Second year Oxbridge (2019)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I guess our dc would be known as Sophomores in the States Slightly scary eh?

This is a place to chat about the slightly strange and somewhat intense world our dc now inhabit during term time. It follows on from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3381401-Oxbridge-Freshers-2018

If parents of prospective oxbridge dc have any questions, we are happy to try our best to answer from our limited experience and perspective :)

Hi @swimmer4, so good to hear your DS is coping well despite the challenges he and his friends have had to face. He sounds like a lovely lad.

Ah @Bakeandyarn, we are still useful.....emptying bins, delivering "emergency pants" and (in DH's case) collecting dirty plates and mugs and disappearing off to the pantry.......

Unfortunately there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 at DD's college (confirmed by email from College last night). DD seems to think that the college Ball is will go ahead as planned this Friday.

I feel for those students unable to return home during the Easter vacation. I assume there might be some impact now on students returning to College after Easter?

Spin I'm going to pm you if thats ok?

DS said they had received an email regarding the two cases at Oxford, he’s coming home on Friday and we are starting to wonder if it will have an impact upon when they can return after the vac. I work in a school and it’s very much business as usual although DD’s school have been checking that students have good internet access (she’s year 12) just in case. I do feel for this overseas students who might be stranded during the vac and hope the colleges are sympathetic.

Can anyone say which colleges have had cases of Coronavirus?

I've heard Lincoln, Hertford and Queens all mentioned -- though they can't all be correct, unless there are more than two students diagnosed.

Cherwell says there are 5 confirmed cases now.

Ah yes, I had heard 5. Sorry.

bbc says 6 students.

Its going to be good to have them home for Easter (and beyond?) I'm wondering if dd needs to clear her room.

DD fears Trinity term will be cancelled. Apparently law mods have been cancelled already. DS’s offer holder day (in Cambridge) has been cancelled.

DS is on his way back now, he’s bringing most of his stuff back but is in a flat so can easily leave kitchen stuff etc. We are only an hour away too if we needed to go back. It’s a bit of a concern now not mowing how this will develop. I’m glad he will be home whilst we are in limbo and hope that there will be some clarity over the next few weeks. I really feel for the international students who aren’t able to go home, DS knows a few who are staying in Oxford,

Collecting dd tomorrow. At my uni we are making arrs for self isolating students to be isolated, being cared for, in discrete accommodation.

Lots of plans for continuity in hand. We are lucky ours are 2nd yrs and there is flexibility about end of year assessments.

I am on 24/7 call btw for work so significant arrangements are in place at uni's. Am shattered.

It’s a strange time roses I work in a school and we’ve been told to prepare home learning packs for our pupils, they’re primary so not the same pressure as GCSE and A level pupils though. I’m definitely feeling grateful that ours are second years and they are all in the same boat. I guess the uniqueness of the situation means lots of contingency plans are being made. I think the tricky part is not knowing what is in the pipeline or having an idea of timescale for disruption. Am very glad to have him home and really feeling for the poor students who can’t go home.

dd is clearing her room. She's worried about next term too and whether she should be revising for exams. First things first, a good rest. And yes, I'm grateful it isn't third year. How horrid for those who don't know when or if they are going back at all.

We have two more weeks of term OYBBK and are encouraging all students who can go home to go home. Teaching continuing remotely as best as staff can deliver it - some are more tech savvy than others. We will look after the remaining students, esp any who have to self-isolate and student wellbeing has plans to support isolated students who may start climbing the walls.

We are a former Poly and not all our students have the support of mums who chatter on MNet - we have a small cohort who are care leavers and have no-one.

Poor students . We all need care don't we!

It's going to be so hard for those who can't go home.

Mods finally finished yesterday! It was a gruelling 2 weeks but DD is so glad they are over and done with before all the uncertainty of next term.
DD was planning to stay another week to help with Open Days and subject days but they have all been cancelled so she will now come home tomorrow.
Her tutor has told them to prepare for the possibility that they won't be going back for Trinity, and to make sure they have decent internet access, resources etc to self-learn.

One of DD's housemates is from Italy so obviously won't be able to go home for the foreseeable future.
Even though they live in a privately rented house, college have offered her free accommodation so that she's not isolated when the rest go home.
We've also offered her a room here, as have other friends' families.

It’s good to hear that the students who can’t go home are being supported. We’re lucky we are only an hour away but I do feel for those poor DC’s who aren’t so lucky. The uni’s seem to be doing their best to keep students informed and updated at a tricky time. I’m hoping that schools can remain open as long as possible, I work in a primary and DD is year 12 and really keen to keep going as long as she can.

Announcement from Oxford Uni: mist reaching & assessment will take place next term remotely. They will receive more details next week. No surprise there really - take care everyone & thoughts go to those students who can’t go home xx

*most teaching

DD is gutted. Obviously it’s trivial compared to other outcomes but still a crushing disappointment.

It is correct Wwwash because the first confirmed case (and the subsequent cases) was a member of a particular choir and some of the choristers come from different colleges. The confirmed cases are all centred on this group, although in different colleges, so the outbreak is in fact very well contained. DS's gf is affected and has been in isolation from the outset, but is ok so far - although being in a single college room trying to complete a dissertation with no fresh air/ exercise must be very, very, very tough. DS is supplying supplies.

goodbyestranger that must be really tough, poor thing. Well done to your DS stepping up to providing her with supplies.
Best wishes

Hello everyone,
How's it all going?
How are your DC feeling about exam arrangements?
Stay safe and best wishes. X