h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Can I recommend a read of this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F45492?thread=311571 And for a good , follow the links I left in #48 and #51. The saga continues for Titania with more news this week. Of course yours might be something different! I hope all is well?

The conclusion I have come to is that it is one step off vanity.

A member of one of the poetry groups I belong to has been published by them, and I have asked her what her opinion is of the standard of the poems. I am careful about the poetic company I keep. She is a poet whose work I respect, and who I would be happy to be published alongside. My instincts though are saying 'probably not this time'.

Poetry.com, incidentally are notorious amongst poets, and they really do prey on the vulnerable.

Thanks for the link.

B

Good luck to the stepson for tomorrow. May he get what he wants/deserves*

*delete as applicable.

I have a few hundred of the slips to look at of course, but some very special ones for the first year since both Sunshine (6 A/S subjects) and Moonlight (1 module, taken very early) have results day too.

I always sleep badly the night before and then have to get up with the birds to go and help stuff envelopes. It's when term starts really although the first day of teaching is still a few days off.

What's the routine tomorrow? Does it arrive by post, or does he go to the college, or look it up online or what?

I suddenly realised I don't know.

Fingers crossed for your girls.

And a thousand thanks to you. The stepson owes you more than he will ever know.



B

You're making me blush! Look -->

Well, each college or school will have their own routine and he should already know.

Results are not available to look up online, neither will the college give them over the phone and they are unlikely to fax them either unless you have given them a very good reason in advance. You won't be able to collect them on his behalf without a letter from him and some ID.

The stepson should have left the college with an addressed envelope, clearly marked with the exam boards and subjects, (eg AQA Business Studies, ORC French, or whatever). If he knew he wasn't going to collect them then he should have also put a stamp on the envelope. Then they will arrive by post on Friday.

If he is going in to collect them then he will have been told a time. For example, we're releasing the A Level results at 10.30 and the A/S at 11.30. This gives staff time to stuff the envelopes and put them out for collection.

He did remember to tell them he wanted the A/S cashed in didn't he? The actual certificates (with holograms to make them difficult to forge) will be sent in December so make sure the college know where to post them and leave another A4 sae.

If he isn't happy with a module grade and wants to resit in January, or if he wants to appeal or request a remark for one, then make sure he gets that sorted asap, preferable tomorrow but they will, of course, be very busy with the full A level people off to uni who may need help with clearing.

I'm now going to email you my handout on how to understand the Uniform Mark codes.

>> The stepson should have left the college with an addressed envelope, clearly marked with the exam boards and subjects, (eg AQA Business Studies, ORC French, or whatever). If he knew he wasn't going to collect them then he should have also put a stamp on the envelope. Then they will arrive by post on Friday.

You are joking, aren't you?

>> If he is going in to collect them then he will have been told a time. For example, we're releasing the A Level results at 10.30 and the A/S at 11.30. This gives staff time to stuff the envelopes and put them out for collection.

Again - you are joking, aren't you?

>> He did remember to tell them he wanted the A/S cashed in didn't he? The actual certificates (with holograms to make them difficult to forge) will be sent in December so make sure the college know where to post them and leave another A4 sae.

In theory. What worried me was he said "they didn't want any money", but that at Easter, when the whole thing blew up horribly, and though I tried to explain what was meant by "cashed in" I don't know if it went in. It may not have done.

*sigh*

B

He is really nervous.

Bless....

B

Joking? Me? If the college has an up to date website their may be some information for students on it regarding the procedure for obtaining results.

I may have misled you with the phrase "cashed in" because it doesn't involve any more money . It's probably included in his fees for the year. What it means is that A/S module grades can be "left in the bank" to add the A2 modules to, or they can be added up and have the grade awarded straight away. I don't cash in anyone's at the end of the A/S year - unless... they are leaving after the 1 year and they have requested that I do. If they request it 12 months later, then there is a fee, because they are no longer students with us and we're not receiving any money for them.

A/S modules have a shelf life of 4 years after which they must either be cashed in, added with A2 modules for the whole A level, or lost.

I wasn't confused, and he claims he wasn't confused.



We shall see.

B

Funny things, boys. I see them coast along all year, doing what little they need to and getting the girls to help, then watch as they kick footballs about during study leave, turn up for the exam with nothing but a very chewed biro, claim afterwards to have breezed through and then get very very worried on results day.

Not the best of news on the exam front I gather, (and for the other news too).

You did your best and after a year he's now a fine young man able to look after himself and stand on his own 2 feet. That you should both be proud of, regardless of grades.

What's the next step? Resits are in January if it is worth considering them.

Sunshine isn't as brilliant as she thinks she is (who knew!) but she has done well, although I expect her to knuckle down a bit next year. She's reviewing her uni options now. Moonlight is a philosophical and has almost the highest mark possible for the module she took - way above those of people 3-4 years older.

It's been a long day with hundreds of results to give out and discuss individually. Loads and loads of both happy and sad and, as expected, a couple of lads with very grim faces. Some staff stay away but I wouldn't miss the day for anything.

Best part of the day was a huge bunch of flowers and a lovely long thank you note in a card from someone I had faith in but others didn't. I was right.