DS2 is just 15. End of Yr 10 exam results are looking grim - E's and F's although I won't get the full details until next week. So we have a year to work out a plan. He's been working at a higher level than this day-to-day at school but always finds exams difficult. He panics and shuts down.
We went to an open day at the local FE college to scope out IT courses at BTEC Level 2 and 3. Level 2 needs 4 GCSEs at grade D including Maths and English, Level 3 needs 4 GCSEs at grade C inc Maths and English.
DS thinks he has no hope of Grade C in Maths and English, so if he gets Ds then he might get on to the Level2 (although it's very oversubscribed). He's also quite shy with new people so I think the interview would be a tough call as well.
So what happens if his grades are low and he doesn't get on to the Level 2 course? Do we have to put him through a Level 1 where they will try and teach him GCSE English and Maths again? He isn't ever (I don't think) going to be able to answer questions about how Steinbeck conveys certain things in Of Mice and Men - he doesn't even understand the question! So what's the point of putting him through another year of it?
As I understand it he can't just get himself a job, he has to stay in education or training. Trouble is, apprenticeships need GCSE's in English and Maths so we're back to square one.
He's organised, practical, funny and can demonstrate persistence for things he likes, usually strategy games (I know, don't flame me). He's just not 'academic'. Which is fine by me, and I know all the stuff about Richard Branson being dyslexic and having no exams, but how on earth do we get round the GCSE question?
If I thought it would work I'd spend the next year working with him on his English GCSE and DH could do the same with Maths, but he is incredibly stubborn and doesn't want to be seen to be learning anything. He worked out in Reception class that if you were well-behaved and helpful, you could stay below the radar without actually having to expose your brain to a teacher, and since then there hasn't been a teacher willing to push past that.
I could of course stand back, do nothing, watch the carnage and let him reap the consequences, but my worry is that he'll just confirm his own view that he's thick if he gets crap grades, and the downward spiral will continue. That seems very harsh to me.
I'm at my wits' end. Has anyone else been through this and come out the other side with a happy teenager? Thanks for reading.
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.
Teenagers
What happens if GCSE's are a disaster? Sorry, long
71 replies
fresh · 01/06/2014 13:49
OP posts:
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Dancingqueen17 ·
01/06/2014 14:36
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.