Lovely to read your update @Zokaluse73 and don't worry about delay in replying, that happens to me all the time too!
Not sure if I said that we are Surrey too - it's funny how similar our DDs sound, especially with the med schools they like or dislike. Think my DD has written off the same unis for the same reasons as yours, we are very much Keele, Exeter, UEA and Leicester now. I liked the look of Edge Hill but was put off by the same concerns as you. We've not really considered Newcastle due to distance but also that her cousin is there, and although she will have left by then time DD starts (unless she stays for a masters!) my DD wants to go somewhere different. HYMS got written off for similar reasons as another cousin is in York, and luckily the third one is at a uni with no med school!
We have had a break through with the volunteering!! Despite having sent some emails around to try and raise the issue we were having, we got there by old fashioned doorstepping! My husband said he would stop by the hospital every day until he found the Volunteer Manager in her office. Last week he stopped by on his way to an appointment and the light was on, but no one there. He msged me and I left work and walked straight over there, by the time I got there, she had appeared and I was able to ask her when DD could start! She went yesterday to get papers signed and security badge printed, and she starts on Monday!
It's going to be every Monday after school. The Volunteer Manager does the first couple of weeks with her and then she's on her own. I just hope it all goes well and is beneficial for both hospital and DD. She really needs to get stuck in and talk to patients and help out. I don't know how long it will last but I get the feeling it is fairly relaxed (certainly relaxed getting people in - only 5 months we waited!) so I'm hoping she can just carry on for a year or so!
My DD also plans to take a gap year if she isn't successful first time round. We're lucky that we live very close to our local hospital (another reason why it was so frustrating that we weren't hearing back from them!) and I'm thinking that she might be able to get an HCA or similar role there to earn money and get more experience. I'm not anticipating the need to resit at this stage, as she is super conscientious, but there's still a long way to go and who knows what might happen on the day.
I really think 10 weeks at a SEND school is fantastic experience and I don't think it needs to be in a clinical setting. Helping people who are vulnerable or who might have communication difficulties is the type of experience med schools are looking for and so as long as she can pull lots of reflective learning points out of her time there, I think that is really in her favour. Though no harm looking for other experiences, especially if the SEND school one has come to an end.
I can't believe we have another 16 months to go before it is all done and dusted, well, until results day. It's nice to have some online company!