OR 22 - Edinburgh, Warwick, St A, UCL, Durham, Nottingham, Bath and more

[Valleyofthedollymix]

Following on from the Oxbridge rejects thread but I've got rid of those two words. I for one am interested to know where they all end up and when Durham might finally deign to reject/offer DS...

Just catching up. Thanks for your kind post Lillian!

@Puffalicious yes I'm sorry if I gave the impression that that pressure was the only reason why it wasn't ok - just my DDs head would have completely fallen off at the kind of thing @TangoWhiskyAlphaTango depicted which is what triggered me slightly! I've never heard of the like and I am failing to understand the thinking behind it for all the reasons you describe.

Have to say though they made the mistake of putting the photo on social media of the 10 offer holders (interestingly only one female out the lot) and it did not go down well with other pupils, all should be celebrated not the elite 10. I was going to email the Principle to say I thought it was in bad taste but decided it may come across as sour grapes.... DD has a rival in her Politics class the one lad who contradicts everything she and the teacher says and of course he got into Oxford to study PPE, DD was definitely more gutted about this than actually being rejected herself

DS and DH were equally horrified by todays news. DH’s response ‘it’s like the 50’s’. I laughed and told him he must have been snooping.

Did I really just read about a school that reads people’s university offers out in assembly? And another school that only takes the ones with Oxbridge offers out for dinner?

Honestly, you couldn’t make this up I have never heard of such nonsense in schools. Ridiculous on so many levels I don’t know where to even start. How has nobody complained?

No, no, not at all fishingeagle, I know you didn't mean it that way at all!

Yuk! That sounds awful! Surely the achievement in itself is good enough - I am sure the kids don’t want to be put up on a pedestal in this way, and think of the pressure they are now under to actually achieve the grades now. Part of me actually does despair about the whole hoopla there is around Oxbridge entry - the view that everything else is a consolation prize is just awful.

Announcing offers in assembly! Is that not a breach of privacy.

I am always amazed when you go to prize giving to come away with a book that tells you:

What A levels each student took
What grades they got
What university they are studying at
What subject they are studying
What, any prizes, they were awarded

Where GDPR comes in I have no idea, but that is an awful lot of information given away. Not one student had 'information withheld' by their name. I love looking through these books... but then I am nosey, not a stalker.

I too am aghast at the dinner and the celebrations - apart from anything else the kids haven't actually got their grades yet and I think getting an offer and then not getting the A levels must be the worst.

Ultimately it does those that have got in a worse disservice than those that haven't. So many Oxbridge graduates I know seemed to think that getting a place was the end of the race rather than the beginning of an adult life full of milestones and processes.

God, most of these schools seem a million miles away from where I work and where my DC attend (big, inner-city comprehensive - we don't have grammars/ academies here in Scotland). The book with everyone's details in? WTF?! DS has had prizes coming out of his ears since he started secondary and got the DUX last year, but attendance at prize- giving is optional and there's a simple list sent in the weekly newsletter, that's it. There's also loads of prizes for ethos/ effort/ most improved/ practical cookery/ woodwork etc, so all kids are celebrated. It all just seems so over the top and competitive.

My DD’s are at one if the quite well-known independents where quite a lot get into Oxbridge - but I can happily say nothing is made of it whatsoever. On A-level results day, they will do a news / photo thing for the website, but they’re just as likely to feature someone going to art or drama school as Oxbridge. Certainly there is no “list” published and definitely nothing read out on assembly! As for taking Oxbridge offer holders out for dinner - I doubt the Head even knows who they are. I have an older one at Oxbridge and no comment was passed whatsoever. So I really don’t think this palaver about Oxbridge is a public school thing. It’s down to individual head teachers and god only knows what they think they’re playing at.

@Valleyofthedollymix yes you're absolutely right - we know a few people who are very much like that. They seem to have peaked at 18 and never got over actually getting in. The other thing DS saw in his college was kids for whom getting in had been a relentless and single-minded siege-like campaign, who were then so exhausted by all the hoop-jumping it had taken them to get there that they could barely summon the enthusiasm to make it through their degree. The attitude was kind of I've done everything that was asked of me to get here and now it all starts again?

It's a week since DD got the email from the French half of the dual degree at UCL but still nothing from UCL itself and no update on UCAS. This is bonkers. How hard would it be just to update UCAS?

I was just having a nosey at the shiny new Oxbridge 2023 thread…they are all so fresh and full of hope and optimism!

I'm glad I'm not alone in being irritated by the assembly thing. Very few 17/18 year olds like being discussed infront of the school, I would think and an offer is just half the battle.

@Puffalicious

God, most of these schools seem a million miles away from where I work and where my DC attend (big, inner-city comprehensive - we don't have grammars/ academies here in Scotland). The book with everyone's details in? WTF?! DS has had prizes coming out of his ears since he started secondary and got the DUX last year, but attendance at prize- giving is optional and there's a simple list sent in the weekly newsletter, that's it. There's also loads of prizes for ethos/ effort/ most improved/ practical cookery/ woodwork etc, so all kids are celebrated. It all just seems so over the top and competitive.

DD2's pretty awful Secondary Modern did this @Puffalicious, giving commendations for effort and attitude and improvement rather than solely for achievement. It seemed to me a good way of acknowledging that children have different capabilities and that working to the limit of them by trying hard was as worthy of praise as getting top grades. As with your school this encompassed all the practical subjects as well. It really isn't difficult for schools to be inclusive if the desire is there.

Absolutely thing47 . Why are the group of 5 girls I work with any less worthy of praise and acknowledgment for getting themselves through 4 years of secondary and achieving at National 3/4 level (below GCSE, that's National 5)? One of them could barely stay in a classroom all the way through her first year; all of them have attachment issues/ ACEs; some are looked after children; they all live in poverty of different degrees and I'm super, super proud of them. They have achieved much more in relative terms than DS who is naturally very academic, has had secure relationships all his life; has everything he needs all the time and a very supportive, safe environment.

@Igglepigglesblankie

I was just having a nosey at the shiny new Oxbridge 2023 thread…they are all so fresh and full of hope and optimism!

Ha ha. This made me giggle. We have been on quite the journey together. Have gained a few grey hairs as a result!

I remember when pupils who got places at Oxbridge used to feature in our local paper - it was pretty unusual at the time in the area I grew up in. I don't think this still happens, but clearly in some schools, Oxbridge is feted as some kind of achievement above all others. I also wonder at schools which focus so much on this - my understanding about developing resilience is that it's important to reward effort, not results - I admired my dc for trying to get an Oxford place rather then whether they did/didn't get a place or not.

As I have been saying on another education thread, the data shows that having a great teacher is pretty much the single most important factor in school success (and by that it doesn't mean solely academic achievement) at secondary level. It sounds very much like you are one of those great teachers @Puffalicious

What a lovely thing to say thing47. I've been doing it a long time, because I love working with the kids that I work with, in the area that I work: they really need me. The politics and pressures in teaching can really get to you, but I just focus on the kids and ignore the crap.

The education of our young people is one of the most important markers of our society. I hope beyond hope that some of the young people I deal with can go on to better things because of that education.

So I’m in Edinburgh. DD had her offer day today. Was told due to covid students go alone so have been on the sideline a bit.
But these are the thoughts.
She loved the city, the course, the opportunity to mix and match.
Definitely a city before uni feel to it. Whereas Durham felt very much an all in it together student feel.
She hasn’t decided what she prefers. A more insular Durham or a more fend for yourself Edinburgh. Still another Uni to look at.
Personally I think she is the type to thrive in Durham and may get a little lost in Edinburgh but that could be me being overprotective. But there didn’t seem to have that wrap you up till you get on your feet feel to it.
No further along deciding though. Couldn’t see any accommodation and information not as available. Fourth year showing students around, perhaps a little less enthusiastic than your first year Durham students.
Just thought I’d share initial thoughts…

Interesting Ballstoit. Edinburgh is a big city, so much to consider for your DD. I remember going to uni (at age 16) and feeling like I was thrown in and was just a number.

@Puffalicious 16 is tough!!

That’s exactly the feeling I have about Edinburgh. You’d be thrown in, sink or swim. Definitely not my first choice…unfortunately might be DD’s. I’m keeping neutral as much as possible. She knows what I think but I won’t rain on her parade. Still have Bristol to see.

Ballstoit I was 17 within 4 months, but the Scottish system still means kids can go straight from S5 and it depends where your birthday falls. I would never recommend it, but I was a determined, independent little shit.

Interesting that you got that protective vibe from Durham. That's great. DS has applied to 4 big universities, but he's the type to cope well. DS2 will not be, so that's really good to know that there's different vibes out there for 2 years' time.