Thread 46 - GCSE Covid Cohort , Searching for Summer Solstice

[OrangeCinnamonLatte]

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results ( or life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, uni vs employment please don't within this thread.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue. We were previously on the secondary board and then further education, now we shall be here in 'Parents of Adult Children' gulp

Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed). Be warned there might be lots of 'Uni Freshers' chat this time of year. My experience is that everyone is welcomed wherever, whatever their child is doing we have some in work, gap years , apprenticeships etc too. Lots of contributors with different experiences and always sympathy and advice to be had.

Previous Thread

I've passed on thanks Oblomov and Monkey. Suggested she looks at some of the stats/research modules/reading lists etc.

She won't take a gap year as "wasted enough time". I'm trying to step away. The other thing I forgot is she has 7k in savings to top up her student loan to max for next two years. She will have to make that stretch or save.

x-posted, sorry, see a gap year is ruled out. AS you say stepping away is all you can really do.

Oh dear @orange that is difficult. I think point her to things she should be aware of (like the good advice on here re stats), remind her of her love of music, and then let her make her own decision. With the caveat that if you get the slightest inkling that she might find it useful to resist boyfriend pressure to change by saying “my parents aren’t happy about it”, keep repeating when asked that you think she should finish the degree she has started. But I don’t know if that is a feature.

Thanks all, it was FAB to see DS again, hairier, skinnier and older. He is so lovely. It was quite the adventure and I think the best thing he could possibly have done. Have seen some photos but not the full download yet as he has zipped off to see his gf at her uni. Back tomorrow!

Would she consider an Education degree orange, rather than sociology?

Again, I don't mean BEd. Could lead to primary ed/music ed/ therapy/ OT/ ed psych (eventually)

I can point you indirection of decent sociology/ education degrees but can't remember what area of the country you are in...

A friend's DD is studying Education at UWE and seems happy, I can pass on any questions if interested. https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/X304/education

@OrangeCinnamonLatte Sorry that's not the news you'd want. For what it's worth my god-daughter studied Sociology and then did a PGCE and teaches 'Citizenship' (didn't even know it was a subject) in a secondary school. (She did a Masters in something as well but can't remember whether that was before or after the PGCE).

Thanks @Piggywaspushed , @Shimy and @Monkey2001 . I've told her to look at some BSc Education degrees. I don't know how competitive they are...Southampton is pretty near and course looks good. Fingers crossed. Can't seem to find a thread like ours for this year's entry. I've mentioned UWE too ...but might be too far for her

WInchester would be worth investigating, strong in education type degrees and they have all the humanities too, DS's friend is doing sociology there.

The fact that it's a BSc is interesting. Suggests Southampton want to emphasise its scientific/quants/soc sci credentials.

Southampton is very good for social science.

Just done a Unifrog search. Within the Southampton zone there is also Portsmouth with a Childhood Studies degrees and Reading with Education Studies.

I must say this sounds up her street :

https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/education-ug/ba-education-studies

Oh crikey @OrangeCinnamonLatte , I know exactly how this feels. In your dds favour is this fantastic work experience she has. I’m another thinking that a degree in primary education would be a better fit, and may incorporate bits of her music. Most primary schools seem desperate for anyone the least bit musical. I know a music lead with grade 5 flute!
I also know that it’s almost impossible to tell them anything. I’m just trying really hard to not let my disappointment in her decisions spoil our relationship, and fostering her independence. But it’s been a struggle.

Winchester is fantastic for education and they have a variety of related courses and a PGCE. I'm an ex-primary school teacher and my daughter is just finishing her first year there and the lecturers and how they are taught is excellent. She has been very well prepared and is thriving on her school placements.

The Reading course that @Piggy has linked also looks amazing!

The best teacher either of my DCs have ever had (by a mile) is a Winchester humanities graduate.

Thanks all. You are amazing. Lots for her to think about. I've passed the details on. Reading course looks good ! Winchester has such a good reputation for education , was on her list for pgce too. She has some good choices. I've tried to just pass the info on. Without opinions etc. She is determined to finish her year. Which is good.

@OrangeCinnamonLatte Sussex have an interesting looking course on Childhood and Youth studies that might suit?

DD has no more teaching left this year, but 2 exams to go. She had a 24 hr exam on Monday - she started at 0930 and submitted at 2330. She was exhausted today! She is also very busy planning her hectic social life before she comes home on 24/6 - her college ball, a subject ball, college festival day, stage manager of a production, friends visiting from her old school and a visit from is at the end of this month. She certainly seems to be making the most of the summer term in Durham. She just needs to get a summer job for when she is home - she has some irons in the fire with some hotels for event catering, so hope that comes off.

@GoldenRuby these 24 hour exams seem brutal. DS has two next week. At the moment he's sleeping about 22 hours a day 🤦 He's had all year to sort out special arrangements and never got round to it ( and personal tutor hasn't helped in the slightest)
Year 13 DD has her first two exams tomorrow. She's gone to bed in tears because she's realised she should possibly have been revising several months ago. Lack of GCSE exams is really showing. She's never even had full mocks. I'm hoping she's better prepared than she thinks 🤞

Look luck to your dd @mummyinbeds . Dd was a bit like that last year - not exactly in tears, but she admitted she'd not started anywhere near as early as she should have done or planned to and didn't get through all the history syllabus. When she initially got her B in history she said it was justice because she knew she hadn't revised enough (even though the stuff she had revised was what came up!). She took some persuading to apply for a re-mark, but it's a good job we did as she went up to an A! So hopefully your DD knows more than she thinks. I always cut it really fine too and went in not knowing lots of the syllabus, but somehow it was ok!

Is it that time already? Good luck Dd @mummyinbeds !

DD has exams over the next few weeks. She has been in discussion with the Uni and department since she started in the autumn about her support plan. They are generally very good but there is one thing that she has asked for (perfectly reasonable!) that for some reason they are not agreeing to. The department support her but the Uni team won't budge. So exams could be stressful again. Struggling to know how much to leave her to it and how much to support - have been encouraging her to manage it herself but she has ASD and sometimes it is just confusing for her.

That's a pain @handmademitlove do they say why? I know they can be funny about things that might require funding and also ensuring equity. It would be helpful if they could explain why to her and why I.e one provision /additional arrangement might cover better?

Dd has applied via UCAS with a new PS that covers Sociology and Education studies.

There must have been something about not getting over the disappointment of not getti ginto Southampton as she has applied for both courses there. Perhaps it was a shadow over her time at Cardiff...who knows.
She thinks she'll be OK with the theory/stats I can only trust. Portsmouth, Winchester and Sussex also on list. Thanks for tips all. Let's hope all quiet for a bit.

@OrangeCinnamonLatte no - no real cost implication. They have said if they did it for her they would have to offer it to all the others with the same condition... Which would still not be a real problem as other universities do this as a default!

@OrangeCinnamonLatte It seems she knows what she wants and has gone for it. Wishing her all the best now as you wait for the offers.

All the best to her @OrangeCinnamonLatte , it sounds like she’s being positive and proactive and it’s not just about the boyfriend, which is good. Hope she gets an offer she’s happy with. Am I remembering rightly that she was never 100% sure about Cardiff originally?

Dd is sending me info about educational psychology and occupational therapy, and thinking about what she wants to do for a placement. No doubt it’s because she should be revising and she’s distracting herself 🤣 but at least she’s thinking ahead.