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Secondary education

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

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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:

SecretSquirrels · 20/04/2015 13:45

No study leave here. DS was bemoaning the fact that he will have to continue Physics lessons after exams even though he is determined to drop it. Having said that, once exams are over, I am told there will be a lot of days out to uni visits.

eatyourveg · 22/04/2015 21:36

Ucas convention with ds tomorrow - his college haven't organised a trip so I'm taking him myself. All rather strange as the list of stands includes his college!

MorvahRising · 22/04/2015 23:44

Physics EMPA for DS today. A week ago I had no idea what an EMPA was! He seems to think it went OK, but then he has been known to say that when the result has been less than OK, so I'm staying calm!

eatyourveg hope you find the UCAS convention useful. DS did. You'll need a strong rucksack for all the brochures!

eatyourveg · 23/04/2015 22:03

Yes ds had a good time and bumped into his year group from his old school. When I mentioned to the teacher we were there on our own because college hadn't organised anything she said if she had known, ds could have gone with them. She is going to email me the ucas gumph she sent out to the 6th form parents. He'd already whittled it down to 7 institutions so my role as a walking suitcase who must not speak to anyone important because it would be too embarrassing, wasn't too painful

SecretSquirrels · 30/04/2015 18:17

So how is the revision going?
This will be the fourth consecutive year of exams in this house (DS1 did GCSEs in 2012) and several more to come.....

hellsbells99 · 30/04/2015 18:56

DD2 has her written biology EMPA tomorrow and has been doing lots of work for it. Both DDs are working very hard but DD1 is starting to get a bit stressy (which is normal for her). We also seem to be in exam mode every year!
DD2 is loving her driving lessons which are providing a welcome change from revision but looking at her plans for voluntary work, summer school, uni prep, work experience etc., she seems to have a lot on from now until September.

Leeds2 · 30/04/2015 19:03

Mine too, hells. DD has a very busy summer.

Can I ask what a EMPA is? DD does chemistry and biology, but I have never heard her use that expression. She has done practicals for both though, if that is the same thing?

AtiaoftheJulii · 30/04/2015 19:23

Revision going well, for dd2 at least - in fact two of her teachers suggested this week that she slow down/have a break from working! She's in "I'm going to fail everything" mode tonight though She wants to apply to Cambridge, so is obsessing about ums. She works so hard, I so hope she gets what she deserves.

SecretSquirrels · 30/04/2015 19:38

DS (another learner driver) has his EMPA next week. Some kind of Biology practical as far as I can ascertain.

AtiaoftheJulii we had the obsessing with UMS with DS1. Important as very high UMS tends to at least secure interview for Cambridge.

hellsbells99 · 30/04/2015 20:06

Leeds2 - for the science practicals, the schools can choose between an EMPA which is externally marked or an ISA which is internally marked (so more like a controlled assessment).
DD2 is also trying get high ums ....just in case...but in all honesty I don't think either Oxford or Cambridge are for her as I think she would prefer a less pressured environment,

AtiaoftheJulii · 30/04/2015 20:06

Yeah, she seems to be chanting "average of best three AS's" like it's some kind of mantra. French and Spanish speaking assessments next week.

AtiaoftheJulii · 30/04/2015 20:20

And yeah, I have no idea whether Cambridge will be the best place for her. Dd1 is at grammar school and has an Oxford offer, along with a happy go lucky nature and seemingly undentable self belief. Dd2 never even wanted to apply to the grammar, is much harder on herself, much lower self-esteem, and has gained loads of confidence from being one of the best students at a good comp. I have talked to her about applying to Oxbridge has to involve being prepared to not get an offer (as most don't), but she compares herself to dd1 so much that not even applying would probably be worse for her. Bloody sibling rivalries. But I do think the smaller college environment might be good for her - a normal university might be overwhelming. Basically I just worry about her!

Marni23 · 01/05/2015 07:39

DD also obsessing about high UMS! She's only doing AS in 3 subjects though (her 4th is a Pre-U) so in her case her 'best 3' is actually her only 3. So no margin for error. And the Pre-U is in her strongest subject-the one she wants to study at University. Marvellous. I am becoming very familiar with those raw mark to UMS converters...

SecretSquirrels · 01/05/2015 09:42

AtiaoftheJulii I also wonder about sibling rivalry. I always try to celebrate achievements and encourage them equally but children with a high achieving older sibling always seem to feel they have a hard act to follow.
Mine both went tot he local comp. Both bright but one very dedicated and one very laid back.
DS1 was focussed from an early age on going to Cambridge to do Maths. He therefore always had a target to work towards, including the highest possible UMS in every module. (He got an offer but didn't meet it as in spite of getting 4 A* in his A2 s he missed the STEP grade).
DS2 on the other hand is still floundering on what he wants to do. I feel sure that having a particular ambition gives focus to exams.

a normal university might be overwhelming. Basically I just worry about her This was my fear for DS1, and yet he has surprised and delighted me by gaining self reliance, independence and flourishing at his university.

Unexpected · 01/05/2015 11:24

Is anyone else's Yr 12 doing something in Music today? DS1 has been wittering on about sleeve notes since his composition was submitted. He may have said something about doing a final version of these as a controlled assessment but it was only when he ran out the door at 7.30 this morning that he actually mentioned something about it being today!? I assume it may be up to the schools when they actually do this though.

zazas · 01/05/2015 13:58

Joining this thread.. My eldest child (DD) is also obsessing over her UMSs as has Cambridge on her mind. Has been putting the hours in day and night for months now and the stress is starting to show - mostly in terms of how she reacts to everyone in the family (not ideal!) I appreciate how important the exams are to her but also remind her that with this much effort going in the opportunities to other brilliant university courses will also be available to her (all going well in the exams of course!) Her anxiety also rubs off on me and she is the eldest of 5...big sigh.

Original poster

Needmoresleep · 01/05/2015 14:29

It's relatively calm here. Perhaps too calm. Quite a few of DD peers seem to have Oxbridge in their sights. She is unconvinced it is worth the extra faff. She's a would be medic so is hoping her AS grades and UKCAT will be sufficient that she does not have to bother with BMAT in the autumn term. I'm hoping she has done enough. Others seem to be working harder. However it is nice not to have too much strang und durm. First exam is Tuesday so perhaps nerves will kick in this weekend.

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hellsbells99 · 01/05/2015 18:21

A night off from revision here. House is full of 17 year olds letting off steam and eating pizza/drinking coke. DD1 has gone into town with her upper sixth friends for something to eat - but again no alcohol being consumed so clear heads for revision tomorrow!

SecretSquirrels · 01/05/2015 18:39

Ah hellsbells99- DS has just gone off to a party laden down with cider .
He very rarely goes out so I don't mind as long as he is sensible. It is 3 of his friends birthdays this weekend so they are having a joint celebration. He is well on with revision so a lie in /sore head tomorrow won't be a disaster.

hellsbells99 · 01/05/2015 18:48

They do some time out to chill but my 2 have done a bit too much partying lately Secretsquirrels!

Original poster

Needmoresleep · 01/05/2015 19:17

The parties seem to have stopped round here. I assume they wil restart at half term. Trouble is that DD has four papers after half term.

Managed to book her UKCAT for half way through the summer holidays. So now a chance to book a family holiday. She did a lot of work experience last summer and has been volunteering through the year. She has a further week lined up at the start of summer, but I am hoping this is enough. She needs a break. Her older brother, who failed to get any of the internships he applied for, says he wants to come with us. So a chance for a proper holiday, and our first long haul trip together. These kids do enough, and they have a long lifetime of work before them.

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MorvahRising · 01/05/2015 21:21

needmoresleep what a lovely prospect, a fabulous family holiday. What does she volunteer as? That's so impressive that she's found the time in such a busy year.

Physics EMPA written paper seemed to be OK today although there was apparently much argument as to whether one answer was 31 or 34. We are however drawing a veil over the Edexcel C4 further maths mock. It was apparently a complete disaster.

No evening out here for DS, but he is a bit flummoxed as he was today handed a piece of paper with a girl's phone number on and the message that the girl thinks he's cute. DS is a lovely, funny, kind nerd (nerd being his word) and thinks it's a wind up because he thinks this girl would never look twice at someone like him! I told him she'd be very lucky to find someone like him . . . . . .but at the same time, can't help thinking that now is SO not the time to acquire a girlfriend . . . . . .

GentlyBenevolent · 01/05/2015 21:44

DD1 also obsessed with UMS for the same reason. But she has had 2 open days this week (terrible timing but can't be helped) so it's been a funny old week. She has finished her sleeve notes but does not have to hand them in till next week. AFAIA (and I have checked this several times. Including an email to head of music today, from the open day). She has a music exam next week - it's only her third study but she wants to get another grade 8 distinction - we shall see. I think she is more wound up about the election than anything else though truth me told. Well - apart from our missing cat which is the key issue for all of us. :(

SecretSquirrels · 01/05/2015 22:25

oh no gently has cat been missing long?
DS's greatest love is his cat. The cat had gone AWOL before but always turned up so far. Very worrying though.

hellsbells99 · 02/05/2015 10:17

Gently - I hope your cat turns up soon

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