GCSEs 2018 (16) - The Final Countdown

[mmzz]

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

What is a NUS card?

Sorry just Googled it. National Union of Students card.

mmmz one week from Thursday indeed.

With the registering to vote thing, you only really need to register them when you receive your annual reminder. It's effective date is some time in October. Unless there's a snap election in the meantime and they are already 18.

I looked at registering DS2 for the NUS+ card but you have to be on roll full-time at a place of education, so we won't be able to do it until term starts.

My DS got an email from our local council about registering to vote. They said it's an £80 fine if he doesn't register by 31st August...

I got the annual electoral register reminder letter in yesterday and did it quickly online (before I forgot). I'd barely pressed when my DS got a similar email to your DS ,Terf, with the same £80 fine warning.

It only takes 2 minutes but it is worth sitting with them to explain why they wouldn't want to be on the open register (although I wonder if that will be sch an issue in these GDPR days?)

I had a form come in the post this morning from the council but it states that 16/17 yr olds can be added but its not compulsory ...seems like there is not a LG consistent policy (surprise/surprise). It also stated that students can be added at home and away (Uni)

I will check with DD's DF just to make sure he has not added DD because he lives in a different CC area.

Just has a matter of interest where are the councils getting teens email addresses from?

I wondered that too!

In Ds's case, I gave it to them when i went online to confirm the voter registration. From me, it only wanted to know DS's name and his email address.
Then the system instantly emailed DS direct and asked for date of birth, NI number and a few other bits and pieces.

Is the NUS extra card worth having? Does it do anything other than give discounts at various shops?

NUS card/similar is the only proof that lots of places abroad will accept of being a student (eg museums, travel tickets, cinemas, youth hostels) - I know in uk everyone is either child/adult/senior but certainly in Europe there are usually discounts for students too but most places are quite strict on id. Passport proves age but not status.

I would be surprised if my council even know my DD exists ...I have not added her to any voters roll or census.

DD has her timetable for next year which has been loaded onto her school Ipad....looks like on some days she does not need to be in school till 9.45am.

Just been staring at your name mmmz thinking, she hasn't changed what's she on about :):) I can see it now !!

Yesterday I did absolutely nothing and it was bliss.

DS decided against NCS in the end and it has given him a chance to work which has been good and the novelty hasn't worn off yet so he's still enjoying it. I know some of your DC have had a difficult time at NCS but I can't help thinking (tho I may be wrong) it was actually intended in a way for those DC without the opportunities that either private schools or supportive parents like you will provide - to give those DC skills in working with others, communicating etc so I am glad actually that a range of DC seem to be taking part as I was worried that it would be taken over by those already with those opportunities. It is also good for our DC to mix with wider world and learn some of the patience that Teen DD is clearly showing (although some of you I know do this already). I guess the issue is though that if that is to be the case there is a need for strong, talented leaders which do not seem to be in place either through underfunding or shortage of available people. I didn't put that very well but I hope you get what I meant. And some seemed to have enjoyed it or at least gained something from it.

A week on Thursday sounds so much closer than 14 days etc Now is the time to keep telling myself he only needs 4 for English 7 in maths, 6 in physics, the other don't matter :)

We too got our electoral form at home asking to confirm/ASD anybody over 16.

And got a text from tfl to remind to replace Oyster card for my teen.

Was taking out health insurance for DD other day and they mentioned to me on the phone that the next time she is around to get her to come on the phone to consent to her data being shared with her parents. Haven't had anything from GP as yet.

Will take a look at the NUS card.

To confirm/add*

Oratory1 - I was going for phonetically similar but just enough different to not make the extended searches on my posting history easy!

I spent a couple of hours helping DS1 weed through all his old GCSE notes and jotters (he has a better name but I can't think what it is). I wanted him to make up a file for DS2 that would be useful when he does his GCSEs in 2020.

We found all sorts of pristine handouts that his teachers gave DS that would have been extremely useful a few months ago, had he bothered to walk the three steps to his bookcase and look in files. Not using them added days of extra work.

Anyway, that's another mistake I won't be repeating with DS2.

I also found a little summary table to fill in that the school gave us back in September. It lists the subjects, the target grades, and DS was supposed to write in his mock results and various monitoring predictions as well as what he was hoping for last September.
I've taken it and I'm looking at it on my desk now (having just filled it in for him!). I'm going to keep it until the 23rd and see how good the school predictions were.

DD and I had our first conversation about GCSE results yesterday ...DD stating what if I fail them all ...my reply that isnt going to happen...Dd stating that she knows that she hasnt done very well (or as well as she could) in Eng Lit because of brain fog in the exam ....me stating that she had already done 40% of the exam (course work) and that her overall vocab.grammar etc was already of a high standard and not to worry. Quite a change really because up until yesterday she was - what will be will be and that she could not change anything.

Well now I know how Council got DS's email....DH just arrived home and i was discussing it with him. Ten minutes later he said, "oh that'll be because of the electoral firm that I did last month. Yes I gave them DS's email"
I gave him a roasting for betraying DS's privacy AND not bothering to mention it!! He would go apeshit if I did that to him

We have also just received a TfL reminder about the new 16+ Oyster card.

Back from delivering DD to airport to head off with friend's family to (hopefully not burning) Greece.

Just me and DH. On our own. With the house to ourselves. He is watching the cricket and I am ordering bulbs for the garden. We ARE our parents, there's no escape...

Consider getting a 16-21 railcard as well. DD is going to use hers as photo id.

You can apply on line for the 16-21 railcard and it can be stored on their mobile instead of having a physical card sent out(means they would normally always have ID on them if they have their mobile phone with them). I actually applied on line for DD's (Photo can be added on line), then realised it was a waste of money because DD gets free rail travel because her DF works for one of the train operating companies (so it is purely for ID).

I know everyone says get photo ID, but my imagination is failing me as to what they need photo ID for?

I attempted to use DD's so she could have a glass of wine when we ate out recently BUT they had a restaurant rule of 18+ to even have a glass of wine with a meal....
DD is going to a festival in a few weeks time just with a friend and they need to be 16 plus to not have an adult with them ...(so that sort of thing)