It’s been a stressful few days. My son is deeply disappointed not to get the grades and all we can do now is wait to see if a re-mark of one of his papers will do the trick. I don’t really get this whole re-mark thing. It wasn’t around in my day. Surely it shouldn’t really make a difference? I don’t know how long it’s going to take. I suspect there will be high demand. It’s such an unusual year, given the ridiculously high increase in uni fees next year – nobody wants to risk a gap year and take on all that additional debt. How badly that whole thing has been managed. Not fair on the kids at all.
We went ahead with a “gathering” at my house on Thursday evening, although minus the “CONGRATULATIONS” banner that he couldn’t quite bring himself to put up. I was particularly grumpy about the whole event. Wasn’t in the mood to have everyone round and worried that as usual I’d be left with a hideous mess. But. Actually, it was lovely. Lots of his friends have done REALLY well. 4 A*’s and all that. Builder Bloke’s son had done very well too and so champagne was bought by BB for him. It was a good night and as usual after warning the neighbours about the possible noise and apologising profusely in advance, I and my brother were the ones spotted at midnight doing ridiculous dancing and trying to turn the music up. Ridiculous.
His friends help tidy up now. They’re just all so lovely and my house, although it smells of beer and is a little smeary isn’t too bad. He was so pleased with himself “mum, i’ve cleaned everything up, you won’t spot a thing”. Well, this his idea of a clean table – a boy clean table:-
Oh well. Never mind. He’s gone off inter-railing now for nearly a month and I’ll miss him – leaving me to bite my nails and wait to hear about his future.
Kelloggsville
August 20, 2011Difficult time but it will all sort out in the end x
Working Mum
August 22, 2011I’m sorry he didn’t get the grades; it was a very competitive year this year given the ridiculous fee increases next year. There was a kind of “all or nothing” attitude from our year 13s who went all out to get their grades as they knew that even clearing would be vastly limited this year.
The remarking thing really gets my goat because, as my Headmaster always says, results day is only the start of the result process. We have loads of papers remarked and many pupils have their grades increased subsequently but it’s then too late for university entrance – makes you wonder why they can’t mark them properly in the first place and save pupils all the stress and heartache! What a ridiculous system!
Wishing him luck in finding his path.
Family Affairs
August 22, 2011I completely agree – the marking should be 100% in the first place and given that it does change a lot of people particluarly this year must be feeling prepared to take the risk and it’s expensive. Must be a real cash cow. Lx
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August 23, 2011So, having cocked up his A levels…first born thinks it is ok to go swanning off around Europe for a month (he’s just come home from what, 3 separate holidays?!!!!) Was not like that in our day for sure….but then this is partly the problem with our ‘broken’ society….Children think it should just be given to them on a plate…..
I would have thought it far better to stay home and sort through all the very many various options, an obviously clever chap, with a couple of decent A levels under his belt, has open to him.
Family Affairs
August 23, 2011Well, yes, but tbh he’s paying for this holiday out of his own savings and there is absolutely nothing he can do until he gets his remarks so he might as well bugger off and enjoy himself. We just have to wait. Lx
Jon Storey
August 23, 2011Ditto both above, no excuse.
Lauren was luck enough to get her grades but was so stressed in the weeks up to results day that I can begin to understand how your son ( and you) may feel.
Wishing your son the very best for the future, it will be good…..