GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

[mmzz]

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

I just googled the Staffordshire council student travel page. They are fairly unequivocal that just because you have to stay in education until 18 doesn't mean that they'll help after year 11.

We are having the same issue wrt to DS. Given that he's just turned 16, he's now an adult as far as the trains are concerned and that's when the state no longer has responsibility.

It is a big, sudden hit on the family finances but there's no way around it (I've looked!) unless he goes to a sixth form college within walking distance.
It is just one of those things.

Back in the day Stoke & Staffs used to share LA education services too. Now they are completely separate despite the fact that for many Staffs residents Stoke schools & colleges are closer & vice Versa.

We are also dead on the Cheshire border.

Yes, that’s exactly the issue. I know we’ve chosen a very different path for dd & are prepared for the cost of travel but it’s the fact that at 16 she’s now classed as an adult on the trains that makes a big difference. Oddly, until she’s 17 if she travels with us she can still get friends & Family discount.

Next MN campaign - nationwide policy on transport fare reduction for U19s in education/training. Even if it meant having to buy an NUS card to prove your status. It's mad that there is no policy on this, unlike so many other countries I have visited.

It's yet another downside to privatisation. Once they've done it to the NHS I can forsee similar issues with having to pay for Dentist/GP care for 16-18yr olds in certain regions but not in others. Postcode lottery yet again

This has been covered!
Child/Adult Train Fareswww.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_campaigns/3050679-Child-Adult-Train-Fares

Got it, many thanks for new thread, mmzz and hello to all. Abroad at the moment, so haven't really been checking in.

Thanks for new thread mmzz...not had time to catch up....back from our cruise today and washing machine very busy....DD off to a weekend conference at HRow Airport tomorrow for a US based youth performing arts group ..I'm staying with her overnight on Friday and then if she's happy to stay on her own I'm coming back home to attack the rest of the washing on Saturday and DF picking her up on Sunday.

Loved Norway and our stop in Honfleur and Hamburg...DD didnt want to come home she has had an amazing time (I think she was the only Brit in Teen club) and formed an amazing bond with Germans/Austrian/US teens -I think she enjoyed all the attention and managing to get into the over 18's disco... (teen club was mainly boys). All the grass looks so scorched

DD not going to Reading but she's off to the Sundown Festival in Norfolk camping with a friend at the end of August...busy month ahead she's off cruising again with DF...then NCS...

Just 69 girls in lower 6th form come September so tiny cohort..... DD not so sure about her form (they have mixed the friendship groups up within forms), she has the head of English has a form tutor which I think maybe good although DD not over keen!

Hope everyone whose families have health issues (& Sost) continue to recover...

Hello everyone. Currently feeling like a horrid Mum as I have sent DD off on the tube for her second week of NCS and she really did not want to go. She came back exhausted from the first week as some of the participants were blaring music until 1.30am, screaming and roaring at 4am and the leaders, the majority of whom seem to be 18/19 years old, spent most of the days(and nights) issuing warnings and yellow cards with little effect. One girl left on the second day and another three people left on the third day as they had enough. She said she just couldn't believe how some of the 'kids' behaved and how they spoke to the leaders. One of the mums who picked up described them as feral and baboons ( A mum I know btw - this didn't come from DD).
So why did I send her back? Firstly, I asked her if she felt in any kind of danger and she said no - just that the bad behaviour ruined all the activities as some people wouldn't follow the rules so their hike was cut short and the rafting was finished early as it was chaos. Secondly, I feel she will meet all sorts in the world and that this is what a percentage of teens are like and she can't exist in a bubble forever. Thirdly, I think some really challenging teen times made me stronger and stopped me being a quitter. But oh God I feel so
Has anyone else experienced a difficult first week on NCS that got better?

jugglingmummy my work colleague DGD had similar experience to your DD plus experienced lack of food. And yet I still packed my DD off to NCS this week for exactly the same reasons as you. My DD due back tomorrow from her first week....

JugglingMummyof2 that's a shame that the immature behaviour of a few are ruining it for the others. I hope it improves.

juggling I would have done exactly the same as you! And for the same reasons. And explained to DS that other kids have perhaps not had the same adult role modelling that he's had and have no ideas about behaviour. I have heard about parents using NCS as "cheap childcare" for a few weeks so I guess there will always be a rogue element in there. I made DS keep going to cadets after the first few really difficult sessions when he didn't don't know anyone and was scared of the sergeants - and he was 13 - and he now is glad that I did. Like you say, if they're not in danger then you just get on with it and try and gain as much as you can personally from the whole experience.

DS thinks he's sleep deprived! He only got 6 hours last night...he should try having him as a baby

No experience of NCS myself, sorry. Some friends" DC have done it this year and have been a bit shocked at the behaviour. I had it in my head that it was for 'right on' middle class types locally but it seems not!

We are half way through our holiday. Amsterdam has been brilliant but we are now a bit museumed out. Van Gogh museum was fabulous but so busy! The science museum, Nemo, kept us entertained for over 4 hours. The Rijksmuseum was cheaper and massive as well. Under 19s were free there. If I was going to do it again I'd get an IAMsterdam card but by the time we'd realised we had already been on a boat cruise and the Van Gogh museum.

Tomorrow we're going to a Dutch Center Parcs for a rather different kind of hopefully relaxing few days, except we'll be negotiating public transport there and back!

Oh you lovely lovely lovely lovely people xxxx
Thank you so much for the support - total unmumsnetty kisses.
Yes - lack of food was mentioned - no vegetables or fruit bar cucumber slices and small green apples.
I should say that DD isn't really in a bubble - I'm being harsh. London state school(but a nice one) travels all over the city by bus, tube and train and has flown from Heathrow alone. Went to a very diverse primary too but she obviously has been shocked by how the kids back chat and curse and insult the leaders and the ' you can't make me' attitude.
I really do appreciate your input.
She has safely arrived and is going to make the best of it.

@Juggling....DD does not go until 6th August but I fully understand your reasoning in sending your DD to the second week...DD's induction day seemed to highlight that there will be an assortment of DC's within DD's group which will take her out her comfort zone (she doesnt know anyone going). I think NCS has slightly lost its initial goal/attractiveness by encouraging DC's to go together by actively marketing it within schools for friendship group holiday away from parents (on DD's NCS there will be 80% of the DC's from just one school)...a lot of parents obviously buy in because they think its a cheap way of entertaining their kids for 3 weeks which is not what the scheme was designed for "???" My niece went in the initial days and she was just one of a few from her school and she benefited enormously and she did gain leadership skills....

So no not a difficult week but from the induction day my expectations are similar to what your DD has highlighted and will be completely different from DD's all girls Indie school. If Safety was an issue I would look at it differently....the activity centre DD will attend is a very good one (so crossing fingers with food) and the UNi is 10 minutes drive from where we live.

Bit concerning to hear the NCS stories. My dd is going on Saturday and has been moved to a group from another town 45 mins away because uptake was poor for her group. I’m feeling a bit messed about because we were rung to ask if she could move to a group starting the next day last week. And now the group has been added to another towns group. We are in a rural area. To be honest, I wouldn’t force my dd to go if she was unhappy. Or force her to go back for week 2. My son went three years ago and had a good time.

DD is at the end of week 3 of her NCS, but it is specifically for her school sixth form so she knows most of the kids. First week she was annoyed with some of the people she was sharing with staying up late chatting, but she enjoyed the activities, and food was good but portions perhaps slightly on the small side. She loved week 2, staying in halls and self catering - she is a pretty good cook anyway and her group made healthy balanced meals and had a lot of the budget left over.

I really hope your DC enjoy their experiences.

I've only ever heard positive stories about ncs but hopefully that particular crowd will have calmed down for week 2 (or left!)
DS1 is off on a short music tour to Germany tomorrow, which means an early start for us but he'll have a great time! DS2 will be delighted to have the computer to himself.

EllenJane we went to Amsterdam and then De Kempervennen last year. Both were great.

DD is off on her 3 weeks on Monday. One of the local groups is busy promoting their family fun day and another group was busking for charity in the city centre this morning. I would have done exactly the same as you.

Hi all

JugglingMummy I hope your dd has a better time this week at NCS; I've only heard good things about it other than your dd's experience. It's character building not to give up on something as you say.

Sticker I hope your dd has a great 3 weeks.

My ds has been with Grandparents a lot working in their massive garden; they are 87 and 88 and their garden keeps them going even though it is just too much at this time of year. They love having ds there - teaching him all about plants and getting him to dig potatoes, feed tomatoes, cut back weeds, whitewash the greenhouses etc. Other than that he is having a pretty quiet time; I am hoping 6th form college will bring new friends with plenty in common with him.

We go on holiday to Sitges close to Barcelona week after next and I can't wait! Has anybody been to that area? Ds likes open spaces and dd likes pool, beach and food. I just want to see Barcelona especially the architecture. Here's to hoping this is a holiday where there's something for everyone!

terfterf thank you for the info on NUS card

What exciting times our DCs are having.
Had a call to say that they all have their own rooms and access to a kitchen and she has been actively involved in meal prep and cooking.
There has obviously been a crack down as no-one is allowed in to anyone else's room and if there are more than 5 people assembled in the common room a mentor must be present.
She is sad to report than one of the two boys who were ostracised and bullied last week has not returned. She is glad that she went as so far so good.
A massive thanks for all for your support( yes even the one who said they would not have forced their DC - it was less forced than made it clear I expected her to see it through but......). Mumsnet, at times of crisis, you rock!!

This is now officially my fave thread EVER on any forum
This is what parenting support looks like. Not blindly agreeing, or dismissing, but sharing and asking and explaining.
We are all brilliant parents because we CARE about the decisions we're making. Thanks xxx