Home Work & Study
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨

Making appointments during school hours

2

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You need a letter from the DVLA or something. Friday is only Key Skills, so I'm going to see if I can get one then.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I heard you only have to do 15 hours a week to get EMA? So as long as you've done 15 hours, you should still get it. One of my friends dropped an AS subject right at the start of the year, so she has 2 1/2 days off a week and she still gets it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Yeah, but you have to attend every lesson. So I can't not just turn up for one lesson without a valid excuse.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    how does your school sort out ema? at ours you get a copy of your timetable and get your teacher to sign your lesson and that gets sent off every week. Usually no one remembers so they just get 1 teacher to sign it all.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ours is just done on a computer, if you don't attend the money doesn't go in your bank.

    However i don't get fucking EMA and it pisses me off. My parents don't give me money to buy things i have to go out and earn it, i attend all my lessons and do my work and get fuck all. Whereas people who just because there parents don't earn as much as are getting up to £30 a week, why is that my problem and why should i get nothing because of it.

    It's a joke and totally unfair, it should be the same for everyone and nothing to do with how much your parents earn.

    As for the OP just go, i wouldn't give it a second thought.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You do need 100% attendance, but what I did on my EMA form is wrote 'doctors' on my EMA form for the lessons I missed (my college is in my village along with my surgery, so I'd miss two lessons in total), no prob :thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Youe health is about 1000 times more important then your course. If you have to miss a lesson, you have to miss a lesson.

    Driving tests shouldnt be allowable though.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I got EMA at school, and in 6th year I think I missed 2 days in total out of the 2 years. All you need to do is bring in a note explaining your absence, and providing that you've done that, and the absence is reasonable, then you're fine.

    As for a doctor's appointment, don't say anything to the school, just come in afterwards with a signed note from a parent or guardian, and you're covered. If anything is said, just keep calm, and refer the teacher to your parents.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think EMA is a bit funny.

    I got EMA as neither of my parents worked (dad had cancer, mum looked after him) but we own a lot of our own home so we could get by on benefits. However I had to use my EMA to pay for anything myself really. I had a part time job as well to afford to treat myself.

    Another friend had to give her EMA to her parents (the old system worked similarly), and she worked 18 hours a week for anything she needed and also for anything she wanted.

    Yet another friend though, his dad owned their own company and they were pretty loaded, but he still got EMA because their official earnings were below the threshold. He got his own Ford Focus and sat nav and everything. Just goes to show.

    So it's swings and roundabouts. It helped me out a lot, I saved it up to afford bike lessons and things like that. Whilst I know there are people who don't get it who have to pay with their own wages for driving lessons and things like that, or people who do get it and get their parents to pay, it does help.

    Though having gone uni I found myself in a world of grants, bursaries and scholarships and the response by some was a bit bitter. But I'm not sure if they realised the only reason I received the amount I did (approximately £8000 a year I think) was because my dad passed away and hence our earnings were effectively nil. Everyone is in a different situation and I feel for those who have a working parent, are middle class, but still can't afford everything as they do lose out in the current system.

    But without benefits afforded to our family I'm not sure where I'd be right now! We'd have had to sell the house without a doubt. Sorry, went off on one a bit there lol. Although I'm not accusing anyone, it does get difficult when you DO earn these benefits (which you feel guilty about in the first place - surely there are others who might need it more) and then some get really jealous about it and the fact you get more than them.

    So I think the upper class rich people are fine, the lower class with benefits are fine, but it's the middle class who miss the benefits but can't afford to spend a lot who miss out (example: large mortgage).
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    xsazx wrote: »
    True, think the same should be done for uni discounts for low income families, cause at the end of the day its the child that pays it off not the parents and just because mine are outside the income brackets for a discount doesnt mean they're going to be giving me the money for my studies. Think it should all be generalised as it is rather unfair

    but then if everyone got discounts there wouldn't be much point in the fees. I do agree on the assumption that parents having money means they're going to pay for you is not always true. But they can't go by on what people say.
    I know people who get EMA who aren't actually eligable for it, but managed to get through the loophole at the time of applying. One girls dad was between jobs when she applied, but he got a job shortly after, and has had £30 a week all year when her dad is on £40k. I couldn't apply the normal way, because my income didn't change until after the start of the year, so i get a similar thing off the council, and we have to prove that the income hasn't changed and a letter from my school every term before they'll give me anymore money. I think it's alot better, however, i actually get less than what i would be on EMA. So the girl whos dad is on £40k a year has been getting more than me when my mum is only on £560 a month. It's fucked up.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ballerina wrote: »
    how does your school sort out ema? at ours you get a copy of your timetable and get your teacher to sign your lesson and that gets sent off every week. Usually no one remembers so they just get 1 teacher to sign it all.

    I do an NVQ so it's slightly different. One of my tutors doesn't have a register online for us (all registers are done online now) uses a paper register and has to inform the 6th form office about whose in and whose not. The people who sort out EMA have a copy of our timetable so they know where we're meant to be on a certain day at a certain time.
    Youe health is about 1000 times more important then your course. If you have to miss a lesson, you have to miss a lesson.

    Of course. I've been told I'm not allowed time off even though my tutor knows that I've stuff wrong with me. One time she told me I needed to go to the doctors (I was in a right state mentally a while back) yet wouldn't allow me time off for it.:rolleyes: (My tutor wouldn't allow me to have time off - not the people in 6th form office who sort out EMA)
    However I had to use my EMA to pay for anything myself really.

    Which is what I have to do as well - with the exception of my mobile phone bill.
    All you need to do is bring in a note explaining your absence, and providing that you've done that, and the absence is reasonable, then you're fine.

    We've been told we need a doctor's note. I was off sometime this year and told my dad that I had a headache, but instead of writing a note to say that my head was hurting, he ended up lying for me by saying that I was sick the night before - not really convincing though because I was off on a Tuesday and had gone to my work placement on the Monday & Wednesday.
    However i don't get fucking EMA and it pisses me off. My parents don't give me money to buy things i have to go out and earn it, i attend all my lessons and do my work and get fuck all. Whereas people who just because there parents don't earn as much as are getting up to £30 a week, why is that my problem and why should i get nothing because of it.

    I agree it is unfair. There are loads of people I know who will abuse the system. There's a girl I know who was moaning because she didn't get her bonus in january and she claimed that she doesn't come in on a Friday (which is Key Skills) because every Friday she has the doctors - yet has actually said to a teacher 'I can't come in on Friday because I have work.':rolleyes:

    I think they assume that because your parents have money, that they will help you out if you need it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    xsazx wrote: »
    yup, whole systems messed up thoose who need it should get it but not too sure how it could be decided. Another thing I've always worried about is when I went to a uni meeting at the 6th form I'm probably going to the rep from cambridge said on average it costs a student 9k p.a for tuition, accomodation and food etc yet the student loans only cover the 4k the fees will be so I'm not entirely sure where the hell they expect us to find the other 5k. Especially when at Ox/Cam they do not permit you to have part time jobs in term time as their courses are too full on. Sorry am ranting lol

    its probably because most of their students come from private schools - so assume parents will fork out for the rest.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ballerina wrote: »
    its probably because most of their students come from private schools - so assume parents will fork out for the rest.

    That does seem about right.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    5k is pocket change for a years worth of fees, alot of parents would have been paying that or more per term for the last couple of years.
    There was a uni fair not long ago and everyone said that the reps at oxford and cambridge were horrible and all of the 6th formers going to see them had suits on.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    xsazx wrote: »
    won't be that way for long though (I went to private school for a year but am back in state education now) because labour's now said universities have to start accepting a higher proportion of "disadvantaged" kids (i.e. those who cant afford private schools or arent as academically successful) meaning they will all be forced to take on a lot more kids from state schools :chin:

    they've been saying that for a while, but i bet oxbridge manage to slip through the net. I think by disadvantaged they mean those from really low income families. So those on EMA. But i think 3 As from a state school are worth more than 3 As from a private school anyway.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Nice to see some steroetypical and presumptous opinions going on here about universities. There are already targets for state-school intake for every university, including Oxford and Cambridge, the government are just trying to take it further. Not everyone who has parents with a high income will pay for their children when at university, its very presumptous to say that.

    And yes, it is a bit unfair that they decide things based on parents income but they have to do it somehow. If you can come up with a better system, I'd like to hear it.

    Oh, and just for information everyone is entitled to a non-income assessed fee loan regardless of parental income, then there is the income assessed maintenance loan under the current system for university financing. So finding 9k including fees really isn't that hard, especially as you can get a job in vacations.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Do you actually know how the fee/loan system works at all?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    How do you know it will actually cost you 5k to live? It probably won't do unless you spend nearly every night getting drunk and whatever.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ok, I haven't got time to reply properly as I have to leave the house in 5 minutes or so, but for a year its easy to spend 5k on living costs. Accommodation alone runs into thousands, without taking into account food, bills, books, entertainment etc.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    you have to take into account the area - rent in oxford and cambridge - especially oxford will be very high
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ballerina wrote: »
    you have to take into account the area - rent in oxford and cambridge - especially oxford will be very high

    I'm well aware of that. Personally, I think £9,000 including tuition fees is a very low estimate, especially with the new fees of £3000 approximately per year.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm well aware of that. Personally, I think £9,000 including tuition fees is a very low estimate, especially with the new fees of £3000 approximately per year.

    that was directed at saz
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Start saving now?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    xsazx wrote: »
    We were told they'l be just under 4k by the time we start so if 9ks a low estimate I dont have an absolute clue how I'm ever going to fund my education

    go to a cheaper uni?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'll try and keep this brief ....
    1) An A-level from whatever school is the same fucking A-level. Whether state or private it doesn't matter.
    2) In the past, the reason Oxbridge and other red bricks took more people from the private sector is because they would have done more of the background reading already as part and parcel of their A-level course. They would have been forced to go over and above what they needed to do therefore making it easier for them to adapt to the tough Uni environment. And yes this is based on a conversation with an Oxbridge recruitment type person before you ask.
    3) The EMA system and student loan thing is unfair but it always has been and always will be. A lot of students have to work part-time alongside their A-levels and degree in order to afford to live and have a night out or two a week. That's part of the whole University lifestyle. Those people that get everything paid for them are missing out on some great life experiences. I personally think that they should abolish the EMA system and put all of that money back into Uni grants.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Loopi wrote: »
    I'll try and keep this brief ....
    I personally think that they should abolish the EMA system and put all of that money back into Uni grants.

    Agreed. Personally, I think EMA is used as a bribe to get people to stay on at school instead of just going straight into work.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    lol, I'd make a ton more money dropping out than getting 30 quid every week for attending school.

    But I'd probably end up doing both, working part time and going for the 30 quid. ;) Can't really see how this is an incentive that matters.

    I'm also careless enough to go 'fuck this' and skip for one week. I missed about 115 quid by not renewing my rent benefits this year before moving back home. Would love the money now but would no doubt have spent it for something useless anyway and be in the same position I'm in now. ;)

    If I was skipping school to go to the mall I might regret losing out on free money, but for anything that matters and the school being anal I'd not bother playing their game.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ballerina wrote: »
    its probably because most of their students come from private schools - so assume parents will fork out for the rest.


    That's completely unfair. It's not because of that at all, it is because they are looking out for their students welfare. Both of the universities have plenty of money availiable as hardship grants and would far rather give you that than have you working during term time. Generally they are the most respected academic institutions in the country, and teach everything in 3 8 week terms which makes things very intense and the system is very aware of the pressures that causes so wants you to be doing academic work, chilling, or having fun, not slaving your arse off for some crappy studenty part time job. You'll actually find that they let you do some work for the college/university because they know with that you are not getting over worked or badly treated.

    Rant over, but it's something I feel strongly about and its people making smart arse comment about all their students being posh private school kids that puts off some of the people who really should be studying there.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    xSazx. You seem not to understand higher education funding at all, if you want it explaining then please do ask.

    Oxford/Cambridge actually have one of the fairest admission processes in the country once you apply. They interview almost everyone and at those interviews they look for potential as much as what you already know. That's why you'll find some colleges still make EE offers, others make the high offers because they know that to be able to cope with the courses you'll need to be able to cope with the pressure and performing in your A levels is one way of showing you can do that.

    And I do know what I'm talking about, I'm a cambridge student and I'm involved with the access campaign which is all about getting the right people into Cambridge, not just the posh public school boys.

    Sofie, it sounded like you could get a doctors appointment after school on Friday, if it's that vs Friday morning then get one after school and do your homework some other time or take it with you, the actual appointment won't take more than half an hour.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Sofie, it sounded like you could get a doctors appointment after school on Friday, if it's that vs Friday morning then get one after school and do your homework some other time or take it with you, the actual appointment won't take more than half an hour.

    Which will mean having to phone up every day until I get one. (which currently is impossible) Sod it, I'm just going to make one for Friday. Have been in alot of pain recently and really can't go on like this.

    And Friday mornings are crap anyway - all we ever do is IT work which I did at GCSE or do other stuff I've already done.

    I mentioned this to the receptionist whe I spoke to her on Friday afternoon - she has basically said (along eith everyone else) that my health is more important than my education and if she has to, she will explain to the school that my appointment is urgent and that I have no choice but to take it during school time.
Sign In or Register to comment.