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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Finishing (not starting) Year 13 support thread (number 5!)

999 replies

Littleham · 22/04/2015 21:58

Exam season starts....

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 03/06/2015 15:24

Mindgone, DD is doing biology and chemistry too, but both AQA.
Muffin - hopefully your DS has done fine. DD wanted to get at least a C in today's paper as she knew it would be her weakest one and she has marks in the 'bank' so to speak from last year and is hoping the next 2 papers go well. She is aiming for an A overall.

Decorhate · 03/06/2015 17:40

OCR Maths & Biology & AQA Chemistry here. I think dd just wants to get started now. Revision has been going on forever

muffinmonster · 03/06/2015 17:51

Thanks, hellsbells. She said she made some silly mistake in one question, probably a calculation error, so she should still get some marks. There was one very big question (11 marks), which she says she got right, so that's reassuring.

hellsbells99 · 03/06/2015 18:43

Sorry Muffin, I meant your DD and not DS!

AmazingDisgrace · 03/06/2015 20:04

DD had a cold the other week and has been left with a hacking cough that keeps her and the rest of us awake half the night. Have I been able to get a GP appointment? Not a chance, the telephone booking system constantly says no appointments available and when she turned up half an hour before the GPs opened the other day there were already ten people in the queue ahead of her for the two cancellations they had.

I don't know what to do! She has an exam tomorrow and one on Friday. We're constantly told not to turn up at A&E for minor ailments and I totally support that but what do we do if there are simply no appointments and never seem to be any other than 3_weeks away.

AtiaoftheJulii · 03/06/2015 20:28

We have a walk-in centre in town - you can turn up and just wait - anything like that near you? It's very handy! Horrible when they're feeling rubbish and you can't do anything. Lots of drugs - I actually find aspirin to be the best painkiller if I really need something (I just don't like to take them all the time). Stock up on cough syrups and hope one works? Buttercup syrup is pretty good.

AmazingDisgrace · 03/06/2015 20:38

There is a walk in centre which is a bit of a schlep to get to on two buses but needs must so she's going to do that after her exam tomorrow. She's emailed college to see if they can put her in a room on her own so she doesn't disturb others.

In the meantime we've got Covonia Night Time to see if that helps tonight.

mumslife · 03/06/2015 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mindgone · 03/06/2015 20:43

Amazing, I would try asking to speak to the practice nurse for advice, she should be able to get to the doctor if needed. Failing that, I would ask a pharmacist for advice, and hopefully something good to soothe the cough.

Decorhate, DS too was so ready to start today, and just get on with them now. He was packing his bag last night for his exam, and said that he quite enjoyed that, feels like he's getting ready to battle!! Best of luck to your dd.

Original poster
Littleham · 03/06/2015 21:00

Getting ready for battle is a good description Mindgone.

Sorry to hear your dd is ill Amazing. DD3 had the hacking cough which went on for ages too. Managed to shift it by dosing her with Sambucol (from Boots).

My eldest dd1 is very ill at university (flu) and has had to miss two exams. The university have been very supportive and her flatmates are being so sweet - collecting supplies from pharmacist (she can't move from bed).

DD2 - the one for this thread is my only healthy daughter atm!

OP posts:
AmazingDisgrace · 03/06/2015 21:33

Thanks all, I've suggested the water and I'll investigate Sambucol

Horsemad · 03/06/2015 21:37

Amazing - you could also try runny honey mixed with lemon juice and some boiling water, that usually helps mine if they're coughing. At night I put a dash of whisky in it to help me sleep when I have the lurgy. Smile

AmazingDisgrace · 03/06/2015 23:08

I might just have a few whisky's myself Horsemad! Due to a combination of DH and I staying up a bit late then discovering I was unable to sleep (not normally insomniac but I couldn't stop my mind racing with random thoughts) I was just drifting off at about 3am then DD started hacking so loud it felt like the next street would be woken. I ended up going to work on 3hrs fitful sleep.

Oddly I'm not feeling tired Confused

AmazingDisgrace · 03/06/2015 23:10

Sorry to hear about the flu ridden DD Littleham but it must be good to know she's being taken care of! I've done a small Ocado order for Friday which includes Sambucol, a gallon of OJ and some vodka for me Grin

AmazingDisgrace · 04/06/2015 12:00

Very impressed with her college today. They got her email and organised an extra invigilator so as soon as it was clear she was going to cough all the way through she was whipped into a room on her own. She just called and was practically giddy with how well she thinks the exam went. College have organised a separate room for her for the next two exam days and we'll see how she is beyond that.

She's now on her way to the walk in centre Smile

Original poster
Littleham · 04/06/2015 12:16

Thanks Amazing. Your school sounds really on the ball. It is good that she doesn't have to worry about coughing in the exam. At least the weekend is on its way so she might have a chance to recover.

Tension is rising with dd2 - two big exams on Monday.

OP posts:
Horsemad · 04/06/2015 12:40

Brilliant assistance from your DD's school Amazing Smile

mumslife · 04/06/2015 13:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Horsemad · 04/06/2015 13:28

DS had a Good Luck postcard from Nottingham University today (his insurance choice) it said 'enjoy the summer, see you soon' hmmm, wonder if they know something we don't ??? Grin Grin

AmazingDisgrace · 04/06/2015 15:07

The walk in centre have said she has some sort of post viral lung inflammation but its not infected. the upshot is that she needs a steroid inhaler for a while but the doctor there said he couldnt prescribe it Confused so she should get an emergency GP appointment. Oddly today we managed to get a call back from the GP and an emergency appointment. Hopefully she'll now get the blooming inhaler. What is the point of the walk in centre then?

Horsemad · 04/06/2015 15:16

I agree Amazing, totally defeats the object of having a walk-in centre! Confused

MrsBartlet · 04/06/2015 17:45

Oh dear Amazing - hope she gets sorted out soon! Sounds like her college are dealing with it very well. Glad she felt happy with how it went today - it must be very difficult for her trying to study and do exams if she is feeling so bad.

Dd got an email from York asking her to choose accommodation. We are a little confused as York is her insurance place - is this normal to choose accommodation at your insurance place?

She has just told me that she doesn't want to go there anyway (whilst telling me she knows that it is a great uni etc etc as she knows I went there and doesn't want to upset me!) She said if she doesn't get into Cambridge she will be taking a gap year and trying again next year -aaarh! I am not in the least surprised but really really hope it doesn't come to that.

AtiaoftheJulii · 04/06/2015 18:12

How nice that the college sorted out a private room in which to cough! And brilliant that she thinks the exam went well Smile

Thinking of everyone who's started exams already, hope they're going ok. Dd1 starts on Tuesday. And according to her, Tuesday's could be the one that makes or breaks her chance of achieving her required grades. Urk. She's totally nocturnal now - she was still up when we got up this morning! Said she had to stay up as she had some work she wanted to take into school to get marked.

Decorhate · 04/06/2015 18:38

Mrs Bartlet, I think that is normal especially if they guarantee all first years accommodation, not just those who firm.
Hope your dd improves soon Amazing

NiceCardigan · 04/06/2015 18:48

Glad the coughing exam went well AmazingDisgrace and I hope the doctor sorts the inhaler out.

DS finally starting tomorrow with D1 in the morning. He's just doing a final past paper and will relax for the rest of the evening.

It's quite normal to choose accommodation at insurance choices MrsBartlet. DS got a reading list from York a few weeks ago I'm not sure when they think he'll fit in reading "as many books of the bible as possible" when revising!