GCSE summer 2020 thread 6 - Carry on Corona Cohort, Further adventures aboard the Corona Charabanc.

[FoolsAssassin]

The summer of discovidtent for the Corona Cohort trudging on towards results day.
Ofqual have done them a little video to explain their results:

Please feel free to join us to see what twists the next bit has in store for us all.

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Thread 1 year 10

ooh, maybe we get to stay here then for another 2 years? I know some of you have older DC and are used to the HE threads, and know that whilst certain individual posters mean well with their mountains of knowledge, the constant oneupmanship is tiring - even just to read.

Another one here interested in either MFL, or english, but keeping options open still.

Clearly need to find an alternative word to ‘know’ 😱

I think it’s safest to stay here for a while. There’s usually a thread in Higher Education at the start of Y13 for those who have dc applying to uni. Ds2 (the one I’m on this thread for) is probably looking at Economics or Politics or PPE.

Although some regular posters on HE can be tiresome, especially when they have regular arguments with each other, then can be good sources of info. For example, I found out something very important for DS1’s application for engineering courses that we might have overlooked otherwise.

No I agree Decorhate, and I think they do mean well even if certain posters bring out their competitive side. I am hugely indebted to MN communities for knowledge, and will be even more so for HE as I don’t have first hand experience. Good to hear it served you well with DS1.

I must admit the Secondary Board does seem a 'safe space'. We have to plan a year ahead for summer trips etc due to DH job so I have a list of institutions to check out most are very local though a couple of Midlands institutions. Dd dead set against the London Unis either because of living costs or lack of campus can't work out which.

Post GCSE present is some nice personalised leather folders Dd has had her eye on in typical teen palette of pastels with rose gold

I think it would be good wherever we decide to be if we could hopefully support this with DC doing BTECs and anything else similar as well and I think this is why some years groups of people have decided to move to the FE board.

DD went the BTEC route and I didn’t feel that I fitted in on the GCSE thread any more which felt a bit sad at the time.

No need to go on the HE board just yet. As I have a DS waiting for A Level results I'm there already. There can be a bit of handbags at dawn but by and large it's fine.

There are lots of people with valuable insight and experience who really do want to help. I think sometimes posters just rub each other up the wrong way (mainly on Oxbridge and Medicine) because of tone taken but it doesn't last long.

@OrangeCinnamon1 It will be interesting to see if Open Days return in 2021. DS1 is a bit of a worrier & would not have been comfortable applying to somewhere he had not seen in person. As Ds2 got dragged along to many of the open days last time round, hopefully he will remember what those unis were like if we can’t visit in person for him. Though I bet he won’t want to apply to the ones his older siblings are at (even though they are both excellent for Economics for example).

@Decorhate

I think it’s safest to stay here for a while. There’s usually a thread in Higher Education at the start of Y13 for those who have dc applying to uni. Ds2 (the one I’m on this thread for) is probably looking at Economics or Politics or PPE.

Although some regular posters on HE can be tiresome, especially when they have regular arguments with each other, then can be good sources of info. For example, I found out something very important for DS1’s application for engineering courses that we might have overlooked otherwise.

That was a bit of a cliffhanger!! What was the "very important thing"!??

I find it immensely sobering that the start of year 13 is just over a year away...

Me too Fools. We will not know really how much this year has effected them until they head back to school/college and apply themselves once again after such a long break from normality. What ever that’s going to look like. Even those who have had some continuity of teaching since March. My gut says they’ll be more grown up but more guarded than previous Y12 peers...

Ah yes @foolsassassin we musn't be exclusionary...as we already know some posters doing DC doing btec or subsidiaries and some already considering apprenticeships. Everyone has so much useful info you never know...

It takes some thinking about but I guess the thread, wherever it is, will always be recognised by the signifier Corona GCSE Cohort 😞🤔

@Monkey2001 That in order to become a chartered civil engineer you now need to have a masters degree. (This requirement came in after I stopped working in that sector & none of my friends still working in that field ever mentioned it). It’s easier & cheaper to do an integrated masters rather than a separate one so I was glad to find out in advance.

I thought the FE board was for sixth form and further education college/apprenticeships and HE was for university? But I don’t mind if this stays here!

With dd starting a new school it feels too soon to start thinking about the next step already. She is undecided at the moment between Psychology or a vocational course, probably occupational therapy or maybe mental health nursing. She needs to start A Level Psychology first to see if she even likes it!

I need to get bits together for DS to leave at the accommodation when he goes to enrol day after results. That is s weird thought.

I think technically further education means education for those who have left school but not to degree level. But of course many further education colleges also offer A Levels so it’s not clear cut. I’m sure it doesn’t really matter where the threads are parked.

@foolsassasin What is your Ds doing next year? Very brave to be living away from home already!

He’s going to college a distance away so will be weekly boarding . We nearly didn’t look as none of us were keen on boarding idea but we did and he felt the benefits would be worth it. We’re hoping to move which worked mean his trip there and back would be easier, as would meeting up weekends and holidays with new friends but it is an awful lot of change in one go .

Ah boarding is not as scary! There is a FE college near me & years ago when it was an agricultural college 16 year olds used to come from all parts of the country to do courses there.

It is for me Decorhate I have total faith in the staff though and think it will do him good.

Good luck to you and ds @FoolsAssassin, that's a big change!

Dd has been getting really anxious and having nightmares about changing schools. Last night I had my own college nightmare in sympathy - just the usual not knowing where to go, having no friends type of scenario. It was horrible!

I’m not fussed where we are as long as we’re all together- it’s been quite a journey!
We’re in the lakes at the moment. We booked an earlier week than normal to take advantage of cheaper prices and to fit around the ‘planned summer if fun’ that didn’t materialise.
DD has brought a friend and the girls have been out and about for hours walking with the dawg.
It’s lovely to see them having fun and being so happy!

@20NewNames

DS has the choice of going in or email. There are time slots by alphabet. I think he plans to go in as I have no idea what time the results would get emailed (the exams officer is not the best from past experience so when she gets round to it who knows?!)

He is not in the same alphabet slot as any of his friends though which is a shame. I am glad they get a chance to go in though.

No uniform or business dress at sixth forms here.

Having originally said they have a choice to go in, DS replied and said he plans to go in but here's his email address anyway and has got a reply saying they prefer them not to go in. The only staff there will be the exams officer and her assistant.

Bearing in mind they let them go in and collect leavers books and hoodies weeks ago when the situation was worse, part of me wonders if the teachers just don't want to be there to take any potential flack or responsibilty for the grades awarded

@20NewNames it is something they could have managed with the right comms though..Dd school have been very clear that they have submitted their assessments but ultimately the decisions about the final grades do not rest with them. This way I'm not sure anyone would have the brass to blame teaching staff.

Perhaps all the teachers have booked leave thinking it will not go ahead or something?

We don't need to book leave during the summer. I do think some schools have decided to limit staff for safety. But, also, most teachers I know really are giving results day a swerve if they can...

Goods news today I passed my OU degree with a 2:1 and (fingers crossed) found a wonderful singing teacher for Dd. Off to the Isle of Wight tomorrow for a day trip and weather looking lovely !