Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 21:49:20 GMT
What's he thinking of studying then? Anything interesting?
I well remember my 'results' period; I was oblivious to all around me and had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to do it.
Though I don't think even now that I could answer the question "what do you want to do?" with any coherence.
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Post by Humph on Aug 13, 2016 5:29:48 GMT
He really doesn't know yet.
Similarly I feel I'm still on my gap year and will decide what I want to do when I grow up I suppose.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Aug 13, 2016 6:52:50 GMT
Curious about the idea of a college being more instructive than a sixth form. Both mine will face the same choice, the first of them a year from now. He doesn't have a firm goal either; he's getting good results across the board but his preference is for the numerical and analytical, and his Possibles list includes maths, physics, economics, engineering and architecture. His teachers reckon he should be aiming at the top-tier universities for such things: Cambridge, Imperial, UCL. His school sixth form - state but selective - has a good record of winning places at these; I'm not so sure about the college down the hill.
I'm supposing NoFM's preference for colleges is more to do with extracurricular matters and the greater self-regulation required. The crowd I see trooping to the college if I'm late leaving for work certainly looks very different from the blazered sixth formers at his school, which may have its benefits. Conversely, the school is a supportive, successful and happy place for him, that seems to produce well-adjusted high-achievers. Who knows?
The school, incidentally, is a bus ride away; the college too close to be worth cycling to.
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Post by manatee on Aug 13, 2016 11:39:20 GMT
It might be obvious, but look closely enough to try and get a view of to what extent the two alternatives are batting for the pupils vs. for themselves. The child's existing teachers might have some insight to offer.
It's years ago now, so perhaps the system is having fewer unintended consequences, but the son of a friend of ours went to a 6th form college that went to very great lengths to manipulate its results - it would dissuade/block pupils from entering for exams if they weren't considered to have "done enough work". The results table looked outstanding but the college didn't, by several accounts I heard, do a very good job of getting the most out of the pupils who needed support in a subject - they were more likely to end up dropping it, resulting in them having fewer passes.
In general, I think some schools are more suited to able and motivated pupils, whom they will push to perform, while others are better able to motivate and support those who aren't so self-propelled.
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Post by Hofmeister on Aug 13, 2016 12:07:42 GMT
And welcome BTW manatee.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 22:17:45 GMT
Son #1 has A level results next week. Taking the easy option (which he always does) he intends to do Real Estate and then qualify as a Chartered Surveyor so he can take an easy route into employment in my firm.
Son #2 has GCSE results in two weeks. He is far more focussed and academic. Wants to build fancy bridges and stadia, so want to go to MIT to study engineering...failing that Imperial. He should go far as he sets him mind to things. #1 has to be pushed the whole time to do anything. Both go to a good comprehensive school.
Daughter about to go to same comprehensive...she is midway between the two academically....I'll worry about her another time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 18:54:59 GMT
If anybody had a child, 16 - 21 I guess, who might like a year off, a summer away or perhaps to study elsewhere, I'd probably be quite cool about hosting them and helping sort stuff out. If such child fancied a period of time in South America. Do stuff a bit different, learn a language, grow up and experience stuff etc.
Live with us, kind of home from home thing.
For a robust child there are many opportunities, although even with my family's support I probably wouldn't advise it for a shy, wallflower.
Under the "pay it forward" methodology; although probably fair to point out you might get stuck with one of mine in years to come, in a similar yet reverse situation.
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Post by Humph on Aug 14, 2016 18:58:59 GMT
Bugger him having a year off. I however...
😉
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 19:02:32 GMT
Depends on what you think these formative years are to gain. 12 months in an FE environment or 12 months working his arse off in strange and foreign climes.
Quite honestly I would ship No. 1 to the UK in a second if she was going to be challenged for 12 months. A year *OFF*, i.e. lying in her pit doing bugger all would not be acceptable.
But this is South America. You remember Brasil? there's a lot to be learned and experienced.
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Post by Humph on Aug 14, 2016 19:18:51 GMT
Oh indeed, I do know what you mean. Fortunately my son is a bright lad and should do ok, but lying in his pit doing SFA is actually his favourite hobby. He emerges like some naturally hibernating creature and does some quite interesting, often active and useful things for a short while before returning to his den. Does my head in. I couldn't keep still at his age, I still can't in truth. He'd almost certainly waste an opportunity such as you describe right now, maybe in the future he'd make more of it. This year he needs to get stuck in to his studies.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 19:21:31 GMT
Well, feel free to bring the subject up in the future if it seems worthwhile.
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Post by Humph on Aug 14, 2016 19:27:58 GMT
Will do, thanks !
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