Thread 14? Corona Cohort Yr 12 2021 - 'Vaccinations and Eliminations'

[orangecinnamon]

Just place marking for the New Thread!

Apparently they don't especially like them to have done it : not sure if this is just apocryphal though and spouted by facilitating subjects are all that matters types. Same with law.

I suspect it is because a lot of it repeats A Level. That is definitely true of film at university.

Thanks. Ds1 is doing an engineering degree and says the maths in 2nd year is fine as it’s similar to what the covered in FM A Level. In my day I did not find uni maths easy at all!

@Piggywaspushed

Apparently they don't especially like them to have done it : not sure if this is just apocryphal though and spouted by facilitating subjects are all that matters types. Same with law.

I suspect it is because a lot of it repeats A Level. That is definitely true of film at university.

Definitely do not do Law A level if you are considering law as a career (or if you are not). This really needs to be rammed home to careers departments.

@Globaliser that was heartfelt! I also know quite a few people who would say do not do a law degree just because you are considering law as a career!

We have sent some kids off for law degrees with law A level, to be fair.

Just wanted some advice about how any of you have insured DC for learning to drive in your own vehicle. Wasn’t sure whether to speak to my own insurance or get some temporary cover from third party company.

@Nard75 - have dealt with this this week! For one month learner insurance as a separate policy for DS on my car, the prices were £48 from veygo, £49 from dayinsure and £79 from marmalade. Excess is £250 with all I think. All do shorter and longer periods.

We decided to get a month and see how we get on, whether to carry on for now with me and him after that or whether to pause and wait for the pre-arranged instructor to be able to teach him.

Just had DDs virtual parents evening - 4 mins each subject..

1st one (PE) was weird. You could see the clock running down and turned yellow then red, then puff, then it was over, mid sentence. I emailed the teacher to say thanks etc (actually know her). All good, DD wants an A but teacher hasn't ever had 1 before and doesn't know anyone that has so it will be hard but she thinks possible if we can get can the right evidence for hockey. I think DD is her project as she doesn't normally get students that are capable of A or A taking A level PE. I've known the teacher a long time, and knew that if DD took PE then this teacher would do everything she could to help DD achieve the best grade she could. It's the only reason DD decided to take PE - it's all about the grade helping her to onto a Biology course at Uni. Helps that she does like PE but I think would have preferred to have taken History.

2nd meeting ((Biology) was better, teacher knew what was coming, and asked DD immediately what she thought, any isses etc. DD explained that she found the mark scheme hard in tests and that looking back at her books the answers she had were right, but they weren't in the mark scheme. He was brilliant, as he then focused the next 3 mins on explaining they are aware this is an issue for all the girls, and that for now they just want the girls to learn all the information they can and when they go back to school they will move onto how to answer the questions. Told DD not to worry about the grades, she is doing well, and it should all click into place for her. Put DD mind at ease that she wasn't given an A.

Psychology went really well, told DD she is working at A* and both teachers think no reason why she can't achieve this if she continues to work hard.

Lastly core Maths - went well so all in all a great set of meetings. DD is happy so that's the main thing.

Not sure if it was the software or not (school cloud) but the connections weren't great, very fuzzy video chat for 3 out of 4.

Very worthwhile - although 4 mins isn't enough time.

@Nard75 - my own insurance Churchill wanted £660 to add him on to the start of October, and any accident would have affected my no-claims. The price would also go up when he passes.

Dd being very needy for cuddles at moment. It is lovely but she does, literally, just plonk herself on me though.
We have gotten closer over the past year. Possibly because of lockdown.

Bittersweet when I have to remind myself she will be leaving for Uni next year. My only little chick flying the nest .

Still must concentrate on positives.

I hope it is ok to vent a bit on here, as I feel completely miserable and hopeless today.
I don't think I have explained here that I only moved to the UK last August from India, because DH's job was moved here . DS was also very keen on moving here, because he wants to go to a RG British university and thought his school here would expand his horizons. He was also very excited about living in London. At the time India was doing very poorly re COVID, and the UK was doing well.

Fast forward 5 months, and DS's horizons are mostly confined to his room:( It was possibly stupid of me, but I really never anticipated that the pandemic would get so bad here. I have barely been able to show him anything of London given lockdown. Meanwhile COVID has inexplicably mostly died out in India. I am glad about this, but DS is now getting messages from his former friends in India who are having a great time meeting, playing football, going to malls and back in school:(

He is his usual stoic self and does not complain, but I feel so guilty. The only silver lining is he is doing well at school Just got his grades today and they are AAA. So on course to achieve his goals, I guess, but will he ever be able to leave his room?

Oh @Frequentflier that sounds so tough for you all. I think from March things will be better (fingers crossed) we have just got to keep holding on. Are you all getting out for daily walks ? It does help to remember the world out there.

Hi Frequent you made the move with the best of plans and covid struck. Plans can get back on track! I think meeting to kick a ball around will be allowed next month as the toll on all children is becoming more obvious.

ah @Frequentflieryou shouldn't feel guilty for trying to do the right thing. Hopefully in 6 months time you will be feeling completely different. Your DS will love loving in London once he can be out and about with new friends. It's great that his schooling seems to be going well.

@orangecinnamon, it's nice that your DD wants cuddles and is closer to you. Enjoy it, and even if if stops the very minute she can go out and about with her friends again (I may be talking about my own DD here ;-). you will get them again one day.

@20NewNames thanks for this I think I will try these third party insurers they seem to be cheaper and more flexible.

Thanks everyone for the sympathy. Hindsight is always 20-20. I do get out daily rain or shine, but DS is less keen on walks in this weather. He did go for a run yesterday. Pre-covid, he was loving his school; the teaching is far better than he has ever had, and he has made good friends in only 3 months.

I really hope things do look up by April. I am very cheered by the vaccination progress, which the UK is managing so brilliantly. I will be grateful when I get mine though I am well down in the list.

@Nard75 we insure with Direct Line and they will add a learner on for £2/day, but you have a limited number of times you can do that in a year, so I did 10 days now and then for DS1. Last time they added him on for free.

@Frequentflier yes I hope things start to look better by April. Hopefully they will return to school.

Would like DH to have a vaccine before they go back (he's older than me and in the 60-65 age group) But I'm not sure he will get one before they go back, well he may have one but not with the 3 weeks wait for it to kick in. I'm under 50 so much further down the list.

@Nard75 we couldn't use our cars for learning as we both have automatic, plus big engines so too expensive for learners. So we bought a Corsa for ds1 almost 3 years ago. Now ds2 can learn in it. A friend shopped round for insurance on their car for their ds. They found a company to change them all to that was cheaper than their current provider. Though once their ds passed he was no longer insured and hasn't driven since.

Half term has started today so both DC haven’t surfaced. Latest report here - ABBB but we’re happy with it since it was an improvement from the last one. Doesn’t include the results of the online standardised assessments he’s just had this week though.

Predicted grades are normally based on end of Y12 exams. Last year (current Y13) were told to work throughout the summer hols and sat physical exams in Sept back at school. I expect that the pressure is on for our cohort to sit physical A Level exams since they were the first cohort to not sit their GCSE’s. Feel for the current Y11/Y13.

Mine's still in bed too. She's had exams all week, but nothing timetabled for today. She gets 2 grades for each subject - one from each teacher, so not as clear as some, but generally As, with 2 Bs in the subject she wants to drop so hopefully that will help discussions after half term! I suppose it depends on the results of this week's exams too....

Heifer online parents evening was just like that for us. Most disconcerting seeing the timer countdown and then poof, they've gone mid sentence - can't they see the red timer counting down

20New just done my insurance and gone with Churchill this year too so that is eye wateringly expensive. DD still 16 but will want practice in our car (mine) once she turns 17.

Orange yep I hear you. DD very needy too and just comes in and hovers near me making mini chirpy noises batting against me to stop and cuddle her. To be fair to her I do laugh and say in a minute if I'm in the middle of doing something and she laughs and waits. She's my big girl and my baby too so once she's flown it'll be hard too. She's incredibly focused and mature re school work so I don't mind these mini lapses of neediness as she's normally fine.

Frequentflier That's amazing to hear India are doing so well and it must be so frustrating for your DS to hear his friends are out socialising over there. Spring is round the corner and London is amazing so he'll soon be out exploring. His grades are awesome too

DD exhausted so half term is going to be welcome come 3pm.

I often think I am the only parent on MN who makes my kids get up...

@Piggywaspushed I don't normally let them stay in bed, but at the moment there isn't much else for them to do!

@Piggywaspushed why do you make them get up? What’s your reasoning? I love having the house to myself whilst they sleep!