GCSE Summer 2020 Thread 10: Carry on Corona Cohort ‘The Next Step''

[OrangeCinnamon1]

Welcome all to the 10th Thread for this year's GCSE cohort - the Corona Cohort!

This is a thread for supporting all young people ( and their parents) who were examined for GCSEs 2020 regardless of the institute they attended or the grades they needed. It is respectfully requested that we are all supportive and helpful to each other.
If you want to start a debate e.g state vs private - please do not within this thread.
Similarly it should be recognised that the grades our children needed/deserved/wanted will vary across the board- we wish to celebrate and comiserate with all. One same grade outcome can simultaneously cause joy and despair for different posters and their families. Please be sensitive when responding to threads about grade outcomes.

Some of us have been here since I started first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. It is hoped this will continue. Going forward we intend to stay on the Secondary Education Board (at least until Mumsnet HQ chuck us out grin ) as from now on our DS/DD may go down various paths such employment, apprenticeships, higher ed etc so we decided not to be exclusionary.

Any new threads should have 'GCSE Summer 2020 Thread # : Carry on Corona Cohort' in title just to make it easier to find. There is no preciousness about who starts new threads!

At this precise moment in time it us 'results day ' most have GCSE results and some awaiting BTEC results .

We are all ALWAYS trying to protect our young people's mental health, which the government claims is their priority...when they talk about wanting students back in schools/college in September popping this here.

previous thread

Driving lessons, wow! Dd is 17 next month but has no interest yet. I hope your dd is having a lovely day @IheartHarryStyles

Dd had a great first day at sixth form. She talked to quite a few people, said everyone was really welcoming and she liked the maths teacher (only one she’s met so far). Phew!

She has her timetable and it doesn’t look too full on, she has 5 free periods a week, which considering she’s doing 4 A-levels is pretty good I think. We’re quite surprised she has two teachers for each subject. Also there’s only 3 students doing Further Maths! So fingers crossed that means that they get amazing personalised teaching and not that they decide it’s not economical to run At the minute dd plans on doing Maths at Uni so that would be a problem!

I have the same age gap as icanbewhatiwant because Ds1 is starting 6th form (different site) tomorrow and Ds2 is starting at the main school, Yr 7. Both are looking forward to it a lot, no nerves.

So DS got an email saying 'due to unforeseen circumstances' his Spanish teacher will be off this week. I wonder of this is the shape of things to come. There was also a philosophy teacher.

@Piggywaspushed was it Spanish that you weren’t sure would run? Fingers crossed for you!

I really hope not Piggy. I can’t imagine how it must feel for your DS to be bumped into a completely non related subject in this manner.

Yes, it was crazy Hmmm...

It could possibly be quarantine or self isolation.

DD started sixth form today, timetable received yesterday. Managed to get on the bus despite no bus pass through yet. Had induction morning and then psychology double lesson this afternoon which she enjoyed. Is pleased she’s met another music student so that brings the total to 3 people doing A level music. Optional wearing of masks. Slightly disappointed that common room is being used as additional staff room.

Driving lessons already, DD has only just turned 16 last month!

First day of 6th form for my DD tmrw. She’s very nervous, doesn’t know anyone. She’s only going in for the morning for induction. I said I’ll treat her to lunch when I pick her up.

Mine started today too, she had a really good day. Think she was pleased to see her friends.and I did a back to school pic to send to her Dad!

Yep ds had an ok day. He said it was weird going somewhere when all the other children knew eachother but he just got on with it.

The classes themselves are ok it is just all a bit billy no mates at break and lunch. I thought they might allocate a buddy but nope. He also wasnt told the timings but tbf he may have just not been listening!

My DD seems to have enjoyed her induction day, although a bit overwhelmed by numbers. Apparently 38 new girls joining nearly 150 boys who have already been at the school. There were only 60 girls in her Y11!

But more induction tomorrow morning and then lessons. She is quite excited about it, but worried about getting lost - the one way system is a bit confusing 🙂

Sodding radio silence which probably means all well but it would have been nice to actually know.,

Definitely a sign that he’s too busy (in a good way) to contact you Fools

DD had a good day 1st day. It sounds suspiciously like @Seeline 's DD school (maybe the same?). They've had to split the Sixth Form Common Room in 2 and DD thinks there aren't enough sofas to go round.

DD thinks it will be good to have some lessons tomorrow. She's a bit nervous that one of her classes appears to be her and 8 boys. I did says that's what you get for going to a boys school and I got the Paddington stare. Apparently the Head gave a talk about the importance of aiming high. DD contrasted this with her former Head who would have given a slide show of holiday pics.

@Seeline my dd is in a very similar situation - moving from a girls school (90 per year) to a boys school (120 per year - 200 in total in year 12). I’m not sure yet how many girls there will be out of the year of 200 as they also accept new boys. It will definitely be a change! Glad your dd enjoyed her first day. Dd starts Friday.

It's good to hear positive stories from those already back.
We are enjoying our last few holidays with dd who goes back Sunday.
Only dh can go with her and she has 15 min to unload the car. We are to collect another girl from her train, and take her to school and they are all placed in households.
Mine opted for her own room rather than sharing. Not due to covid, she always said she would.

The results in the end were really fair and close to predicted, but we will never forget the one week of the inflated algorithm 7/6 for English.
Just 2 A levels so no pressure at all Music/ Art.
I think she was just relieved to pass Maths tbh.

My DS's school sounds a lot like @sandybayley and @Seeline DDs' school (if they are the same). Funny to think DS has never been in a classroom with girls before (although he has a younger sister so quite used to them). Judging by the amount of deodorant used this morning he definitely noticed them (if I had lit a match in his room I think the whole house would have gone up in flames). Good luck to sandybayley jnr and seeline jnr - it must be quite intimidating initially but hopefully by the end of this week they'll all have settled in.

I had quite a stressful run up to the start of school as both DS and DD came down with bad colds - I actually got quite cross with them. They've had since March to be sick, why wait to the week school goes back?? During daylight hours I knew they just had a cold. In the middle of the night I obviously diagnosed acute Covid 19. Our GP told me to get a grip - they had no Covid symptoms (and are old enough that if they did they'd probably get adult symptoms) and a bad cold is going around. So I gave both of them strict instructions to do absolutely nothing but rest for 4 days in order to get better while I waited on them hand and foot. Pleased to report that they are now 100% and DS got dispatched to school yesterday without so much as a sniffle. Of course I've now come down with it. Disappointingly no one has instructed me to do nothing but rest.

@sandybayley - don't think it's the same, DDs 6tg firm centre has been mainly given to the U6, whilst L6 have been given a cafe area which has been spruced up. Don't think they've got any sofas!

Good to know there are others in similar situations @crazycrofter. Good luck to everyone today 🙂

@Seeline - U6 have the 6th form centre and L6 have the room above it which is usually used for presentations and an overflow drama room. Next to the theatre...

First day of proper lessons today. DS2 also back (Year 11). It's a shame that the pair will be at the same school for the first time in 8 years and they probably will never see each other 🙁

@sandybayley I think my DS and your DD are possibly at the same school - both doing IB and the 6th form arrangements sound the same.

@Horace123 - funny. If he's in an English class with 1 girl then they'll meet!

@Horace123 The fate of mothers everywhere....

DD off to first day at Sixth Form. Same school, so no great drama apart from one of her best friends decided yesterday to go to another school!

Nice to read all the 'good first day' posts...

@ChristopherTracy

Well I know that ds has gone back to (his new) school as the whole house was engulfed in a cloud of Lynx this morning. No news, I did ask him to text when he got there but nowt. Fingers crossed.

If this doesn’t sum up just about every teenage boy I don’t know what does! 😂

Back today too. Good to hear those who’ve done say one’s have gone well. DD already phoned to relay her ‘negotiations’ with school premises as to where she can study/hang out until start, library being the preferred option if they’ll let her. There’s now a 2 hour gap between swim training finish and her start time. She is going to be knackered as the term progresses.

Day, not say 🙄