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

Thanks @handmademitlove . My only reservations about Winchester are that it is a bit small, I used to work in a similar uni. Everyone knows Everyone and Everything.

Being a local uni we know a few who go there including some of the 'mean girls' from her school. I haven't mentioned anything to Dd about that it's just a small worry.

My friend's DD is at Winchester (just finished y1). She says there haven't been many clubs and other SU activities going on, she has been going home a lot (lives in the Havant area). She's not on a vocational course so no placements or similar. I do get the impression it excels in the vocational courses.

@OrangeCinnamonLatte I’m sure once your DD is settled on a course she really enjoys the bf situation will be resolved- although preferably sooner!
It’s so difficult as a parent when we see the ‘red flags’ and they don’t 💐
Eventually they do though, so keep the faith!
DD has friends from school visiting this weekend- cue a serious ‘muck out’ of her room and a ‘pumpy up’ bed installed to accommodate them all!
A lovely teacher who left school at the end of Yr13 for another position at a different school is also in Oxford for the weekend so a good night was had by all in Sandy’s Piano Bar 😊
Two more weeks and she’s home -can’t wait!

It’s lovely to meet up with a past teacher and friends Proggymat on home turf, count down for you now until she returns ;)

Fingers crossed on Reading Orange 🤞

I somehow lost this thread! Will check back in on all the news Tommorrow!

Anyone any good with plants? I just got an easyplanter from Crocus and could do with an opinion if I'm on a hiding to nothing here.... imauselessgardener

I've potted up both, removed bits I thought were dead, what do we think goer or goner?

That's lovely of them to spend time with the teacher @ProggyMat I've never been to Oxford either but Sandy's Piano Bar sounds fun!

@OrangeCinnamonLatte - It did to me too!
I’m hoping at some point during her time there that I’ll get to see more of Oxford than the ‘route from the car park whist lugging DD’s stuff up to her her room before trekking back up to the Northeast last October!
Can’t help with plants - I’m useless!
@estherfrewen any news on your DS’ second year room?

@ProggyMat - no news yet re the room. Accommodation said he should hear over the summer so still hoping... the night out in Oxford sounds fun!

@OrangeCinnamonLatte my DH who is now a gardener (was previously landscape architect) and has retrained, says it's fine, definitely give it a chance with some watering and a good location (not in deep shade or bright sunlight). Give it 2 weeks and it may well surprise you.

Ooh thank you Heifers. Shall report back!

Keeping any thing that can be crossed for you!

@crazycrofter you mentioned my DD should try to make more friends in yr2 and I couldn't agree more. I think she went with the opinion she didn't want another group of friends (group of 10 at home) so she looked for individuals and seemed to stop after finding about 5 people she really liked. Of course they too found their own friends so aren't available all the times. Also her BF was around so much before Christmas that must have had an impact. She really does hate Rutland though, she seems to need a quiet space to decompress - just being in her own in the room
Isn't enough if woken up
By workman, cleaning ladies every single morning before she was ready. Also hates the food so doesn't feel full and full of energy. She really does think yr 2 will be good though..
She had had another exam today,
2'more to go and she can come home again in Thursday. She came home again after last weeks exam so staying Sunday night until Thursday afternoon will be the longest she has been there since March!

Hope all your DS/DDs get what they need to move onto yr2, or have earnt enough and enjoyed themselves in year offs/travelling etc.
let the summer fun begin for them.

@OrangeCinnamonLatte I agree, keep them out of bright sunlight or deep shade, water but don't let them sit in it waterlogged. They should be fine.

@estherfrewen I've just been thinking about DS's y2 accommodation too, wishing we had something in writing. In theory they can bump 2nd years off the list in favour of first years if there are too many, and due to a misunderstanding about applying DS was near the end of the 2nd year list. OTOH his disabilities give him priority and we did get an email at Easter saying don't worry we will not leave him high and dry. Still, it would be nice to have official confirmation.

He has started his summer job and is enjoying it, hard physically but he says the others are friendly and it is at a lovely house and grounds. Seeing lots of his old school friends too.

DD's y12 exams start tomorrow, she seems less stressed than last week. We are considering ADHD assessment for her, have any of your teens had this? I had a feeling there were some on this thread. Unfortunately at 17 she has been told no point going on the child waiting lists as they will take her past her 18th birthday but she can't go on adult ones till then either.

@Heifer I really feel for your DD. DS hardly spoke to anyone before Christmas - a mixture of his MH, jealous gf and coming home every weekend. It was very hard to watch. Things have really turned round for him - mh is improving, jealous gf is no longer in the picture and he couldn't wait to go 'home' to Nottingham today after a weekend here. He doesn't even have a reason to be there. At Easter he still had nowhere to live next year but now has a house with five girls (dread to think what gf would have thought about that 🤣) He still hates Rutland food but tops up at the bar at Derby hall. He says the cleaner never comes to his room ( apart from after one of his 24 hour exams and she made him get out of bed!) I think he got lucky with his room as his corridor seems really quiet. I really hope year 2 is a fresh start for your DD.

@heifer dd rang us yesterday (we’d only seen her on Thursday too 🤣) to tell us about her birthday night out - she mixed her Rutland friends, CU friends, Derby/course friends and a few school friends and said it went really well. She was saying she thinks in year 2 there will be lots more mixing like that and getting to know friends of friends because they’ll be able to host parties in their houses. So fingers crossed it will be like that for your dd too. Dd also hates the Rutland food!

Really pleased your DD had a great bday @crazycrofter and that your DS found his people and have enjoyed it. dD definitely thinks it will
Be a lot better for her next year in a house. Is expecting lots of house parties and just more just hanging out rather than going out clubbing (she enjoys clubbing but not all the time).
With hindsight I think catered was a mistake for DD, not just because the food seems to be rubbish but because they don't have a kitchen to socialise in. Anyway hopefully onwards and upwards. She has lots of plans for the summer with her school friend and bf. One of her new housemates lives here so she is planning o seeing her too. I just hope she is ok come Sept when she has to go back! (She has assured me it will be fine, she has to go back as doesn't want to change and wants a degree...

@ExtremelyDetermined yes I think it is the uncertainty that niggles away. Nice to hear your DS is enjoying his job. Hope your DD's exams go well

Glad to hear your DD enjoyed her birthday @crazycrofter

DS did his medical trial yesterday. He didn't like having a MRI but did appreciate the £50! All work now done except French supervisions. He has overnight trip to Rome, May Ball, swimming club end of season party and college cricket semi final to look forward to. Am v jealous! Home in just over two weeks

DS passed his essay. and not only passed it he got a mark in the 60's!!!!

His other marks that are coming through seem to be in the 70's with the notable exception of theory and aural which are in the 90's. But he has now admitted he failed his scales and arpeggios technical assessment in January. However it is worth 25% of the module and he got 70 for the rest so his lecturer has told him the mark will be averaged (you have to fail by 5 marks or less I think for it to be averaged out.

That’s great @Comefromaway , he’s doing really well!

@Heifer I’m sure your dd will be fine in year 2, sounds like Lenton will be very sociable with them all living so close together and having space to host.

@estherfrewen the end of term sounds fun!

@ExtremelyDetermined glad the job is going well, that will be great for his CV - and his confidence.

I think dd will need to think about getting a more relevant summer or term time job next year, if she wants to apply for an OT masters, as they will want to see some experience. For now the warehouse job will do though.

Ds is focused on trying to get a second, evening job now. It’s all part of his plan to become a UFC fighter apparently 😩 He needs two jobs to earn enough for a motorbike, which he can then drive to Coventry daily to do martial arts training. Terrifying thought! I did ask how he would fit in his A Level work 😬

Just popping in to wave at everyone and wish those still sitting exams 'Good Luck!'.

DS came home at the weekend after his last exam on Thursday. He's already moaning about there not being enough food in the house as he's trying to bulk for his holiday in two weeks. I'm not sure what he is expecting as he weighs about 65kg at 6'2".

Wow lots going on. Seem as if there are jobs out there if not looking for a specific course related experience. DS is waiting to see if he is selected post assessment for a sporty role. He's doing a life guarding session now but they are too infrequent for it to be his sole income.

Good to know many are anticipating better experiences in year 2 or on new courses. @Comefromaway Super update!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn 65kg doesn't sound laden with muscle for 6'2 at all. Is he a wiry build? DS is fit and looks athletic but no rippling muscles/big guns, weighs 75kg and is 6'3.

@Comefromaway great news ! He is a busy bee your boy!