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

Yes, she'd be doing all the same subjects. We've talked some more this evening, and we've said we'll back her in whatever she decides to do. Did your ds move in the end?

Anyone else got a very tired 16yo who's changed for the sixth form?
Never known dd1 so tired; she put herself to bed about 7 this evening-normally she's a night owl. I'm hoping that she's just taking time to adjust to all the travelling.

skippy yes he left the place he was at and is now back at his original school. He seems much happier in himself.

I'm glad moving back has worked out well for him piggy

Witchend Yes - v tired DD, new school has lots of exercise each day and DD finding it hard this week as she's recovering from sore throat lurgie!

error dd now doesn't have any compulsory games, however she has a walk to and from the bus of some distance, so probably similar.

She's just had a bit of a wobble with me about work, changing school etc. I told her everyone was feeling similar even if they didn't admit it.
Hope she's feeling better about it shortly, as she's got prize giving at her old school in a few days time and I think that might make a serious wobble when she sees people again (even if well over half have gone with her!)

Witchend - everyone always says the step up from GCSEs is massive. Add in a new school, new routines and a long day. And it's no wonder really that they feel a bit shaky and tired.
DD has left her comp to go to a specialist boarding school, so has the added issues of living away from home too .

everyone always says the step up from GCSEs is massive
I think that's actually what's worrying her. That she's not going to manage it. I don't remember as much fuss being made in our day about there being a step up, so never worried (and actually never noticed either) that I wasn't going to manage it. I suspect the fact that people keep telling her though is making her think she may not be able to do it.

Doesn't help by dh's 6th form memories where he never did any work and came out with prizes from the exam boards for being top in the country. I pointed out that actually he did work hard (but didn't add that he's probably more efficient worker than she is)

Error - hope your DD feels better soon. It's a big step up. DD is loving it but also shattered and she's having to find ways to be far more responsible for her work than at school. A good thing really.

The work is also a huge step up, the difference between say GCSE biology and A level looks to be pretty big although they're easing them in gently with work on cell formation.

Thank you & best wishes to your DD too.

DD is stressing. Apparently Prince Edward is visiting her sixth form centre tomorrow and she'd rather avoid the fuss. I've told her to suck it up. THere's no non-college bus home straight to our town, so it will cost her £6 for a day bus ticket and 2 buses if she wants to get home. I doubt she will bother now she's realised that!

Her terms dates will have her sister annoyed. Autumn and Spring are the same, but there are a few weeks of AS study leave in May/June AND they finish on the 22nd June. So several weeks before we finish.

Update on my Dd. She's back at her old school, starting today. I'm very relieved and she's very happy.

Glad your dd has made a decision she's happy with Skippy.

That’s great skippy, so pleased. I’m a great believer that they’ll work the best where they’re happiest.
Homework hasn’t kicked in here (apparently) which is concerning me. I know that the first few weeks they don’t give much to allow for any movement between courses but I’m sure he should be doing more than he is.
He’s managed to leave his new rugby boots on the train, only worn twice. He absolutely refuses to organise himself the night before yet gets up at the last minute every morning & manages to leave behind train pass, lunch, files, sports gear. I really despair.

We've got the chance to go to NZ as a family next year to see friends and travel around. It would be over the 2 week Easter break plus 1 week in term time.

Before I broach with college is this ok to do during first year of A levels?

Is your dc doing any AS exams next year? If not, I'd say sod it, go!

I'm sure it's OK but your DC will need to commit to proper catching up. You'll need to check whether s/he is doing AS levels because , if so, I would definitely not go away for the whole of Easter and an additional week!

I teach A level : only two of the students I teach took any time off on holidays last year : it's pretty unusual.

And don't ask/pester staff to set work : we legally don't have to for holidays but if DC asks nicely, a teacher probably would

Thanks Piggy. No AS but I'm still worried about missing lessons!

1 week at A level age realistically is a small number of lessons.

As a teacher, I am generally opposed to time off- mainly because students make very little attempt to catch up!

Some subjects are perhaps easier to fall behind in than others. In some subjects one week could move on very little, in others you could miss something quite crucial. If I take English, for example, a students could miss two set poems or a key scene from Shakespeare in that time and it is impossible to catch up on discussion. I also teach film and sometimes I get students who bleat ' I was away when we watched that bit/ that film' !! I am sure your DD is somewhat more driven!

But the trip sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime, too!

He's taking Graphics, Media and Geography (at least that's relevant!)

Sorry fro calling him DD above. I put DS then altered it. No idea why!!

Graphics strikes me as the one with the really intense workload that could blow up in his face upon return.

Also, tow of those subjects at least (not sure about geog) have coursework so he ought to check the deadlines as they may well be around Easter...but perhaps not in year 12.

two not tow!

Think will have to bite the bullet and talk to college to be clear on coursework/assessments etc. Argghh!! Thank you for your comments, much appreciated!

7 DC's have left the 6th form college that I wanted my DS to attend and returned to his school. They found the discipline, levels of self study and self motivation too difficult. HA HA! - I told you so, says my DS with glee (I hate it when he's right). But my worry is that if they are so spoon-fed and babied at 6th form then how the hell will they manage at uni? I thought 6th form college would be a good bridge between school and uni. How are your schools encouraging independence.

My DS has settled in really well at sixth form. He had a rubbish time at school which resulted in v poor gcse results so I was really worried, but the sixth form college have been amazing. He's doing a level 2 diploma alongside English and maths resits. He's loving being treated more like an adult and having more freedom, plus being away from all the disruptive kids from his old school.

It's so nice to see him so positive and happy.