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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

2015 Yr 12 support thread

837 replies

Needmoresleep · 08/01/2015 11:48

Mocks this week, and the reality of AS exams in a few months is starting to hit home. I don't think it will be an easy journey, so would welcome some company.

OP posts:
MorvahRising · 09/06/2015 09:30

Thanks Dunlurking. DS seems confident about this one, which immediately makes me nervous!

Hi Atia, just us then! DS has C3 on Friday too, which he's very worried about, and C4 next week. I gather that these needn't count though somehow as he can do them next year if necessary and universities don't see the C3 and C4 grades? You seem very clued up. I really ought to read up a bit more on it all. . . . it's almost more confusing than the actual maths . . . .

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/06/2015 10:07

Morvah I was tutoring maths up until last year, and have a y13 dd and a y12 dd both doing Maths A level - and it still took me about 2 years and several read-throughs of the explanations of maximising grades for Maths and FM to properly understand them! I'm not clear on the UCAS implications though. (And goodness knows how things will have changed by the time my y9 son is in the 6th form ...)

My dd2 is leaving C4 til next year as she thought that would give her a chance to retake C3 if necessary - but she is only doing single Maths, so maybe finishing it for her would mean it was compulsory to cash it in straightaway? Maybe doing FM as well means you can leave things more open, because the applied modules won't get divvied up between Maths and FM until next summer after they're marked.

I did think you had to put every paper you'd sat so far on the form though? But some can be as pending if you might retake?

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/06/2015 10:09

And imo it's definitely more confusing than the actual maths Grin

Original poster
Needmoresleep · 09/06/2015 10:27

I realise I missed the word "coursework" from the A2. I assume the teeacher sees it as a way of using the tail end of this term profitably, leaving them free to focus on the sylabus next term. Its a pity though, because after having had so many weekends dominated by revision, I had arranged for a trip to grandparents. Now she can't go.

Only two children so we have only had five summers dominated by public exams. Perhaps the aim is ensure we are relieved when they leave home.

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Dunlurking · 09/06/2015 16:12

I think it must be so much worse if your dcs are trying for medicine or oxbridge, or both Needmoresleep The interview process and extra reading and tests pile even more pressure on everyone. The autumn term/early spring term become yet more exam periods.

Original poster
Needmoresleep · 09/06/2015 16:52

Yes. Unless DDs AS results are surprisingly stellar, or she has a disaster with UKCAT, I doubt she will apply for any of the BMAT schools including Oxbridge. She is really enjoying sixth form, and next term is the last without mocks, A2s, or probably University interviews. Given the pace at University is unlikely to be any lighter, and real work won't either, she really does not need BMAT practice on top. She will get more from taking full part in school life.

So perhaps its not too bad that she is being asked to get her coursework out of the way now.

Apparently the exam today went well. All done! And just one more set of A2s and we are completely done!

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MrsUltracrepidarian · 09/06/2015 17:11

And imo it's definitely more confusing than the actual maths
Agree with this!

I am confused and daren't ask DS as he is prone to bite our heads off the moment...
DS is not doing FM - just Maths, and also Physics Chemistry & Biology.
Next week he takes C3, which he mentioned at one point is part of A2.
Is that the case? And if so presumably mean fewer exams next year, unless he re-takes?
And what is cashing-in?
Sorry to ask on here when (in theory)I could go upstairs and ask him...

MayPolist · 09/06/2015 17:40

OCR mechanics here today, and a big smile of relief that it is all over, and happily feeling confident for results day!
They are doing core 3 over the next 6 weeks and then it will be STEP paper practice over the summer.Fortunately DS has a genuine interest in his subject so has already read widely!

MorvahRising · 09/06/2015 20:55

Atia DS seems to think that is the case with C3 and C4, and according to his teacher, whom he said he asked, universities don't see those results this time round. However he may have got the wrong end of the stick! I do hope not though, because he has really concentrated on the other five papers as a result, and is not looking forward to these last two.

MrsUltra from what I gather they can take C3 and C4 again next year to improve the grade, and from what DS says a very large percentage of FM people do. Frankly, why not, because unless you get full marks, you could always end up doing better.

But as all this is second hand from DS, I have no idea if I'm right!

He was very happy with D1 today though, which was a relief!

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/06/2015 21:40

Morvah I've been reading up, but I'm none the wiser ... www.ucasonline.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/entering-levels-and-as-levels-on-your.html?m=1

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/06/2015 21:42

And yes, dd2 thought D1 was ok Smile

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/06/2015 21:54

At the moment her biggest anxiety is the UNIQ summer school in July, and how they're all going to be cleverer than her. There's a forum for them to chat beforehand and according to her "everyone" is reading French books and watching French films and she doesn't. (She just reads cycling reports in French and Spanish and follows various French and Spanish cycling-related Twitter feeds, lol!) So that's all going to be awful Hmm I do hope it goes well - she went on a French exchange earlier this year which she was really excited about and it wasn't as great as she'd hoped, so I think she's feeling a bit more wary now.

ancientbuchanan · 09/06/2015 23:05

S2 Friday, c3. 22nd. Inhuman, given in effect they've only had two terms' teaching.

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 10/06/2015 08:43

DS1is back in school starting A2s but I think they are being very gentle with them. Except Maths where they are doing their coursework.

MrsUltracrepidarian · 10/06/2015 17:21

Atia
If she is into cycling - how about reading
Las Bicicletas Son Para El Verano by Fernando Fernán Gómez
(at least it has a bit about bikes - ie a boy wanting one...)
often used as a text for A2...

here

MorvahRising · 10/06/2015 21:56

Atia thanks for the link - I have read it and, like you, am still not sure! It doesn't help that I don't know which procedure they follow at college. All I know is that if DS has to put down C4 it will probably be a very bad mark indeed if his assessment is correct.

When I had to do a French paper in sixth form for something which wasn't part of my A levels, my teacher recommended listening to French radio, as you can have it on in the background while you're doing other things. She said it was amazing how the conversation sank in subliminally. Might be worth a try?

DS is beyond fed up with the fact that apart from the FM lot, all his mates have finished and aren't having to revise every spare minute like he is. Roll on this time next week when the last one will be done!

MrsUltracrepidarian · 11/06/2015 20:45

So fed up with DS! He has C3 tomorrow. Saturday is the DoE expedition. Told me this morning he needs to get food for the DoE, finally DH has just got back from taking him to Sainsbos to get it (after having driven a 250 round mile trip today,) . Now he is sorting out the kit, and claiming his bro' has moved it all, stressing his bro'.
He has looked (for the first time???) at the kit list and needs a digital camera, not a phone as they are not allowed phones.
I am just so fed up that he had over a week since his AS ended to sort all this out, and now is doing it on the evening before his C3 so we are trying not to stress him , but we are running around for stuff he could have sorted last week.
Sorry - I know this is not what the thread is about, but you are the only people who understand how stressful it all is, so am unloading here...

AtiaoftheJulii · 11/06/2015 20:53

Oh, that's so annoying MrsUltra ! Unload away. More worthwhile than ranting at him Smile I finally lost it with dd1 tonight over C3 and called her a "stupid baby" (how old am I???).

Thanks for the language tips - will buy the book and suggest the radio. She told me yesterday that she was going to print out French or Spanish articles that she reads online, to keep in a folder and go through properly with a dictionary, rather than skimming tricky bits. Compared to dd1 she is a complete angel (when it comes to hard work and revision!).

ancientbuchanan · 11/06/2015 22:38

Mrs U, yes C3 (not S2) tomorrow. S2 22nd. Good luck to Master Ultra on both counts

MorvahRising · 12/06/2015 06:28

Good luck to all the C3ers today!

DS says he will be 'lucky to scrape a C'. . . . .

Dunlurking · 12/06/2015 06:53

Good luck to the dcs with C3 today.

And good luck MrsU for the DoE organisation. The zero preparation and then the expectation that you pick up the pieces with zero notice sounds like my dd to a T.

hellsbells99 · 12/06/2015 07:41

Good luck with the C3 today! DD1 in year 13 is doing this.
Glad you have posted about D of E as you have reminded me that DD2 needs new waterproof trousers for hers in a couple of weeks Smile

Original poster
Needmoresleep · 12/06/2015 07:46

MrsU, a similar scrabble here, though this time my fault. DD needs a full set of vaccinations for hospital work experience. In our area they switched doing the BCG at 14 to doing it at birth, and she seems to have fallen through the gap. And now there is a world-wide shortage of BCG vaccine. This has meant phoning round private clinics till I found one which expects to have some in next week. Expensive, but we have to get completed paperwork to the hospital with sufficient time to process.

Still not the worst. Some of her friends at a different school, who are part of the same gap, tell her that there was an outbreak of TB in their year, which led to emergency vacinations for everyone.

I have also discovered that vaccinations done at school don't seem to be added to the record held by the GP. The learning is that if you think your child might pursue any type of medical related career, its worth asking the GP for a print out of your child's vacination record and then ask the school for the same. And you should have plenty of time to fill any gaps before the child leaves school/home. There was something similar in a thread last year, which I completely ignored.

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hellsbells99 · 12/06/2015 08:00

Needmoresleep - DD1 got the TB vaccination done at our local hospital for free as the GPs don't offer it anymore. I phoned and asked to be put through to the section dealing with TB and they sorted it. We did go to a travel clinic for the Hep injections though.

hellsbells99 · 12/06/2015 08:01

She has the TB done in March and her arm is still not fully healed yet - it is a horrible one.

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