GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

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thread 14
The next step of the all new GCSE journey.

Hello all - me too been lurking on and off in between a fairly busy summer so far. I have been a perpetual taxi service and PA. And juggling work at the same time. The heat really took it out of all of us.

DD has been doing bits of work experience,visiting friends, medical appo etc. She too wasn't keen on NCS. I can't believe how fast time is flying and we should know our first results on the 16th. Between her and DD

Oops posted too soon.

Meant between her and DS things are fairly busy but not sure how much we are actually getting done. Best laid plans and all. Had planned to sort out our wardrobes and clothes. Not even looked at it yet.

I too don't think the thread will last till the 23rd. I do have the slight nervous feelings already when I think of the results. I am really happy with whatever she gets however as she has worked hard and life is about so much more than exam results.

2 weeks and a day until the IGCSEs are out...

Just wondering who else is holding more than one option for the next step and the decision will depend on GCSE results - I could do with some hand holding.

spababe DS2 has offers from three places, all with slightly different grade requirements. He should hopefully get his first choice, which is to stay at his current school.

spababe DD has accepted three offers and been to all three inductions - and is doing summer homework for all three!

First has high entry requirements and is DD's first choice.
Second slightly lower entry requirements but does not do DD's exact choice of A Levels.
Third is college for a BTEC, which is an insurance policy as she has an unconditional offer there (it's for Dance, which DD has done since she could walk!)

But yes, we too are waiting on GCSE results to see where she will go!

Me too, spababe. Sixth form of current school or the selective.
What are your 2nd / 3rd choices, assuming the selective is first?

DD is holding 2 offers, but is only interested in one. She doesn't need any taxing grades for either except a 7 for maths.

We have escaped for a few days as she is on week 2 of NCS. Apparently she has been upcycling & painting a chest of drawers today. I prefer my stroll around the shops and leisurely lunch 60 miles away from home.

Sost missed you! DGD shows far too much enthusiasm!

I would stick with the business related stuff alongside soccer refereeing. If he will have to run a similar distance to a rugby ref, he needs a less strenuous path through college.

I don't believe that the iGCSEs will be out so soon. Imagine the relief when you know & can relax whilst the rest of us are building to a frenzy.

ellenjane Ha Ha, will look at buying some

DD has got a-level homework which I found when I fumigated her room while she was on NCS.

Kingscote - isn't it just CIE igcses on 14th?

Do sixth forms make more offers than they have places? If not, then it feels a bit unfair to hold multiple places open (which is what DS is doing) because there's someone else who would love the place you will end up refusing and who right now, doesn't know where they will be in September.
Then again, from the perspective of the student, you need a fall back in case you don't get the grades.

Do sixth forms make more offers than they have places?
The sixth form at the school where I work does.

Colleges certainly give out lots of offers. DS2's college is often the fall back option locally. They have a lot of staff on on GCSE results day and the Friday after to talk to students who haven't made their (other) sixth form requirements. They just have to estimate numbers.

The super selective grammar sixth form only gives offers to externals who have extremely high predictions, the offer is lower than their predictions, so they have a reasonable idea of numbers.

The sixth forms in between have a harder time of it but estimate that many internals will stay if they meet their offers and about a half to a third of externals will take up a place. Some courses might not be able to run come results day if too few students want to do them, so sixth forms can give lower offers for such subjects.

I'm just glad it's not my job!

Did is just holding the one place but it’s not grade dependent.

Most of our local schools don’t have 6th forms (ds’s has a tiny one) so the local 6th form college offers places to anyone who applies.

Resevoir I think it’s just Cambridge, but I will check.

Does anyone want to sell their Mr Salles & Mr Bruff English guides?

And can anyone reccomend any other resources for Ds who according to cognitive testing is in the top 10-20% but is only currently on track for Grade 2.

Our mega colleges take between 1500 to 2200 p.a. and make offers to at least twice that number knowing that 1/2 to 2/3 will go elsewhere.

Alex It may not be grade dependent, but it was definitely talent dependent for your DD!

Yup, just Cambridge on the 14th (English x 2, French, History and Music for DS) and then all the rest on the 23rd.

23rd will be a busy day - DS and his chums arrive back from their rugby tour, pick up their results, unpack, repack and head off to Reading!

If it’s all disastrous and we need to look at other options for 6th form, I guess Reading gets binned?

Add Maths too for us on the 16th. I need to check is it the 14th or 16th. I think 14th is when results are released to the school and 16th to us?

AH sorry I need the English guides for DS2.
That's a big gap. What is causing it?

DD has two offers but the fall back school even stated that it over offers and only 1/3 of places offered to external students will actually be taken up...we had an email stating if you wanted to take up the place you needed to turn up on the 23rd.

Given that there are only 69 girls staying on into lower 6th at her current school unless DD's results are incredibly poor she will be staying on because the classes are going to be a nice size ...she also knows the teachers well and they know DD ;-).

I like terf's suggestion for the next thread title.

Can't believe the first set of results is out in two weeks (CIE). DD started some pre-A Level reading today so hopefully her English results will be what she needs for her 6th Form.

Hope the rain, wind and cold weather have calmed down for everyone and we can enjoy some 'real' Summer again. Holidays seem to be flying by...

Kingscote - DS is off to Reading too on 23rd - bus goes at 9.30.

Fortunately school emails results between 6am and 6.30am.

However the school opens at 10 to discuss any potential re-marks etc so hopefully he won't need any or hopefully they will speak to.me!

Went out for a meal and had a really good conversation with DD learnt loads about NCS. She is having a whale of time and bringing her out of her shell