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Original poster

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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OP posts:
Monkey2001 · 20/11/2020 23:45

Maths challenge results came out last week, but DS hasn't got his yet. Anybody else here heard anything? I am sure they must be distorted by cheating with people doing it at home.

Zandathepanda · 20/11/2020 23:48

Oooo
I would like to get the certificates so glad the schools have them now - it does seem ages ago. I think the retakes are just about over now too.
Still no news on reports nor parents’ evenings.
Just ordered more thermals for Dd though she got caught out by the fact school actually had heating on for the first time, for a meeting in the hall.
She was very pink when I picked her up!

sandybayley · 20/11/2020 23:58

@Monkey2001 - DD got her SMC result and is through to the Kangaroo. Very pleased. It was done at school so definitely no cheating!

orangecinnamon · 21/11/2020 00:06

@ealingwestmum

Lots of updates from you all, some good on DC thriving and others having more challenging times, which I'm sorry to hear.

Not much to report here. Did receive DD's GCSE certificates this evening. Felt a little weird, and also how long ago it all seems, now we are fast approaching Christmas break.

We've been invited to an online awards evening next week. There will be prizes apparently I hope it is done sensitively Hmm. They will make arrangements for collection of certain after lockdown just let me send you a SAE ..please
Original poster
FoolsAssassin · 21/11/2020 08:20

Good week for DS this week after a shaky start on Monday when he left. Was lovely to hear him chatting away in the car last night, so different to the quiet and highly introverted lad he was in lockdown. Think he is enjoying having a couple of groups of friends that he has things in common with, new experience for him.

SMC results are in. They all sat them in college. The poor year 13s had school mocks, the SMC and a third sat the MAT that week. They were by all accounts a bit of a wreck by the end . College sat them down when they got their mock results with the 2019 mock results and how they translated to A2 that summer. They are very similar to what they just got so gave them a fair bit of reassurance that they are on track to whatever they will end up facing in the summer.

OP posts:
icanbewhatiwant · 21/11/2020 08:36

Ds announced last night that he has lots of mocks exams next week. The week after parents consultations. Would have been better after all the tests.

I can't get him to drive the car. He insisted ds1 brought the car back from university for him to drive. So we bought ds1 another car. He brought the older one back. Now ds2 won't drive. He says he wants to sleep until lunchtime (when no school obviously) then he has school work to do. So no time. I wouldn't mind if he hasn't insisted he wanted the car back and asked us to insure him to drive.

AnneOfCleavage · 21/11/2020 10:42

I was only saying to DD on Thursday that her GCSE certificates would be due soon so I guess we'll hear soon too.

She had her re-sit on the test she got 67% in (had to get 70%+ to continue) and scored 100% this time. Obv she knew the questions as an exact re-sit so she knew what to revise but she's still chuffed as are we. This has kick started her to take these tests seriously as they do them periodically as think she was a bit complacent.

Monkey2001 · 21/11/2020 11:03

Good to see lots of encouraging results.

@sandybayley - DS's school gave them a log in to do the SMC from home and he knows that several people cheated (he didn't), and I expect the same is true elsewhere. The thresholds might have been pushed up by that, so she did really well to get through to the kangaroos.

estherfrewen · 21/11/2020 11:10

@sandybayley- well done on the kangaroo for SMC. No results here yet @Monkey2001 - DS sat it in school but some did it at home. He said there were lots of questions he didn’t know - doing AS not A level - so not expecting anything. School had problems accessing results so next week now I guess for results.

ealingwestmum · 21/11/2020 11:12

It’s a tricky one isn’t it Orange, I’d be in the SAE camp too, if they hadn’t given them out via form tutor. The envelope was dumped on my desk, unopened, with a “just file them Mum, or whatever...”

It’s difficult to get anything positive out of DD at the moment. She’s even stopped wearing the small amount of make up she used to, and gets lots of ‘you look REALLY tired Ealing’ comments, which she refuses to accept that they may be from genuine concern. She thinks it’s more ‘yes, she’s finally cracking’. I think lock down is making her angry, especially when others are blatantly breaking rules, and she’s got a crazy few weeks before break - music exams/performances, SAT exam, heavy physio etc that she needs to clear and doesn’t want to have to go into self isolation and miss. Because then they roll into next term. I am treading carefully. Her teachers are good on the whole; she’s been exempt from certain things to give her breathing space without her needing to ask which I think has built some resentment in a few, but hopefully she can deal with those inclined to comment without too much fall out.

EwwSprouts · 21/11/2020 14:50

@ealingwestmum Another teen here who couldn't be bothered to even open the certificates envelope. I find it a bit sad as they were good results but in the scheme of things it's very minor. I hope the weekend is bringing a little respite to those teens who are struggling with school and other issues.

SMC was sat at school. DS very happy with bronze as wasn't top set maths last year. Top in school was a silver.
@sandybayley Fabulous achievement to reach Kangaroo!

Nard75 · 21/11/2020 14:55

@sandybayley DS1 got results for SMC his was also done at school and he got through to kangaroo. He seemed a bit disappointed as he said there was a higher level after kangaroo and he was aiming for that.

sandybayley · 21/11/2020 15:12

@Nard75 - yes there is a higher level (BMO - top 1000) but remember they're Year 12 and the SMC is sat by 800000 pupils including Year 13s who are a year further on in their studies from our DC. DD is pleased with her Kangaroo result but i can understand if your DS is aiming for a maths degree it might matter more to him.

sandybayley · 21/11/2020 15:14

@EwwSprouts - great result! Silver is a great achievement for a Year 12 🏆

sandybayley · 21/11/2020 15:14

Sorry @Nard75 - that should be 80,000!

Original poster
FoolsAssassin · 21/11/2020 15:19

Hmm, maybe DS should go with physics or computer science rather than maths degree reading this !!

OP posts:
sandybayley · 21/11/2020 15:26

Don't worry @FoolsAssassin - I think the BMO level is for Cambridge maths wannabes!

Original poster
FoolsAssassin · 21/11/2020 15:38

Hmm, i hope you are right!!!

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 21/11/2020 15:49

@sandybayley DS was 3 points off a silver & got bronze but is very happy. No plans for a maths degree, didn't even do further maths GCSE.

Original poster
FoolsAssassin · 21/11/2020 16:20

Have just been talking to someone in the know about these things and they have reassured me that the SMC is a very specialised subset of maths skills and some schools have clubs to practice for it . Their DC who did extremely well at it when they entered and is a Cambridge Maths student used to stress about the timings.

I am now chilling about it but thought it might be helpful for anyone else reading this with DC thinking about doing maths for degree but not scoring particularly highly in the SMC. Huge congratulations to those who have done well 😊

OP posts:
sandybayley · 21/11/2020 17:05

@FoolsAssassin - apologies if I worried you. My response was really to @Nard75 whose DS was disappointed not to get into BMO1. I agree that SMC does suit a particular mindset. I am certain I would struggle!

Nard75 · 21/11/2020 17:13

I think I would struggle with the SMH and for those who have got any kind of certificate is an achievement in itself.

Original poster
FoolsAssassin · 21/11/2020 17:15

No, not at all- well maybe a tiny bit but please don’t worry! Congratulations again to your DD 😊

OP posts:
AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore · 21/11/2020 18:25

Useful to know that the certificates are out - dh and I were discussing yesterday that we weren't even sure if they did them any more or if it was all electronic! No info from school, but guessing they'll just pop through the letterbox sometime... Is DS the only one who hasn't had his maths result back then - wonder where ours has gone ... DS's school had them all do it in exam conditions in the hall, so interesting to hear that it's been different elsewhere. Great news that dd is opening up at CAHMs @TheySeeHerRowling ;and congrats to your ds @Piggywaspushed: hope that's given him a boost. @ealingwestmum: sounds like dd is going to have a busy few weeks: hope all goes well and no dreaded SI...

ProggyMat · 21/11/2020 19:19

DD collected her GCSE certificates from old school last week- to avoid a hefty postage surcharge Grin
She was a tad miffed though as she expected a certificate per subject rather than exam board with subjects detailed.
They’re now in an envelope buried somewhere amongst the copious amounts of A level stuff in her ‘study area’ ( read box room 😂)
I think I’d best advise her to allow me to photocopy them before they are lost forever in the ‘ room with the door that is firmly closed due to the shite that lies behind’ 😂😂😂