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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.

OP posts:
eatyourveg · 15/03/2016 20:22

Well done - lovely to get some good news sugar I bet.

SugarPlumTree · 15/03/2016 21:06

Thank you, she is very pleased Smile

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 18/03/2016 12:27

Anyone else have issue with behaviour in BTEC classes?

One of DD's teachers stopped a class half way through the other day due to behaviour and this was after the lead teacher had sent out a 'warning' email to all students earlier in the week ...

What would you expect to happen next?

OP posts:
GasLightShining · 18/03/2016 13:49

There was the odd problem in the first year as some of them didn't want to be there but had to be. Improved in the second year as they went off to something else by choice or were not allowed back on the course

Not sure what happens next but presumably at some point they can be chucked off if their behaviour does not improve

SugarPlumTree · 18/03/2016 17:27

I think it's relatively ok with DD's class. Think I'd expect that HOD sends warning to students concerned threatening suspension if disruptive behaviour continues. I guess somewhere there is a behaviour policy. Think I might fire off an email next week if things not improving.

Can I ask a question? If a unit has say 3 pass criteria , 2 merit and 2 distinction and you fulfil the 3 pass bits and one of the merits then you've got a pass. But are there higher marks for it or something then a pass as you've fulfilled one of the merit criteria?

I'd found a BTEC calculator and bashed in 7 pass units and 2 Distiction and thought I was sorted but a friend said it wasn't that simple and there were different marks or something. I realised then that I'm still pretty clueless about it all.

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 18/03/2016 18:36

As far as I understand (though I'm more than happy to be corrected), no you don't get more marks for the unit if you meet everything bar 1 merit compared with only just getting the pass criteria.
Otherwise on first unit DD wouldn't have been told not to bother doing some merit criteria things having already missed one of the earlier merit things.

I'm going to mild raise the behaviour at parents evening. (Also want to double check DD is not involved. I don't think so, but it would be good to know for certain).

OP posts:
SugarPlumTree · 18/03/2016 19:08

That's what I thought T&T so was very confused when friend suggested otherwise. I'm just going with my calculator as it's simple and I understand it !

Good idea to raise at parents evening about the behaviour .

HSMMaCM · 19/03/2016 17:01

DD has fallen out with her dance teacher (DD's fault) and we have had words about who will get the most support for the next year, the cooperative students, or the stroppy ones !

GasLightShining · 20/03/2016 16:16

Is she listening to you HSmmaCM? I do hope so.

HSMMaCM · 20/03/2016 18:16

She sort of shrugged and left the room so I think she was listening. Grin

SugarPlumTree · 21/03/2016 20:12

There's no telling them is there !

DD's tutor asked today if she was staying next year so DD said she isn't . Tutor said she should think about it as thought she could do quite well and they get more of a free reign the summer term. Thankfully DD has decided not to, don't think I could cope with her doing another year of that course.

GasLightShining · 22/03/2016 21:50

A wise move Sugar. I still tremble when I remember back to DD's second year at college

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 23/03/2016 20:32

Parents evening tonight was Smile and Star .
So much better than last time which was Angry and Sad .

Hoping things can stay good, I could do without the stress DD has been causing me. (But not counting chickens quite yet).

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SugarPlumTree · 25/03/2016 07:02

That is really good news T&T, I'm really pleased Smile

DD seems better now the end is in sight and was telling me about her plans for next project and that she's arranged studio time. The maths class has ramped the pressure up though which has stressed her a bit but feel overall we're in a better place going into the last term.

SugarPlumTree · 25/03/2016 09:35

Just pinned DD down about finish date. They are done at end of May then have 2 weeks extra in case they need to resubmit making official finish date 16 June.

GasLightShining · 25/03/2016 22:32

That sounds about right. DS will have to go back in for english though.

Good news about parents evening T & T.

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 30/03/2016 14:45

How's Easter going? DD has got nicely ahead on assignments not due until 2nd week back - clearing the decks for her AS Spanish. We're off to the Canary Islands for a week to relax 'so she can practice her speaking'.

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HSMMaCM · 30/03/2016 18:07

DD has spent a few days in bed and has been 'revising' a lot with friends. She has 2 days in school over the holidays.

HSMMaCM · 30/03/2016 18:09

She is glad to have some coursework out of the way when everyone else is talking about the number of exams they have in a couple of months.

GasLightShining · 31/03/2016 19:36

BTEC does have advantages!

On a countdown here - DS last term (she says wiping a tear away!)

SugarPlumTree · 04/04/2016 16:35

Hmm, no work has happened as yet. I broached this thorny issue this morning and got a frosty reception. Her boyfriend piped up that he too is worried about her college work scheduling (think he meant lack of ) . She looked pissed off and then said he can nag her but I can't .

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 11/04/2016 08:36

DD did some good small chats in Spanish while we were away (at least it sounded OK and people responded). Now she 'just' needs to juggle Spanish revision with the BTEC coursework for the next 6 weeks. This time yesterday we were somewhere hot and sunny, and now ... rain Sad

OP posts:
SugarPlumTree · 11/04/2016 14:36

BrewCake T&T , sorry you came back to rain. Maths revision needs to start here plus the final 3 BTEC projects. That's great her Spanish conversations went well Smile

GasLightShining · 11/04/2016 22:43

Feel sad on your behalf T & T with the weather

Controlled assessments finished so just the exam to do now and a number of assessmnets

HSMMaCM · 22/04/2016 15:17

DD has sprained her ankle which is not helping with btec dance !