GCSE Summer 2020 - Thread 11 Carry on Corona Cohort - Starting New Terms and Settings

[OrangeCinnamon1]

Welcome all to the 11th Thread for this year's GCSE cohort - The Corona Cohort!

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs regardless of the institute they attend 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 don't within this thread.

Similarly it should be recognised that the grades our children need/deserve/want will vary across the board. One same grade outcome can simultaneously cause Joy and Despair for different posters. Please be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

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 any new threads should have 'GCSE Summer 2020 Thread # : Carry on Corona Cohort' in title just to make it easier to find. Not fussy about who starts those !

From now on our DS/DD may go down various paths such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed, so we decided not to be exclusionary and stay right here in Secondary - at least until Mumsnet HQ chuck us out .

At this precise moment in time we have had GCSE results . It has been decided that the higher of Centre Assesd Grades and Calculated Grades will be awarded - the algorithim seems to have been applied a schol level to the detriment of some students. Lots of our young people have already started on the next stage of their journey with some still to start.

We are all STILL trying to protect our young people's mental health, which the government claimed was their priority...when they talk about wanting students back in schools/college in September...now we have their physical health to consider too as the mingling at various settings starts up again. Hopefully a positive experience this term!

First Thread

previous thread

Thanks for the new thread . Nothing to report. Just placemarking!

DD has survived her first 3 days. So far the BTEC in business studies seems to be her favourite subject (she’s also doing A-levels in maths and economics).

Not starting until Monday but popped in today to return old books and some uniform so DD got to see her school again so not such a shock on Monday. Been tidying up her work space and amalgamating her books that she wants to keep and what gets passed on. New year new start so hopefully she feels prepared by Monday.

I'm so going to miss her being around so much and she's also volunteered at her local dance school a couple of times a week so will be busy.

Thanks for new thread.

The wanderer has returned! Seems ok so huge relief 🙂

Ds was told to take a lever arch file with dividers for each subject. I remember ds1 having the odd day with 3 subjects. 3 lever arch files plus packed lunch don't fit in a rucksack. But I guess at least all the work is in one place.

Thank you for new thread Orange

Checking in on new thread. Finally dd received timetable today and information for Monday's induction. She's pleased she has found one other girl in one of her subjects she is taking (traditionally lots males and v few females take the course) and two days she has v short days so is currently planning on going shopping after lessons - had to remind her that free periods are for study 😂.

They have given covid information - masks are encouraged in corridors etc - bejng split into 2 groups for study so one week in and one week online - but we already knew that was happening so not a surprise. Cafes will be open but encouraged go bring own food as they are cutting back on break/lunch times to start the day later and finish earlier.

Anyway she's excited for Monday now.

Timetable has arrived 5 hours per A level per week, plus tutorial hour and music performance hour. One week in , one week out. Monday not starting until 3pm , all others starting at 10am or 1.15 . But next week only Induction..lots to get head around , she seems on edge

Is it supposed to be 5 hours self study per A level ?

Glad everyone seems to have had a good start where they have been back this week. DD off to board on Sunday - I'm really dreading it as she's my baby..... At least 2 car loads of stuff to take with her - she doesn't believe in travelling light.

SHe is starting to get a bit apprehensive but has been whattsapping the other girls in her dorm and they all sound nice.

Good luck to everyone else starting next week.

That's nice @Londonmummy66 that they.are all chatting together. So all together we have three boarders, @FoolsAssassin, @londonmummy66 and @devlesko? Fab and and for you all, sure it'll be no time until they're back.

Dd was a bit overwhelmed today I think. Found the school ‘huge’ (200 per year, compared to 85) and the presence of boys a bit intimidating . All the girls are new but she reckons half of them are from the local girls Grammar so they know each other - and the boys- already. I’ve reassured her it will take a while to settle in and make friends.

Not surprised Crazycrofter, that is quite a change and I think this year the ones who all know each other are very pleased to see each other that it seems extra intimidating. There’s a group in DS’s school who all know each other and the arrival of the year 13s In the flats midweek wasn’t easy for DS as there is only 1 other year 12 in his flat and I think it took 2 nights to realise who he was and where. Please tell her she isn’t the only one and it will get easier.

Londonmummy having had the WhatsApp group will be a big help, DS could have done with that, would have smoothed the way. He’s not keen in going in the kitchen but luckily I gave him food for his room which got him through- knew from friends with tall boys who have boarded that they often lose a fair bit of weight so need ready supply of extra food. The parents WhatsApp group has been amazing and some of the year 13 Mums have got us all through some teething wobbles.

Induction week over, main timetable now here which does actually have a few frees. First group project given which sounds very interesting and is starting to cement friendships. Academic side has been good, the boarding and travel a steep learning curve as COVID has definitely upset how things have been done and had a negative effect on the induction stage. Huge relief to see him yesterday and more talkative than expected!

Thank you Seekine for your notes organisation advice, have passed that on,

Signing in, mine starts back on Tues, I think we're ready. Thanks for the new thread

Signing in. First 2 days have gone well for DD. Not sure she'll emerge from her pit until the afternoon though. She needs to catch up on sleep after two early starts!

DD’s school has a strictly enforced one way system. She and her friend were so busy chatting that they walked past their classroom - and thus had to walk all the way round the school again...

Hi, my DD just joined Year 12 at her school. She doesn’t get free periods but has supervised study sessions. Is this the norm now? What do other schools let their students do when they don’t have a subject lesson?

Another one here who found the social side of induction tricky. He only spoke to 1 person as although half the people in sixth form are new to the school, they were mostly in groups from secondary schools. He regretted arriving early with noone to talk to, but knows it will get better.

Oh Monkey, you do really feel for them don’t you ☹️ It does get better but I think this year it is extra hard as a fair few have been holed up in bedrooms for ages and it seems more daunting.

BlueMarigold DS is free to leave school during his frees as far as I am aware.

Welcome @BlueMarigold!

DD is allowed to leave school during study periods but a) there isn’t really anywhere to go and b) none of them are at the beginning or the end of the day.

They have a common room with a kitchen and a separate sixth form study room, so I think the culture is to stay in school and eat toast/study.

@Monkey2001@FoolsAssassin sorry you hear others are finding the social side hard at first. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to be away from home at first - your ds has done so well!

DD’s timetable is interesting - she has 1 hour of each subject every day. I can’t decide if it’s a good or bad idea academically. The college she almost went to does 2 2.25 hour sessions a week per subject so you don’t necessarily have lessons every day and you definitely don’t do each subject every day.

I think it will be good for settling in though as it means she’ll see her subject classes really regularly and can get to know those people.

Morning everyone. Thank you for the new thread @OrangeCinnamon1

Sending positive vibes to any students (and parents!) feeling a bit wobbly and overwhelmed ...it is such a change for many of them. Hope everyone starts to feel more settled soon.

DS begins properly on Monday. Think he’s ok but starting to feel a bit nervous. We did a trial run of his route yesterday, he has a 25-30 minute walk each end of a train ride. 16,000 steps and that’s not including any walking around college! I wonder how many mornings he’ll be requesting a lift to the station

DS has been able to re start karate training this week too which is a big plus and will do him a lot of good - he has really missed it during lockdown I think. Just keeping fingers crossed he is able to carry it on.

Morning all and thanks to @OrangeCinnamon1 for the new thread.
DD has started at her school sixth form which she describes as 'no big deal, just school with less subjects and no uniform'. She is making an effort to make new students feel welcome knowing that it must be really hard entering an environment where lots of them already know each other. Good luck to all starting this week

Just checking in.