Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other - thread 2 - exam time

[SilverBlue4]

Here we go

Just caught up - thank you @jamimmi for taking the time to share your positive story! Blimey, @hels71 you are all really going through it! Hope everyone heals quickly.

May I ask what is the etiquette of your school/college for results day or rather your plan for results day?! Will your YP go on their own? Will you go with them and lurk anxiously outside? Or go with them and into the school?

Lordy one week and it will all be over!

DS had a dream a couple of nights ago that he was 2 days away from exams and had done no revision, anxiety is subconsciously creeping in!

He is now 18, has finally started driving lessons and has a job interview tomorrow in a local pub, so we are doing well atm.

@hels71hope you are both on the mend.

@mamoftwoResults day they go into school on their own, it's 10 mins away so no hanging around for parents. Their results will already be on UCAS so I think its just a social thing (hopefully) or advice on clearing/next steps (hopefully not).

My son's school is open at 8, the same time as UCAS will load (or crash) but there is no mobile data signal there so I don't know what to do. I'm hoping he might sleep long enough that we will just look at UCAS before going to school to see his friends and say thankyou to teachers.

Have already had a long email from uni about what to do if x, y, z and now feel slightly sick.

It's going to get hot again as well, marvellous, red, sweaty AND anxious, my favourite.

For DS it's the same as @gingercat02

Hopefully he'll open UCAS at 8am and then disappear off to school by himself.

Not sure what he'll want or need if he's in clearing in terms of parents being at school. Hopefully it won't come to that.

DD is very pleased that her course is in clearing and has run through all the 'likely' grades (economics made her cry because she realised halfway through a question she was on the wrong track) but has her fingers firmly crossed she'll be ok.

I really hope so as her insurance is the same grades as her firm. She says she'd rather have a year out (not sure what to do!) than go through clearing.

She's not the type to spontaneously make a new plan, she agonised over which uni to firm for weeks!

DD has announced that she’ll try for Cardiff in clearing if she misses her offer for Exeter.

My mother is Welsh so we’ve spent a fair bit of time in Cardiff but only on rugby weekends so she’s based her whole perception of the city on that which is a bit of a worry but it’s the first back up plan I’ve heard of so I’m staying quiet for now and hoping she won’t need it… although accommodation in Cardiff is cheaper than Exeter.

I’ll be up with DD to find out UCAS outcome at 8. If all good the day is hers to celebrate with friends so won’t go to sixth form with her to collect. If it’s less good news I will be there lurking so we can’t get onto clearing quickly … I actually work at DD’s school, well the MAT, in a very senior role (definitely outing if anyone knows me!) - so next Wednesday will be the hardest day for me knowing my colleagues already know her results but I’m obviously on the embargo list this year!

DD keeps dreaming about her results and usually that they are not what she is hoping for. We have had an email from college about next week. Results will be on the portal from 8 and going in is optional but encouraged with free food and live music strangely enough. I don’t think she will go though. Tutors available in person or by phone or ‘live chat’ on the website. It all sounds good to me. Just hoping for good news and celebrations but also making back up plans for springing into action with clearing.

Cardiff is a great clearing option with guaranteed accommodation. I know a few people who went there and loved it. DD is likely to call them if she doesn’t make her insurance. The only thing is they are a bit vague on their website about what grades they would accept but I think worth phoning to ask even if you don’t have their standard offer.

Oh wow @BlackBean2023 do you think they might give you a hint or a clue! Maybe a thumbs up or a nod if it’s good news?

DC’s school open at 8.30 am which seems a bit odd given that most places seem to open at 8 am. Hoping it won’t disadvantage him if he has to go through clearing…I’m hoping he will have had the welcome email from his firm at 8 am and can go in knowing he’s met his offer but could easily be the other way around which would be difficult.

If anyone is interested in what Loughborough had in clearing for 2024/25 this FOI response might be of interest.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/courses_available_in_clearing_20

DH works at DS’s school. It hadn’t even occurred to me that some of his colleagues will know the day before! Aaargh somehow that makes me even more nervous for DS.

He’s been very cool and calm for months, including having two exams on his 18th birthday and just ploughing on with it all - then yesterday he let his guard down and admitted that he’s absolutely terrified of results day. It’s so hard to know what to say. If he doesn’t get the grades he needs, he’ll carry on working part-time at his current holiday job and take some time to decide what to do next, so at least he has a temporary plan B.

Hope everyone is ploughing on ok with the wait!

My son will be at college for 8 and check UCAS while waiting in line. He hasn't decided if he wants to go alone or wants me with him. Completely up to him. He will stay in college to see if he gets his uni place because there will be help on the day if he needs it. Not long now.

Interesting how everyone’s kids have a different plan! Dd announced yesterday that she wants me to drive her to school (20 mins away) as she will be too nervous to drive, then to wait in the car while she goes in. She will then come and open results in the car and then we can either drive off if awful or she goes back in! I suggested to her that is unlikely to happen as she will have known at 8am whether she has got into her firm choice. In which case she will want to open them and celebrate with teachers and friends, and possibly then text me to come in and join the celebrations.. I think we will have to see on the day and take it as it comes. It’s a small independent so some of the teachers have 3-4 students in their classes and I’m sure they will want to be with her when she opens them. I know that they often have sleepless nights too worrying about what their students got.. eek it’s so nerve wracking!

We haven't heard from the school. DS doesn't want to go in. Maybe once he's found out his results online her might want to go in either hopefully to celebrate or to get advice.

Absolutely not - and I’ve booked the day off to avoid any awkwardness (or overthinking on my part… are they smiling because it’s good news or out of pity….!? )

in all seriousness the embargo is treated really seriously and I wouldn’t put myself in that position - I had the same with GCSE results!