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Secondary education

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

Thread 16 - Corona Cohort Year 12, 2021 Zooming through Summer Term

999 replies

orangecinnamon · 09/05/2021 15:51

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orangecinnamon · 27/05/2021 22:23

@PaddingtonPaddingtonDd singing teacher said it is literally round the corner from the music dept of the Uni. So in the civic centre ( I think she did her postgrad there?) The halls look nice too.

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Nard75 · 27/05/2021 23:09

I have also booked DS onto Warwick open day but it requires him to register via the link in his email. Let's see if he actually does it. I don't know how the rest of you are finding DC but DS doesn't seem to be showing much enthusiasm into looking at universities or open days. If I try to bring the subject up I always get accused of interfering and making all decisions for him. I am just finding the whole process exhausting especially when he isn't engaging in discussions. His end of year exams aren't until September because of all the time they have missed out in school.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 27/05/2021 23:12

Sorry, Paddington, I meant your DD.
RWCMD is almost opposite the museum, on the same side of the road as Cardiff Castle.
For anyone visiting Cardiff next week, Castle Street is closed to vehicles these days.

orangecinnamon · 27/05/2021 23:22

We are using the visit as hopeful motivation for Dd exams. She is convinced the Uni and the city is for her ...just fallen in love. We also have free train tickets on Great Western we have to use up by end of June ...hopefully will make up for 3 hour journey there ...

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orangecinnamon · 27/05/2021 23:24

@Nard75

I have also booked DS onto Warwick open day but it requires him to register via the link in his email. Let's see if he actually does it. I don't know how the rest of you are finding DC but DS doesn't seem to be showing much enthusiasm into looking at universities or open days. If I try to bring the subject up I always get accused of interfering and making all decisions for him. I am just finding the whole process exhausting especially when he isn't engaging in discussions. His end of year exams aren't until September because of all the time they have missed out in school.
That's good timing for exams. Dd is generally grumpy about most things these days Hmm
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PaddingtonPaddington · 28/05/2021 08:09

@Alsoplayspiccolo DD plays violin (and piano and sings). Leeds is also on the list. Still debating RBC & RNCM as DD didn’t really get a good vibe from the online open days. Have ruled out London (too expensive) and Scotland (too far). Plan A apply this year, plan B gap year and reapply. I think plan B would better but DD is determined to give it a go this year. Hopefully can visit in the summer holidays as she’s doing a music course this half term.

Monkey2001 · 28/05/2021 08:27

@PaddingtonPaddington sorry to hear the open days were disappointing. We have friends at RWCMD, RNCM and Birmingham, all happy. In general RWCMD is less competitive than RNCM, but this year a boy I know got an offer from RNCM but not RWCMD. Isn't RNCM is a lot bigger? The friend at RWCMD was disappointed that he did not really manage to settle into a regular quartet, I think there was a shortage of some instruments. The RNCM friend has a very active quartet doing weddings etc.

crazycrofter · 28/05/2021 08:45

@Nard75 snap! Dd is really not wanting to engage although we have managed to have some decent conversations. However I’m really worried she’s going to accuse me of forcing her into occupational therapy in a year or two as she’s just not willing to do any research. I’ve read loads and used my own judgement on what she’s like/good at and reported back to her but it’s not the same is it?!

I would really like her to have a gap year, get a job, do something interesting and grow up a bit. She just says she’d be lonely and miserable with all her friends gone to uni.

Nard75 · 28/05/2021 09:05

@crazycrofter it is the same with DS he really needs to grow up in terms of being worldly wise and get some self confidence. Is hasn't helped that he has been stuck indoors for a year. In terms of studying he would have no problem managing his work without anyone looking over his shoulder to make sure he is keeping up. It is everything else he struggles with in terms of social interaction and looking after himself without me running around after him.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 28/05/2021 09:10

You’re right, Monkey - RWCMD tends to be people’s reserve choice, I think.
That’s not to say the teaching isn’t excellent, just that most people would prefer to be in music college in London because of the vast range of opportunities it offers.

I think it’s down to individual or reference - some people prefer to be a bigger fish in a smaller pond, and I’d say RWCMD is that, along with RBC possibly.

Nard75 · 28/05/2021 12:51

DS just passed his theory this morning. He was quite nervous but it was good practice to get through the nerves for exams coming up at school in September.

Monkey2001 · 28/05/2021 13:00

Good news Nard. Yes any exam practice is good. Bonus for medicine applicants is that UCAT is at same centres, so good to be familiar with them

orangecinnamon · 28/05/2021 13:01

Well done @nard75 son another milestone !

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PaddingtonPaddington · 28/05/2021 13:21

Thanks for all the feedback on conservatoires, all good knowledge.

Well done to your DS @Nard75

Agree with the gap year conversations, I just can’t see DD managing to sort herself out and both her choices are over 4 hours away. But it’s over a year away so who knows.

ealingwestmum · 28/05/2021 14:12

Well done to your DS Nard!

Last exam being sat right now for Y12. 3 out of 4 subjects gone as well as she could have done, there’s an uncomfortable conversation ahead about the 4th...

crazycrofter · 28/05/2021 14:49

Well done to your ds @Nard75!

My dd would be absolutely fine socially, and probably looking after herself generally (cooking etc) at uni. However, she gets anxious going to shops on her own - she has to have a friend with her - and she's desperate for a job, but won't take her cv into shops for the same reason. She's not great on buses or generally with directions at all (pretty clueless about local geography!), although she'll happily take the train places. I guess she'd be fine at uni, as she'd very quickly make friends and have buddies to guide her through these things, but I'd love for her to take a year out to get work and life experience.

We'll see! I suppose one way or another we all get there in the end!

orangecinnamon · 28/05/2021 15:32

@crazycrofter

Well done to your ds *@Nard75*!

My dd would be absolutely fine socially, and probably looking after herself generally (cooking etc) at uni. However, she gets anxious going to shops on her own - she has to have a friend with her - and she's desperate for a job, but won't take her cv into shops for the same reason. She's not great on buses or generally with directions at all (pretty clueless about local geography!), although she'll happily take the train places. I guess she'd be fine at uni, as she'd very quickly make friends and have buddies to guide her through these things, but I'd love for her to take a year out to get work and life experience.

We'll see! I suppose one way or another we all get there in the end!

It is funny, Dd said to me yesterday she didn't think she was very 'street smart'.

I presumed because they are exposed to more stuff through Social Media they would be at this age.

They've been kept inside right at the time when they should be exploring their independence. I do remember learning quickly at that age about social niceties, parties, my own limits and stuff. Jobs can be helpful here too I was guided by a couple of older friends at 16 through work. So we went clubbing but they kept an eye on me and they took me up town for my first proper Chinese meal in China Town. sigh

They'll learn fingers crossed. I hate all this talk about 'building' resilience ...I think they have been through enough actually ! They've probably got oodles of the stuff to draw on in the future, they just need a break from time to time.

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AnneOfCleavage · 28/05/2021 16:08

Whoop whoop Nard75's DS on passing his driving theory.

Hope the exams have gone well this week for those who've taken them and good luck to all those doing open days at Unis soon - how exciting.

We are on half term as of now and I am so looking forward to a slower pace and some lie ins Grin

orangecinnamon · 28/05/2021 16:14

I'm counting down the minutes...have resumed my commute this week...soo tired. I hope to have lost weight with all the walking but alas couldn't get myself together in the mornings and have resorted to canteen stodge for lunch.

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FoolsAssassin · 28/05/2021 16:28

Great new Nards!

Had a conversation with DS whilst I had him captive in the car and told him we had booked him on some virtual open days, he seemed fairly ok with it.

He has screening for extra time after half term. Asked if he is still planning to continue with 4 and he said if he dropped anything it would be Physics which was a surprise as always thought it would be Computer Science.

I think he will be ok at university after this year, the boarding has really helped his independence and he’s fairly at home now jumping on and off trains etc. At least I know he is capable of getting up and making it to lessons on time, though he hasn’t far to go currently.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 28/05/2021 16:39

@Nard75

DS just passed his theory this morning. He was quite nervous but it was good practice to get through the nerves for exams coming up at school in September.
Great news Nard75, DS has his soon and just gets cross with me when I nag remind him that he should practice on the app.

It appears that DS has got an A* for his EPQ. He is rightfully very happy but I'm not sure if this has to be moderated still. I hope not! Having looked online today, I now think that it won't help him get a reduced grade offer from his preferred course/university (I can't see any reference to it on the course info) which is a bit gutting after all that hard work! Sad I did suggest going there one day in half term and he was a bit non-committal so we'll see...

crazycrofter · 28/05/2021 17:23

Ooh well done to your ds @JustHereWithMyPopcorn, that’s brilliant! Although I shame it won’t change any offer he gets.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 28/05/2021 17:41

Thanks crazycrofter, hopefully it will still have some impact on their selection for offers maybe - who knows. 🤷‍♀️

ealingwestmum · 28/05/2021 18:18

Great result Justhere!

Nard75 · 28/05/2021 18:23

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn Well done to your DS he should be very proud of his hard work.