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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

Starting Year 13 - September 2015

999 replies

hellsbells99 · 05/09/2015 08:01

Welcome to Year 13!
Their final year of school;
Applying for university/college/work/apprenticeships;
A year of 18th birthday parties;
Going to their first nightclub (unless they already have fake ID!);
The year they turn into adults!

DD2 has been back at school for 3 days and has lots of work already.

OP posts:
SecretSquirr3ls · 11/11/2015 11:15

Well done to NeedMore DD. and those with auditions.

UhtredRagnorsson · 11/11/2015 11:46

As it happens DD1 has won and/or been placed in a few writing competitions this year. Not sure how prestigious or otherwise they were - at least one was reported in national press. But since they are nothing to do with what she wants to do at uni I don't think she even mentioned them in her PS . We are aware of what the local posh school does to support Oxbridge applicants because we know someone who went there who has just finished at Cambridge. It's quite depressing. But She'll be fine, no matter what. Gotta be, really.

RhodaBull · 11/11/2015 11:54

Ds's effort has been entirely his own. That may be not good enough, but I think it would have heaped undue pressure on him to have signed him up for £1500 courses and to go in knowing he hadn't done his own work. I guess some people (or their parents, rather) want to go no matter what, but surely - surely interviewers can sniff out weaker applicants and anyway most of the latter would have fluffed the tests.

RhodaBull · 11/11/2015 11:55

Also, the courses take place before you know you've got an interview. What a waste of £1500 if you don't get one!

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 11/11/2015 11:58

DD2 will get one, maybe two, practice interviews if she gets that far, and there's help available from individual teachers for any tests. Other than that, unless anyone has any specific requests, school pretty much leave it up to the student themselves to sort out what they need. In the same way DD1 was left to get with STEP practice by herself (although tbf she was more than happy with that), whereas some schools offer specific classes.

I've come to the conclusion that they need to take her as she is, or not take her at all, no point in paying thousands for an "expert" to tell you to dress reasonably smartly for an interview and don't say "passionate" in your PS (or is passionate allowed this year, I lose track Wink)

UhtredRagnorsson · 11/11/2015 12:04

No practice interviews for DD1, if she gets that far. And no help whatsoever for any of the written tests (she has these at other places she has applied to too). They are supposed to be tailored to the curriculum - but we shall see.

It is a real worry but then I remember that I never had practice interviews, or any help with the Cambridge entrance exam, either. And I calm down a bit. Because I am in no way anything special. So clearly back then people from state schools could do it, so there's no reason why they can't now.

RhodaBull · 11/11/2015 12:10

I read that state-school pupils often fall down on the "challenging" bit in interviews. The modern way is let everyone think everything they say is valid and a good point, and it comes as an unwelcome surprise to some when someone disagrees with an opinion. It certainly has been like this through school for the dcs. There has been much complaining about teachers saying, "Excellent point, Vernon!" when Vernon's point is clearly ridiculous.

Brioche201 · 11/11/2015 12:43

The information that came with DD's interview is that what they are definitely NOT looking for a polished over-confident performance.The college emphasised their skill ar putting students at ease and the fact that they spend over an hour with every applicant gives them chance to get over their nerves.

Brioche201 · 11/11/2015 12:47

My DD's PS is clearly been written by a professional! No help with STEP either but I don't think they need it there are good online resources

BethanKate · 11/11/2015 15:44

Good news about the interviews & offers!

I sent off for a free book from Oxbridge Applications not realising what it was all about. A friendly young man then phoned me up & we had a nice chat about DS. He invited us to come to a meeting which sounded interesting then he said it would cost £270 just for that meeting and that was the end of that.

Don't know if DS has got an interview at Camb yet (still has last form to send back) but there's a good video about interviews on their website. Gist of it seems to be: listen to the questions, have a go even if you think you can't answer it, ask if you're not sure about anything, think aloud and just be yourself.

MrsUltra · 11/11/2015 17:10

exciting checking the thread and seeing the news
Me too! Now ridiculously invested in posters' DC getting their first choice course!

TalkinPeas · 11/11/2015 18:02

Third offer in the bag : Birmingham, and they will make it unconditional if she firm accepts Grin
Now just waiting on the main two - which is likely to be many months.

And tomorrow I have DSs pre GCSE entry form parents evening Smile

RhodaBull · 11/11/2015 18:15

TiP: are you going to the HE finance talk at the college? I'm not because of some issues at that time but also because I don't think ds qualifies for diddly squat.

TalkinPeas · 11/11/2015 19:38

Rhoda
Its in the diary but it sort of depends what time I get home from work that afternoon.
THey have said that we will all get the powerpoint to peruse at our leisure so I might just save the petrol Smile

Brioche201 · 12/11/2015 08:51

Great to hear about all these offers and interviews.It's all getting very real now!!

Dunlurking · 12/11/2015 13:07

Was it on this thread we were discussing Exeter asking for grades higher than in their prospectus? Think it happened last year but students were successful in getting them to back down. Well I notice they specifically say they reserve the right to do this on their website here

Leeds2 · 12/11/2015 13:37

My DD has had an offer from Exeter this year, and it was the same as quoted in the prospectus. Phew!

Dunlurking · 12/11/2015 14:02

Thanks, that's reassuring Leeds2. Well done to her Envy Ds hoping for one...

Leeds2 · 12/11/2015 14:09

Good Luck to him, Dunlurking. DD's boyfriend has also had an offer from there, to do some sort of engineering. Don't know how it matched up to what was said in the prospectus.

AtiaoftheJulii · 12/11/2015 15:39

Happy dd yesterday, as she got an offer from Newcastle, her joint favourite :)

Good to hear of so many more coming through too :)

BethanKate · 12/11/2015 18:57

Glad to hear of latest offers coming through.

Just got offer from Bristol here but UCAS haven't said what it actually is yet.

jaxxyj · 12/11/2015 20:24

Bethankate my DD same has received email,to say she has an offer from York but not what it is! How exciting though! DD holding out for liverpool though...

buckingfrolicks · 12/11/2015 20:30

my DS just got his first offer - from Sterling, at lower than their normal requirement which is a terrific and much needed boost for his confidence. I have to say, judging by the news from those of you with DC's aiming for Oxbridge, I don't think my old ticker would cope with the stress and the pressure of it all. My hat off to you!

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 12/11/2015 20:52

brilliant news bucking, they must be keen on him then Smile

Leeds2 · 12/11/2015 21:57

My DD hasn't applied to Newcastle, Atia, but it sounds like a brilliant place to be a student.

Well Done to BethanKate and jaxxj's daughters, and to bucking's son.