Results Day 2017

[Groovee]

Eek it's only 18 days away!

Dd is convinced Nat5 maths will be another C. She's not too stressed about the highers results.

How's everyone else feeling about it?

@IHaveBrilloHair the school had to indicate this and submit evidence at the time. It won't be accepted retrospectively. If evidence was submitted at the time it is likely to be considered by the marking team over the next month or so.

Marking reviews are as the title suggests and take place across all elements of an assessment. Not sure who the pp was that said assignments aren't reviewed but they are, along with any question papers. I'm involved in this process for the SQA so reasonably confident!

@ihavebrillohair

When your DD completes the UCAS form she needs to tick the box to indicate she's " care experienced " .

Also SAAS give a bursary of about £7,500, as well as other things she probably doesn't need, like 52 week accommodation.

Many Scottish unis give contextual offers, some publish them on their website. And most have a coordinator / contact person for formerly LAC.

There's lots of extra support out there.

Salmotrutta.
No, they didn't, they were not supportive of Dd's education at all, they seemed clueless as to what to do with an academic child, that's why she's back living with me when it's really not for the best, but that's a whole other thread.
Vvv long story short, and a v small example, she wanted a tutor for her prelims, I got her one for Maths, then another for English.
I was told off by SW as the school told them she didn't need tutors. She failed two of her prelims.
Tutors didn't actually start until she'd done her prelims.
The whole year has been awful for her.

Kr1stina, we are aware of that, I've said to Dd she must contact the Unis sooner, rather than later to find out what they offer for her.
I think we've spoken before on here?
Thank you, any advice/support is always welcome.

MargotsDevil, that's a big blow, Dd does have a good plan for the next two years anyway, but that makes me more cross with the system who were meant to be doing their best for her.
I'm now rethinking the reasons why looked after children generally don't have good outcomes in life, particularly academically.
It's not perhaps, as I blithely thought that they are from families who don't value education, but because they are not supported as the system don't believe in them.

BRillo - as soon as she has confirmed her two offers, she should be contacted by the relevant people from these universities. The teenager I know was also given info about extra bursaries to apply for if they needed them, ones that are not open to the General public IYSWIM.

Most of the RG unis also have outreach programmes called REACH for certain schools and other groups ( like LAC) who want to apply to ' hard to get into ' courses like Medicine, dentistry, law and Vet Med.

I don't think that's what your DD wants to do IIRC but thought I'd just mention it anyway. You are right, kids need to make contact at the end of 4th year as they have events and courses during 5th year , as most of them will be applying from early in 6th year and sitting tests and doing Work experience in the summer after 5th year.

REACH mostly work through targeting schools and if your child goes to them they will be recruited through the school. But if your child is or has been LAC, your child's school might not know anything about REACH, so it's up to you /your child to contact them.

Participation in REACH usually qualifies pupils for contextualised offers as well as giving a huge amount of support for the application process . And there's a space to mention it on the UCAS form.

www.gla.ac.uk/explore/wideningparticipation/supportingaccesstoprofessionalsubjects/reachaccesstomedicineveterinarymedicinedentistryandlaw/

www.abdn.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/reach-1576.php

www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment/widening-participation/projects/reach

www.dundee.ac.uk/study/widening-access/in-demand/reach/

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/access/projects/reach/

Sorry I know it's not relevant to 99% of people on this thread but I just wanted to mention it, because it might apply to one of your kids friends / your pupils. Thanks to the rest of you for your patience .

In Lothian we have LEAPS which started working with Dd last year.

www.leapsonline.org/

Wax, he may manage one or two Highers in subjects he's interested in eventually but definitely too far at the moment. I suspect most colleges won't reinstate evening classes in various Nat5's, budgets have been pruned too far. Hmm, harder longer exams would not go down well, I think I will encourage him to do Biology this year. Does anyone know when they change the exam?

My friend who used to work at the SQA (devising the new highers and advanced highers) is raging about the demise of unit assessments, she thinks it really undermines the whole ethos of the curricullum for excellence/ exam system. John Swinney better never get stuck in a lift with her!

Oh I've just looked it up, it's this year

I have an on going official complaint with our college on DS2s behalf so his chances of support there are minimal I would think. Not that they offer very much anyway.

I know, you need to go far afield for a broad range at all levels, I haven't found anything to suit DS1 at Forth Valley lots of access courses that study National 5 units but you don't sit the exams so they don't work as stand alone qualifications and not helpful if the young person is not sure exactly what they want to do, and public transport is impossible where we live anyway. I get a bit jealous when I read about Btecs and sixth form colleges on other threads, I know foundation apprenticeships are supposed to cover that area but I think they are too basic?

It's FV I have the complaint with.

I've looked at the stuff they offer to see if it would be worth telling DS2 that school maybe isn't for him and there being other options. There are no options locally though. There doesn't seem to be anything for inbetweenies. There are options for the non academic but practical kids and obviously the academic kids probably aren't looking at college, but those that are bright and not practical but don't have what they need for uni are kind of left out. If Ds1 wasn't academic it wouldn't be a problem as he is good with his hands, has a practical brain and would do well in an apprenticeship. DS2 however struggles to tie his laces/butter bread and moves so slowly you just want to push him along! I really worry what he is going to do if he doesn't get some decent qualifications behind him. I wouldn't employ him if I was an employer tbh. harsh but true. We've been too soft I think.

waxwould he consider the military as a career? I get that its not for everyone but they re the biggest employer of apprentices and he would learn a shit load of practical skills as well as being able to sit higher ed qualifications. I've dropped hints to ds about the cadets but hes's not interested.

He did at one point say that he might just have to join the army! I really don't think it would be for him, he doesn't like being told what to do for a start and then there is the laziness and the complete lack of co-ordination, it would be great if they could do something about all that but I suppose that is really for DH and I to sort out with him. He is actually very bright, at one point I think a law career would have been on the cards for him. This si why it's so frustrating! I have no idea what is going on in his head at the moment. The icing on the cake was him showing me results that his primary classmates were posting on FB which were better than his but he had been top of that class and has gone to a more academic school than they have. We'll done to them by the way, it's great to see them getting on but it just highlights that he is underperforming.

Exactly, Wax, no provision for inbetweenies or people needing a top up of UCAS points, they seem to want to put people into full time courses with a big "core skills" element, DS's core skills are fine!
I would hesitate about the military, DS1 has just left the navy after completing basic training, he was an inbetweeny there too! Not enough brains for officer, too middle-class and shy to fit in with the rather laddish culture of the ratings mess. He enjoyed quite a lot of it (guns etc!) but realised a little late he would go barmy living 24/7 on a boat at the other end of the country. Wasted a year getting him ready for that and now back to square one! ( also i seem to remember your boys having skin problems and you have to be clear of them for a while before you can pass the medical, they are horribly picky).
Sometimes academic schools can be a bit rubbish when results start to slide, they seem to just get cross with the underperformers rather than have tried and tested strategies, at least that's what happened to DS1 and also to me when I went to your DS's school, a long time ago!

Ah well, I've just had a mini rant at both boys. Left wet suits with DS1 to try on, but has made no effort. Ds2 hasn't managed to put his laundry in the basket or make any effort to tidy up his room. They'd half cleared up from lunch, left the rolls open so that they are stale and have to be binned. Left keys in the back of the only door I have keys for so I couldn't get in when I got home. When I tried to phone them, they didn't have their phones as they were out of charge despite the fact that they are in the house for about 23 hours a day! Grrrr. Probably didn't help that I decided to restring the washing whirly and do a roast dinner at the same time meaning that neither have been done properly and whirly is now in a total fankle.

Oh dear Wax!

wax sounds like you need a glass of wine or two. Its not easy, is it?
I'm really enjoying afew days on my own in London, cat sitting for my sister. Bliss.

Wax that sounds very similar to my home life except I have three teenage boys not two!

I don't really drink :(

On a positive note I've sorted the whirly just in time for the rain and ignoring the fact that there no dirty laundry as DS2 still hasn't tidied his room

I'm ignoring the fact that there is no sound from upstairs which means they are still doing bugger-all. Dh is busy making them a lovely fruity health shake...

...and now I'm looking forward to the school visit tomorrow with a unsolvable timetable. I need a holiday :(

Wax hope your meeting at school went ok. DD2 is in a similar position to your DS2 but 2 years down the line. Has 3 Highers so not enough for uni started (and hated so left) a really well paid and reputable modern apprenticeship realising admin not for her. Nothing suitable at FV for her either. SDS were great and very supportive with her and she's now accepted a place on an HNC in Edinburgh City. We'd previously ruled that out as we didn't think the commute was doable. But it's only a 17 min (.8 of a mile walk) from Edinburgh Park.

Edinburgh City and Glasgow college s offer a much greater range of courses and cater to a much wider spectrum of learners.

Maybe the college environment would suit him better? Lecturers are much less hands on and could force him to be more proactive. Little things like not wearing uniforms can really help young people feel more respected and grown up.

NC courses don't eat into "free years " as they're classed as non advanced and progress directly into HNC/D and then degrees .

Meeting itself was ok. I think they were trying to persuad him not to bother with Maths if he didn't think he needed it. I said I felt that he would ultimatley need it as no-one recognises Nat4 . He has really been let down by the new system I think as he would have got a standard grade much more easily although not at Credit level. Anyway I said I think he should do it but was okay with him leaving it to 6th year if it meant that left him with subjects he was engaged with and willing to work hard in. So we gave him the choice and he chose to do it in S5. She then rejigged his other columns and he's ended up with a crash Higher in geography instead of doing BM.

Ended up having a few harsh words with him in the car. To be honest, I'm not unconvinced that he may be depressed. He says he doesn't enjoy school, no-one helps, he says he knows he has to do stuff but sits not doing it and hating himself for not doing it. has no idea what he wants to do, finds it hard to be engaged or even pretend to be unless it's something really interesting. I've said to him that the way he acts/looks/moves means that people wont be keen to seek him out and help and that even pretending to enjoy something can help you to actually enjoy it. Not sure that went anywhere but he's come back and started to tidy his room.

Along with the harsh words, I did tell him that the reason I'm annoyed and frustrated is becauuse I care and I know he has ability and a lot to offer but he's in danger of not getting the future he could have.

He seemed to be unaware that there were options other than school at this point so i've told him that isn't the case and there were more than one way to skin a cat. The problem is that he doesn't know what he wants to do and hasn't looked either. Garrrrhhhhh!

I know I should count myself lucky (and I do) that he is very well behaved, he gives us no trouble at all, no smoking, drinking, drugs, hanging about on street corners etc. But on the other hand these years should be fun as well as about preparing for the future and there isn't a lot of that going on either.

Incidentally the medication for his skin can casue depression but his attitude etc predates that by a long time so i don't think it's that.

Lidl, I'm glad to hear that things are working out for your DD, maybe we need to cast the net a bit wider in terms of options for him.

Maybe Skills Development Scotland would work better.

I've been looking at that Groovee but just haven't seen anything that would be a good option for him at the moment.

Obviously none of us wants to see their children unhappy, but I'm not seeing alternatives to school for him based on what qualifications he has and the ability/interests he has. I can't see hiim survving in an office or customer facing environment and he has no interest or skills in anything practical, or indeed anything tbh.

His current interest is music but he's decided he doesn't want to do that as a job since it might ruin his interest when it becomes a job.