Is there a support thread for parents of struggling year 12s?

[Freddorika]

Hi. Dd is struggling with A levels and it would be lovely to hear from other parents with teens that are finding it difficult too!

She's doing biology, history and RE. Regretting choosing such weighty choices! Is predicted Cs but got a U for biology in recent mock test and an E in history.

She's a lovely girl but admitted yesterday she's working hard but feeling hugely out of her depth. Even the conversation is above her she says! 'Everyone' makes intelligent, articulate conversation and she feels stupid

Anyone else?

He is looking at straightforward History BA.
I made a list of every University giving out offers of BBB or below.
Then he looked at all the courses and made a short list of the ones he likes (mostly influenced by the structure of the course and the range of modules he'd be able to choose from).
If he gets better grades than expected at the end of Y12 then he might look at ABB-division universities too.

The anecdotal evidence I've had from friends with older children is that BBB gets you into a Russell Group uni, if they like you. For example I know 3 people who have got in with ABC, York, Glasgow and UCD respectively to read History/Philosphy. They just put AAB on their website, and but if they like the application they give you a lower offer, or in some cases unconditional offers. I've heard people given unconditional offers when they have been predicted high grades.

I have heard similar, but DS1 only took 8 GCSEs and his results are modest (AABBBBBD) so I'm trying to encourage him to be realistic. At least he seems engaged now, is studying and applying himself, which is a vast improvement from last term.

Ds has been playing the piano a lot today (good) but when I looked at his business answer yesterday it made me want to tear my hair out, and he won't LISTEN to any advice about how to improve his answer. However yesterday he went on a long walk by himself and showed an interest in local architecture which is a first for him, and he is in a generally sunny mood so that is good. Still not going anywhere though or meeting up with anyone, AND not working hard either. I feel that one would at least encourage him to do the other, but doing neither...well, it must be depressing for him.

Vitamin D test on Monday.

A week later we have the results from the Vitamin D test. Not surprisingly, ds is deficient! It is a curious relief to know there is a reason why he is so tired and stressed. Last summer he didn;t go out much except at the beginning in a trip to Paris with school, he hid indoors when we went to the seaside later in the holidays.

Hope this will improve matters, dr has prescribed a big supplement. His Vit D level was 25 when tested. Normal level would have been about 50 at least. Last summer my level was 65.

I'm glad you've got some answers; hopefully the supplement will help, and the days are getting longer which might alleviate it slightly.

DS1 is getting some marks back from the five mock exams he did; C C E in the papers he has had back so far, two papers yet to be marked.

That sounds good - C's at this stage I mean. It sounded as if he was really getting into the work itself, and showing an interest which imho is the main thing.

Funnily since I found about ds's deficiency (and he was not just inadequate in Vit D but actually deficient) I've been wondering whether a lot of extra stress is being created by ME his mum being underdosed. I ache all over (which I thought was something to do with running club), feel tired all the time. Possibly I need to get my levels up much much higher, although doc refused to offer me a blood test. (had one last summer) And then I can be energised and cope better with ds's A levels and dd and ds2's Gsces...

Ds went to his tutor this evening and is in very good spirits (possibly because it is Friday, although let down again by the "friend" who promised to go to the cinema with him (and changed his mind in favour of a Rugby on tv). I told him the Vit D was going to be like the Felix Felicitas trick in Harry Potter, when Ron thinks he is lucky but has been given a placebo instead of the real good luck charm!