Exam Results

[Biscuit]

i think it is better to think outside the box - something that I am hoping to acquire as I move on with pB

[Biscuit]

how to get your son to disappear - mention that he needs to work hard if he wants to get the grades for sixth form - this is a magic trick that works every time - try it yourself - I think it will work for both genders.

[Bunnylump]

Mine's EXACTLY the same. There's no telling him (he's just like his mother, poor boy).

Oh, I know where you're coming from, Giraffe. I've NEVER been any good at following instructions, adhering to rules of any kind, or doing what I'm told. I had hoped that as I got older I'd get better at that, but no, I think I've got worse. I am ALWAYS the trouble maker at work who refuses to do something just because the senior leadership team think it's the best way to do it if I know they are talking rubbish. And my "boss" has long since given up trying to tell me what to do. Her recent comment " Well, I'll just leave that to you and stop interfering. I know you'll get it done your own way anyway!" sort of sums up my method of working nicely.

I've made some great fancy dress outfits over the years, and have never used a pattern in my life. Same with cooking - my food is ALWAYS worse when I try to follow a recipe. I'm much better throwing it all together (no measuring going on at all) and hoping for the best!! I think this is why I am SOO bad at the "sheep game" Scurra used to run. Head as organised as a bucket of eels.

[Biscuit]

I know what you mean - I couldn't measure how to do a batter mix because every egg is a different size - I taught the kids to actually look at the mixture and when it looked right it was right.

My middle child is very stubborn. I remember trying to teach her how to make cakes - she was nearly three and in the end I just threw my hands up and said you do it yourself then. I she did - I just told her how to but she had to do the whole thing.

Today I found out my son's bank account has been closed. Mainly because I had a letter to say that it had been closed and my ddr had not gone through. apparently they let a 15 year old go overdrawn even though his regular income was from me which was a nominal 0.01 p per month (I refuse to pay pocket money until he learns to make his bed) Why would they let a 15 year old go overdrawn with a debit account?? Anyway he got £28.00 overdrawn and they have now said this amount has been paid off (not sure how as my oh, myself and my son have not paid any money in) and they have closed his account. I think all this data protection is hurting the fact that I cannot keep an eye on his finances.

Biscuit

[SparkOut]

I have a grade "U" for "unclassified" in Latin. That actually takes some doing, since you ought to be able to get at least an F just by turning up and writing your name on the paper...

My brother managed an "F" for Economics by not turning up and going swimming instead.

I think it was Economics anyway. I'm pretty certain about the grade

[Bunnylump]

Biscuit, that is really bad. You should write to the bank to complain about that. You don't want him ending up on some crazy credit blacklist (which can affect anyone in the household btw).

My best friend realised she wasn't going to achieve a C in German, so took the decision to turn up for the exam (so her parents wouldn't get charged for it) and only wrote her name. She then kept her nerve and wrote nothing for the entire exam. She explained later that if she got a D or E then it would have appeared on her exam certificate, whereas an unclassified wouldn't. Not sure I could have done that.

Mind you I have actually witnessed somebody who actually was trying to complete his English GCSE. He wrote his entire essay on the front page. (You know, the bit where you put your name.) Then NOTHING inside the booklet.

[Biscuit]

you have a good point - I will ring the bank tomorrow. I wonder if there is a way to check your credit status as last month I went overdrawn for a short while (first time for 23 years) but unavoidable. I do have an overdraft facility so I hope it would not have caused too much problem.

[Bunnylump]

I'm sure it's ok for the odd overdraft, but I was just a bit concerned that they had actually closed his account...

I'm not trying to frighten you but a colleague had her son in law living with her briefly, he had a bank account shut down, and then SHE couldn't get any credit because he had used her address at the time!! Probably not the same with a minor, but best to check, just to be on the safe side.

[Biscuit]

I will check it out. The bank said they couldn;t charge him for the overdraft as he was only 15. but I haven't told him this I have pressed home the fact that he would be charged about £25 just for the letter telling you you are overdrawn and that he will not be able to get a credit card when he gets older and a credit card gives you greater protection when websites play sillies.

I do not know why I suddently thought he was old enough to open his own post. I don't even let OH open his.... yet.

I would hate the thought that a 15 year old could have a bad credit rating but I notice that some of my daughters friends are not allowed the same overdraft facility as her. My biggest rant would be that my daughter did not want a credit card, has not used her credit card, but the bank insisted on giving her one which they send a statemetn throught every month of her non spending - I wonder what happens if someone steals here identity. She did say at the time she did n't want a credit card but they said she had to have it and just not use it if she didn';t want it. Seems sort of irresponsible banking to me. My credit card is used as a charge account and paid off monthly automatically.
biscuit

[giraffe]

They may have closed the account because they were in the wrong to let him go overdrawn.

I once had a dreadful argument with the building society because we paid a small lump sum off our mortgage and increased the monthly payment slightly. They stupidly stopped the old payment and didn't start the new one until the following month, missing out the current month's payment. Despite the fact that we had paid off more than a month's money they told us we were in arrears. They then tried to make out there hadn't been enough in the account to pay it so that was why they hadn't taken the money. We told them the money was there and they sent us a statement to prove there was not quite enough in the account, but it was a statement from the previous year. We never did get them to admit they were in the wrong, despite writing numerous letters. Needless to say we moved our mortgage when we moved house.

[Biscuit]

I think you are right and I think they have probably cleared the 28.00 because of that. Hopefully as he is a minor it will not go onto a credit record.

Biscuit

[SparkOut]

Legally a debt is not enforceable against a minor - which is why they aren't allowed to have overdrafts. (Otherwise lots of under 18s would run up a huge red figure and then be able to walk away from the debt. Well. Walk away, maybe, but there could be lots of other complications.) So they probably decided that they would have to write off the debt because they wouldn't be able to claim it as legally owed, and therefore also decided to prevent any further possibility by closing the account. Which is a nasty thing to do. Even if they had written to him (and maybe you should check statements in case he was £3 overdrawn and they charged £25 for the unauthorised overdraft letter) and he ignored it, it's not very healthy business.

[Biscuit]

yes I keep copies of all his statements but the last one was in march and I have now phoned and asked for the final statement - good point well made.

Biscuit

[MBH]

Biscuit is getting plenty of good advice about the banks, so I'll not bother with my two-penneth - all I'll say is don't expect common sense, fairness, or any indication of care for the 'customer'

Mind you I have actually witnessed somebody who actually was trying to complete his English GCSE. He wrote his entire essay on the front page. (You know, the bit where you put your name.) Then NOTHING inside the booklet.

Hmmmm - someone who doesn't read instructions or follow rules... I wonder who HIS teacher was????

[gill216]

Giraffe I see your point that you BS was at fault for cancelling your old payment and not taking the new one until the following month, but the lump sum you paid wouldn't count as a payment- at least it wouldn't have done when I worked in a BS many moons ago. Capitol repayments were handled differently to monthly repayments.

[Bunnylump]

Mind you I have actually witnessed somebody who actually was trying to complete his English GCSE. He wrote his entire essay on the front page. (You know, the bit where you put your name.) Then NOTHING inside the booklet.

Hmmmm - someone who doesn't read instructions or follow rules... I wonder who HIS teacher was????

If he'd have been one of mine I'd have brained him. He was an absolute nightmare. I see him occasionally on the till in Tescos. He always looks embarassed. And so he should, the git. So I always make a point of loading the conveyor belt really randomly, all piled up, and then suddenly "remember" I have vouchers right at the last minute. Of course I always smile sweetly and ask him how he is...

[clvrlad]

and heres me thinking you were nice really....

[giraffe]

Giraffe I see your point that you BS was at fault for cancelling your old payment and not taking the new one until the following month, but the lump sum you paid wouldn't count as a payment- at least it wouldn't have done when I worked in a BS many moons ago. Capitol repayments were handled differently to monthly repayments.

No, probably not, but the thing that wound me up was the way they tried to cover up by sending the previous year's statement. I couldn't decide if they were too stupid to be allowed out on their own or deliberately trying to cover their tracks.

[Bunnylump]

Ok, here I am being a purple rabbit again (=insufferably smug). So look away now if you're fed up with me.


I've just heard who my second individual pupil has done. Before I tell you, please bear in mind that:
He could barely write when he came to me in year 7, and still has recording difficulties,
The HIGHEST grade he was predicted (based on his key stage 2 results) was an E,
He has significant issues with his processing speeds,
He has speech and language issues.

Science (double award) AA, maths A, ICT A, History B, English Literature B, Media B, RE B, English Language C.

I am SOOOO happy.* Again, masses and masses of input (often in my unpaid lunchtimes, after school etc.). And it was ALL WORTH WHILE. Lovely, lovely lad, who deserves every success. He is now going on to do his A levels.

This is what makes my job so worthwhile. I know I WILL be complaining in a week's time (timetabling, nightmare) but THIS is what it is all about. People, not paper.

*Although you will be pleased to hear that THIS time I didn't drive just after having found out.

[giraffe]

Well done! That is what job satisfaction is all about isn't it.

I had a job once which I hated for most of the three years I was doing it. On the afternoon I left my boss said I'm sure you'll do well where you're going because you always put in 110%. Why oh why couldn't he have ever said anything like that while I was working for him? I had spent three years getting negative feedback. They had a deliberate policy of trying to keep staff turnover high so that they didn't have to promote people onto higher paid levels and I even once saw a piece of paper (in a confidential file he gave me to do his paperwork that he was behind on) giving a list of people and dates they hoped they'd be gone by, and I was on it. I could have had them for constructive dismissal, but I'm too nice!