Gcse 2018 (10) The one with half term

[Stickerrocks]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3256691-GCSEs-2018-9-Will-we-get-to-half-term-for-never-was-a-story-of-more-woe-than-this-of-Juliet-and-who-is-Banquo

Oops. Can't remember how to link nicely, so this will have to do.

neah, I've never seen 'GCSEs in same sitting' for local entry requirements. Maybe b/c We are an underachieving county. Local 6FCs would go out of business if they got so choosy. DD's offer is 6xB, which is the most demanding any college gets within 1 hour drive.

DD's mates are mostly going to the walking-distance 6thFC; actually in that circle of mates, Dd is ONLY one who lives walking distance & only one who won't go there. DD resolved on 6FC she thinks will get her very highest results (public school). One lad she is on friendly terms with from school is also going there.

I also have a friend whose daughter is at PS (just about to finish 1st year of Sixth form) she has been very impressed although she did state that her daughter virtually changed overnight from a quiet non trendy teen to an outgoing very trendy teen.
@stickerrocks when are you cruising? I booked a very last minute 10 night cruise from Southampton a few weeks ago because there was an offer I could not refuse...although it does mean DD arrives back from Fjords and then 10 days later goes again with DF (different cruise line and some different ports).
I'm hoping that we can switch off from GCSE's come 19th June...DD will be doing NCS during the run up and during the actual week of the 23rd (they allow them the 23rd off) so I'm hoping that it wont be the main topic of conversation.
Oratory - Is your DS doing the same as my DD again next week 2 x History. Eng Lang and Maths?

Hi Teen yes we seem to be in the same schedule so far / then it’s three sciences next week

Stick and Teen we are nowhere near you, but have good friends who are. Their DC are at Brock and PS and both thriving at what sound like excellent colleges. They only have positive things to say about both.
I'll admit to being a little bit envious, I'd have loved somewhere similar for DD1 (and now DD2) but the only 6th forms in our area are the "added onto high school" kind.

I think someone ages ago said they were booking their DS onto a Debate Chamber course. Not sure who it was?

I'm thinking about booking DS1 onto the Physics 1 course. Just wondered if it is worth the money? Quite expensive but in London do very convenient for us and a good university taster.

Sandy - I think it was second who is now third...I looked at the courses too and I think they are very good value although expensive ...they do a Medicine Course which would have been ideal for DD this summer but she is very keen to have sometime out completely chilling so will look at for next year.
I liked the sound of PS too - would also have loved to have a similar college near us - its so well regarded.

Sandy my DD1 did a debate chamber course one half term, she absolutely loved it, learned a lot and it helped her decide on her degree subject.
The staff were extremely professional and knowledgeable, but also mostly still students themselves so much more relatable than stuffy teachers and parents!

I would sign DD2 up in a heartbeat if they ran one in the subject she's interested in.

We go on 8th for 7 nights on Brit. I'm sure your DD will manage! DD comes back and has a week to work/do her washing before 3 weeks on NCS.

We are absolutely spoilt for choice for 6th forms down here and they have such vast catchment areas that anyone can go as long as they can get transport (technically PS is the 6th form for the Falkland Islands). Secondary schools are a bit more hit & miss. It's so nice to have no grade pressure at all.

@stickerrocks - we miss you by a day we go on the 9th..

This week DD has History x2, Eng Lang x2, Geography, Spanish x2 and Maths. I'm struggling to remember which day is which. That leaves 6 for the week after and then only Add Maths.

Sandy DD did a Debate Chamber course but not until end of Y12. She thought it was brilliant and was sure it helped in her Oxford interview (not the fact that she did it, more what she learned in terms of wider context beyond the A Level spec). I'll definitely look at DS doing one but again will leave it until next year, not least because I don't think he'd agree to it during his 'summer off' post GCSEs!

I remember your dilemma over sixth form choice from that year's thread, Third because my DS2 went the other way and has done a level 3 BTEC. TBH, it hasn't really suited him because he's so apathetic about working and you need to keep up a constant (but fairly undemanding) level of work. Two of my friends DC who both have SN have thrived at BTECs, though and are on course for DDD or above. One is heading to Portsmouth Uni to do engineering in Sept.

I think you made the right choice for your DS at the time, as he was doing well with his GCSEs and could have achieved high grades in A levels which would have given him more choice of courses at university. With slightly lower A level grades, he's probably no worse off than having done a BTEC route. I don't know the reasons why your DS is not expecting stellar results, but the step up to A levels can be hard in lots of ways for many students, either disliking their subject choice, the sixth form environment or just finding the pressure of work too much. The fact that he's stuck it out is to his credit.

I know I made the right choice for DS2 because he would not have coped with A levels at all. At least he'll come out of college with some sort of qualification and TBH, he's much too behind in his development to start work, so keeping him in education, even with low results, is right for him. He has an unconditional offer to do an HNC next year, but at our local FE college which does a few HE courses. So not even an ex college of HE! I don't care.

mmzz what’s the fee supposed to be for? Unless it’s a deposit for books or lockers etc I think that’s really not on.

Dd declined Bedales to go to PS!

I've never heard of a compulsory fee, but our preferred 6th form requested a "voluntary" contribution of £50 on application. It didn't get paid.

hmc what will you do with all that spare cash? You could join teenmum & I on our travels! Teen who are you going with?

There is a fee at the local college of FE that DS2 goes to, approx £50 for 'materials' that is waived for those families on certain benefits. None for the attached to a school sixth forms, though.

third my sis is friends with a prof at the uni you said was ds's firm, and she told me a few months ago that the prof (not your ds subject but a humanity) said that they definiitely accepted a grade less, but couldnt tell the parents this at Open Days. I've been wondering whether to mention this but didn't want to out on other thread. Please dont worry too much about your ds being accepted at his firm. He has good gsces compared to many applicants and they will almost certainly want him despite his A level grades now that he has made them his firm.

We are in the final push for the History Gsce. Ds2 wants a 6 minimum and seems to be slightly too relaxed about last minute consolidation. I'm leaving it to him though, he wants to do History or Politics A level so if he doesn't get the grade that will be the right result to show him the next step (ie do something different at A level or a Btec) With ds2 I'm very much of the opinion that what he achieves by himself is going to be the key to making the right decisions further down the line. (having said that I still try and get my oar in over Eng Language and Lit

So this week is 4 x History (although ds2 says in reality it is more like 2 very long papers, as they are consecutive small papers in two batches) 2 x English Language, 1 x Maths. That is quite enough for me! Dd has 1 x Geography, 2 x Spanish, 2 x Eng Language and 1 x Maths. I don't know what I would do if they both had done a double humanity, as both have now finished with their "extra" subject (Drama and Textiles respectively) It is looking good for this week, dd has finally got to grips with the dreaded Geography and is finding concentrating on her work so much easier as time goes on, in all the subjects, she said she has finally learnt to sit down and work solidy through her notes and was even enjoying it

I've never heard of a payment for 6th form, voluntary or otherwise!

@stickerrocks - We are going with MSC (apparently they have adopted a British Twist to their Med type cruises). I get travel concessions because I run a not for profit org in my spare time so it cost under £1000 for both of us....otherwise I would have opted for something completely different....My sister did the Fjords on Brit last year and loved it - favorite place was Flam.

Gosh some of your DC's have really busy week ahead.

I know sticker no fees but an excellent education. Result!

Nettleskeins I'm exhausted just reading that exam schedule

Thank goodness I only have 1 to worry about! I'm feeling guilty about lounging around in the garden whilst DD is upstairs tackling history (I'm slightly worried that she has neglected Spanish now, because she is desperate to do well in all of the other papers this week). I have a month off my main job now to concentrate on my freelance work, but I've been doing some course prep in the sunshine to keep her company. She doesn't even realise I'm doing it.

Teen We get a lot of MSC visitors wandering around outside my office as the buses drop them off there & I always try to help them as payback for the helpful locals we get when we cruise. You will have a wonderful time.

DD needs 8 x C/5 to stay on at her school (all at one sitting) and A Level choices need to be at 7/A (8 in maths if she also wants to do further maths). Also needs to do a minimum of 3 A Levels.
Unfortunately no back up colleges here - before the exams started it never dawned on either of us that she wouldn’t get the grades. Now applying to a local college just in case it has all gone horribly wrong- the one that’s really near said it’s not too later (which may be a bad sign?).

DD and I are off to USA for a couple of weeks after school has formally finished .....university shopping as she calls it