Starting Y13 (y12 support thread contd)

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Well, I filled up the other one, so here's a nice new one to get us through dropping subjects, Uni open days, personal statement writing, and UCAS applications

Plenty of and and (nicely-intentioned) s available!

I guess it's down to the amount of effort; our 6th form Head said it's usual to go up but I'm aware that others may have different opinions.

With the 'contextual' offers, does it count if GCSE school (state comp) was in the bottom 40% for A levels, but the A level school (better state comp) isn't?

Only place ever seen the contextual offer list schools was Bristol Uni website - is it a general thing?

I think they take both into account circular, but the A Levels & predictions are the most important thing (so the offer would probably be based on the better state comp). Different universities have varying methods eg. Oxford & Cambridge have a flag system (one flag for being in care, one flag for a low performing school....).

Best thing to do is type 'contextual offer' into search function of the uni website to see what they do. I did come across other lists of schools, but can't remember where.

I agree mumslife. My DS is considering re-sits of some modules and I'm concerned it will impact on his A2 grades.

If only he'd had the sense to work hard this year, he would be able to work at 'normal' hard work pace next year.

He is infuriating at times.

Just looking back over DS's predicted and mock results

Predicted: Chem B, Further Maths A, Maths A, Physics A.

Mock: Chem A, Further Maths E, Maths D, Physics C.

Actual AS: Chem C, Further Maths D, Maths A, Physics B.

Damn phone! Posted too soon.

Not sure what will happen next year now.

Your son should be absolutely fine Horsemad. He will probably be predicted AAB / ABB. As long as he works hard, there is no reason why he can't achieve top grades. The AS year comes as a bit of a shock to lots of students and parents (including myself with dd1) - especially this year with the cancellation of January modules & the way the exams went into the dustiest areas of the syllabus. It all gets very worrying doesn't it?

My plan this year is to try to be a lot calmer & pay less attention to the offers!

Thanks Littleham.

DH (who luckily is a genius ) is on a mission to make sure DS works and does well. He can tutor him in maths & physics. We also have a head teacher friend whose subject is chemistry and has offered help too.

Ultimately it's down to DS to do the work though.

mumslife DD also moved for sixth form, from a comp to an independent school. It was a decent comp, though, and not in the bottom 40%, so hopefully we haven't scuppered her chances by moving her!

I sent a fretful email to the head of 6th form, and got a nice helpful one back. It seems the AS retakes will be before June half-term, and the A2 exams after it, so at least there's a little break.

Also, they are willing to look again at predicted grades following the November progress exams, so if DD puts the work in and does well, she can improve her predictions.

Ah thanks Horsemad, ds wants to do History though his A is in Eng Lit. The only uni he expressed interest in so far is Swansea loves the fact it's by the sea and he can escape to the beach if the going gets tough . I've heard that it's good with ASD students too and definitely within reach for him.

muffin The bottom 40% refers to A-level performance, so its quite surprising how many 'good' schools fall into that category. DD's GCSE school had ~70% A* to C inc EM at GCSE but were still on Bristol Unis bottom 40% list.

Re the contextual offers bit, did a bit of searching on some of the Unis on DDs short list, and found very little. On checking general entry requirements, found one that wants at least a pass in 4th AS - so looks like having to rule them out.

Interesting stuff mums life (we asked 6th form head...)
Think ds will step it up now as the results have really boosted his confidence. Hope your ds gets the support he needs to reach his potential, poor kids really do need to pull out all the stops don't they.

Are there other things apart from school position that are considered in offers - ie whether your parents went to Uni?

Re grade predictions, given up second guessing here and come to conclusion DD will have to work her socks off when she starts back and negotiate with teachers/subject heads. Already been told maths don't generally predict up.

mumslife a pass at AS is an E, for 4th subject not bothered about grade. Also OK if only 3 subjects taken because of school/college restrictions.

Hey mums life never say never we really didn't think ds would be thinking about uni a couple of years ago. More so because of his social skills than anything else and he really wasn't getting the support he needed at school. However he has come on leaps and bounds this year and after spending every lunchtime since y7 in the library actually began to use the 6th form common room in the final term of y12, which is a really big deal for him. He has also had a student mentor from a local uni meeting with him once a week I think they talked about what to expect and how to get on etc. DS is a bit vague but he seems to have got plenty from it. The scheme is aimed specifically at ASD youngsters with possible uni potential.

Mums life ds stays in a lot too but, in the last few years he has started to go to local shops for bits and pieces when asked and regularly walks the dog laterly without his hood up. He wouldn't choose to go shopping, has loads of money stashed away, but will go if asked.