Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

GCSEs 2018 (16) - The Final Countdown

999 replies

mmzz · 09/08/2018 18:34

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3304925-gcses-2018-15-the-reckoning?

OP posts:
sandybayley · 15/08/2018 18:14

@adrinkofwater - very best of luck for tomorrow. The whole process of applying for medicine sounds just too awful to contemplate. I don't think any of my DC are considering it at the moment but I would have loved to have a Dr in the family!

Thinking of @TheThirdOfHerName 's DS as well. Fingers crossed he gets what he needs for the next step.

Good to hear of some positive CIE Geography results. Tried to ask DS about the tricky history paper but he's exhausted after white water rafting this afternoon and needs his phone fix (like his DM) Wink

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 15/08/2018 18:14

Track is Part of the UCAS website under student login that shows the status of your application. Usually the first indication of your results, it shows if your firm and insurance offers have become unconditional.

TheThirdOfHerName · 15/08/2018 18:20

Thank you farangatang and sandybayley

DS1 has gone out and won't be back until late, so the next time I see him will be tomorrow morning when he will hopefully wake up by 8am to login to Track / check emails.

mmmz · 15/08/2018 18:23

So, you know that the university gave a conditional offer of BBB (say) and at 8am on the 16th, you look at Track and it tells you that the conditional offer has been confirmed or withdrawn? And that's how you know you've got BBB or not?
It would be horrible to find the offer withdrawn and then have to get ready to go into college to collect your results, knowing it's not going to be good, but not knowing how bad it will be.

Is that what happens?

TheThirdOfHerName · 15/08/2018 18:25

Yep, that's pretty much it.

If DS1's firm choice has rejected him, then it's fairly certain he will have got below BBB.

TheThirdOfHerName · 15/08/2018 18:26

His offer was ABB but they are offering BBB in clearing for that course, so he thinks they'd take him with BBB.

PandaG · 15/08/2018 18:27

Pretty much that mmmz, but I think if you make your insurance grades that changes to confirmed instead. I have read of insurance offers changing to confirmed, but actually firm grades had also been made. Will have experienced DS go through it tomorrow!

Cherryburn · 15/08/2018 18:29

mmmz you might get a further clue if the insurance choice is showing you have been accepted

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 15/08/2018 18:37

Really thinking of you all tomorrow, those with DC doing A levels and GCSEs. Been with you a long time... Flowers

mmmz · 15/08/2018 19:00

That sounds brutal. I'll keep my fingers crossed that none of your DC have to go through that tomorrow.

The GCSE results seem far off in the future right now because some of you are using the word "tomorrow".

cubscout · 15/08/2018 19:12

Really good luck to all the dc collecting A level results tomorrow. Remember, results can also swing the other way with dc getting better than expected. A friend of mine dc rejected his first choice a few years ago as his results were better than expected and he wanted a crack at Oxford (and he got in after a gap year).

Will be thinking of you all.

TheThirdOfHerName · 15/08/2018 19:12

Just asked DS2 how he is feeling about next Thursday.
His reply:
"Why? What's happening next Thursday?"

Cherryburn · 15/08/2018 19:18

Pretty sure if I asked DS if he was looking forward to next Thursday he’d think I was referring to Reading Festival...

He’s away on holiday with friends (and one of friend’s parents) this week or I’d try it out!

Cherryburn · 15/08/2018 19:26

Btw, is the consensus that we move to the Higher Ed (or is it Further Ed?) forum for Y12? I worry a bit that new people won’t think of looking there. This year’s Y12 thread is in Secondary Education. I assume the Y13 thread is in HE when thoughts turn to post-18 stuff (but haven’t looked in that section for ages).

AlwaysHiding · 15/08/2018 19:40

Evening everyone, I’ve been observing quietly from the sidelines, but not posted as I have had very little to tell.

Mocks were a mixed bag for DD, ranging from 3 (maths), to 8 (English), but we would, as a family, be overjoyed with anything 5 and above next week. DD needs 7 x 5 grades (with a 6 or above in History) to remain at her current school.

Although we’ve had in-depth conversations with senior management about DD’s health issues and the impact this may well have had on her ability during the exam period, we don’t know how much discretion they’ll afford us if the worst happens and she doesn’t meet the criteria. She has had special consideration applied for across all examinations as a result of her health, so we’ve done all we can.

DD doesn’t want to attend anywhere else, although we do have reserve options in place. Current school were very much working on an ‘it’ll happen’ basis, but I know how much she struggled!

So, an intense week ahead for us as we try to hope for the best, while preparing for a potential upset. I officially began losing sleep over it two nights ago, so I’ve done well to block it out so far! DD is blocking it out completely for now. She has more of an ‘off switch’ than I do!

I’d love to be an optimistic person, but life hasn’t led me along that path, so I’ve more of a realistic outlook on this because I saw how hard it was for my DD to function, let alone study and retain vital information over the course of 24 examinations!

I’ve never, in my life, so passionately hoped that I’m wrong. Everything crossed here.

Very best wishes to all of our fabulous DC and DGC.

BlueBelle123 · 15/08/2018 19:41

All the very best for tomorrow thethird and adrinkofwater, I know how you feel as that was me last year, GinWine and Cake will definitely be needed!

TheThirdOfHerName · 15/08/2018 19:41

Further Education for Y12 & Y13, as it includes those doing BTECs, apprenticeships etc.

Higher Education for after that.

Stickerrocks · 15/08/2018 19:42

Should be further ed if we're big & brave enough to move there.

The Guardian Clearing mag at the week3nd explained how Adjustment worked for those DC who become eligible because their grades are better than expected.

TheThirdOfHerName · 15/08/2018 19:43

AlwaysHiding it's good to hear from you. Hopefully the current school will take her circumstances into consideration.

BlueBelle123 · 15/08/2018 19:45

Alwayshiding lovely to hear from you, fingers crossed for your DD next week Smile

AlwaysHiding · 15/08/2018 19:54

Thanks ladies Smile

Does anyone have any idea regarding how much discretion a sixth form could potentially afford a student? DD is thinking she may achieve 3-4 grade 5s and above, but is seriously concerned about the sciences and maths.

I know it’s all speculation, but she’s asked me what I think and I've had to admit that I've no idea!

Oneteen · 15/08/2018 19:59

Alwayshiding - hoping both yourself and DD manage to get through the next week ...Your DD did amazing sitting all those exams and I am sure she will get the results she rightly deserves!

I'm getting plenty of practice with an empty nest ...have not heard from DD since I dropped her off on Monday (NCS wk2)...

Oratory1 · 15/08/2018 20:02

Good to hear from you Always. I would have thought it would be very much up to the school in question. That is very much the advantage of staying at the current school in that they will know of her ability and how able she is to cope with A level courses and also what she has gone through and will not be relying on references etc.

Very best of luck and I hope you are able to get some rest before next week

BlueBelle123 · 15/08/2018 20:04

Aren't some of your DC getting Addmaths tomorrow?

mmmz · 15/08/2018 20:19

I think we agreed that we'd go to Further Education from the first new thread in September and we even came up with a name. I'll try to find it. It was in the last thread