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Secondary education

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Corona Cohort’s Year 12 adventures

999 replies

FoolsAssassin · 13/10/2020 20:36

We’ve made it into year 12 and rapidly approaching the end of the first half term .

Lots of challenges we could never imagined as we started the year but we’re all keeping on keeping on and this thread is for anyone who would like to jump on board to share the rather unusual journey this is turning out to be.

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crazycrofter · 22/10/2020 09:33

@TheySeeHerRowling I’m so sorry, the lack of things to look forward to is hard isn’t it. @Comefromaway don’t say that! I guess Monday is the latest they could contact us is it? It’s contact within 48 hours of symptoms so if symptoms started Friday or Saturday, test result might arrive Monday? Oh well, i don’t have any particular plans, although dd wants to meet her best friends around a firepit on Monday night (her friend has a barn!).

Comefromaway · 22/10/2020 09:47

Dd's last contact with the person was Monday 12th October which was apparently when the symptoms started. (dd reports they were coughing throughout the class) They were absent from Tuesday 13th onwards and she wouldn't have contact with them Wed-Fri anyway. The notification to isolate came on Monday 19th October.

Comefromaway · 22/10/2020 09:47

She's had to cancel a theatre trip this weekend.

Monkey2001 · 22/10/2020 10:50

@Comefromaway does that mean the SI ends on Sunday 25th, as that will be the end of the 14 days starting on last contact? Just trying to understand the system!

Hope she is able to get out and about for the second week of half term.

Comefromaway · 22/10/2020 10:57

No, she's been told she can't go in college on the Monday. She only gets 1 week for half term, it's ds (who breaks up tomorrow( who gets two weeks.

Monkey2001 · 22/10/2020 11:21

Ah, poor thing Sad. So can she go back on Tuesday?

Comefromaway · 22/10/2020 11:36

Yes, tuesday.

Comefromaway · 22/10/2020 14:09

The area next to whjere we live, (where I work and where the inlaws and ds's girlfriend live) is going into Tier 2. Great

FoolsAssassin · 22/10/2020 19:57

That’s rough timing on both fronts Comefromaway

Just got back from station with DS, half term begins. A much happier Lad than a few weeks ago to my huge relief.

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 22/10/2020 20:02

Fools Really pleased to hear your DS is feeling better about boarding.

ProggyMat · 22/10/2020 20:16

@FoolsAssassin my lass finished her half term last night- yay!
Wonderful to hear your lad is finished too and much more settled and happy!

ChristopherTracy · 22/10/2020 20:27

We are looking good for baseline tests no report though or messages home, I suppose no news is good news.

Piggywaspushed · 22/10/2020 21:14

Ds now saying he wants to drop economics. They ahve exams/ assessments in three weeks, so he is sulking because we have told him to wait for the results. I know doing 4 could mean he does less well in all of them but still jittery about the lack of Spanish input. But he still says he wants to do 'something to do with languages'.

I told him he has to start looing at unis . he did do a personality test on Unifrog and came out exactly as I expected.

We have had a glorious few weeks of non covid disruption at his place (not so much at mine where I had 14 year 11s missing from my class. Did they do any work I set them? Did they heck...)

FoolsAssassin · 23/10/2020 07:28

Thank you . Such a relief he is happier , it’s definitely a good fit for him, just a shame we aren’t closer.

Piggy, I’m usually of the opinion that 4 unnecessary but given the Spanish situation it seems to be sensible to wait until the tests. Is he thinking a MFL degree? If so when looking at courses can I suggest he researches how the departments have handled the year out in regards to Covid? I think it will give a good indication about the, generally. Some have done what they call an inverse year (switch years 3 and 4) so the students could continue learning in a comprehensive ways whereas others have been more adhoc and there are some doing whatever the department have scrabbled up for them,large numbers deferring the year and others online with host universities, bit of a mess. It has been very stressful for DD.

OP posts:
MirandaWest · 23/10/2020 07:55

DD (year 10) is currently doing DS's eye makeup. He is being an e boy for the 6th form dressing up for Halloween day. I am glad she can do it as I would have no clue!

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 23/10/2020 08:43

@Piggywaspushed DS also wants to drop Economics, he is finding it really boring and dry. I don’t think he’s allowed to drop it til Feb though which is a shame, he’s very clear on which 3 he wants to continue with.

crazycrofter · 23/10/2020 09:16

Last day here, phew! Dd has worked really hard these last few weeks, made loads of friends at her new school and seems pretty shattered! Quite grumpy the last few days and keeps arguing with ds.. Hopefully they'll both benefit from the break. It's probably felt even more full on than usual after 6 months off!

I'm keen for dd to start looking at unis, but I think it's more for my benefit - I love researching things, planning ahead etc! She's now saying she definitely wants to study Psychology.

@Piggywaspushed hope the Spanish teaching gets sorted soon. It does sound sensible to stick with what he really wants to do. Can you get a tutor if need be?

I feel for those who are having to stick with a fourth subject for longer... it's such a lot of work, which must feel pretty pointless if you're sure of the one you're dropping.

ChristopherTracy · 23/10/2020 10:25

though DS has always been adamant that he doesnt want to go to Uni.

Piggywaspushed · 23/10/2020 11:00

That's interesting info OP. Thanks.

I think 'we' are looking at Leeds, Newcastle, Lancaster, Southampton, York, Birmingham, Cardiff type of ballpark so any insight on those gratefully received : grades depending. trouble with MFL is it is largely the top unis so high grades almost everywhere decent.

I was on a really nice MFL thread but it got a bit sidetracked!

FoolsAssassin · 23/10/2020 11:18

Yes I do Piggy, will PM you.

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JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 23/10/2020 11:21

Birmingham is a very good uni, well it was back in the day, haven't been there for a loooong time! Grin, I was desperate to go to Cardiff but didn't quite get the grades so didn't bother checking if they might still have me, it was different kettle of fish back then and I was the first person in the family to go to uni, I had to navigate everything myself so didn't really understand the way it all worked.

My niece went to York and loved it.

DS has his heart set on Nottingham at the moment but they want all As - gulp.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 23/10/2020 11:22

Sorry that wasn't very helpful in terms of MFLs at those unis, I was just reminiscing! Blush

Piggywaspushed · 23/10/2020 11:26

I went to York so did append that oneSmile. It doesn't really do the type of MFL degree he is after, though.

Piggywaspushed · 23/10/2020 11:27

I missed Nottingham off my list but I did my PGCE there. It's also a possibility. MFL degree looks a bit bland.

FoolsAssassin · 23/10/2020 11:42

I am very interested to hear about which universities are handling Covid well. Was originally going to encourage DS apply to Edinburgh but won’t now as have read of some very unhappy students which combined with distance has put me off suggesting it.

Was talking to friend this morning and we both agreed they need to work out what sort of environment they will be happy in, her DD has had a miserable 3 years in Bristol so relieved that is currently able to stay home and study online so far this year. Bristol just not her cup of tea whereas really suits some.

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