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Secondary education

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

Original poster

BTECs starting 2015 - General support thread

692 replies

TeenAndTween · 26/08/2015 16:21

Is there anyone else around whose child is starting a BTEC rather than A levels? Should we stay on this board or move to Further Education?

My DD has enrolled for Travel & Tourism.

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Original poster
TeenAndTween · 22/01/2016 12:18

Just posted this on the 6th form thread, but in case any y11 parents are reading this it might be useful here too:

Things I didn't know to ask about BTECs.

How many individual units?
How many assignments per unit?
If you don't get the grade you want in an assignment, can you redo it?
If you miss a 'Distinction' or 'Merit' criteria in a unit how does that impact your overall grade for the unit?
Will you actually get any feedback on your units so you know what you need to improve for future ones?
What is the impact of missing a deadline for a unit?
What are the assignments - writing essays, producing leaflets, role plays, practicals?
Is there a text book?
Are there example 'good' assignments to know what to aim for?
Teaching hours per week?
Additional work hours per week?

Sugar hope she gets the extra time, 25% extra time can make a nice bit of difference. Was she far off the C first time around?

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SugarPlumTree · 22/01/2016 12:37

She got a D but I don't know if high or low C. Darkroom paper just arrived, College have run out so she couldn't do any darkroom work today very annoyingly.

That is an excellent list and will really help people in future T&T. i'm only just getting my head around DD's course. She's put her Japanese back up to a weekly lesson to keep her hand in and is taking her next JLPT exam in the summer. I think we all will be pleased to see the back of photography which is quite sad really .

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 22/01/2016 12:48

I reckon D would have a good chance of getting to a C with extra time if she can be at least as up to speed as she was in the summer.

Even without the extra time, without the other exams to do she could throw everything at the maths for a couple of weeks or so to get firing on as many cylinders as possible for it.

Really sorry the photography isn't working out, but glad she is enjoying the Japanese.

DD's bus didn't turn up today - at least 30mins waiting in the rain, so she ended up going in by train. It's a long enough journey as it is ...

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GasLIghtShining · 22/01/2016 13:36

Sugar Good to hear that she has the extra time and I am sure it will help.

Teen Excellent list. As parents we need to know how it work (not that I do) especially if our child is struggling.

SugarPlumTree · 22/01/2016 15:10

The extra time isn't a definite yet but am hopeful. My theory is if we can just get her through the darkroom project which is due in 8 Feb then hopefully she will be better with the other units we can start to ramp up the Maths a bit. I think she is getting 4 lessons a weeks so pleased about that.

Your poor DD T&T, I dread the bus not coming .

How are things Gaslight ?

Kbear · 22/01/2016 15:35

Hello - joining in the convo - My DD is year 12 and is doing a BTEC level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts - and LOVING IT. She had a crap year 11 on a personal level but still did well in her GCSEs and had a mixed bag but got two As, three Bs, and few Cs and Ds. She begged not to have to go back to her particular school and after all that happened I couldn't argue and didn't want her to either.... so she auditioned for a small independent college which is fully funded and got a place. She is doing really well, and is happy every night when she comes in, she's dancing three or four hours a day plus aerobic exercise and other classes like Healthy Performer. All in all, for her, it was the best option and so far it's a winner.

A levels aren't for everyone, even those who are As in GCSE - some of her friends at doing A levels and finding it dull and uninspiring and want to leave school and go to college instead.

GasLIghtShining · 23/01/2016 00:56

Hi Kbear. Good to hear that your DD is enjoying college. Us BTEC mums needs to keep on about A levels are not the be all and end all.

My DS (studying sport and in Y13) didn't have the personal problems but was not impressed by school and came out with a similar mix of grades (minus english). His school didn't have a sixth form so it was either sixth form college or the local tech (no A levels offered at tech). Here people are very snobby about which college but personally (after having a DD go through sixth form) I have nothing but praise for the tech.

What her plans after college?

GasLIghtShining · 23/01/2016 01:11

Sugar Will keep my fingers crossed!

I suddenly realized that although I had received a report last term there wasn't any mention of his English GCSE. I e-mailed his personal tutor asking if he could ask the English tutor to let me know how he is getting on. I was impressed to receive an e-mail less than an hour and a half.

I am copying and pasting the reply so if my DS's tutor is reading this please don't tell him my username!

' He is a regular and punctual attendee at the Monday afternoon English class. He has the ability to attain a grade C but needs to work faster and maintain a sharp focus on the task in hand. He is apt to go off at a tangent in class discussions and procrastinate with written work. He is a pleasant and intelligent young man but needs to take his English studies more seriously to attain his potential standard. It is important that he catches up with late controlled assessments and, from March onwards, revises every day for the exam on June 7th. If he does this, there is every chance that he will attain a grade C this summer'

I think the problem is that he has been accepted at his first choice uni on the basis of having functional skills so he still gets to go there even if he fails his GCSE. What I am trying to get him to understand is that not all future employers will understand that both qualifications are supposed to be the same.

Will keep nagging!

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 23/01/2016 09:04

Welcome kbear . Nice to hear of another BTEC success story.

Gas Fantastic fast response from your college. it seems he has the ability to pass, so definitely keep nagging. Not having the pass in English will close doors to him, so you are right to keep on I think.

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Kbear · 23/01/2016 13:33

No idea what dd will do after college - it's a three year course so I'm just enjoying her being happy and not worrying/thinking about the future.

GasLIghtShining · 23/01/2016 20:07

Good point Kbear!!!

HSMMaCM · 27/01/2016 20:52

Dd hid her piercing under her hairstyle for dance today and got away with it.

GasLightShining · 28/01/2016 13:19

HSMMaCM That's good.

SugarPlumTree · 28/01/2016 13:37

Rather jealous of those of you with three years! DD on countdown till she leaves. It sounds as if the majority won't be completing year 2.

Good news HSM!

SugarPlumTree · 28/01/2016 13:38

I meant the majority of her course, only 6 out of 15 planning to stay.

HSMMaCM · 03/02/2016 21:05

Watched DD's btec dance while it was being assessed today. That was nice to see what they have been doing.

SugarPlumTree · 05/02/2016 14:26

Yes I can imagine - did it go well?

HSMMaCM · 05/02/2016 18:14

Yea thanks. Some unusual dance styles, but I suppose I expected that.

Dance teacher tried to remove DD's cartilage piercing before they started, so that was bleeding. It didn't come out needless to say.

GasLightShining · 05/02/2016 23:08

It's good that you can go and watch.

I am cringing at the trying to remove piercing!

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 08/02/2016 08:12

Sugar Why are so few planning to stay? It seems a very high drop out rate.

My DD has had no assignments set so far this term. I am anticipating 3 this week (1 for each unit she is currently being taught) just ready to fill up (my) half term.

(I also think I ought to do some SPaG and maths with y6 DD2, if she will let me)

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GasLightShining · 08/02/2016 13:27

It's been light on assignments here although he is doing a lost one again (well he says he handed it in!).

It is a high drop out rate but I wonder how many are starting different courses from the first year.

SugarPlumTree · 08/02/2016 13:58

I think they all find one of the tutors very very difficult. Plus it's costing a lot in materials etc and some are struggling financially despite bursaries. I've just been reading the final evaluation handout for a project as DD was saying how repetitive it is so was getting confused and she does have a point and could see why she found it hard.

Also DD doesn't seem to be thinking in terms of assignments, more in terms of whole projects. At least one of them breaks it down into assignments but that hasn't really permeated into her consciousness.

Lost one sounds like a nightmare GasLight Sad There was a tense moment here last week when we came back to find half the contents of DD's bag strewn across the floor. Luckily project intact and we now have new under stairs cupboard to stop repeat performance !

SugarPlumTree · 08/02/2016 14:01

And it is looking good for extra time for Maths resit. Also have had nightmare with my Mother's health again so contacted college to let them know, explaining pre Christmas episode with her as well plus FlL having died in September. It read a bit like an Eastenders episode but depressingly is true. They have suggested she might want to see the counsellor and are making sure all tutors aware.

HSMMaCM · 08/02/2016 14:06

Sugar DD's school counsellor was great. If she needs to see her, they can be really helpful. She is almost certainly dropping one subject and it seems to be entirely due to the tutor which is a real shame. I've tried to get her to concentrate on the work, rather than the tutor, but she can't seem to do it.

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 08/02/2016 14:12

It took DD half a term to get to the top of the counselling list...

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