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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:
SugarPlumTree · 09/05/2016 16:11

Poor thing Sad How is she doing now HSM ?

Is everyone else bearing up ok?

HSMMaCM · 09/05/2016 16:29

Her ankle is slowly improving, but as dance is her life, she's finding it really hard to deal with.

She has exams for the next couple of weeks, so that should take her mind off it Confused

SugarPlumTree · 10/05/2016 20:55

Oh sodding hell. DD is saying she needs extensions as she's so stressed she can't write. We were so close to the end as well. It was all fine then my Brother rang yesterday to say he thinks it will be a couple of weeks until my Mother goes and I stupidly told her as she hates it if I don't.

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 10/05/2016 21:08

Sorry to hear ankle news HSM and very sorry to hear about your DM Sugar

(We are focussing on y6 SATs this week so I'm ignoring BTEC and AS exams!)

OP posts:
SugarPlumTree · 10/05/2016 21:34

Oh goodness, yes agree to ignore them for now. Hope the SATs go ok.

I've emailed college to ask if any mark allowances in the circumstances. We're getting if I fail it's not my fault' going on and 'I'm not repeating the year' I'm not handling her well and have told her failure not an option and I'm too business like she said so gone off to talk to friends.

I should have kept my mouth shut but wanted to prepare her.

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 10/05/2016 21:47

On DD's BTEC course, as long as you submit something by the deadline you can get a referral and a chance to improve it after the deadline (or something like that). So better to submit something, anything, than be late.

No idea if that's general for everything though. So definitely check. A decision to forewarn or not is a fine line, I'm sure you made the best call (even if it doesn't feel like it now).

OP posts:
SugarPlumTree · 10/05/2016 21:54

Thanks T&T. She has been insistent throughout that she wants to know so can prepare. She's angling for Special Consideration I think. I have emailed her tutor and forwarded the biopsy result so they have something official. One of the lecturers suggested they could tape her saying the rest rather than writing so exploring this. She's just said if this had happened during GCSE she would get extra marks.

Deep breath, this too will pass and we are close to the end,

How are the SATs going ?

GasLightShining · 10/05/2016 22:22

HSM Hopefully a couple of weeks rest while the exams on on will help

Oh my Sugar. I am not sure about mark allowances but I would have thought a time extension will be allowed. We have had a bereavement in the family and DS has been given extensions for the next set of assignments.

As far as keeping you mouth shut that would have been wrong - she would have said you don't care if you had kept quiet. Mums are for saying it how it is and friends are for pandering to what she wants to hear.

Thinking of you

Teen Hope the SATs are going well. I don't envy Y6 parents now - it sounds like so much pressure now

I have now been able to sit with DS and look at his grades. If he gets passes on all the outstanding modules together with grades already achieved his final grades will be DDM which is enough for his insurance offer.

For his first choice he needs DDD with 12 modules at distinction. He will be able to obtain this if he gets a mixture of merits and distinctions. He has quite a few assignments handed in awaiting marking but still quite a few that have yet to be set and a few yet to be handed in.

Will have to have another look when the handed ones are marked to see how it is going.

So not as bad as I thought.

GasLightShining · 10/05/2016 22:32

On DD's BTEC course, as long as you submit something by the deadline you can get a referral and a chance to improve it after the deadline

On DS's course they only get referral they if fail or are near (not sure how near is near) the next grade up so he still has to put some effort into it.

Sugar Even if she gets special consideration would it give enough extra marks to make it worthwhile (worthwhile sounds crass but I am struggling to think of one so I hope you know what I mean). Reading about extra marks for GCSEs you don't gets loads. She could be expecting more marks than is allowed.

Recording sounds a good idea.

SugarPlumTree · 11/05/2016 07:19

Really glad things look better with your DS Gaslight. I'm very sorry to hear of your bereavement Flowers

Woken up with stinking headache but trying hard as DH's birthday. I've just seen DD and said as college doesn't finish until mid July I think she will be able to get an extension up until then potentially. She has an plane ticket booked for mid June and looked rather alarmed and was saying she doesn't need that long. Am waiting to see whether thought of missing her flight focuses her mind somewhat as have feeling although genuinely upset I was played a bit yesterday.

HSMMaCM · 11/05/2016 07:25

Sugar hopefully she's done some thinking overnight and is ready to get back to it today. Sorry to hear your news.

SugarPlumTree · 11/05/2016 10:04

Thanks HSM. College have offered extension and one to one with the lecturers tomorrow afternoon and Friday. She's gone rather quiet having been told that.

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 11/05/2016 12:47

I think that's reasonable Sugar . I would have been surprised if she could have got extra credit for things not done.

OP posts:
SugarPlumTree · 11/05/2016 13:29

So would I T&T and I think given her reaction she would have been too but thought she'd have a shot being a teenager ! The pastoral guy is booking her in too. I'm very pleased with how college have handled it and I'm hopeful with help she'll end the week with a fair bit done.

I've told her DH is here to fully support her emotionally after her jibe about having to go and talk to friends for emotional support. Hopefully we'll end the day on a calmer note than started.

HSMMaCM · 11/05/2016 15:31

Sugar the college sounds fab.

GasLightShining · 11/05/2016 16:48

It is great that the college are helping. Hope DD gets through the work

She will know that support is there at home she was just throwing a strop.

SugarPlumTree · 12/05/2016 07:10

Thanks, things were much better last night and she has nearly finished one of the projects now.

SugarPlumTree · 19/05/2016 13:04

One of the lecturers has given the whole class an extension until after half term. She has one project due in next week that I think she can get in then two after half term. Her boyfriend has flown over for a couple of weeks and has promised me he will try to keep her at her work. Hopefully he will have more luck than me.

I refused to email college to let her go home yesterday and told her to sit quietly and drink water. She did then apparently do more work in the library so glad I stood firm.

How are you all doing?

HSMMaCM · 19/05/2016 13:59

That's good about them all getting an extension sugar.

DD still isn't back to full fitness for her dance btec and her teacher is starting to stress. Of course she's not helping herself by 'forgetting' to wear her ankle tape and not applying the massage cream and frozen peas she's been prescribed.

Original poster
TeenAndTween · 19/05/2016 14:16

DD is focussing on her Spanish AS exam on Tuesday. But is struggling and I won't be surprised if she ends up with a U. (sadly)

However yesterday she did a mock job interview for an assignment and was told it was at Distinction level Grin. Though she won't get distinction for the unit as she won't get the other distinction criteria Sad.

Still problems with behaviour in one of the units Angry . I'm hoping they either change the teacher for next year, or throw a load off the course.

HSM Sometime they just don't help themselves do they?
Sugar Glad about the extension, you are on the home run now aren't you?

ps DD2's y6 SATs went OK, as in she went in happy each day and came out happy which was the main thing.

OP posts:
HSMMaCM · 19/05/2016 14:29

T&T one of DD's friends was hauled aside and threatened with being kicked out because she disrupted a maths class. I suspect it is because she finds it easy and gets bored. I hope your class gets sorted.

Sugar I forgot you'll be leaving us soon. You'll have to pop in next year with updates.

SugarPlumTree · 19/05/2016 15:59

Oh dear HSM, what about phone reminders?

I'm sorry DD is struggling with the Spanish T&T, fingers crossed for her. That is really bad with the behaviour. Great with the mock interview though, very encouraging for the future.

Firmly on a countdown ! Next year I have the challenge of ensuring she's doing what she needs to do to get the Japanese A level in a year whilst in a different country to her, and TEFL - could get interesting. I'll be here rooting for you all with the last BTEC year.

GasLightShining · 19/05/2016 17:09

Sugar I hope DD knuckles down for final countdown. Sounds like her boyfriend is a good influence. Good news about the extension

I look at DS and can't imagine him going abroad so fair play to your DD. I am quite jealous. Do keep us all updated.

HSMMaCM I hope your DD starts looking after herself. You can't tell them though

T&T Good news about the distinction. Even even she can't one overall she got one. Hope Spanish is not as bad as you think

Have said before that all the troublemakers on DS's course either didn't come back for the second year or weren't allowed back. Hopefully come September there will only be the ones who want to be there

DS is most definitely on a countdown. He finishes next Friday. I can't remember when all assignments must be handed in by but at some point in June.

SugarPlumTree · 20/05/2016 07:07

Thanks Gaslight, we'll see how long she lasts - at least a few weeks I hope as I need a break ! When will DS know his final result?

Itsnotallaboutyou · 20/05/2016 21:11

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