GCSEs 2018 (18) Well that's all over, let's get the party started

[Stickerrocks]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3341060-GCSEs-2018-17-What-will-be-in-your-coffee-cup-on-Thursday

LimitIsUp
Single user licence for Sonocent is £150.
I did think about getting it for DS2 for sixth form, but decided not to for two reasons:

• It needs a large laptop screen to use properly, and he is using a school-issue Chromebook.
• Unlike university lectures, sixth form classes are not usually in the form of a power-point presentation with the teacher imparting information for each slide. Maths in particular would be more doing than listening.

Yes good point. Psychology A level may involve a bit more lecture style content than say Maths, but a sixth form class is likely to comprise of more group work and interaction than a University lecture. Will hang fire for a bit on that one

Also we found uni course vary incredibly between huge lecture style classes and more seminar, small group and project work. Also vary between assessment via coursework, presentation and exams. So if you know one style suits you it’s worth researching and asking questions

Student support at university did DC's assessment and dsa application. I think it cost £50. You could book an assessment just before start of term.

That’s interesting Peggy - did they do the equivalent of the ed psych assessment for evidence too then

Oratory1 - I know someone who has chronic fatigue syndrome who is reading chemical engineering at Nottingham purely because they provide podcasts of all lectures so it won't matter if she can't make them all.

Oratory1 - DS had an assessment too (dyslexic) and qualified for a free laptop at uni (not means tested as he wouldn't have if it had been).

Looks like it's a clean sweep of happy faces.

It's usually employers who take the hit on the cost of reasonable adaptations. Anything an individual benefits from outside of work they would normally provide themself. One of my former colleagues is paralysed from the chest down and he was given a fully adapted vehicle by our employer which he could drive himself using his head, but he had to pay tax on the benefit in kind.

My cousin got a first through the OU a couple of years ago. She is visually impaired, but they put everything possible in place to help her.

Hi - a regular on here but have name changed today as I have been "outed" in real life. Happy to let anyone on this thread who is regular know who I was if you DM me.

Shalom! That's a brilliant name I suspect I know who you are...

Also popping on to say hi with a name change all ready for the new term. I used to be associated with the scouting movement!

Just returned from a shopping trip for shirts/ties/shoes for DS. M&S menswear department was full of sixth form boys with their mum or dad. They all had exactly the same pained expressions on their faces (as did the parents!)

I've got it, Kilash.

No idea, Shalom!

All sorted, DS now enrolled in his first choice college - been out and bought lots of stationery in celebration! Could have done without the last week in terms of stress and upset but I am glad it has worked out in the end. I am praying that he loves his courses and this is the start of a happy and positive new chapter in his life. Thanks for giving me a place to vent over the last week

I'm glad it has all worked out for him, Ggirl.

That's brilliant Ggirl. He can hit the ground running now! His first assignment will count towards his final grade... good luck.

gGirl I love a happy ending

Kilash I think I know who you are!

Was it decided that we would move to FE board once this thread is full?

Great that it’s all sorted Ggirl. Now have a relaxing stress-free weekend!

BlueBelle that was the plan! Do you fancy starting it?

Something like Y12 (19) New beginnings?

oh Cherryburn - that was me with DS last week - lots of squirming, awkward, lanky 16-year-old boys in the M&S menswear department.
As I anticipated, there was nothing left in stock which was the right colour and fitted him, so in the end, I just got him to try jackets and trousers for size and then came home and ordered 4 different suits online which he then happily tried on at home and chose two!
Top tip - there are lots of M&S suits available 'online only' and there is 20% off until 5 September!

Thanks Wonderwine. Most uncharacteristically I bought his suit at the beginning of the holidays. Thus missing out on 20% off .

I’ve stuck with getting him one suit plus a pair of chinos. I don’t trust him not to grow again; we had to buy him a suit last year for a funeral and it won’t go anywhere near him now. I’m hoping he won’t grow upwards anymore (he’s 6’ 5”) but I think he’s still got a fair bit of growing outwards to do.

Excellent to hear things went well for Ggirl junior.

Seems like a lot of us have been shopping - DD1 and I tackled sixth form outfits today and she's delighted with her new footwear, which is just different enough from the "school shoes" she's been wearing of 12 years, without being so different that it pushes her too far out of her comfort zone!

And I'm delighted that she let me persuade her to buy some new trousers and shirts as well, so she will hopefully not live in the same three well-worn items of clothing all term.

DS home and flaked out on the sofa!
He is delighted with his teachers and the groups and says he got ‘good feedback’ on his suit!

Back in at 9am tomorrow for the first rugby match of the season - 2 hours’ coach drive away...