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Post by simple on Aug 24, 2024 15:54:03 GMT
No appeal, as the scores were far enough away to indicate it wouldn't be worth it. The ombudsman (OIA) doesn’t support appeals or complaints on the basis of a student disagreeing with the mark awarded - any issues which fall under ‘academic judgement’ - so most universities take their lead and don’t either. We end up disappointing so many students who think they’re borderline on degree classifications and passes because my place takes the same line. The only way to do it is to complain on the basis of some kind of procedural irregularity or a clear and obvious error in the provision of some promised support from the university. With evidence to back it up. Failure to approve extensions or take into account extenuating circumstances, maybe a breakdown in a relationship between academic and student, access to specialist software promised but not delivered. That sort of thing.
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Post by simple on Aug 24, 2024 15:57:26 GMT
Its back to the warzone here.
Double 5th birthday, full class + siblings invite, soft play.
They were playing Faithless when we arrived but its softened to stuff like 50 Cent and Nelly since.
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Post by technoish on Aug 24, 2024 17:53:42 GMT
My sis who works in clearing for a uni says this year's results are worst ever. And they are accepting some people with Es and Fs!!!
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Vortex
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Post by Vortex on Aug 24, 2024 19:12:33 GMT
Universities are absolutely fucked by brexit.
We're probably taking anyone to get bums on seats.
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Post by technoish on Aug 24, 2024 19:52:41 GMT
They'd gotten less than a third of the expected overseas applicants.
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Vortex
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Harvey Weinstein's Tattered Penis
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Post by Vortex on Aug 24, 2024 20:00:13 GMT
They pay the bills compared to the domestic students now sadly.
It's all wrong. Universities really need more funding for home students to cover costs, who should get grants or low percentage loans like it used to be so they're not debt ridden after. Instead they're left fleecing overseas students, who now will be less likely to come as the last govt wouldn't let them take families because it didn't sit well with their small boat & immigration number rhetoric bs.
It's maddening.
We didn't have mandatory redundancies, but still lost 10% of staff. Which probably wasn't high enough staffing to do it before.
It's going to be a shitty time ahead. Our senior management have even acknowledged this, which means things will probably get *really* shit.
Glad i am mostly research side in a research institution so semi-sheltered from the worst of it just now.
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Post by simple on Aug 25, 2024 0:29:52 GMT
Very similar at my place, Vortex. We’ve just had millions of pounds worth of ‘cost-saving’ measures to reduce the wage bill over the last year but it feels a lot like the worst is yet to come.
I was working for Newcastle City Council during the first two years of the Coalition and austerity and the mood here is bordering on that level.
Plus not only does it feel like we’re behind on recruitment, we’re also losing students mid-programme thanks to the expense of being here and attendance rules for international student visas at a rate which feels higher than I’ve experienced before.
Labour have said they won’t step in and bail any institution out but I think they’ll be forced to change their minds soon enough. The current funding model is completely unsustainable.
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Post by simple on Aug 25, 2024 15:37:12 GMT
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Aug 25, 2024 18:40:49 GMT
Hmm, all kids are different, my lad I would barely trust to cross the road but I daresay there are plenty of 15 year olds who have plenty of nous, I was cycling solo around Scotland for a week or so in the summer holidays at 16. I don't generally adhere to that silly cow (can't stand her actually) but I'm kind kinda minded to agree with her, only we really know our own kids.
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Post by rawshark on Aug 25, 2024 20:54:44 GMT
So how long into a child’s life before the weekends stop feeling like more work than the days you’re on the clock? This weekend has been bollocks.
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Post by rawshark on Aug 25, 2024 21:01:58 GMT
I remember the first time I was allowed to go into Croydon on my own. My parents insisted I put a £5 note in my sock in case I got mugged. Times have changed - I’m sure Kirsty sent her son off with a set of metal playing cards with razor sharp edges. Just in case.
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dam
New Member
Posts: 612
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Post by dam on Aug 26, 2024 8:01:29 GMT
My father in law and his brothers used to cycle to visit their Mum's family in the summer holidays in the 60s. From Kent to Sweden! The youngest were 13 and 15 (on their own). They camped at the side of the road....
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Post by Bill the kidding on Aug 26, 2024 8:06:00 GMT
So how long into a child’s life before the weekends stop feeling like more work than the days you’re on the clock? This weekend has been bollocks. 14 years and counting. I'll let you know...
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Post by technoish on Aug 26, 2024 8:58:52 GMT
So how long into a child’s life before the weekends stop feeling like more work than the days you’re on the clock? This weekend has been bollocks. 14 years and counting. I'll let you know... I find splitting up parenting between parents works better. I.e. I find one person looking after the kids, going out etc is easier than with two, and then the other person is free for other stuff also.
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Post by Reviewer on Aug 26, 2024 9:35:51 GMT
My wife insists we do everything together as a family all the time. There’s never a break at the weekend and going to work feels like more of a break.
Very recently she’s started taking the kids swimming occasionally and I don’t have to go to that at least.
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Post by technoish on Aug 26, 2024 9:55:50 GMT
My wife insists we do everything together as a family all the time. There’s never a break at the weekend and going to work feels like more of a break. Very recently she’s started taking the kids swimming occasionally and I don’t have to go to that at least. Yeah I get that too sometimes and it really annoys me. But it also annoys her that I'm more of a spontaneous let's do X today, when she wants to have a plan in advance. The two don't work seamlessly together!
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Post by simple on Aug 26, 2024 11:36:58 GMT
I don’t think there’s a parent I work with who hasn’t made the ‘coming to work for a break’ “joke” this summer. Its very normal to feel that way.
On a regular weekend we generally have a day where we take turns and a day where we do stuff together. The holidays are different though with all routines out the window.
I don’t think I realised how much general life admin I get done on my two regular working from home days. Without having the house to myself two days a week its remarkable how quickly we ran out of clothing essentials and generally messy the kitchen and living room got.
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Post by Reviewer on Aug 26, 2024 14:49:22 GMT
It’s definitely not a joke though, work feels less chaotic and even if I have 50 questions a day to deal with, that’s less than I have before breakfast at home.
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Binky
New Member
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Post by Binky on Sept 2, 2024 9:05:03 GMT
Kids’ football then.
Our 10 year old daughter has joined a football team, which means Tuesday night training and Sunday morning matches, £30 a month subs, £5 a match (for friendlies) and on top of that, all the drama that comes with it on a WhatsApp group.
Last weekend I offered to run the line. I didn’t mind that at all, as I have more than a keen interest in football so to be involved was kinda fun. The problem with that though, is that you can’t support your child who’s playing.
This week, my wife took her to the game and I said I’d meet them there. I didn’t want to run the line this weekend as I was only going to be there for half the game anyway, and I wanted to cheer on the little one. With that in mind I decided to get there just after kick off.
But they were running a few minutes late, and I could see I was about to get badgered to run the line. I played a dick move. I reached for my phone and pretended to take a phone call. I walked to the next pitch over and one of the mums actually followed me with the flag waving it in front of my face.
I smiled and walked off, gesticulating to the phone. Eventually some other poor bloke came alone even later and got handed the flag. I felt uncomfortable for the entire time I was there after that.
Later that day, somewhat predictably, there was a message on the WhatsApp group asking people to step forward to be a lino on match days. It came from the mum who was waving the flag at me, and also who is one of the loudest on the touchline. If she’s happy to shout instruction at all of the girls (not just her daughter) then you fucking run the line instead of trying to pass the buck!
Anyway, I replied.
“I’m happy to run the line on and off, but not back to back games. Can’t cheer them on when you’re running the line, so as long as it’s done in rotation then count me in. Sorry I couldn’t do it today.”
No response.
Ugh.
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Vortex
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Harvey Weinstein's Tattered Penis
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Post by Vortex on Sept 2, 2024 9:18:24 GMT
Having been involved in this with our boy for nearly 12 years, good luck! I only had to ref once years ago thankfully. It was awful and i had to give a pen against our lot- mostly due to be seen to not be biased. definitely not the best tackle though (and it was my boy wot done it /o\ ). Thankfully it ended up a win for us I think, but yeesh. It's fucking horrible and a thankless task to be expected to do stuff every week. Usually one of the coaches from each side flags balls out etc, for us, but offside is left up to the ref with sadly often dubious results. Having proper refs from 12 or 13 made such an odds as it meant one of each teams coaches didn't need to ref one half each. Ref quality is highly variable at best mind.
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dam
New Member
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Post by dam on Sept 2, 2024 10:46:22 GMT
My wife did coaching for the boys for a few of seasons (she's into football, I do the cooking...). So much hassle/politics.
I remember using this thread on the old place when we were expecting my first child...now with the second about to move out, leaving a 16 yr old who rarely leaves his room, I'm starting to worry about the "empty nest". It's going to be so weird. We are in a massive house. Youngest has moved his PC into the spare room on his floor, and has suggested he turns my daughter's vacant room into a VR Suite.... Wife and daughter are very close. She'll miss her to watch crap TV with.
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Post by Dougs on Sept 2, 2024 11:59:10 GMT
Time flies eh! Scary stuff. We are some way off that - wouldn't surprise me if the youngest stays a wee bit longer than the eldest. Although they're both home birds really.
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Post by simple on Sept 3, 2024 8:24:51 GMT
I love my son and all but two teacher training days with term not starting until Wednesday is purgatory.
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Post by clemfandango on Sept 3, 2024 8:28:04 GMT
Youngest starts high school today, where does the time go :-( School have been brilliant with the diabetes and have given her 5 transition days already, plus her older sister is there, so we are not too stressed!
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Post by Dougs on Sept 3, 2024 8:46:16 GMT
Excellent. Our youngest goes tomorrow. As she is SEN, she's initially in a transition class which will give her more support and interventions. She's not happy as she doesn't think she'll get the full school experience! Have tried to explain that it's best for her initially and it's likely not forever (certainly no longer than year 7 anyway). Just pre-match nerves I think.
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Vortex
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Harvey Weinstein's Tattered Penis
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Post by Vortex on Sept 3, 2024 9:03:48 GMT
A big step going up to the big school. A word of warning though- It doesn't seem long since ours went and he'll leave school at the end of this year. It goes by very quickly!
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Sept 3, 2024 10:23:55 GMT
Our youngest started year 7 today, he was fully excited yesterday and today, up and at it, really great to see.
Our now 15yr old starts back tomorrow, given his previous history on attendance I've had maximum anxiety for the last 7 weeks in advance of tomorrow ....
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Post by simple on Sept 3, 2024 11:28:35 GMT
I can’t believe I’ve got a child going into Year 1 already. It doesn’t seem any time since he was born nevermind a nursery kid.
For all the talk of how lockdown has impacted children’s wellbeing and development I feel like he probably lucked out turning 1 the month before it began. We basically got a whole extra year with him as a baby. I think if he’d been a year or even 6 months older or younger it might’ve been a different story. Still, I mind whinge about how relentless he might be sometimes but really he is a lovely little guy.
He just needs to accept that Daddy doesn’t know the 8–13 times tables very well once you start getting beyond the teens no matter how often he asks. And it is very often.
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Post by Reviewer on Sept 3, 2024 12:56:26 GMT
I love my son and all but two teacher training days with term not starting until Wednesday is purgatory. We live 15 minutes from a Center parcs so go there for this week. The kids get 2 full days, we get most of 3 days without them which is nice at the end of the summer. Just have to drop them off and pick them up, they still get the evenings. It’s also 1/3 the price that it was last week.
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RobEG
Junior Member
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Post by RobEG on Sept 3, 2024 13:10:10 GMT
My youngest is starting reception tomorrow. Feeling kind of emotional about it already. That 3-5 age is so nice, I'm really going to miss it now she is growing up. I definitely don't want anymore (3 is plenty) so I guess I just have to embrace and enjoy the new challenges having older kids brings. My oldest is 12 so a few more years until we can go to the pub
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