Year 12 / 6th form support thread

[minesawine]

The term is about to start and I though it would be good to have a support group to help us on our 6th form journey.

May the year be drama-free and our DC's study hard and without complaint

[ifonly4]

minesawine, my DD is also in uniform, black skirt and black jacket and light coloured blouses. I've bought her four blue school blouses as she wanted a change from the while ones before, to find the other girls are wearing casual fashion blouses! I can guess what'll be top of the shopping list next time.

[Cafeconleche]

Atia

[Babelange]

Not so great for DS1
Got slightly better than anticipated GCSEs:
3 x A*, 3 x As, 4 Bs
wanted to stay at current school and refused to look at alternative 6th forms last Autumn.
First day today he discovered that 1 teacher who teaches 1.5 subjects is off sick for 3+ weeks - 1 subject is completely new. Some of the new students have come from other more academic schools and hadn't made the grade there. I've written 5 emails to other school admissions offices (including a private school) to find out what the entrance requirements are.
And breathe.

[PeskyRat]

Thanks Atia, so far so good, DS seems to be enjoying it.

He's not too keen on one of his subjects already though, Govt and Politics, so he's looking to change that to something else, not sure what although he mentioned accounting.

How are everyone elses DC getting on?

[Chocrock]

So glad I found this! DS started a new 6th form today. It's much nearer to home than his previous school which is a bonus and it's co-Ed which is a bigger bonus or distraction depending on your point of view
There is no uniform which he is very happy about. He is studying History, Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
I hope he has a good day and that 6th form is a great experience for all our DC!

[TheFallenMadonna]

D'S has induction tomorrow and Friday, starts Monday. Maths, Physics, History. And an EPQ. And what he calls "compulsory enrichment" with a roll of his eyes. He loves History, tolerates Maths and was left with Physics after eliminating everything else In truth, he's just been feeling overwhelmed for pretty much all of year 11 (Not with work, but with decisions), and I am hoping he can relax a bit before all the UCAS stuff starts.

[tapdancingmum]

DD2 has gone today after having to change her choices. She can't do psychology as she didn't get high enough grades but they would've let her do Sociology (even though she missed a grade) but has decided on doing Btecs. So Sport 1 & 2 and Business 1 & 2. Hope it all works out for her.

First day today and she has her timetable. Two lessons on a Monday then fairly spread out for the rest of the week. She may be expecting to come home Monday break time but we will have to see.

[Fleurdelise]

Hi all, just checking in. DS is starting his sixth form tomorrow, he's staying at his school and doing a mix of level 3 Btec Business Studies and Geography A level.

He has to wear a suit, he has to be in school 8,30 till 3 pm everyday.

[errorofjudgement]

Hi can I join the chat?
In a surprise move, DD has gone off to a performing arts boarding school. She will still study for 3 A-levels, but spend each afternoon studying drama.
It's a fabulous school, and a great fit for DD, but quite different to continuing in the local state comp which is what we had been expecting.

[Notanothergiraffe]

fleur good to see another BTEC business. Is your DS doing the 2 or 3 A level option?
Have you seen there is a BTEC support thread too?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2711613-BTECs-at-college-Support-thread-2?msgid=71603747#71603747

[Laniakea]

wow error that is a big change!

dd had a good day - she got in & talked at me for three hours which was exhausting.

There's one teacher (in the whole school!) that she really doesn't get on with & was a bit happy that she wouldn't have anything to do with her again (an English teacher) bloody sod's law means that she is dd's tutor for the next two years Why? Do they not have any input into who they get? Either we've both misread her (blindingly obvious) irritation/dislike with/of dd or she's a sadist. Going to give it until half term but if it is awful we'll ask for her to be moved.

Other interesting things from her/my pov:

• there's a cleaning rota for the 6th form common room (dd in shock)
  
• she's got 4 hours a week each of her three main A levels and one each for her EPQ & creative writing which will mainly be done at home
  
• one of the physics classes each week is a maths skills class which is good (the kids who are doing further maths don't have to go to it they can have extra FM instead).
  
• last night she signed up for & did the first assignment of a future learn course related to her EPQ topic (they have one about how to do a good EPQ - Bath uni - which she's said she's going to do too)
  
• they mostly had pot noodles for lunch (not dd though she's going to have one tomorrow

[Laniakea]

(god that as long, a snapshot of dd's nightly monologue!)

[CiderwithBuda]

Laniakea - I have a boy. I will ask how it went and he will shrug. I will ask what he did and he will say 'stuff'.

I did first school run in nine months this morning. Felt very strange, a bit like first day dropping him at nursery!

They wear office dress. School put a photo up of a see of dark blue suits entering chapel. One check suit. That wasn't DS! So there are at least two not in dark blue. They all wore white shirts. DS wore lilac with a purple tie! I thought he looked great but am interested to see what he will want to wear tomorrow!

[Laniakea]

Cider I like your ds' style!

I swear dd has to tell me every single thought that goes through her head. She finds not talking painful - I've been known to pay her to just be quiet. She really pushed the limits of the dress code today. I'm expecting a moment by moment break down of the day when she gets home!

[VioletCharlotte]

Hello. My DS2 starts sixth form college next week (12th). He's doing a level 2 Btec in Sports Coaching and maths and English resits. He got in by the skin of his teeth after getting really poor gcse results, so I've been stressing to him this is his second chance and he needs to grab it with both hands.

He didn't enjoy school v much, lots and lots of trouble makers (who thankfully aren't going to sixth form!) who took up all the teachers time. Lots of inconsistency with teachers. So I'm really hoping now he's got the opportunity to do sport (which he loves) in a college environment, he'll do well.

He's really looking forward to starting. It's send like they've been off forever! Time to get back into a routine.

[ifonly4]

error, just wondering how your DD's getting on. My DD won a scholarship and is boarding for the first time. Friends are very important to my DD and she's worried she's not going to make friends as the Year 12 girls in her house don't speak to eachother. Having said that she's spoken to new girl a bit and another girl she met on Tues apparently came running after her to ask for her numbers. Fingers crossed - I'm so anxious and want her to settle.

[pointythings]

DD1 started yesterday, doing Biology, English Lit, History and EPQ. She loves it, really likes the atmosphere. Class sizes are tiny - 10-15 people. No uniform, but she isn't the kind to fret about clothes. She wears black jeans, a band shirt of some kind and a men's flannel shirt open over the top, and DMs. Job done.

She's already mapped out a self-study rota to ensure she does the hours required - she was motivated and conscientious during GCSEs so I have no concerns.

[BeyondThePage]

DD started yesterday - Eng Lit, Geog, Art - loves the smaller classes filled with kids who want to learn! changed school from a just about good enough comp to a boys school with mixed sixth. (For the first time, the nerd herd is cooler than the populars!)

Still has to wear full uniform.

[Couchpotato3]

DS started sixth form today. Best thing so far is access to the school Wifi! Declared himself to be 'ecstatic' that they got stuck into the Aeneid in the first Latin lesson.... strange boy!
My older two finished years ago, but it still feels special now that my baby is a sixth former.

[BertrandRussell]

Well, ds has auditioned for and got a part in a play already, so he's happy. Work? Hmm...........

[errorofjudgement]

Ifonly4 - DD is having a great time thanks, though I appreciate it's early days.
I'm a bit confused - at your DDs school the Y12s don't speak to each other? That sounds odd! At DDs school they are 4 to a room in lower sixth form couldn't possibly ignore each other.
I hope your DD finds some girls who will become close friends

[Fleurdelise]

Giraffe DS is doing the 2 A levels option and Geography A level meaning that hopefully he'll end up with 3 A levels equivalent. I'll check out the Btec thread.

Laniakea I hope I have a chance with dd to find out more detail. DS got in today after first day and all I heard was "it was alright!" And that was it.

[Laniakea]

she's tired today & adrenaline has worn off I think so the monologue was short & she's already asleep.

Her new biology teacher was meh - one meh out of six isn't bad & the other five are fab. Biology & EPQ today, no chemistry because there was the whole school assembly. The biology class is the largest she has with 14 students, only three boys so the sex ratio is reversed from physics. I wonder what the chemistry class will be like. Biology was GCSE chemistry recap so was fine & she did the homework at school. She managed two more assignments of the future learn course in EPQ block & last free and then did some maths when she got home (the maths for biology/chemistry/physics books are really good she says). First normal day tomorrow - she's got physics, biology, creative writing & two frees. She's signed up as a y7 helper & is full of tales of how teeny tiny they are.

Didn't get told off about her dress length, someone else had a shorter one & got pulled out of class Planning jeans, hoodie & her orange DMs tomorrow (shock horror - typical 16 year old clothes - I wonder if she'll become a hoodlum overnight).

[BeyondThePage]

My DD decided to wear a shorter skirt today since "everyone else is"... we'll see how that goes.

Lots of homework already (reckons about 4 hours worth from 2 days lessons), 3 school trips arranged - they have certainly hit the ground running...

[LIZS]

Dd already having doubts about one of her options. Only 3 in class, 2 boys who are good friends and dd. Also feels it might be a bit dry. She is going to a uni open day tomorrow which may give her a better idea of whether she wants to change.