Page 25 | GCSE Support - nervously waiting

Hellocatshome · 2023-06-29T20:53:34+00:00

Hopefully everyone from GCSE Support The Final Frontier can find this new thread!

BethDuttonsTwin · 23/08/2023 12:17

TeenDivided · 22/08/2023 18:47

You are wrong. If they are in 6th form you can claim it for the 2 years.
And actually if they do a 3rd year for any reason you can continue to claim.

Show quote history

As long as they’re in approved education you can claim until the day they turn 20.

Mia85 · 23/08/2023 12:21

I think the trickiest outcome will be if she gets the grades to go to the first choice but not in the right subjects. If it's a choice of 6th form she wants but not the A-levels she wants OR current school with the right A-levels that would be tough.

Is it too early to crack open the gin?

OvaHere · 23/08/2023 12:22

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 23/08/2023 12:14

@OvaHere locally at least the colleges are not connected to one another - no UCAS-type central system. So in your position if my DC had a near miss with grades I would accept college two, and still pitch up to college one the following week. I'm sure it's not great to potentially mess college two about and later decline, but you didn't make the rules.

Thanks. Good advice. I don't like the idea of messing one around but that might be the only option.

DS's school is a local partner school to to his preferred choice which meant he was awarded preference in receiving an offer but that might not translate to any preference for a narrow miss. I'm not sure.

College 2 (just out of catchment) has more comprehensive FAQs about this sort of thing.

OvaHere · 23/08/2023 12:23

Mia85 · 23/08/2023 12:21

I think the trickiest outcome will be if she gets the grades to go to the first choice but not in the right subjects. If it's a choice of 6th form she wants but not the A-levels she wants OR current school with the right A-levels that would be tough.

Is it too early to crack open the gin?

Definitely not. 🍸

TripleDaisySummer · 23/08/2023 12:28

DS only has one offer - but if he does fail entry requirements - and I think English Lang would be only one likely to be close to that - we'd have to talk to the college - and it's them or sixth forms and sixth form have similar entry requirements.

Here at least college had places open well in September/October on courses - it's a big regional one with many campuses and offer a huge range of courses.

OvaHere · 23/08/2023 12:28

MrsBeetlejuice · 23/08/2023 10:32

Another here who doesn't really have a plan B and my stomach keeps flipping every time I think of tomorrow.

I'm just on my way out to buy some congratulations flowers, card and cake, but I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do. We're proud of her for just getting through it, of course, but if it's really not gone the way she wanted, would they be more like commiseration flowers? I'm rubbish at writing cards at the best of times, but I want to pre write this to give it to her straight away, so it needs to hit the right balance.

Think I might reach for the Kalms today......and maybe the gin tonight 😬

I bought a card yesterday. Spent ages looking at 'You've Smashed It!' type cards but it felt like tempting fate. Then I considered buying two cards - one OTT and one more muted.

In the end I've bought one that says 'Well done, we are very proud of you' because we are proud of the work he's put in whether he smashes it or doesn't quite get what he hopes for.

Booked a meal for Friday night because whatever happens we should have a next step plan by then and it will be a looking to the future celebration.

OvaHere · 23/08/2023 12:31

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 23/08/2023 12:10

stressing a bit here as DC1's letter with enrolment instructions from her first choice college is MIA in the post. she needs a code from the letter to enrol by Friday PM. We've emailed to explain and requested a copy to be sent by email but for dark and mysterious reasons It Goes By Post...

I can see this leading to some strained phone calls on Friday. At least it's H who's off work, and not me

I would be stressing too. Relying on the post for anything is 😱

Original poster

Hellocatshome · 23/08/2023 12:32

DS has his apprenticeship offer and a college offer but the apprenticeship is plan A and college plan B even though the grades required for college are higher!

We got a "We are so proud of you" card as it see to work for whatever results day brings.

OP posts:

jamimmi · 23/08/2023 12:48

We had this situation 4 years ago with DS and missed grades. Accepted place with one on alternate courses and then went to second enrolment the next day and was accepted onto wanted course. I just rang and emailed to say he was going elsewhere to the first. It wasn't an issue. Will do the same tomorrow with DD if needed but have just had a callasking her to go inat 9 for a photo so I'm assuming something has gone OK,

elkiedee · 23/08/2023 12:51

DS1 is currently holding FIVE conditional offers, but says he's now really deciding between two and thinks he prefers one of those. The main difference in entry requirements there actually makes his second preference a bit harder, because he needs an average of 7.5 over 8 of his 9 GCSEs, as well as the entry requirements for each one. That would mean that any 6s that are enough to get him on to his subject choices has to be balanced by a 9 (otherwise FM needs8, others need 7s or 6s in particular subjects and he needs mostly 7s to do this 4 A level option).

I've been looking through all of them and actually though there are differences, for his preferred choices of A levels and combination, Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Philosophy, there isn't really one that's easier to get into. Based on results from mocks, I'm more worried about him missing grade requirements for the written subjects - English x 2, RS (which would be taken into account for Philosophy) and Sociology, than I am for Maths and Science. I'm also not sure about Computer Science based on predictions and also posts here and other reports that there was an issue on one of that board's papers, but I think his grade for that probably matters less than the others.

Oh, I am so anxious. Glad that I'm going out for the afternoon and then there is a family gathering to see my cousins and my aunt at their stepmother's house for a few hours, so a good distraction.

Purpleconcreteroad · 23/08/2023 13:00

Yes, definitely don't worry about saying yes to more than one institution (but obviously tell the rejected one as soon as you know for sure). Our VI form is mostly made up current students, but we do have an intake from outside. We know that these students probably have multiple offers and work off the normal acceptance rate for externals - sometimes of course they surprise us and we get a lot more than expected which can be really tricky, but that is our problem, not yours!

elkiedee · 23/08/2023 13:03

And I think that if he is able to accept what I think is his clear first preference tomorrow he can release the other 4. If not, I think we will be pursuing sorting out something probably at one of the first two, which might mean a rethink on subjects. I think alternatives might have to mean a slight rethink on subjects, and am so hoping it doesn't have to come to a really tricky decision which narrows options for higher education applications.

Mia85 · 23/08/2023 13:16

jamimmi · 23/08/2023 12:48

We had this situation 4 years ago with DS and missed grades. Accepted place with one on alternate courses and then went to second enrolment the next day and was accepted onto wanted course. I just rang and emailed to say he was going elsewhere to the first. It wasn't an issue. Will do the same tomorrow with DD if needed but have just had a callasking her to go inat 9 for a photo so I'm assuming something has gone OK,

Do the schools already know the results?

Purpleconcreteroad · 23/08/2023 13:18

Yep

TeenDivided · 23/08/2023 13:18

Schools get results today but only exams officer and SLT are meant to know them, not general teachers or random heads of department.
It is meant to be a need to know basis.

Mia85 · 23/08/2023 13:21

I'm also not sure about Computer Science based on predictions and also posts here and other reports that there was an issue on one of that board's papers, but I think his grade for that probably matters less than the others.

OCR paper 2? Yes that's the one I am worried about. DD needs an 8 in computer science (all other A level subjects) for her first choice so if that has gone wrong it could decide things.

jamimmi · 23/08/2023 13:21

To be quite clear , the head rang and was very clear he couldn't given me the results but said they would.like her in foe a picture at 9. To make of that what I would!

jamimmi · 23/08/2023 13:22

Still worried about AQA chemistry paper 2 though!

Mia85 · 23/08/2023 13:23

jamimmi · 23/08/2023 13:21

To be quite clear , the head rang and was very clear he couldn't given me the results but said they would.like her in foe a picture at 9. To make of that what I would!

Sounds as if it's good news!

TeenDivided · 23/08/2023 13:24

jamimmi · 23/08/2023 13:21

To be quite clear , the head rang and was very clear he couldn't given me the results but said they would.like her in foe a picture at 9. To make of that what I would!

I'd take that as a good sign.

Purpleconcreteroad · 23/08/2023 13:26

Mia85 · 23/08/2023 13:21

I'm also not sure about Computer Science based on predictions and also posts here and other reports that there was an issue on one of that board's papers, but I think his grade for that probably matters less than the others.

OCR paper 2? Yes that's the one I am worried about. DD needs an 8 in computer science (all other A level subjects) for her first choice so if that has gone wrong it could decide things.

Also have skin in the game with this one. Will be very interesting to see what the grade boundaries are like for this paper.

Mia85 · 23/08/2023 13:36

http://stolaves.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/lettershome/OCR-Letter-to-Students-GCSE-Computing-J277-02.pdf?t=1688471671

This was the letter that was sent to students afterwards

http://stolaves.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/lettershome/OCR-Letter-to-Students-GCSE-Computing-J277-02.pdf?t=1688471671

SomersetBrie · 23/08/2023 13:37

jamimmi · 23/08/2023 13:21

To be quite clear , the head rang and was very clear he couldn't given me the results but said they would.like her in foe a picture at 9. To make of that what I would!

I had no idea they did that!
I thought they just circulated and took pics of those who wanted it.
It does feel like a bit of a breach of data though, surely they shouldn't say anything at all, not even a hint, until the results are generally out.
(no one has phoned us at any rate!!)

WaitingforThursday · 23/08/2023 13:40

Our school definitely just circulates and takes random photos. They don't do a press photo of specific kids with their results, but lots of schools do.

Candleabra · 23/08/2023 13:55

jamimmi · 23/08/2023 13:21

To be quite clear , the head rang and was very clear he couldn't given me the results but said they would.like her in foe a picture at 9. To make of that what I would!

I know people this happened to - they were asked the day before to go in early on results day to get their picture taken by the local paper so it would get in the lunchtime edition - they’d got 5 As at a level. They weren’t literally told their results the day before but it was made clear they were very good wink wink
This was years ago though. I’m surprised they still do this due to strict data protocols. And online media - no need to hit the early print runs these days.