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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSEs 2018 (14): the aftermath

997 replies

mmzz · 17/06/2018 10:45

Following on from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3275972-GCSEs-2018-13-Untwisting-our-knickers-lucky-for-some

OP posts:
Thread gallery
37
Stickerrocks · 03/07/2018 20:19

Doc Martens
Tickets for something

TheThirdOfHerName · 03/07/2018 21:00

DS2 has his induction at his 3rd choice of sixth form today. It is the closest of thr three sixth forms he has applied to and is a perfectly good school, but is slightly less academic and has less SEN provision. Great for neurotypical all-rounders, slightly less good for maths & science geeks on the autistic spectrum.

He recognised two people from his school and two people he had been to primary school with, but didn't know anyone else.

They did taster classes of their chosen A-level preferences, arranged by the blocks they've been timetabled in. DS2 said the Further Maths class only had two students (including him). Shock

He had a mini-interview with the head of sixth form. I had advised him not to mention that this is his third choice and that he is actually hoping to stay at his current school if he gets high grades. He was directly asked "Why are you applying here when you have a guaranteed offer from [current school]?" which he said was a bit awkward.

TheThirdOfHerName · 03/07/2018 21:03

Yesterday he went to the induction for his 1st choice sixth form (all fingers crossed) which is the school he is currently at. He came home having 'decided' to do an EPQ (on top of four A-levels). I think not.

goodbyestranger · 03/07/2018 21:09

Very best wishes from me too Sostenueto.

JufusMum · 03/07/2018 22:03

Best wishes to you Sost stay strong.
DD has completed day two of four at second choice sixth form induction. Made a few friends and seems to like it. Will be interesting to see if she changes her mind about where she wants to go after this week.

Original poster
mmzz · 03/07/2018 22:26

AChickenCalledKorma I wish I could help. I was a sciencey / mathsy 16 year old and DS is about to become one too, but thinking about DS now and myself then, birthday presents are about the non-science/ maths interests.
What else is she interested in? Clothes? Music? Makeup? A sport?

OP posts:
PeggySchuylar · 03/07/2018 22:36

Chicken the one graphics tablet we have is popular in our house.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 03/07/2018 22:38

I got DS3 a Simon Singh book, The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets. Unfortunately so did his father. Hmm I've also got him a new sim with lots of data which went down well.

terfterf · 03/07/2018 23:00

chicken what about a Young Driver session if you have those near you? My DS is desperate to drive and has had a few lessons at Brooklands since he was 13 (Xmas pressies from granddad)

City break to European city?
Visit to Shard/other skyscraper?
Ticket to Comicon or similar?
Escape rooms - needs others to join in however?
One day cooking course - something tricky like sushi/pastry/dim sum/cake?
Laptop for college?

DS's birthday is early January so I have taken him on a European city break ever year since he was 12, quite cheap in January! Paris, Madrid, Rome, Nice, Marseilles. Lots of art galleries, markets, nice food, and a bit of biking, and all the free stuff available Grin and people-watching from cafés

TheThirdOfHerName · 04/07/2018 06:51

AChickenCalledKorma if you live near London, how about tickets to New Scientist Live? DS2 went with DH last year and they both loved it.

TheThirdOfHerName · 04/07/2018 06:52

Sostenueto hope the remaining treatments go well and don't make you feel too awful.

Oratory1 · 04/07/2018 06:53

I’m having exactly the same issue over DD1 s 21 st. No ideas at all. Very bad mother ,

Oratory1 · 04/07/2018 06:55

Yes new scientist live was great. Also recommend escape rooms. We got one for DD1 for Christmas and did it as a family ( no friends) - you often only need 3 or 4 people

AChickenCalledKorma · 04/07/2018 07:03

Thanks for the birthday ideas - that's got my brain into gear! Lots of things I would never have thought of.

Today she comes back from her silver DofE expedition, which she was very stressed about because the group dynamics have been quite tricky. But at least they won't have been cold and wet this time Grin.

BlueBelle123 · 04/07/2018 07:27

Sost keep strong, your positivity will get you through this Flowers

Oratoryfor my 21st my mum got me a piece of jewellery, which I still have, it was nice to have something to keep.

AChickenCalledKorma I've racked my brains but I can't even remember what I bought DD for her 16th (clearly wasn't memorable) so no help unless she likes jewellery.

I can't see DS getting up very early today after the England drama Smile

adrinkofwater · 04/07/2018 10:10

AChickenCalledKorma my DS had a couple of things from a website called mathsgear for his birthday.

Original poster
mmzz · 04/07/2018 17:44

It is raining!

OP posts:
AChickenCalledKorma · 04/07/2018 19:37

Send it this way mmzz. My veg plants are shrivelling up!

BlueBelle Actually, I'm really reassured that you can't remember. Possibly I'm over-thinking the need to buy something amazing. She will undoubtedly be very happy with her geeky T-shirts!

I do like the look of the mathsgear website, though. I can probably also use that for DH's next few birthdays, thanks to adrinkofwater.

Stickerrocks · 04/07/2018 19:52

It rained in Cornwall earlier too. I was forced to drive 200 miles to get back into sunshine again!

AChickenCalledKorma · 04/07/2018 19:58

That's dedication Stickerrocks!

Oh my word, that Maths Gear site is good. I am looking forward to seeing DD1's face when I put the "binary birthday candles" on her cake. She will love the fact that she is 10000 years old!

Oratory1 · 04/07/2018 20:35

Ha Ha I was going to go for the binary birthday candles as well, even though DS birthday isn't til November. I wonder if they'll notice a sudden increase in orders

TheThirdOfHerName · 04/07/2018 21:05

We had to do binary for the candles on DS2's 15th birthday cake because all we could find were 1s.

Original poster
mmzz · 04/07/2018 22:08

Unfortunately the rain has stopped and it's hot again. It was nice while it lasted! I'm done with being too warm all the time. My Scottish skin is not made for constant sunshine!!

DS1 is changing before my eyes. He's completely de-stressed, properly rested, got a bit of colour back to his skin, wearing new clothes and suddenly he looks grown up.

The GCSE results seem a long way off and I am glad. I hope this phase lasts as long as possible so that DS, and all your DC, can just chill and enjoy themselves and generally let the rest of themselves catch up with all the growing up the serious side has had to do these last six months.

OP posts:
LooseAtTheSeams · 05/07/2018 07:32

Oh, I wish I'd found maths gear earlier but DH is so getting 'How Many Socks Make A Pair' on his birthday!!
Brilliant find, thank you!
mmzz glad to hear DS is so much happier - they really do need the post-exam chill-out time!

BlueBelle123 · 05/07/2018 08:28

Am I the only one who's DS is beginning to treat their home like a hotel, I never now where he is when he will be back and the constant trail of mess that he leaves Angry I was way too lenient over the whole of year 11 and although he was remarkable relaxed over that year with not one meltdown I am paying the price now...........some serious ground rules are going to have to be put in place if I am to survive the summer......