t appreciated in the slightest!!!

@Raven08….. Retail therapy sounds bloody brilliant!!! ( and, well, Spendy..🤑.. you can’t take it with you!! ). Speaking of which, taking DS17 ( and GF) to Trafford Centre tomorrow. Don’t. (😳😈😹🤷‍♀️🙀😹!!!) I haven’t been for so long ! So, did you manage to get all your fabric for DD?

How did DD’s friend staying go? Late nights?!

Hope it’s a fab Easter weekend!! 🐣 😻x

Hi folks..
Hope you've all had a nice Easter break? We had 4 days away which was much needed.
Dd has a college friend coming here tomorrow for a "study day"...hmm...
I predict very little studying and lots of watching awful reality tv 😬
We've finally finished watching the other Bennett sister on bbc and I really recommend it 👏
I've started stripping some pine furniture and am now in DIY hell ...why do it do these things!? Seemed like a good idea at the time..
Dd seems to have done a fair bit of work over the break.
I might have a break from paint stripping tomorrow and just chill out!

Dd a bit anxious about going back into college tomorrow. She tends to get like this after the longer breaks.
But she's been working hard and has also completed her W/E ☺️
She's only got 5 weeks to go til the next pieces have to be handed in 😬

@Raven08.. helllo!! My mum was picked up by DH en route from Scotland with DS19, and with training courses I’m overdue on ( due to my frequent trips up north) my brain has been 🤯!.. I have managed to escape this morning to the hairdressers and errands as time off!! Joyous!!! Really is!!! No one can ask me to cook/fetch/clean/M-Uber!!

How was your trip?! Was the weather ok!? How did DD college friend visit go…..? Much studying gone on?! 🙄

The pine furniture sounds perfection!!! Ooooh, I’d love to see Before and After Shots!! Is this furniture of yours you already have and are “ up cycling “?! ( is that the term?!)

How did the return to college go? I hope she soon settled in….. Thankfully she’s finished her W/E! The semi- drama 🎭 is in abeyance here, whilst DS finds out if he has got one of the three he applied for ( that college recommended!). I had looked though them, and shortlisted in my head the outdoor activity - ish ones….. two of which he went for… the other- bless him-….. a charity that works with the elderly .. which I thought super cute!

How are your DD’s next pieces going?!

ps- How’s your Mum? Any change? x

Hello all! Sorry I’ve been quiet, I have been dropping behind all over as juggling too much over the “ holidsy” 😈😹!

I hope everyone has had a lovely Easter break!

Anyone rise in Resit Hell? We “ only” have English.. May 21/June 5 I think… I’m really concerned as not seeing much revision at home. College said they are putting classes on there, but not till 24/4. I think PTSD has wiped a lot of last year, but are past papers the best way to revise for Enid’s Language ?

Anyway! How are assignments going? Return to college for SUMMER term gone ok?! 👍

@LarkspurLane Hope your core maths is going well!

Hi @Sisublondie
Dd actually said she was looking forward to going back yesterday! But..they've all gone to a huge warehouse place on a trip today so not sure how she'll feel once she gets home 😬
Hope your mum is ok? My mum is much the same, but not worse, which is something.
I hope ds soon hears back from college re: W/E expectations 🙏
The furniture is a few years old. We had it made when we moved here, but in a mad moment about 10 years ago I painted it all in white chalk paint...I am regretting this decision now, although I am pleased with the result. I've put white porcelain knobs on which look nice.
Its a pig of a job, though 😬
Hope everyone else is doing ok?
I need to try and find out what dd will be doing at college once the work is handed in in a few weeks time...

@Raven08.. Ah, yes! What will they do when work is handed in?! Well! According to DS, he happily said the other day, that if he gets his assignments done and handed in, then he can “ break up early”!! Hmmmm. Best check that!

White porcelain knobs sound great! I think my house is just white chalk paint! 🙄😹! So, you’ve stripped it off, to pine? Are you going to stain/ varnish? Sounds brilliant.. plus! It’ll make you feel fab looking at it all! That sense of achievement!

Mum… hmmmm. It’s hard to gauge, isn’t it? We were watching that “ Missed Call” last night. A few times confused as to who was who. And my telling her DS19 was going out with DH the other day….. then her asking where he was a few minutes later. But, because she’s totally deaf in one ear ( and not great in other!), I’m used to having to repeat things, so hard to tell if it’s just same old/ same old, or progression … Hopefully “ just” stagnating! If you know what I mean! I’m glad yours is similar…… as in, not worse 🤗.

Warehouse trip- wow! What’s that for? Hopefully she will bounce through the door, having had a brilliant time!!!

DS19 is happy he’s back. Got Firsts in his results for written essays and his exams start 1 May. ( he’s deeply unhappy about being carless, though… bloody car accident !!.. I have told him we are replacing it to get one for DS to learn in… but that’s another pain as DVLA need his epilepsy Con to provide medical report….and he’s like “ well it’ll be over 2 grand for insurance.. so what’s the point?!”! So, once I get his mind off the fact I can’t change the fact we live in a “ hamlet”, 🤯, he’s on good form!!

😻

haha, thanks!

I've been banned from mentioning college and only allowed to talk about important topics such as protein and the correct quantity of eggs to eat per day (I think that is 6).

I am vaguely nostalgic for exams and coursework, although one way to get him out of the room when I want to read my book is to ask "have you started your assignment yet?".

I hope everyone is doing ok with assignments, resits and of course that thing called life that keeps butting in when we least expect it.

@Sisublondie
Ah, man...it's always something isn't it?
I'm pleased with the look of the pine now..the chalk paint has really toned the orangeyness * down

• I've decided thats a word @LarkspurLaneI might try that tactic on dd! :)

Can I ask if your children have found the jump from level 2 to level 3 difficult? Level 2 seems to get them into the way it is evaluated so I’m hoping it’s not too much of a jump. We are looking at the UAL games development level 3

I think it is a big jump, not necessarily an academic one, though.
For dd (level 3 btec in fashion and textile design) its been more about completing self directed work at home, organisation of folders, makingbsure assignments are in by the deadline and presenting the work to the required standard.
Downloading the subject spec can really help with this aspect.
I'd say for the more "traditional" subjects the jump from level 2 to 3 is huge. If kids aren't getting 7s, 8s and 9s in the subject they will struggle at A level