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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

October A levels anyone?

356 replies

Skerryberry · 13/08/2020 20:44

With so many getting results they were disappointed with, are any DS/DD's choosing to take the October A levels ?

Are they taking all their A levels or just one or two?

How are they planning to motivate themselves with exams only 50 days away? DC has not opened a book since March... eek!

I may need some hand holding!!

OP posts:
WhatHaveIFound · 26/09/2020 09:26

Reading all the threads on how grim university is with all the restrictions, one positive is that our October takers may have dodged a bullet and be better off in hindsight going to uni next year with their grades and an extra year of maturity.

DD has spoken to a couple of friends who are now locked down in their accomodation. Both of them are hating the university experience so i'm glad DD is having a year out.

I have two ill DC at the moment but I think it's because they're both run down. DD has probably picked up baby germs from the nursery she works part time at and DS is exhausted from being back at school.

DD is managing to get a lot of revision done with 9 days to go!

kitnkaboodle · 26/09/2020 13:20

We're doing fine here after colds, meltdown and covid test last weekend. That was a low point with hindsight Sad!
DS is doing 4 subjects (his is a long story) so has a paper practically every day through the October sessions. Starts with Further Maths on the 5th Confused. We are rather on eggshells trying to keep noise down and supplying food and tea at regular intervals. I guess that's how it would have been in May/June anyway so can't complain. Actually it would have been worse because his brother would have been doing GCSEs too! Need to check with school about what time he needs to turn up/where to go. I'm dying to know if there will be anyone else but him. Agree re. all the poor freshers atm. I am so relieved he's not there.

noblecause · 26/09/2020 16:40

@kitnkaboodle best of luck to your DS. It does feel like we are moving into a different phase with the last week and a half. Yes lots of supplying of food etc. Met up with the grandparents today as DGM turned 70. I think that is pretty much it now till the exams. It's a bit like keeping her in a cocoon and making sure she stays healthy till then. I too am really curious to see how many are doing - for all I know DD might be the only one at her school. After the Unis came through with a place this year many of her friends ditched the thought of autumn exams and have gone/are going to uni.

WhatHaveIFound · 27/09/2020 13:17

AAARGH!

DD has just had a call to say she's been in close contact with someone who's tested positive. What the hell do we do now? Two of her exams are within the 14 self ispolation period.

What a nightmare!

kitnkaboodle · 27/09/2020 22:36

@WhatHaveIFound Ah - this was my own personal nightmare scenario! But I wouldn't worry too much. Just tell the test centre tomorrow. I think that for all exams like this they USUALLY have a separate set of papers in case of leaks and for use for scenarios like this where students legitimately miss one of the exams (they sit them later). Presumably they are using the summer papers for our DC next month and presumably a second set exists too. I have asked our school now THREE TIMES what would be the procedure if this was to happen (reasonably likely at the moment I'd think) and they have never replied Angry. Do please let us know what they say because I think it's something we all need to know just in case. Best of luck - i do hope you can sort it out as she obviously has to do the isolation Flowers

kitnkaboodle · 28/09/2020 09:30

@WhatHaveIFound just thought that maybe they might also allow her to take a covid test in these circumstances (it would have to be a certain number of days closer to the exams, I guess). You aren't supposed to do one unless you've actually got symptoms, but maybe you could get special dispensation?

WhatHaveIFound · 28/09/2020 10:05

@kitnkaboodle she was asked to get a test by the nursery she works at and managed to book one for yesterday afternoon.

Weirdly both her and DS are ill but not with typical Covid symptoms. Both of them have headaches, coughs (not dry) and DD is really tired (though she has been working hard) and DS has earache. Currently a quarter of his year (Y11) are self isolating and there are two confirmed cases that I know about.

NHS website says she has to self isolate for 10 days from first symptoms which would take her up to Sunday so i'm almost hoping it's posiive!

The rest of us would still have to do the full 14 days but I can cope with that if it means she can take her exams.

kitnkaboodle · 28/09/2020 12:17

Ah, that's good. My DS got his results less than 24 hours later. Sorry she's ill. What a nightmare this all is and they are being so resilient. Our DS has first exam a week today, so he, DH and I are kind of doing a bit of our own isolation at the moment to try to protect him from bugs. The problem is his brother, who is in a sixth form bubble of 300 ... What could possible go wrong? Hmm

WhatHaveIFound · 29/09/2020 08:07

It's positive Sad

The app tells her she has to self isolate until the 8th so i'm emailing the exams officer now.

kitnkaboodle · 29/09/2020 09:27

@WhatHaveIFound oh how awful I'm sorry. Best wishes to you and I hope she manages to sort out the exams. I'm sure she'll still get a chance to sit them - how could they not allow that under the circumstances? Hope the isolation goes ok.

WhatHaveIFound · 29/09/2020 13:16

@kitnkaboodle and anyone else who ends up in this situation...

If a student is absent from an exam due to self-isolating, this would be grounds to apply for special consideration. An approved special consideration application allows us to calculate a mark for the missed exam using the process outlined in the attached document.

So DD will sit the second two exams and her mark will be scaled in line with those. Not an ideal situation but that's the response from JQC which is issued on behalf of the exam boards.

Original poster
Skerryberry · 29/09/2020 18:49

@WhatHaveIFound I am so sorry to hear about your DD. I hope she is doing ok.

Thank you for updating us on the situation. Any of us could be walking in your shoes, so it is good to know what happens.

What A level(s) is your DD sitting?

OP posts:
WhatHaveIFound · 29/09/2020 19:55

Thankfully she's only sitting one A level - Psychology.

She's actually feeling quite well, just a cough now which is keeping her awake at night. Both DD and her brother started with headaches, then a sore throat. Neither have had a fever at all.

I've told them to think of it not as social isolation but of room service!

kitnkaboodle · 02/10/2020 21:08

Well, 2020 just keeps on giving ... it looks like my DS is falling by the wayside. He's been a victim of anxiety in the past, and it is back with a vengeance. Following a cold virus he is now crashing physically and mentally Sad. Unlikely to get through any exams now I think. School exams officer has been lovely and has said just take it one day at a time next week, phoning in each day as necessary, but i don't hold out much hope. He hasn't done any work since Monday so has got into a cycle of panic. It's just all been too much i think - no support from anywhere and also had to wave his friends off to uni at same time. Sorry for sad news - we will emerge ok once the crisis has passed I'm sure. Kudos to your DC if they are still in the game! What a mess ..

Original poster
Skerryberry · 02/10/2020 21:27

Oh no @kitnkaboodle, that is such a shame. I really feel for you.
Flowers

OP posts:
rbsk12 · 02/10/2020 21:46

Oh I'm sorry to hear that @kitnkaboodle.

I think taking it one day at a time is the best policy. It's been incredibly tough on these kids, especially with the lack of support. Hopefully he can regroup and take the exams in the summer.xx

kitnkaboodle · 02/10/2020 22:01

Thanks - he is/was doing 4 subjects, so bonkers really but his choice and seemed admirable at the time. He was doing fine until he came down with a cold 2 weeks ago. He got behind with revision and it sent him into a panic and he lost confidence. He will get sorted eventually- I think this year has torn up the rule book anyway and maybe having 2 gap years now, or going a different route might be the best thing. I'm certainly pleased he isn't at uni this year. I know they aren't all banged up in their halls but it seems such a strange and limited experience right now. How is your DD, @WhatHaveIFound?

noblecause · 02/10/2020 23:55

@kitnkaboodle so sorry. It really is a lot of pressure for them. I agree that rule books are gone and he should take each day at a time, focus on health first. There will be enough time to replan the future. There are often scenic routes to get to the same goal in the end. Don't lose heart. 💐

NadiSel · 03/10/2020 06:35

@kitnkaboodle Sincere best wishes to you both. This is so tough on the kids and so easy to forget that they are just teenagers after all who have lost their friendship group, school support system and are having to revise for their exams independently.

WhatHaveIFound · 03/10/2020 10:08

kitnkaboodle DD is feeling a lot better though frustrated that she's stuck inside. The revision is going ok though school had no record of her using a computer for exams so it's a good job i thought to check before she turned up next week!

I hope your DS manages to get over this confidence blip. DD has always been more stressed when she falls behind. 2 years off wouldn't be a bad thing and i'd certainly encourage both mine to do that.

My DH quit after 2 weeks at university the first time around and took a gap year, then applied for a completely different course at a different university.

Our children don't have the benefit of being able to do that without losing a lot of money so there's a lot to be said for taking a break and deciding what you want out of life.

noblecause · 05/10/2020 07:57

Good luck to everybody for the exams! Anybody starting today?

rbsk12 · 05/10/2020 08:51

Just dropped DS off for Paper 1 Economics!

He looked very nervous. Good Luck to everyone.

Xenia · 05/10/2020 09:17

Good luck to those doing the exams. I don't have anyone doing it but am thinking about you all.

WhatHaveIFound · 05/10/2020 11:39

Good luck to all your DC taking exams!

DD exhausted this morning just when I thought she was on the mend.

kitnkaboodle · 05/10/2020 13:00

I forgot to say good luck to everyone! Do tell us how they get on each day. My DS not well enough for Further Maths today (but who is ever well enough for Further Maths ....) Schools exam officer is being really lovely (she's the only person who has replied to my messages saying we were having an emergency here Sad Angry) DS made the choice himself not to go in today. He has a vague feeling he might attempt Maths at least (Edexcel, starts Wednesday) as he was feeling pretty prepared for that, but I'm not really sure he's well enough. We are leaving him to make his own decisions, though. I feel we wouldn't be helping him by telling him what he should and shouldn't do. He knows how he feels.

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