Y11 2025-26 Results Day and Next Steps

[UncomfortableSilence]

We can use this thread to continue our discussions for now.

@Tebheag he was happy to report that the Oxford students were better dressed than their Cambridge counterparts. However, the streets were too bumpy and therefore he would never consider going there. FML. I'm glad your DD enjoyed it.

DS's school came back, having reviewed his English paper (1 mark away from a 6) and have said they don't think its worth getting it checked, but we can do so if we want to pay.

@NotDarkGothicMama I am enjoying your sons feedback.
Too bumpy 😂

He means cobbles, but wouldn't demean himself by giving "the ridiculous bumps" their proper name. He and his friend also managed to fit in yet another Pizza Express, so now he's up to silver tier status just 3 weeks into term. I told him he's going to be spherical if he keeps that up.

@NotDarkGothicMama did wonder if it was cobbles but just preferred his word of bumpy.

We’re Going to open day at Southampton next weekend. The first stop on the tour circuit. I’m really looking forward to it. Dd is the oldest so this is all new territory. I just hope in the next week she has decided which fourth subject to drop… Still waiting on the fourth marking review to come back too.

Can any wise Mumsnetters who are in the know about kids taking 4 A-levels advise on whether it's better to take an A-level early in Y12 or take all 4 in Y13? Hypothetically, should the kid have a uni offer of A (star) AA, but they achieved the A(star) in Y12 and in Y13 got AAA or AAB, would the A(star) they achieved in Y12 count towards their offer or would they need to have taken all 4 A-levels in Y13?

I'm trying to decide if my daughter should take her MFL A-level in Y12 which would mean less work in Y13 or if it's pointless unless taken at the same time as the other A-levels. Also, is it better to already have an A(star) in the bag so to speak when applying to unis or it would make no difference as long as she gets predicted A(star) AA for example?

She's aiming for a super-competitive course where she really needs to pull out all the stops to even get a look-in.

Is it medicine/ dentistry or vet med?

To be honest there is little benefit doing four alevels in any time combination. Universities only look at 3. If it’s such a competitive course, the recommendation is usually to focus on getting A* in three rather than spreading thinly for four.

It's Vet Medicine and her GCSEs albeit good were not so exceptional, so she really needs to do her absolute maximum to try to get an offer. The reason she's doing a 4th A-level is because she's more likely to do well in the language A-level but still wants (and needs) to do the sciences. The 4th A-level she's doing outside college.

Ah ok. Could she drop a science? She only needs chemistry plus one other.

Your son should write uni reviews online - he’d be a hit! 😆

For people whose kids have gone to a sixth form not at their old school, how they doing socially? My dd seems to have made a massive group of new friends very quickly - which is great, but I’m a little worried she’ll drop her old friends in the thrill of the new. I hope not. I also get the feeling that we are about to enter the era of Parties and Drinking and Going Out in Town 😬 (her existing friends are a lovely nerdy little group who might have one G&T with fresh lime during their gatherings 😆). Am buckling up…

My DD has started at a 6th form college but this week was her first week in so only really just finding her feet. She is speaking to new people in her lessons but I wouldn't say she has made any friends yet.

When DS went to the same college a few years ago, he did start mixing more and making friends and going to parties. The novelty did wear off after a few months though and he figured out which ones to hang on to and which new friends to let go of.

It's their first time for many having that sort of freedom and independence, I think they naturally want to stretch their wings a bit at first.

@Drivingselfmad sounds familiar! DD is loving the new school and seems to be doing lots of socialising. But she has still been meeting with her old friends and went to a gig with one of them last night. The whole group of old friends are doing something together next week. I think seeing her old friends makes her a bit nostalgic though and question whether she's made the right choice although then when she's with the new group she's happy.

@XelaM are you on FB? The What I Wish I Knew About University group is very helpful for questions like yours and has lots of very knowledgeable people on it. My understanding is that some universities do only count A levels taken at one sitting but as she'll still have 3, she may be ok. But then at Dd's old school, the people doing FM do A level Maths in Y12 and FM in Y13, so I don't think it can matter that much.

Yes dd is meeting up with old friends this weekend, which I am really happy about. I think after the initial whirl, she’ll settle with a smaller group.

I went to the same sixth form and it’s so nostalgic watching her embrace the new chapter there - something I remember so well 🥹

@Drivingselfmad
DD went to a huge college knowing no one. Has made one good friend already and seemingly another couple groups via another subject and sport. Has found a couple people she does know too... seems to be in contact with her closet old friends who ended to in diff places too.. I think she’s too fazed by long days and workload to think about partying yet. (Unlike in June)

There are some uni’s/ courses that only accept the A-Levels done in year 13, I’m sorry, I can’t remember which ones.

I know this because our school advised us of the uni’s when explaining why Maths is taught to those doing FM in year 12 only, but they don’t sit the exams until year 13.

You are very fortunate to only just be having this problem now. DD started that phase in year 9! Thank fully she doesn’t really drink any more but she’ll still chase down a party any chance she can get.

No parties here yet, but his football friends at the same sixth form are a party crowd so I'm waiting to see what Halloween brings.

the DC at her college often travel fair distances in to it so that will be different to yr11! Suspect first parties of Y12 will be with old mates

DD has finally decided to drop Chemistry for Sociology so hopefully she’ll be settled with her A Levels now. Not really sure what she’ll do at uni, seems to be thinking about Social Policy or Neuroscience, but she’s got time to think about it now,

The park drinking seems to have calmed down now that the holidays are over, but she was out with friends last weekend, has plans tomorrow and there’s a party next weekend so socially she’s happy. Takes a bit of getting used to for us as her big brother didn’t go out much at that age.

Dd is loving sociology! Still a toss up between it and English lit though to drop. I swear I’m bored of her constantly reeling pros and cons. We really will be flipping a coin.

DD has gone to a small college where she doesn’t know anyone. She has made one good friend very quickly and has talked to lots of others and started to form a bigger group too. She’s not a party goer yet but it could all change!

We won’t be looking at unis any time soon as she’s not sure that she wants to go, and I think for her, it’s far too early to try and get her to think about it when she’s only just chosen what to do at college.

I think it’ll be a good choice for my DD. I don’t think she would have been happy doing all Maths / Science so good for her to do something that is completely different alongside Maths and Biology. Hopefully she’ll enjoy it

Hope you don’t have to resort to coin tossing - sounds stressful!

She wants to do law so it’s just about hitting top grades rather than specific subjects - though she does have two facilitating subjects locked in.