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Secondary education

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

Year 11 - 2024/2025: And relax! Support Thread for the summer holidays.

1000 replies

QueenMabby · 18/06/2025 06:29

New thread to carry us all through the summer as we transition from dealing with stressed teens to dealing with bored teens!

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15
SuperTrooper1111 · 14/08/2025 15:42

@CatHairEveryWhereNow I agree with you about the lack of general information about BTechs. It was actually down to MN that I found out about them – when we realised that DD's anxiety was impacting her sitting GCSEs and was going to make A-levels a horrible hill to climb, I did an advanced search on "alternatives to A-levels" and found some threads on BTechs! Didn't have a clue before then. Her school was also useless and unsupportive about them. When she told a teacher in a careers seminar that she was only applying for this one specific BT, they basically said we were letting her down as parents and that they'd help her apply for sixth form to do A-levels. She just laughed and said no thanks. I was LIVID they overstepped like that!

NotDonna · 14/08/2025 16:49

Flipping heck @SuperTrooper1111 unbelievably appalling!

Whoooo · 14/08/2025 16:57

@SuperTrooper1111
😳😳😳😳😡😡😡

ThisPerkySloth2 · 14/08/2025 17:26

very roller coaster day regards A Levels.....

Results were not as expected BUT DD was called by her first choice Uni this morning about an unconditional offer (slightly different course and with a foundation year) they had made ON THE 10 AUGUST!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱🤦‍♀️😲🤯one week of anxiety and stress we could have avoided!!!!!!

DD hadn't seen the offer (think she was burying her head stressed and admittedly we thought it was all about today), nor the congratulatory email at 9am this morning. 😒

All accepted and in the bag.

Uni shopping will help distract from the wait for DS's GCSEs!

Absolutely exhausted and drained... but happy! I hope DC who didn't get what they wanted or expected whether A levels or GCSEs, still find a way, there always is one just looks different.

labradorservant · 14/08/2025 17:31

SuperTrooper1111 · 14/08/2025 15:42

@CatHairEveryWhereNow I agree with you about the lack of general information about BTechs. It was actually down to MN that I found out about them – when we realised that DD's anxiety was impacting her sitting GCSEs and was going to make A-levels a horrible hill to climb, I did an advanced search on "alternatives to A-levels" and found some threads on BTechs! Didn't have a clue before then. Her school was also useless and unsupportive about them. When she told a teacher in a careers seminar that she was only applying for this one specific BT, they basically said we were letting her down as parents and that they'd help her apply for sixth form to do A-levels. She just laughed and said no thanks. I was LIVID they overstepped like that!

Are you at a private or state school. DS is at a state school and they do Btecs, alevels, ctechs etc. They get the right course for the student. This goes into post year 13 aspirations.
From the view conversations I have, I think the private schools round here clutch their pearls at the mention of degree apprenticeships let alone B-techs. It’s a shame as not everyone wants to do alevels/unis.

TeenToTwenties · 14/08/2025 17:38

This is where I like the Hants state system where virtually zero schools have 6th forms. So everyone is informed about all options, and you make a positive choice. There are downsides course, but from us you can get to at least 2 mainly A level colleges, 2 vocational, 1 agricultural, 1 mixed A level-vocational. And more if prepared to travel >1hr.

SuperTrooper1111 · 14/08/2025 17:39

@NotDonna @Whoooo I know! We'd have been letting her down if we had insisted she should do A-levels and not found an alternative that suits her far better. I gave the school short shrift.

@labradorservant She's at a state school but from what DD said and what we and some friends of ours experienced with their DC, they are only concerned with pushing A-levels as the next route. The school doesn't have a sixth form and so the head is obsessed with this idea that their students should only go to the best sixth forms in the area to do A-levels and go onto uni. The pearl clutching vibe is strong!

Whoooo · 14/08/2025 17:48

My friends dd dod not get her predicted A level grades today BUT her firm has offered a foundation year so she's off to her first choice! 😃
Always worth asking if they'll let you do a foundation year...

NotDonna · 14/08/2025 17:53

@Whoooo or often a very similar (undersubscribed) course - our friend has still got 1st choice uni despite BBB rather than AAA & it’s a VERY similar course. Such great news!

Whoooo · 14/08/2025 18:34

@NotDonna
Great news! ✨️

GCSEnerves · 14/08/2025 19:37

I started a thread in further education for parents of kids taking BTEC or other vocational qualifications. Hopefully we can support each other in the coming year once we get over the GCSE hurdle.

I used a different username as hopefully won’t be GCSEnerves for much longer!

BTEC support thread 25/26

BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26 | Mumsnet

Hello all. My DS will hopefully be starting a level 3 extended diploma in September (assuming he gets the grades). I know very little about BTECs havi...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/further_education/5391936-btect-levelother-vocational-2526

CapybaraCafeOrNot · 14/08/2025 21:27

I know someone middle-aged who was privately educated and currently works at a university and who didn't know what a BTech was.

Whoooo · 14/08/2025 22:04

Thanks @GCSEnerves 💙

Sisublondie · 14/08/2025 22:23

@ThisPerkySloth2… Well!!!! What a drama!!!!!!!🎭!! I got stressed reading it!!!! 😈😹!! Oh! What FABULOUS news!!!! That is so exciting! You must all be on cloud nine!! Brilliant news!! Well, 🤞🙏🤞 for similar news for a weeks time ! Just enjoy this time and happy shopping!!! 🛍️

Sisublondie · 14/08/2025 22:24

GCSEnerves · 14/08/2025 19:37

I started a thread in further education for parents of kids taking BTEC or other vocational qualifications. Hopefully we can support each other in the coming year once we get over the GCSE hurdle.

I used a different username as hopefully won’t be GCSEnerves for much longer!

BTEC support thread 25/26

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏! x

Sisublondie · 14/08/2025 22:47

SuperTrooper1111 · 14/08/2025 17:39

@NotDonna @Whoooo I know! We'd have been letting her down if we had insisted she should do A-levels and not found an alternative that suits her far better. I gave the school short shrift.

@labradorservant She's at a state school but from what DD said and what we and some friends of ours experienced with their DC, they are only concerned with pushing A-levels as the next route. The school doesn't have a sixth form and so the head is obsessed with this idea that their students should only go to the best sixth forms in the area to do A-levels and go onto uni. The pearl clutching vibe is strong!

“Pearl clutching vibe”!!!!😹😹😹😹!!!!

You absolutely handled that perfectly!!! The school should know that that is NOT OK!!! You know your DD better than anyone and zero point in setting her up to fail, to suit their stats!! Her happiness and wellbeing is paramount!

phyllidafosset · 14/08/2025 22:59

LikeABat · 14/08/2025 08:45

Best wishes to everyone getting level 3 results today. For those getting FSMQ Add maths the grade boundaries are lower than previous years. Apparently it was a tough exam.

Oh this is good news! My DD had been hoping for an A but came out despondent and has been expecting a B. She hasn’t been sent her grade but she is now hoping for an A. I really hope she gets it!

Sisublondie · 14/08/2025 23:32

SuperTrooper1111 · 14/08/2025 12:54

My DP is a twin and aways out-performed his sibling academically, so their parents focused on the subjects his twin did do well in, which were different ones. Lots of positive chat about how they were on the right paths for each one's unique abilities, which really helped according to DP.

I’m an identical twin and, at school, we always got very similar results in tests, and teachers liked paring us against each other. Other students would take the mikey as to who came higher and stuff…..

Things changed a bit at A Level, as our school did not have one. We both got into the “ good Sixth Form”, but as we’d had crap careers advice, started A Levels we really shouldn’t. At the end of year one, however, she had excellent supporting Form Tutor and decided to restart the first year. I, however, had my Chemistry tutor as form tutor, and he was an odious little hateful spiteful horrid man…. ( Mr Fairburn….. karma will get you!) who had relentlessly bullied me throughout, putting me on report when I kept asking for help, and openly disparaging me over test results in front of the class. So, I didn’t want to quit, prove him right, so I stupidly ploughed on….. to be faced with 4 Grade U’s just by my 18th on the 20th 🙄! My parents were great, at no point did they say “ I told you so! You should have redone the first year like your twin!” ..who was storming away back at the nice place- they just let me know they’d support me whatever I did. I decided to try and pick myself up, got into the only other college in town there, not even on the main campus, in a disused MFI Showroom and did new A Levels I actually was interested in in a crammer year, and got off to “uni” that way, same time twin did. Even then she got into nice posh Uni campus Halls, I was at poly and couldn’t get into halls so lived way out ( well, only West Jesmond!- for Newc people!), but they always seemed to manage not comparing us both, which might have even hard at times….

Sorry if this doesn’t help very much…. I’m guessing you have thinking you may have differing results on Thursday? Oh, I really feel for you… 🤗 . Do they have similar wishes as what to do next?

Sisublondie · 14/08/2025 23:34

@Poisoningpigeons.. my reply to @SuperTrooper1111is for you, too!! Sorry! I thought it would “ tag” you both in!! 😳

Sisublondie · 14/08/2025 23:39

CatHairEveryWhereNow · 14/08/2025 14:31

Thanks.😀

I think he most pleased by one paper - here it's 40% Y12 exams is end A-level grade and further maths was bad last year - there was some format change that threw him and the first paper was an E the worst one though they were all well below predictions but he improve every paper.

We had to really push to get him to re-sit - again something allowed here - he refused to do others papers but agree to that one. E last year on that one paper to A this on same paper - no extra teaching on it so all on him - so overall he came up to a C in further maths.

DD2 doing A-levels hopefully - but I do wish there was more information about BTecs as I think they'd have suited DD1 much more than A-levels she did do.

WOW!!! He really has deserved all his rightful praise!! That is an amazing achievement on his own, essentially!!! 🤩🥳🤩

it is, indeed, a shame enough isn’t known about BTECS… especially if you think your DD1 may have benefitted. Is DD2 happy with her A Level choices? I think the crazy thing is BTECS aren’t that new?? Didn’t they replace OND/ HNDs ages ago? 🤷‍♀️

mojobrojo · 15/08/2025 08:48

DC’s private school run one BTEC in sport. I think this is because they were losing some of their 1st XI rugby and hockey squads to the 6th form colleges for sports-related courses. This keeps the players and their fees. I think it’s a good strategy from the school - my DD is already adamant (at 13) that she’ll be staying for 6th form because she wants to be in the 1st XI hockey squad and go on the senior sports tour. It’s good to know that if A levels aren’t the right path for her and she’s still determined for a career in sport then she doesn’t have to lose out on the big bonuses that the private school offers her. I can’t see them extending their BTEC offer though - far too focused on good grades in traditional A levels.

CatHairEveryWhereNow · 15/08/2025 10:20

Sisublondie · 14/08/2025 23:39

WOW!!! He really has deserved all his rightful praise!! That is an amazing achievement on his own, essentially!!! 🤩🥳🤩

it is, indeed, a shame enough isn’t known about BTECS… especially if you think your DD1 may have benefitted. Is DD2 happy with her A Level choices? I think the crazy thing is BTECS aren’t that new?? Didn’t they replace OND/ HNDs ages ago? 🤷‍♀️

We are really proud of DS.

We were told in his first primary he likely had dyscalculia - though they wouldn't test for that or dsyelxia for DD1 - she was finally diagnosed age 19 at uni with few other things. So did a lot of work at home him so A in maths A-level and a C in further maths is quite the result.

DD2 sort of inbetween DD1 and DS academically and is set on A-levels - we figure she can start Y12 see how the As levels go end of Y12 and then decide if she needs to make changes with courses or subjects.

DD1 was hampered by covid - first struck when she was in Y10 and end of year exams weren't a thing her school did till she left - so wasn't as clear she'd struggle till AS exams then she wanted to plough on. She got in Uni course she wanted and is doing well - but the A-level years were hard on her and us.

DD1 has a Btec - level 2 - taken Y9 - at school but I thought you could take them along side A-levels but college only seemed to have people talking about the ones which were all you took on open evenings. We probably should have asked more questions - but we did A-levels and know what they are so didn't. I think they were around when I sat A-levels - though may have been new then not sure.

The state school career advice has been incorrect and low in ambition and they've been very pushy with DD2 wanting her to stop on with them - they only do A-levels - despite her being very clear it was a no.

achangeofnameisasgoodasarest · 15/08/2025 10:29

Well done to all A-Levellers. A traumatic day here yesterday with grades missed and sadness. BUT both my older ones are into their first choices (Sheffield and Swansea) so in the end we are exactly where we would have been had they been better.

Tough though. Not making me look forward to Thursday.

TheLivelyViper · 15/08/2025 10:36

CatHairEveryWhereNow · 15/08/2025 10:20

We are really proud of DS.

We were told in his first primary he likely had dyscalculia - though they wouldn't test for that or dsyelxia for DD1 - she was finally diagnosed age 19 at uni with few other things. So did a lot of work at home him so A in maths A-level and a C in further maths is quite the result.

DD2 sort of inbetween DD1 and DS academically and is set on A-levels - we figure she can start Y12 see how the As levels go end of Y12 and then decide if she needs to make changes with courses or subjects.

DD1 was hampered by covid - first struck when she was in Y10 and end of year exams weren't a thing her school did till she left - so wasn't as clear she'd struggle till AS exams then she wanted to plough on. She got in Uni course she wanted and is doing well - but the A-level years were hard on her and us.

DD1 has a Btec - level 2 - taken Y9 - at school but I thought you could take them along side A-levels but college only seemed to have people talking about the ones which were all you took on open evenings. We probably should have asked more questions - but we did A-levels and know what they are so didn't. I think they were around when I sat A-levels - though may have been new then not sure.

The state school career advice has been incorrect and low in ambition and they've been very pushy with DD2 wanting her to stop on with them - they only do A-levels - despite her being very clear it was a no.

Hey I was wondering how did you get the diagnosis process going at 19? Did you need old school reports, was it just family history? Did you go through the university or the GP? A friend is looking to do it for dyspraxia and potential ADHD and dyslexia (she has a provisional dyslexia diagnosis but her county council don't recognise it anymore so her school couldn't get her an Ed psych). She's now going into 1st year uni, so was hoping to see what they can do, but any advice you have would be helpful so I can pass it on.

SuperTrooper1111 · 15/08/2025 10:39

achangeofnameisasgoodasarest · 15/08/2025 10:29

Well done to all A-Levellers. A traumatic day here yesterday with grades missed and sadness. BUT both my older ones are into their first choices (Sheffield and Swansea) so in the end we are exactly where we would have been had they been better.

Tough though. Not making me look forward to Thursday.

Sorry to hear they didn't get the grades they wanted but good news that they got their first choices still. Did they drop grades on Edexcel papers by any chance? There seems to be a growing consensus on the A-level results thread that students dropped two grades from their predictions on Edexcel papers, especially English Lit.

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