Y11 2025-26 Final exams are here. Now we wait….

[UncomfortableSilence]

New thread for all things Y11, did they cook or are they cooked. We will find out in 10 weeks😉

All the 6th forms near me say 4.5-5 hours a subject and same in independent study min. So total 30 hours a week.
a lot of colleges squeeze into 3 days for less travel / so kids can work

Our Sixth form doesn't allow them to work (although I don't think they can really enforce that). They have about 5 hours a week per subject and also recommend the same amount in self study. DD is planning on 3 A levels and an EPQ, although I'm not really convinced in the value of the EPQ anymore, many unis seem to no longer make lower offers based on EPQs.

I haven't heard of colleges doing all their lessons in 3 days so kids can work. I thought they're meant to be in education full time if they're doing A levels - that's how it's funded by the government.

The one that my Dd is now considering has 6 hours of lessons a day timetabled + 45 mins break and an hour's lunch, so it's quite a long day but I assume some of that will be study periods.

I'm not sure about EPQ either, but DD seems keen. I think it's a good way of showing interest in potential degree matter if you're not studying it at A level. I think her current plan is to start doing 4, drop one by Christmas, and replace it with an EPQ... This is mainly as she can't decide what she wants to do.

Our choices are both sixth form colleges, each 5 hours teaching a subject. DS has a taster day tomorrow after having had a brief holiday which was very necessary. One college insists on the EPQ the other does not but students going through before think EPQ very helpful for university skills not necessarily getting an offer

That's interesting about banning work - how can they enforce that though? I'm hoping DS keeps his job in the pub and works all through sixth form!

He was at a party yesterday and was buzzing when he came home - I think there might be a girl involved in that

They can't ban work. They maybe just don't encourage work during the actual school day by expecting them to be in school during independent study sessions. Everyone I know who has been to 6th form works at least some evenings and weekends.

That makes sense @Littletreefrog I think if they can get a weekend job that's brilliant - they all need some life skills

It's just a shame that teenager jobs are like hen's teeth

I’d love my son to have a job like he did at his age (Saturday job in a shop aged 15). As well as the money I learned so much. They had a notice up on the door looking for a ‘Saturday girl’ and I went in and enquired. It was that easy. Seems so much harder for young people now.

They can only ban work by having time tables that make it impossible. But in some areas kids need to earn some money too. And for vocational courses it’s a huge win. It’s no different from what most uni have done. Less commuting too

It’s also very hard to get a PT job that’s only one weekend day

Agree part-time jobs teach so much. My daughter absolutely loves working at the soft play and would love more shifts, but only gets 1 weekend day for now as they have quite a lot of staff. It's a really nice well-run play centre with great staff and management. She's been super lucky to get it but I think it's because we're in London and there must be more jobs in London. Daughter even got tipped by a party parent there so was super happy 😃

But currently she's doing the Wimbledon Queue camping ⛺️ there with a friend 😂

The Queue has got sooooo much busier than it was only 2 years ago! Have to come much earlier to get Centre Court/Court 1 tickets.

Anyone else here in the Wimbledon Queue? 😀

No @XelaM but I did say to DD she should go to Roehampton last week too watch the qualifiers. Tickets are only £20.

I remember doing the q after my GCSEs - then it was just a few hours. And some people left and gave us their centre court tickets on the way out. You couldn't do that now with digital tickets.

The school I work in really discourages part time jobs. I think they are so important, it was the absolute making of DD1. She loved it, it gave her so much confidence, taught her how to interact with the public just so many skills. She’s also got the most incredible work ethic now.

@XelaMI wish I was in the Wimbledon queue, it’s my favourite sporting event, I’ve also told DD to go.

She had her first taster day today at her current school. She really isn’t keen on staying there but she said it was a really good day in terms of trying the subjects, she came away with the following, she can’t wait to start Maths, Computer Science was really good and she wasn’t keen on English Lit which we are both shocked about! They had to pick 4 subjects to try so her final one was Chemistry which she loved so change may be on the horizon. We’ll see how she feels after the other two.

I totally agree re part time jobs being so important but they're so hard to get now! I had exactly the same as @LattePatty - just went into the local supermarket at 16 and asked about 'Saturday jobs'. Nice short chat with the general manager later and bingo, one Saturday job for me. Now it's apply via Indeed and hundreds will go for one role - some DC might be lucky by trailing round shops and cafes with a paper CV but the vast majority will be fobbed off and told to apply online and then they'll probably never hear back from the company again.

And the interview processes are awful too. For his current role my eldest DS (21) had to have a phone interview, then attend a four hour assessment centre (including online screening tests, group task, presentation and individual interview) for....a graduate position I hear you ask? or maybe for a solid, entry level role with good prospects and scope to progress? Nope - for a minimum wage hospitality job with a maximum two to three shifts a week if he's lucky. And he has to be available all week even though he generally only works 12-15 hours. The days of the guaranteed 'Saturday job' seem to be over.

I desperately want DS2 to find some work during sixth form because the longer you leave it to get any kind of job, the harder it is - but there are just so many more people out there who want jobs than there are jobs...

@UncomfortableSilence I love Wimbledon too 😀 The Q has been insanely busy this year so she has to come extra early if she wants CC/Ct 1

Look out for temporary work too - my older one has done various day roles - parking attendant at local events - that kind of thing - it all builds up experience . DS2 has been car washing round the village .

DS has just picked up his first pay packet from the pub - literally a brown envelope - so funny! He was absolutely delighted with himself.

I can’t see my DS getting any kind of job, it’s hard enough for the able bodied but a 16 year old using a wheelchair is another barrier. He’s got another work experience day in politics lined up and already doing summer work for A levels which he found inspiring. I think he’ll look into volunteering at the food bank next.

I didn't see DS until after lunch this afternoon. I've told him he needs to leave the house at some point tomorrow, even if it's just to go to the shop. He isn't going to moulder in his room all summer.

Went to the 6th form new parents event yesterday and they said they were all for part time jobs, but no more than 8 hours a week. More than that and they have found it impacts negatively. It is almost impossible to find them around here though!

On the Wimbledon chat - I went to Roehampton Uni (Institute as it was then) and the students got to work as line judges and ball boys/girls at qualifiers at the Bank tennis club. I still have my line judge tracksuit somewhere. Sadly it didn't give us free access to Wimbledon proper, but it was a great experience.

Just popped on this thread thinking no one will be writing anything and I had 390 new posts!

What on earth have you all been talking about? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I have a feeling of FOMO and really should do some housework instead of sit and read all the posts….

@TheBeatlesWhoarethey I think we're all just waffling on!

For me it's just trying to keep my mind off worrying about results day. DS has his prom tonight we were very surprised he wanted to go. Even more surprised he hasn't changed his mind at any point. Then further surprised he has gone to pre prom at a friend's house.

DS has been out with his friends today, and had a great time 💛☺️