Offers for 2025

[ontheturn]

I noticed that in 2024 there was an offers thread where people shared when their children. had submitted to ucas and what offers they had received. Anyone interested? We have offers for Manchester, Bristol and Leeds all within ten days of submitting ucas but still waiting on Edinburgh. We do know others who submitted at the same time who have had Edinburgh offers already.

Are any of your DCs almost burnt out before their exams even begin? I wonder if mine started revising too early. She doesn't start until next week and then has 13 exams over 4 weeks (plus half term). She seems sick of it already and keeps planning nights out during the exam period. Many of her friends finish earlier or did mainly coursework subjects.

I keep saying it is only a few weeks, but I guess it feels long when you are in it/ waiting for it to begin. Any tips for keeping the spirits up and not losing focus at this stage?

@ColouringPencilsi know what you mean. I’m concerned ds is the same but have no idea how much work they ‘should’ be doing at this stage.

YP had same number of exams last year, with 12 after half term and also one of last to finish. It was difficult when friends started celebrating they had finished! From about now onwards, they mixed up the location to revise - so some days going in to school to work in the library (and to catch up with some friends for company) and then also went to different libraries each day all over town and treated themselves to lunch at different bakeries, cafes etc. to break up the day and something to look forward to. It definitely worked for them and they achieved their predicted grades. Good luck, it is a long haul but at the same time goes so quickly!
As for how much they should be studying, I guess it depends on the student, how much they have already done and how much of a favoured subject it is. I have twins, they achieved the same grades but revised in different ways and at different concentrations at different times, so I really don't think there is one answer here.
One last thing, there definitely were some nasty questions (especially FM stats last year), so kind of expect there to be a few shock questions but just to keep trying and not give up. Papers that had really nasty questions saw their grade boundaries quite low last year (Edexcel A star Biology was 68% in 2024) for example). So even if your YP comes out looking shell shocked, probably everyone else does also and the grade boundaries will reflect this. Wish you all the very best of luck.

Are your DC still on a timetable at school? If so then they are possibly doing a good chunk of structured revision there rather than at home. School may also be running some mental health/stress busting activities, there were alpacas at DS's school last week 😁
It's definitely a balancing act between encouraging the optimum amount of study time vs ensuring they don't become stressed and demotivated. Would setting aside a few "non-study" days out with friends be an option, less time lost to hangovers/lethargy etc
I know that DS & friends are having a whole day beach party over half term in place of the usual weekend nights out, so they've still got something to look forward to before the grind starts.

DD finished school last week and has FINALLY sorted out where she hopes to go. The pressure is now on to get the grades as I don’t think she’ll get in with lower grades.

She is doing Maths/Biol/Chem so has no exams before 1/2 term. I would rather she was in school being supervised, TBH.

We live in a Uni town so some are heading up to the local Uni to study or going into the 6th form block, just to add a bit of structure to the day.

Just a reminder that student finance applications need to be in today if you want to get the money for the start of term.

I understand why some schools don’t do study leave at GCSE - because the cohort struggle to effectively study alone and will do far better by being led through revision, especially stuff I at before the exam. However, at A Level, when 18 and close to going to uni to study independently, I think they really need study leave.

Isn’t it the case that time alone is needed to absorb and understand the material? Teachers can’t learn the material for them. I think a good model is schools offering drop in sessions or access to teachers for marking and feedback, plus revision resources and suggested exercises/past papers, but kids having the freedom to pick which things to do and access. Many are so relieved to have blocks of time to get down to learning and doing papers - as that’s what is needed to do well.

Lots of degrees have g few contact hours. Students might be expected to do 30+ hours of self-directed ready and study and in the 2nd and 3rd year ‘may well have just a couple of hours of contact time whilst working in dissertations ( probably humanities or social sciences - not subjects with labs etc) so they need to be able to self-study. Although I suppose not all will be going into further study, but most usually are.

Exciting day here, DS passed his driving test this morning then found out his raw scores for Graphic Design A-level are within the boundary for an A grade (hopefully they don't change this year). Just need the Maths A & Physics B to meet his offer for his firm choice, it's good that he only has two subjects & six exams to focus on now.
Waiting for DH to get home so we can wander down to the pub for a celebration beer!

Congratulations to your DS @MillicentFaucet. Sounds like an excellent day.

Here, DS has just made it back from a sunny afternoon outside a pub following his last ever day of school.

@MillicentFaucet Congrats to your DS! That’s a very encouraging start to exam season.

@MillicentFaucet - that’s great news. Congratulations to your son!

Thank you for this heads up. FM is on Tuesday. I’ll warn DC to expect some tough questions.

@Dery @RayonSunrise
DS has just received an email to say he's been allocated Cuth's, it's his top choice so he's a very happy lad

Less happy news in our house I’m afraid. DD has been offered her 8th choice, Grey. She would have taken ANY Bailey college and is feeling really crushed, blaming herself for waiting to firm and wondering if she’s been punished for it. I’m holding firm to the “Oh well, everyone ends up loving their college anyway” line, but she is feeling very unloved by Durham today!

Oh no, that's disappointing for her. You are right that it seems everyone ends up loving their college and Grey does have its good points but if she's set her heart on the Bailey it's a very different set up. Grey is right next to the gorgeous Botanic Gardens which has free entry for students, plus no sharing a room.
The drop off is going to be a lot easier too, it's always carnage on the peninsula on that weekend.
Also she may get reallocated after results day to a college further up her list.

Exactly the same situation here. Grey was sixth on her list, all Bailey colleges above it. She is v upset (not helping with psychology revision for tomorrow!) She loved the Bailey colleges, and we didn’t even look at Grey. Does anyone know how likely it is she could be reassigned? At the moment it’s putting her off Durham completely which I know is an over reaction but not helpful at this stage of exams!

Thanks @MillicentFaucet, you’re being very kind! She is trying not to be too upset but I can see she’s pretty disappointed.

From what I’m reading, reallocation doesn’t seem to happen favourably for anyone, if it happens at all. It seems to be a result of Bailey colleges over-offering at the preliminary stage, and then some of their offers having to be reallocated after results day. So people allocated a less popular college quite far down their lists look highly unlikely to move up it later on.

Commiserations, @redblonde - maybe if our DCs do end up in Grey after results day they can plan to storm one of the Bailey bars together?

@MillicentFaucet - that’s great.

@redblonde and @RayonSunrise - Big disappointment here, too, sadly: DD has been allocated John Snow and very much wanted catered. Grey would have been a blessing in comparison…. At the moment, she’s saying she won’t go!

I have faith that this will turn out okay - I know college disappointment is a big thing with Durham and then it tends to turn out okay so fingers crossed.

They can’t apply to be reallocated unless the college is unsuitable on medical grounds.
When reallocations happen, it’s usually from most popular to less popular. And when reallocations happen, the website says explicitly that it’s done without any consideration given to preferences, but just to where spaces are freed up.

It’s disappointing, but getting too attached to the idea of one college or type of college is never a good idea as so many get much lower ranked choices. They are choosing Durham and not the college. The only situation I feel is genuinely unfair is anyone opting for self-catered for cost reasons who gets allocated a catered college.

Students of all types and in all courses are in every college so they are as likely to make good friends in any college. Everything is in walking distance. They will all be fine.

Watch out for a form which they have to fill in to request college accommodation with a deadline. If they miss meeting the deadline they aren’t guaranteed accommodation and over 100 students in this position didn’t get college accommodation but had to rent privately after results day, when the uni had more freshers than rooms available. It will be emailed to them and there are reminders, but can go to junk so check the date that’s required by in the website and maybe set a reminder for yourselves to chase your YP. Not having accommodation will be far more stressful than not getting the college they liked the look of.

Thanks, @WombatChocolate. Very wise words. I actually have a very good vibe about John Snow but I’m not the one going. And DD has some serious concerns about self-catered. But she’ll be self-catering from year 2 anyway.

Thanks all. I think she had pinned her hopes on the fact that she actively wanted to share a room gave her a better chance of a Bailey college. But clearly not the case. At least Grey is catered which she wanted. I feel for your DD @Dery being given a different catering option as well.

Just crashing Durham college allocations! My DS got a college not on his list at all last year (half expected as Durham was his insurance choice) and was worried. He has absolutely loved his 1st year and has no regrets. He has a lovely group of friends who he will be living with in his second year. They socialise in all the bars so don’t miss out on them at all, he doesn’t go out in his college bar so college allocation is honestly no reason to be put off as the unique draw for Durham is they can go all of the bars and they’re all so close 😊 I hope they love it as much as my DS does 😊

John Snow was DD's second choice, I also think the place has a good vibe. The JCR people we chatted to when we looked around were great, so enthusiastic about their college.
I love the idea of them shepherding the newbies down the hill into town for Fresher week nights out, then rounding them all up to herd back up the hill again 😁

Dd (in her 2nd year at Durham) has always said that Grey is a great college and that it’s much under rated. It’s in a good location too.

one good thing also is if you’ve not been allocated to one of the v oversubscribed colleges your chances of reallocation is significantly less.

College allocation is always a fraught day but everyone always seems really happy in their college.

Hugs to those feeling disappointed today but I’m sure it will work out well.

That’s rubbish timing by Durham to send out college allocations when they know it’s mid exam season!