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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Continuing Year 13: January 2016

943 replies

Needmoresleep · 06/01/2016 13:25

Only two more terms at school. Let's support each other support our DC in getting through to the end.

OP posts:
BethanKate · 29/01/2016 13:49

Would love to take DS to Berlin for his birthday as he wants but finding the money a bit of a major issue as DH made redundant a couple of years ago. We'll see.

Off sick today so missing mock results ceremony & won't find out until Monday.

buckingfrolicks · 29/01/2016 16:59

oh good luck with those results Bethan - and here's hoping your DH gets work soon. Plus, get well!

Original poster
Needmoresleep · 29/01/2016 21:10

Good luck with the mock results Bethan and sorry to hear about the redundancy. I hope you find a way to have a rite of passage trip with your DS. The chances to do these things are running out.

OP posts:
Dunlurking · 30/01/2016 09:16

So many poignant thoughts about our 18/soontobe18 year olds about to leave us.

For me the year 13 parents evening this week was tough - last one and all that. I nearly cried when his year 7 form tutor, who has been his History teacher every year except one, said he possessed an "ideal analytical historical mind" in nearly exactly the same words as at his year 7 parents evening. She hadn't realised she had being saying that every year. At least he will be majoring in History at a good RG uni as her reward! Maybe those year 7 words seeded his future. (Although actually the kids don't go round with the parents at year 7 evenings so he didn't hear them). Or was she forecasting it? Does she have second sight? Who knows.

On a different note - to Bucking and Uhtred really. Have you noticed any change in desire to do YMT etc? Ds was at Edinburgh Frigne with YMT last summer, and won't even audition this year - he wants to go on holiday with his friends and it "would muck up his summer"....... As he's decided against auditioning for Drama school, and probably against majoring in Drama in his degree it's fine but it represents a huge change in his priorities. Maybe that's an emotional response to leaving school as well - making the most of time left with his freinds before they scatter to UK wide unis.

Dunlurking · 30/01/2016 09:19

Spellings Blush - fringe and friends. Sorry!

mygrandchildrenrock · 30/01/2016 14:30

We're still waiting to here from Durham and can't accpet or reject any offers until then.

UhtredRagnorsson · 30/01/2016 14:46

Dunlurking - it's DD2 who is auditioning for YMT:UK. DD1 has been in NYRO since Y7 but isn't auditioning this year - they are going to Germany, it will be double dear and exactly when we have our family holiday (because we have not only A level results but GCSE ones too). So I suggested this year might be one to miss. She's actually quite pissed off but she gets that it's too expensive this year.

SecretSquirrels · 31/01/2016 10:30

mygrandchildrenrock Durham can be very, very late in making offers. The deadline to accept is not until 4th May and can be later if offers are late. Early acceptance is no advantage and I would caution against it anyway as circumstances can change in 3 / 4 months. When DS1 applied 2 years ago he got his Durham offer straight away and his friend (same subject) didn't get her Durham offer until the end of April, too late even to do the offer visits (they both turned it down).

DS has only just got his 5th offer (York). He has narrowed it down to 3 and is going to the offer days.

mygrandchildrenrock · 31/01/2016 11:07

Thanks Squirrels, the offer departmental visits are in February half term for 3 of his offers, but goodness knows when Durham's is. He's been offered Oxford which is where he wants to go, and he thinks he knows which his reserve will be but he can't accept any of them, even Oxford, until Durham's comes in unless he withdraws from Durham now, which he doesn't really want to do. It's just a bit frustrating really, but that's all.

BethanKate · 01/02/2016 11:19

Thank you for nice comments Bucking & Needmoresleep.

Don't think I worded it very well it was DS who was sick & missed mock results, wonder if he'll remember to go to office & pick them up.

One of his friends is still waiting to hear from Warwick (for economics).

GloriaHotcakes · 01/02/2016 18:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Leeds2 · 01/02/2016 19:03

Soon be time for them to make their final choices! Quite scary really.

And Good Luck to those still waiting to hear.

UhtredRagnorsson · 05/02/2016 14:56

Signed the contract and paid the deposit for DD1's hall of residence this afternoon. Shit's getting REAL.

raspberryrippleicecream · 05/02/2016 16:49

That's scary Uhtred

DS1s firm and a insurance don't register until May/June although I've told him to be thinking about his accommodation choices.

We are going to get to grips with the finance form at half term

UhtredRagnorsson · 05/02/2016 17:04

Student Finance for next year isn't open yet. 'Spring' apparently.

The hall of residence opened booking today, and you are only guaranteed a room if you've booked and paid deposit within a couple of weeks. And she was very clear what sort of room she wanted and it's not like there's any immediately apparent alternative so I just got it done as soon as she texted me. Obviously the situation is slightly different because of her offer - it's not like she isn't going to achieve it, you know?

raspberryrippleicecream · 05/02/2016 17:54

OK. DS told me school had told him it was and to get going ASAP. One less thing to do at half term!

UhtredRagnorsson · 05/02/2016 17:56

Well, it wasn't working today because I checked. Just said 'you can't do this yet. Spring. That's when' (I'm paraphrasing here obviously).

I am very motivated to get it done as soon as poss now we have signed the contract for DD1's room. Not that student finance will cover it all. Sigh.

SecretSquirrels · 05/02/2016 19:33

There really isn't any hurry to sort out student finance or accommodation. Lots of students won't even make their choices until the deadline.
remembers DS1 pushing the button at 11th hour

Student loan web site is pretty straightforward, of course most loans don't even cover the rent let alone living costs but that's a whole other topic!
Lots of threads in HE about that 2 years ago when we did all this first time round.

UhtredRagnorsson · 05/02/2016 20:45

DD1's deadline was 31 January and the room guarantee expires on 15 February. Not all colleges are the same, you know.

hellsbells99 · 05/02/2016 22:00

Is that a London one Uhtred?

UhtredRagnorsson · 05/02/2016 22:55

Yep. Conservatoire.

hellsbells99 · 06/02/2016 09:35

My friends DD went to a London uni last year and I remember her having to confirm and pay the deposit on accommodation very early. I don't think any universities outside of London ask for this. Good luck to your DD!

SecretSquirrels · 06/02/2016 09:45

Ah sorry Uhtred. I thought as UCAS deadline was May they didn't couldn't allocate accommodation until all had accepted. Conservatoire obv a different thing.

hellsbells99 · 06/02/2016 16:32

We have our last parents' evening this week. One think I am concerned about is that in all 3 subjects, DD is only just starting the last module (excluding Empas). Looking at my calendar, if you subtract all the holidays and days set aside for practical exams, then I think she only has about 7/8 weeks until study leave! This is a bit worrying.

LIZS · 07/02/2016 08:22

We also have last parents' evening tomorrow. Hope to establish what results they feel is realistic to narrow down the uni visits.

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