tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post5183004154363612899..comments2023-05-07T14:10:02.744+01:00Comments on The River Cottage Diaries: Quandries, quandries....Wylye Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03513714783299643621noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-70190471313077864022011-12-01T12:20:50.277+00:002011-12-01T12:20:50.277+00:00Trish, sounds great. Do you think they would take ...Trish, sounds great. Do you think they would take me?Wylye Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03513714783299643621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-47702773432728084502011-12-01T12:19:22.568+00:002011-12-01T12:19:22.568+00:00Perpetua, that was so funny. As your comment came ...Perpetua, that was so funny. As your comment came in, guess what I was doing!<br /><br />Sarah, in a strange way, it's possibly a little bit admirable!<br /><br />Dumdad, it's frightening isn't itWylye Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03513714783299643621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-34485404766948030002011-12-01T11:30:43.401+00:002011-12-01T11:30:43.401+00:00"I really don't know where the last 10 ye..."I really don't know where the last 10 years have gone."<br /><br />You and me both!Dumdadhttp://theothersideofparis.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-70008691957159602602011-11-29T09:11:24.553+00:002011-11-29T09:11:24.553+00:00We are doing something similar with our boy at the...We are doing something similar with our boy at the moment. However he is keen to stay at his current school, the local boys' grammar, although he could go to the local girls' grammar as both schools have mixed sixth form. <br />We were all impressed by the open evening at his current school, particularly the students themselves who sold it to us. Rory loves the newly-furbished sixth form block which has a coffee lounge with leather sofas!!Trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00119443727504215312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-80775371801509207972011-11-29T08:50:11.409+00:002011-11-29T08:50:11.409+00:00I call knowing he wants to do medicine at universi...I call knowing he wants to do medicine at university pretty focused. My son, also aged 15, has no idea what he wants to do, but he definitely does not want to do medicine (his dad is a surgeon which has a lot to do with it).<br /><br />The last time we spoke about it he asked me where the jobs are where you earn a lot of money but don't have to work too hard. "In your dreams" I said. Talk about lazy!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195684182481935384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-72337325457654446982011-11-28T23:05:34.618+00:002011-11-28T23:05:34.618+00:00Forgot to mention that DH's niece did medicine...Forgot to mention that DH's niece did medicine at Nottingham and loved it. Apparently a very good medical school. Wherever he decides to go, the sciences will loom large, though, and it might be worth looking at a few university websites to see whether their medical schools have any preferences as to A-Levels taken.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-18137904927570812962011-11-28T22:44:33.289+00:002011-11-28T22:44:33.289+00:00Hausfrau, isn't that weird. The Boy's girl...Hausfrau, isn't that weird. The Boy's girlfriend was only talking to me tonight about studying medicine at Cardiff and I didn't even know it had a medical school. My niece is in her second year at Aston doing medicine. My SIL's best friend is a consultant at Hammersmith Hospital and he took her out to Africa for a month with Medecins sans Frontieres which no doubt boosted her personal statement well. The Girl has already said that she has no intention of doing Sixth Form anywhere else that the school she is at so that should make it easier with her anyway<br /><br />Steve, yes, that's what we've done. I'm hoping he'll only be accepted by one and that will end the dilemmaWylye Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03513714783299643621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-25109062966534051552011-11-28T22:40:34.677+00:002011-11-28T22:40:34.677+00:00Sarah, it is indeed at least a good quandry rather...Sarah, it is indeed at least a good quandry rather than angsting over the lack of good schools<br /><br />CQ, yes, The Boy was far from enamoured by his cap as well. 'It makes my head itch mummy' was the constant complaint. My mum says the same too... about him doing well anywhere, not that his cap makes her head itch!Wylye Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03513714783299643621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-19149744705367792252011-11-28T22:36:29.056+00:002011-11-28T22:36:29.056+00:00AMM, now why does that no surprise me! It's th...AMM, now why does that no surprise me! It's that old 'twins separated at birth' thing again. Well it certainly do you any harm going there and as you say, he has the right attitude. The Husband is also concerned about the impact of changing schools as well as the big step up to A levels<br /><br />Jody, he's seemed desperately unfocussed compared to some of the boys at the Grammar school who seemed to have their lives mapped out. I used to live on the French part of the St James's Way, or St Jacques de Compostelle as it is called there but I suspect that The Boy might have been similarly unimpressed at the suggestion of walking it!Wylye Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03513714783299643621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-21864363138960009082011-11-28T22:25:54.779+00:002011-11-28T22:25:54.779+00:00Fly, he has to do a personal statement of sorts ju...Fly, he has to do a personal statement of sorts just to get into the Sixth Form now. He has to say why he is suited to the Sixth Form, what he plans to study, why he feels he is capable of studying that subject, extra-curricular activities, yada,yada, yada. These days you have practically have to have at least a triple platinum Duke of Edinburgh award to even be considered for Uni! It's a crazy world out there<br /><br />Perpetua, it's always good to read other people's success stories. You are quite right that he needs to be happy and we will let him make the ultimate decisionWylye Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03513714783299643621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-33995252320147783182011-11-28T20:15:21.457+00:002011-11-28T20:15:21.457+00:00For what it's worth, we have gone down the loc...For what it's worth, we have gone down the local comp route. Eldest didn't consider moving for the sixth form, despite some of her friends doing so, and has thrived. She is only applying to Russell Group universities though I can't yet tell you how that will work out! <br />I can report however that Coffeeneighbour's daughter is now in her fourth year at Cardiff studying medicine having gone through the same school. She studied Chemistry, Biology, PE and, I think, English. PE got dropped after AS levels because it was too like Biology(!) and she did a lot of work improving her chances by shadowing a consultant and working as a volunteer in an old peoples nursing home which boosted her personal statement. The sciences have been vital and she wishes she was better at Maths as they're always being expected to do statistical work and take annual maths tests...<br />Good luck with the decision making.hausfrauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05311075972682014843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-69373754188138256412011-11-28T20:07:35.587+00:002011-11-28T20:07:35.587+00:00Difficult, isn't it? Apply to both, see what c...Difficult, isn't it? Apply to both, see what choices if any fate brings you.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-40268278906616942372011-11-28T19:11:34.731+00:002011-11-28T19:11:34.731+00:00Oh lawks that brought back memories! I can see th...Oh lawks that brought back memories! I can see them all now in their little purple blazers and caps (except my son resolutely refused to wear a cap and frequently his blazer, as you may remember, lol.) It' so tricky, isn't it? I think we made the right choice of 6th form for TD and we have our first parents' evening this week, so all may be revealed *shudder*. Good luck with your choices - he'll do well anywhere.Curry Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357154781453417176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-40448387972482315202011-11-28T18:40:10.580+00:002011-11-28T18:40:10.580+00:00What indeed. A real dilemma. I hope it all falls i...What indeed. A real dilemma. I hope it all falls into place soon, and the right decision comes to you.<br /><br />Good luck, at least you have a nice dilemma with 2 good schools to choose from. In the long run, it probably won't matter which one he goes to.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195684182481935384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-64928300000549016452011-11-28T18:36:52.617+00:002011-11-28T18:36:52.617+00:00Oh my gosh, your son sounds so decisive and togeth...Oh my gosh, your son sounds so decisive and together - I am so envious. Our eldest is simply content with the minimum and our only regret with his High School has been that it;s so good at sports he didn't make the b-ball team...We also asked him if he wanted to go on the Pilgrimage trip through Spain (The Way of St James) and he answered "why would i want to do that?" Oh dear....About Last Weekendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04716571630418078937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-59572842124830127562011-11-28T18:02:25.601+00:002011-11-28T18:02:25.601+00:00How funny!! I had a similar quandry today with pri...How funny!! I had a similar quandry today with primary schools. I opted for the lesser of the two. I think you should stay put. I went there for sixth form - at this stage it's about The Boy and I think he will be able to pull it off because of his mental attitude. Plus he will have the confidence of friendships and not have to overcome a new learning environment.<br />His grades will get him into a London uni. He'll be fine. #IMHO ;)Modern Military Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13931948216482115092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-83390292911050686482011-11-28T17:48:55.122+00:002011-11-28T17:48:55.122+00:00Ouch, you are definitely on the horns of a dilemma...Ouch, you are definitely on the horns of a dilemma, Wylye Girl. If it's any help, I got to Oxford from a small-town grammar school in industrial Lancashire in the mid-1960s, the first in my family to go to university. MOH got to Oxford from a major direct-grant grammar school in a big northern city at the same time as me. (We met there, as you might guess....) In the late 1980s, both our children, a boy and a girl, got to Oxford from a very small comprehensive in a very small Mid-Wales town, where the staff bent over backwards to encourage them and accommodate their choice of A-Level subjects. <br /><br />In other words, both routes are possible and it may well matter most that The Boy is happy and comfortable during his Sixth Form career if he is to fulfil his obvious potential.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972390874182782404.post-40354202124799067042011-11-28T17:36:54.588+00:002011-11-28T17:36:54.588+00:00Goodness, what a problem....how to get the best fo...Goodness, what a problem....how to get the best for him while letting him make the best of himself...<br /><br />That Personal Statement sounds a bit much...in my day it was the headmistress' comment which counted for everything<br /><br /><br />Does not drink(too much)...<br />Plays (whatever sport)....<br />Works well (when forced to)....<br /><br />But nowadays it seems as if you are forced to Sell Yourself...which is a complete culture change.the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.com