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Secondary education

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

Corona Cohort Y12 into Y13, braving the storm of the third wave

986 replies

Monkey2001 · 20/06/2021 11:24

Supportive thread for parents of Y12 students going into Y13.

Previous thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4240252-Thread-16-Corona-Cohort-Year-12-2021-Zooming-through-Summer-Term

OP posts:
estherfrewen · 22/06/2021 09:08

We’re in Yorkshire so some are too far south for him. A lot of his swimming friends are looking at Loughborough but he’s not so keen on the history course there. Cardiff also an option - somewhere we spent a lot of time when he still competed as DH from there. Doesn’t fancy Durham for some reason best known only to him!

Orangecinnamon21 · 22/06/2021 09:22

@estherfrewen

We’re in Yorkshire so some are too far south for him. A lot of his swimming friends are looking at Loughborough but he’s not so keen on the history course there. Cardiff also an option - somewhere we spent a lot of time when he still competed as DH from there. Doesn’t fancy Durham for some reason best known only to him!
Seems a blunt tool but you could look at the BUCS league tables

www.bucs.org.uk/fixtures-and-results.html

Fferny1 · 22/06/2021 09:40

Well done for @Shimys D's. Especially triumphing with Sen issues makes it all the sweeter.

    Loughborough & Cardiff are In the top few for Architecture apparently. With Loughborough having 100% in employment, post course. But I know absolutely nothing about it. Other than it's very good for sports. Same with Cardiff, other than it's cheap to live there.
    How do I convince DD that it's worth looking at these places when she's so fixated on London?

Am i the only mnetter where Oxbridge holds no appeal? Dd1 doing vet. Medicine has said Cambridge vets. Have a certain reputation in practices of being not very practical and hands on. I can see the appeal if doing a non-vocational degree though and for future job applications.

Orangecinnamon21 · 22/06/2021 09:46

@Fferny1

Well done for *@Shimys* D's. Especially triumphing with Sen issues makes it all the sweeter.
    Loughborough & Cardiff are In the top few for Architecture apparently. With Loughborough having 100% in employment, post course. But I know absolutely nothing about it. Other than it's very good for sports. Same with Cardiff, other than it's cheap to live there.
    How do I convince DD that it's worth looking at these places when she's so fixated on London?

Am i the only mnetter where Oxbridge holds no appeal? Dd1 doing vet. Medicine has said Cambridge vets. Have a certain reputation in practices of being not very practical and hands on. I can see the appeal if doing a non-vocational degree though and for future job applications.

Dd is not Oxbridge level (yet haha ) she is a B but sometimes A and sometimes C student. She has to put lots of effort in to 'get' stuff. I digress, if she was an A star star student Oxbridge's Music courses would hold little appeal. Cambridge is slightly more diverse in subject matter now , but lack of supported performance opportunities is a big no for her..she doesn't even want to go into performance but it needs to be a 'rounded' musical experience for her.
JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 22/06/2021 09:59

@estherfrewen thanks for your comments, it's sort of reassuring that your DS found it hard but still got a B in his mock. I know he was disappointed but I think they great results and he should not beat himself up. I'm not sure where they are with the NEA stuff, DS said that the poetry was going to be coursework only but that doesn't sound right? Good luck for the Russian History, that is what DS is covering in History, I find it quite fascinating a someone who didn't take History as an option.

@shimy well done to your DS on that great test result!

ealingwestmum · 22/06/2021 10:41

In non-academic news DD got her sax result today, distinction for G4, which was great as she got the sax for her 16th with most learning being taught remotely since. God knows how the maintenance of it works though!

MirandaWest · 22/06/2021 11:06

@Orangecinnamon21 thank you - that sounds interesting. If you know any more about it that would be great.

As DS only said about this last night I’m not sure how much he’s thought about it but I am wondering whether it would be better to apply and defer, or wait until next year to apply at all, as he’d have his A level results then anyway…

whoamitojudge · 22/06/2021 12:06

Hi. My DD is at college just finishing a L2 BTEC in Travel with predicted grades of double distinction, she is going back to do L3 next year.
It's very interesting to read about the uni application processes as she doesn't want to go to uni so its not something that we have had to research.
DD is extremely focused on ( hopefully) getting a cabin crew job at the end of L3 which is a 2 year course so we will wait and see how the travel industry picks up.
Congratulations to you all that have posted your good news on here I've just caught up from the last thread!

ealingwestmum · 22/06/2021 12:23

If there’s one thing the travel industry is master at, is bouncing back; very best of luck to her whoamI, such a fabulous sector. Across all functions. Does she have a preference for short or long haul? I guess it’s still early to decide...

ealingwestmum · 22/06/2021 12:24

Great predictions btw!

KingscoteStaff · 22/06/2021 12:28

@estherfrewen DS is just finishing year 1 at Durham and the sport (even this year!) has been brilliant and so friendly. It’s a high standard too - the 4th teams for cricket and rugby a full of boys who have been in their county age group squads all the way up.

Also, anyone with cricketing daughters - Durham women’s cricket is excellent.

whoamitojudge · 22/06/2021 12:40

@ealingwestmum Either really. As long as she is on a plane she doesn't really mind. This is something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember so I am keeping everything crossed for her

whatsnext2 · 22/06/2021 12:43

Thanks for new thread.

Also trying to get driving test cancellations for Bristol, on two apps and nothing for days.

Shimy · 22/06/2021 13:13

Thanks all. Ealing That's a fantastic achievement if she only just got a sax recently. DS has got guitar G7 this week but said he doesn't think he's going to pass as he hasn't practised enough. Oh well!

Monkey2001 · 22/06/2021 13:27

Well done on a very quick mastering of sax @ealingwestmum, she must have enjoyed it to make that much progress in a year, particularly when she could not have F2F lessons most of the time. @Shimy hope being on this thread is a good luck charm as they are all doing so well in exams!

A friend sent me a link for AI workshops in medicine and other areas of work. No idea whether they are good. Mid price for that sort of thing at £75. www.skillsgap.tech/

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2021 13:28

DH went to Leeds and captained English universities' football team.

He is like the Nancy Mitford of uni applications : non sporty (sneers of derision) and sporty (must be good)

He applied to Oxford and Bath but failed to secure grades so went to Leeds in clearing but found it to be suitably sports focused.

I went to York : NOT sporty (played Gabby Logan's Durham team at hockey : we stopped counting goals...)

Sporty :

Loughborough (agree history course looks a bit weedy)
Exeter
Bath obviously
Durham
Leeds
Birmingham
Cardiff
Oxbridge
and more or less any big city university

NOT (according to him)

York
Lancaster, unless outdoor sports
Bristol
Keele

These were laughing stocks as far as he was concerned!

estherfrewen · 22/06/2021 14:03

Thanks for all the sporting info- still fancies Lancaster- wants to swim but not seriously- just wants to try everything I think after 11 years of Chlorine!

Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2021 14:36

I know they swim in the lakes at Lancaster!

estherfrewen · 22/06/2021 15:20

@Piggywaspushed - sounds like that will wash the Chlorine layer off!

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 22/06/2021 15:24

Fantastic sax achievement Ealing and in such a short time. That’s some dedication! I wish my boys were a little bit musical, they listen to it but can’t play it! 😀

ealingwestmum · 22/06/2021 16:06

Thanks everyone. It seems it is easier to learn new instruments once you have gained good musical basics along the way.

That list is almost identical to DD’s list of sporty/non sporty uni’s. Except she’s placed Bristol on the non for additional reasons called ‘london not london’ Grin

AuntieUrsula · 22/06/2021 16:17

As a resident of Southampton, am intrigued to discover how stylish we are Grin

The uni is great and I have suggested it to my twins, but unsurprisingly they would rather go a bit further from home! They don't really know where - considering Oxbridge, but obviously that's very chancy. One wants to do law and the other doesn't know - toying with veterinary, but she doesn't have the necessary work experience, or marine biology, or some general science. I think she'll end up taking a gap year while she decides!

They both got A/A/A in their exams so hopefully that's what they'll get for their UCAS predicted grades. They'll be getting them this week apparently.

Zandathepanda · 22/06/2021 16:42

Piggy has he seen the rather lovely sports complex in York’s east campus?

Newcastle has a massive brand new gym (well newish but unused) right next to Park View accommodation. Dd knows a v good swimmer at Newcastle but no idea where he trains. Lots of revelry/rivalry with Durham.

I know of a girl (Olympic level) who goes to Nottingham as Beeston nearby good for hockey.

Shimy · 22/06/2021 16:44

@Auntie I know the feeling. A bit like when I see my town has made the news on the weather forecast mapGrin.

icanbewhatiwant · 22/06/2021 16:55

Ds had his film studies mock today. The question was about the main character in the film. Ds couldn't remember his name...so he wrote "he" or "the main character" all the way through. That doesn't sound good. Not sure if it was the only question but he said it was an essay type answer. He wants to drop film anyway...but how can he forget the name?