Durham University

[NotEnoughTime]

Hello.

How many of us are waiting for their DC to hear back from Durham? My DS applied back in October last year and is getting very down now he knows that others who have received offers are being informed that they will be told soon re college allocations.

I am usually a 'no news is good news' type of person but even I am finding it hard to be upbeat as I too am fed up

I wish they would just let him me know soon if he is going to get an offer or a rejection and then he can get on with his life and his A Level revision without this hanging over him.

Yes, that's definitely a potential plus for less applied to colleges Jano69.

I’m generalising here but the hill colleges tended to be people from more standard backgrounds, Bailey colleges the private school people. I went to Mildert in the early 2000s and it was great. Majority of people from state school back grounds. I had friends at Grey, St Aidans and Trevs who were all lovely and I met through my course.

There were some idiots, as there are everywhere. The only negative thing that really stuck with me was some of my friends got “egged” by locals on the walk back up the hill one night.

Mine’s privately educated but Stevo was on her list of go to colleges - she loved/ loves it there - certainly at drop off last year atmosphere was nice and met the Principal .

@KingscoteStaff re restaurants - Barrio Comida is brilliant if you like mexcian street food...

There was a poster a little while back whose dd was really struggling and I just wanted to pop by to reassure that staff are really aware of the particular set of circumstances which first years are in and trying to support them through it. My DH has within his first year tutorial group, a smaller group who he is proactively contacting at higher levels of frequency because those students have expressed anxiety etc. Tomorrow, he's on a walking 1-1 with one such student. I hope this does reassure posters that the vast vast majority of staff take both academic and pastoral duties seriously and genuinely care about their students

@KingscoteStaff He finds his college very inclusive and really likes the diversity within it. He has made some good friends already. He has mentioned though that when he and his friends went into the city there was some students wearing robes ‘looking down’ upon them and ‘making comments’. I didn’t ask him details about exactly what he experienced but it didn’t sound very pleasant. He will ignore this type of thing as he is confident of his own abilities but I do feel for those who aren’t so self-confident who experience it

Friday news was that DS had been co-opted into a group of 4 boys to look for a house for next year.

Today’s news is that 4 girls have staged an intervention and forcibly combined them into a group of 8, AND have found a house by the viaduct.

Surely this is far too early - what if they fall out over the next few months?

Kingscote DS was in the same situation of having a group of eight at a very early stage. They shared happily right through second year, and stayed together for third year (less two of the girls having a year abroad) and now the remaining six who are there for a fourth year or postgrad are sharing again. It can work!

Perhaps they've found my DS's second year house....

I agree that Durham does seem to organise shares incredibly early but if you go for it early then you do get the maximum choice of houses. DS was in a very pretty no through street in the viaduct area.

Went to Durham on Saturday to visit dd, felt I needed to see she was ok after the covid, felt pretty safe while we were there, we didn't go to St Mary's, met her in town and it was pretty quiet for a weekend. She's doing ok but filled us in on some of the dark side of Durham. She told us about the St Mary's LGBT society zoom meeting that was infultrated, thetab.com/uk/durham/2020/10/21/anonymous-callers-hijack-st-marys-lgbt-event-to-shout-homophobic-and-racist-slurs-49354 Must be horrible knowing it was their fellow current St Mary's freshers who did that. It is being investigated.

I hope they can trace these people via the IT system and throw them out. Glad you got to go. We were hoping to visit for the day some time in Nov. We could only meet outside as we are from a tier 2 area. Did you do that any tips on places with patio heaters greatly received.

We're tier 1 so booked a table at Fat Hippo's, to be honest, everyone in there wore masks other than sat down, staff had masks on all the time, and it was pretty quiet so we didn't feel at risk. Plus dd's had it so felt we wouldn't catch it from her, no hugging though, that was hard. There's a bar/restaurant by the river called Revolution, that seemed to have a pretty big outside patio/veranda type area with patio heaters. Also, The Wetherspoons/Bishops Mill has an outside area, dd says as far as Wetherspoons go, it's a nicer one.

I have heard good things about Fat Hippo's do will try that when things a bit more normal. Revolution sounds good too. If you ever need to stay over can recommend the city centre premier inn. Like your usual premier inn brand new with safe parking you get a discount for.

We are booked into Revolution’s outside area for tomorrow eve, so will report back.

My son finishing off his UCAS form this week, and looking at Durham for Computer Science . Any experience of the 2 newly built colleges - South and John Snow? -- he's 6ft 2 so the 3/4 beds are one pro for him but beyond that he doesn't have much opinion other than an en-suite would be nice!!

My son is in John Snow and is happy there so far. He liked the idea of all being new when he chose. Room is small but has everything he needs and he has managed to find a place for the many things he took with him. Photos look lovely and good communal facilities although not sure how much he’s had a chance to use them as he’s already had to self-isolate for 2 weeks. Gym costs £2.50 a session which he was surprised about.

Anyone any thoughts on their dc's being tested for anti bodies and potentially donating plasma? I've asked dd to share the links amongst St Mary's.

DS has had covid and I think I would hug him if I were to go to Durham to see him. Why not?

@nipersvest re antibody testing/donating plasma - certainly an altruistic thing to do and circulating the information a good idea . Students though being young and most likely mildly affected are less likely to have significantly high levels of antibodies circulating which I believe researchers are particularly looking to harvest for the two ongoing trials the UK is participating in . However no harm in offering your services .

Are the restaurants in Durham not asking for any proof of a table all being in a single household then? I thought they were all pretty crash hot on it? I have on good authority that the Revs outside area is entirely bearable - though apparently you may need to consume multiple cocktails Kingscote - I believe those were the conditions on which this trial was carried out!

Numbers continuing to look good for DU.

thetab.com/uk/durham/2020/10/21/open-letter-from-teaching-staff-to-university-calls-for-an-end-to-in-person-teaching-49299?fbclid=IwAR1f0c4x93xIgZ2D34_JdzN24OAPz8zW0Zt4bWPl4tj0FPk5MVlUcN2g9zo
Just wondered if anyone had seen this, and thoughts. Not sure what the outcome was of the meeting.

I would expect the decision on exclusive on line teaching to be linked to any decision made at the tier 3 negotiations. As the numbers are coming down, both in the University and Durham county at large, the tier 3 move seems to be being deferred, and may be avoided? The Tab story doesn't address the very real recent decline in cases.

according to their stats, the cases amongst teaching staff is very small. DD is still having face to face, all in small groups, sat apart, all wearing masks.

Yes! I think it bodes well for face to face continuing at Durham.....but I have yet to see what the unions have decided...