EMA withdrawall

Butterfly_Brain

Davesnave wrote: »

Walking and biking is out, then, but talk to the Head about what provision is envisaged for circumstances like yours. If you don't ask....

Or there's Luton Sixth Form College, where results are acceptable, and the last Ofsted, published in 2009, rated key areas like teaching & leadership as outstanding. It is, being Luton, 'ethnically diverse.'

Luton is a !!!!! hole

vivatifosi

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Luton is a !!!!! hole

And on the other side of the coin we have high achieving students with A* grades from Luton winning places at excellent unis like Imperial and Warwick:

http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/high_achievers_are_honoured_by_college_1_2316590

Guess what.... These kids are studying hard subjects too.

lemonjelly

vivatifosi wrote: »

And on the other side of the coin we have high achieving students with A* grades from Luton winning places at excellent unis like Imperial and Warwick:

http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/high_achievers_are_honoured_by_college_1_2316590

Guess what.... These kids are studying hard subjects too.

Touche Viva!:)

vivatifosi

lemonjelly wrote: »

Touche Viva!:)

I don't want to come across as critical of Butterfly Brain but there is a reason I care about this passionately.

Many years ago I missed out on the sixth form place I wanted because I couldn't get my bus allowance paid by local authorities. The result was that I went out to work instead.

Studying for A levels while working full time, you can do about 1 per year. Then studying for a degree part time through OU? Six years minimum. Masters degree - that took five years because I didn't do the quick route as I couldn't by then spare the time. It takes forever to play catch up if you miss out on the opportunity. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Jennifer_Jane

What is replacing EMA? Is it not a similar scheme but to be targetted to the College Heads who presumably are in a better position to assess students' requirements. Also, all councils are required by law to provide subsidised travel for students. You need to speak to your Council about this.

And, as per others, people need to be more creative about budgetting (said as someone who is struggling a bit at the moment) and ways to increase part-time income. Don't forget that the tax personal allowance is increasing in April which should help a little.

Finally, one person here said that the course their son attends is better and more appropriate than the local one. This to me smacks of luxury. Why should the taxpayer pay for 'better' courses when there are local courses?

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

I don't want to come across as critical of Butterfly Brain but there is a reason I care about this passionately.

Many years ago I missed out on the sixth form place I wanted because I couldn't get my bus allowance paid by local authorities. The result was that I went out to work instead.

Studying for A levels while working full time, you can do about 1 per year. Then studying for a degree part time through OU? Six years minimum. Masters degree - that took five years because I didn't do the quick route as I couldn't by then spare the time. It takes forever to play catch up if you miss out on the opportunity. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Viva, I think it depends on the person. I took a year...well, 9-10 months, out before A's where I worked and saved then did a years A's at a local tech. This but I didn't get the subjects wasn't planned, I was to do them at school but my school didn't allow me the subjects I wanted (they had firm ideas of when I should study...for league tables I guess and timetabled so that I would be force to choose...I stuck it till Christmas then refused to go back )

I wouldn't have had the commitment to do an a a year slowly but I did five in one year (working PT) and for ME this was a better solution of the choices available to me at the time

My point really is that I agree, a youngster should take the choices available even if its not what is planned/where is planned. The greatest factor in the success is the student themselves.

I was in Luton for about a month. I've been to worse places. Lots worse.

Jennifer_Jane

Vivatifosi - I also have completed two full-time (ie 3 year diplomas) whilst working not just full-time, but in responsible and time-consuming jobs (as I am very sure that yours was too). Nevertheless, I managed to complete them within the three years.

It took more dedication, perhaps, than others might be prepared or able to give - there simply was no social life for the 6 years (of the two diplomas).

I certainly agree that diplomas (more work-orientated) have a different function from university, but it certainly can be done.

I don't know about A-levels, I still don't have them.

For others, perhaps it's time to rely less on the State than previously. The State simply cannot afford it.

Good luck with it all. I can understand that everything is very difficult, but my suggestion is to see what replaces EMA before getting down-hearted about it all.

Davesnave

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Luton is a !!!!! hole

Oh, I must've missed the relevant sentence in the Ofsted Report, but I'll admit I skimmed it.

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/(id)/111482/(as)/130600_329375.pdf

Did you look at it at all?

silvercar

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Not to the same quality of teaching and resources

The point is the course is available. If you want your offspring to benefit by a better course to the same qualification you are going to have to budget to provide the transport.

ollie-2011

Im not sure what to think about the EMA situation, at the moment there is a discussion on facebook about it

If you type the regional training prospectus in facebook and click on disscusion you should find it.

Thank you