GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

[mmzz]

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

[Cblue]

@mmzz
As soon as I read your 5 weeks post I got nervous again!!!
Is everyone's DC acting like the exams didn't happen and they aren't fussed about the results?
Mine has become so blasé

[mmzz]

Sorry, cblue!

Yes, DS is just like that. It's what made me look up the date and realise with a shock that we're about halfway there already. Wasn't it about 10 weeks when they finished the last exam?

DS is behaving like he's got forever and September will never come around. DH and i want him to make a decision about which sixth form he will attend. I'd like him to decide in principle and then have time to wear it like a pair of new shoes and see if it feels comfortable before finally committing.

DS always seems to think he can decide later. At this rate, he'll be doing it at about 11am on the 23rd.

[terfterf]

Mines just behaving like the results are a formality and his plans won't get altered at all. He's doing lifeguard training which is very full on - 8-5 every day for six days plus homework, exam on Friday, and getting up at 6 to catch a train each day. He's been asleep at 9.30 every night! But he's also been coming home animated and excited by what he's learning, which hasn't happened since about Y8, so hopefully bodes well for sixth form....

[mmzz]

DS - up at 11ish, lounging on the sofa playing with his phone for hours on end, occasionally playing with the xbox, reading sometimes, watching box sets, only doing anything to help in the house if I specifically ask him and rarely going out to play football. Bed at 11pm ish.

I was ok for a week or so with this, but its wearing wafer thin now.

[AlexanderHamilton]

Dd has joined the gym. One of the teachers who teaches seniors spoke to her about her loss of confidence and her fitness issues and has lent her personal copies of DVD's etc for her to use in case she feels too self conscious to go to classes. So she is inspired to get her fitness back and lose the extra weight.

We are off on holiday tomorrow. Got permission to take ds out of school as we were supposed to go on Saturday for 7 days but are going tomorrow for 5 days instead due to dh having been offered a hospital appointment next week.

[Cblue]

DD had 2 weeks work experience followed by a week back at school so only broke up on Friday. Now at her dads for the week and then on hols with me for 2 weeks.

Then the routine will be
Up at 12, reading, Netflix, instagram. Lunch (breakfast) reading, Netflix, instagram. Dinner. Martial arts 2 or 3 hours. Reading, Netflix, instagram. Sleep 3 am.
Repeat

Social lives these days seem to be primarily 'virtual'. Thank goodness she likes MA or she probably wouldn't bother leaving the house!!!

She has given 6th form some consideration and has decided that she will probably stay at school....still not settled on which A Levels though!!!!

[AlexanderHamilton]

What student discount schemes do people know of. Dd has signed up for Unidays. Is there one that gives a discount off young person’s railcard?

[PeggySchuylar]

Cblue you forgot to add trashing the kitchen preparing late/elaborate/unhealthy supper due to late hours when you thought kitchen was sorted

[Cblue]

@PeggySchuylar

So, so right. Luckily it's mainly toasted bagels with cream cheese but it always amazes me how much mess she can generate from something so simple. And what's with putting plates next to the dishwasher rather than actually in the dishwasher!?!!
Surely I can't be the only one who notices the pile of crumbs on the breadboard and the knife covered in cheese?
I guess I should just feel lucky that they aren't on the floor in the living room.
Only myself to blame I guess

[terfterf]

alexander my DS has applied for an NUS card (£12), which gives you money off a student railcard as well as discounts at the Coop, cinemas, museums and loads of stuff abroad. It's basically the only way of proving you're a student, and is available to 16yr olds.
https://cards.nusextra.co.uk

Also, if kids planning to use train for sixth form/college, you can apply for a student connect card from your local train operating company (online), which is free to get and gives you 30% off a monthly/quarterly/annual ticket (or 50% if you're in Cambridge) Worth asking at your nearest decent helpful station

[AlexanderHamilton]

I don’t think that would work for dd as she uses 4 different train companies East Mids or West Mids then change onto Arriva or Virgin.

Wondering if the NUS card is worth the outlay.

[mmzz]

AlexanderHamilton Maybe she'd be better off with a 16-25 railcard or a network railcard? They are £30 per year but I don't think either work with season tickets.

[terfterf]

Alexander
Not sure where you live? Is DD going to be boarding for sixth form, or going to a different, day, school? The schools are usually quite good on having travel information for students. I found this for students in West Midlands
https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/tickets-and-passes/child/16-18-photocard/
I think it's another one of those things that never gets advertised and is really fragmented around the country, everyone doing different stuff. It's annoying that there's no govt policy or standard on this, considering post 16 education or training is now compulsory. Definitely worth pushing for, or start a campaign locally! I know Arriva Bus accept student id cards in order to get discounted fares too.

Trouble with 16-25 railcard is it costs £30 and you can't use it on peak-time travel, so it's no good for school commutes.

[AlexanderHamilton]

She’s commuting for the first year until she is 18 & allowed to go into a student house. We are hoping dh will get his licence back by the end of Sept but making contingency plans if not. She will also be commuting by train to her job on Saturdays.

The train journey goes from our small local station to a major interchange where she has to change trains & get another train to the city where school is.

[AlexanderHamilton]

I didn’t know you can’t use 16-25 at peak times.

[mmzz]

The network railcard seems to deliver the same benefits as the 16-25, cost the same £30 and isn't limited to non peak times.
I must've misread it.

[AlexanderHamilton]

I’ve just googled Network Railcard & it looks like its London & South East only (we are midlands/north west/welsh border routes)

[Jinglebells99]

You can only use the network railcard after 10am Mon to Fri.
www.network-railcard.co.uk/about-the-railcard/the-benefits/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2_fMksKp3AIVA7TtCh3TQA4LEAAYASABEgKrtvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[terfterf]

teentimestwo did you enjoy R and J tonight? Did your child??!

I loved it. Brought it so up to date, so relevant to English society now. DS1 unfortunately was rather dismissive because "it's not traditional and the RSC obviously didn't understand what Shakespeare intended" LOL! Give it 20yrs and he'll get it
DS2 slept through the whole of the last act

Did anyone else see the live screening?

[AlexanderHamilton]

We wanted to see it but Ds had rehearsal.

[mmzz]

I wanted to take DS2 to the live screening. He'll be doing R&J in September. I can't describe his appalled expression when I suggested it. Suffice to say, it clearly wasn't going to be beneficial!

[TeenTimesTwo]

I thought R&J was good, though I didn't enjoy it as much as Macbeth. However that may be because I know Macbeth backwards and have surprisingly never seen R&J before I think.

DD2, 13, was a bit bored in the first half, I think some of the speeches were quite long and difficult to follow. but there were times when she was sitting forward watching avidly, and the second half moved faster.

Juliet reminded me of the princess in Brave - young, Scottish and feisty. She also reminded me an awful lot of DD2 (above) so I think the age characterisation as spot on.

Even DH enjoyed it, so that's saying something!

[mmzz]

AH have you googled what your county council does for school transport for 16-18?

DS gets a rail subsidy for college travel but it will still cost us approx £2500 per year.

[TeenTimesTwo]

DD2 did spot the mention of Mandrake as the sleeping potion (HP fan!)

[AlexanderHamilton]

Mmzz - there is a discount bus pass available for £10 per year from the council which entitles young people to discounted bus travel within Staffordshire (but not stoke which is really awkward for some). There is also travel help for those attending their nearest educational provider only between 3-15 miles.