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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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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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Previous Thread

OP posts:

icanbewhatiwant · 03/12/2020 21:36

@Heifer I was surprised to hear my boys are sitting at desks as normal. Right beside someone else. We are in a low covid area so perhaps that's why. But I still thought they'd be spread out. It wouldn't be so bad if they sat next to the same person in each lesson. But it's someone different each time.

icanbewhatiwant · 03/12/2020 21:37

@Heifer oh and happy birthday to dh for tomorrow.

Chabbylis · 03/12/2020 21:38

Thanks @heifer. What a lovely Sainsbury’s delivery for your DH’s birthday - all sounds delicious!

Monkey2001 · 03/12/2020 21:54

@Chabbylis it breaks your heart when you see your child falling through the social cracks. Has your school asked for volunteers to be Senior Students? Could be a way to meet people who are likely to be outgoing and mature. I think it would be difficult changing schools now, maybe her tutor or a counsellor, if they have them, could provide some support.

@Heifer glad to hear your DD is able to get back to hockey. Limited options for socialising here, we are in tier 3 so I think we may have broken the rules when DS's GF came round to use his gym and have dinner

@FoolsAssassin we need a new thread - only 20 more posts on this one, that was quick!

sandybayley · 03/12/2020 22:15

In exciting news DD is released from SI tomorrow. So she can start paying us back for bringing Covid into Maison SandyBayley.

I have a list of chores for her. DDog is looking forward to getting walked again. He's had to rely on occasional walks from friends and being chased round the garden.

sansou · 03/12/2020 22:59

It looks like DS is going to be given the option to sit AS Maths next summer. I wonder whether it is to bank some formal grades just in case.

ChristopherTracy · 04/12/2020 10:53

Thats interesting @sansou, I must admit I didnt know that still existed.

sansou · 04/12/2020 11:23

Well, they don’t normally offer it/sit it at their school so it’ll be a first. Let’s face it, Y12 need the exam practice since they didn’t sit their GCSE’s. The downside is of course, if they don’t do well, it doesn’t look good on their uni application. Not sure whether it will be offered for other subjects too or they’re just canvassing demand first. We think he should do it.

Monkey2001 · 04/12/2020 11:52

I wanted DS to do the GCSE Physics "resit" just to get exam practice, his 8 was fine, but would have been nice to convert to a 9 and experience an external exam.

At our school they will let you do an AS in most subjects but you have to pay and they don't support exam prep. DS1 did Physics and Biology because he had not decided which to drop at the end of Y12.

KingscoteStaff · 05/12/2020 10:58

DD has passed Theory Test!

8am this morning. Has just tried to book driving test and managed to find slot for Feb 22nd. So she’ll have had 10 lessons, driving 45 mins to school 3 days a week with long suffering DH plus as much practice as we can fit in at the weekends. Does that sound ok?

AnneOfCleavage · 05/12/2020 11:42

That's great Kingscote well done to your DD. Can I ask, do we as parents have to book their theory and driving tests? There wasn't theory in my day and I'm sure my instructor booked my test but I can't remember now.

2 weeks left of term and it can't end quickly enough for us. DD still in bed as exhausted.

sansou · 05/12/2020 11:57

DS still haven't started his driving lessons due to lockdown postponement. Not keen on the idea of buying him an old banger specifically so that he can be insured to drive something so I'm in no hurry for him to pass his test.

We had virtual Parents' Evening with the 5 mins' slot per teacher which went OK. DS needs to pull his finger out on the work front - that's for sure. On the AS Maths' front, it doesn't look as if they have many kids keen to do it at the moment but apparently, the deadline to decide won't be until Jan so we'll mull it over. DS isn't keen now that he realises that he has a choice and few people take the option each year. Not sure why they bother offering it if that's the case!

ealingwestmum · 05/12/2020 13:16

Well done to your DD Kings, your schedule sounds good for preparing for Feb.

Anne: both direct and via instructor works. Depends on what arrangement you have set up. DD’s instructor is managing her theory and practical exams, which means he can re-jig his students’ dates dependent on their readiness. But you can’t actually book the practical without passing theory first. A bit ABRSM ish for those parents of musical DC

icanbewhatiwant · 05/12/2020 15:06

I booked a theory test for ds in feb half term. But I'm not sure he will have had driving lessons by then at this rate. Lessons were all booked but cancelled for lockdown and he's been put to the back of queue. Not sure he will pass a theory test if he's had no proper driving lessons.

@KingscoteStaff Ds1 could already drive a tractor when he started learning to drive a car, but still took ages. He had 2 hours a week with an instructor for 5 months and 3 months of that time he was driving with us to school and back. Ds2 has been out with me twice now but I find it quite scary. He says I'm terrible at explaining. He slams the breaks on so hard, and stalls SO many times. So I daren't go far. Ds1 I taught to drive the tractor and he didn't find it hard at all. Ds2 is struggling. Hopefully your dd is finding it all much easier. I think our area doesn't help as it's countryside for miles. They never get to practice on big roundabouts and busy roads etc.without a long drive. The test centre is in a busy town, it's a 45 min drive to get there though. Ds1 passed over 2 years ago but has still never driven on a motorway (obviously we have A roads with duel carriageway)

MirandaWest · 05/12/2020 15:44

DS has been going out with DH as there is a backlog for driving lessons. Maybe I should book the theory test to try and encourage him to learn some!

ChristopherTracy · 06/12/2020 13:26

Yes we booked a theory test for DS at Feb half term too as there is a three month wait. He is having a driving lesson as I type!

So his email and telephone number needed to be on it but I paid for it.

He isnt going out with us in our car at all as we cant insure him on it (it has business insurance etc etc) it would be pointless anyway as it is an auto and he is learning a manual.

Heifer · 06/12/2020 15:30

I've just spoken to the driving instructor and have booked DD a lesson on her birthday (20th Dec) - also just booked her theory test for mid Feb - there were slots available in Jan but she wanted more time (she hasn't actually done any theory yet).

Just checking as the question threw me as hadn't even though about it - did/are all your DS/DD learning in a manual? I just assumed that is what you did unless you struggled.. But apparently lots of people learn in automatic.

ealingwestmum · 06/12/2020 17:10

Manual here Heifer. Like many of us, I have an automatic so had to find a plan B car. Step forward my mother’s 22 year old fiesta. But many instructors do offer the choice of learning in either...auto learning is increasing in popularity.

ExpensivelyDecorated · 06/12/2020 18:10

We've been having the manual v auto discussion, DH's car is a big heavy manual diesel which we might not be able to insure for DS. Mine is a Toyota Yaris auto so much more suitable apart from being auto. DS is dyspraxic and may struggle with manual anyway but I would like him to try. Need to send for his provisional licence now his passport has just come back.

icanbewhatiwant · 06/12/2020 21:55

I was hoping ds would go for a drive with me today. He came out last Sunday and the Sunday before. He won't drive after school in the dark. He won't drive Saturday because he says he has school work. Then today he got up at 3pm and had breakfast. I was off out with the dogs. So that's another week gone.

Oblomov20 · 07/12/2020 06:07

@OrangeCinnamon1

Are you ok? Would you mind starting another thread?

Or
@FoolsAssassin

If Orange isn't able to.

Please.

AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore · 07/12/2020 08:51

@Chabbylis - welcome to the thread! What is your daughter into: that might help us come up with some things that could help her connect? I do think the lack of extra curricular/social stuff makes it much harder at the moment :-(

Are there any specific individuals that your dd does feel she connects more with/or where she feels there is a potential connection? Could she invite just a single person to go for a walk/coffee (depending on restrictions where you are) - I sometimes think getting people on their own away from the school environment helps shift the relationship somewhat...?

Piggywaspushed · 07/12/2020 08:59

DS's history teacher off today so he still doesn't have his history test result in full. He is awaiting this to make a decision about subject dropping!

So far, he has had the same grade in everything except economics, so it's quite annoying.

crazycrofter · 07/12/2020 09:34

That’s annoying @Piggywaspushed. What’s his current ‘favourite’ to drop?!

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