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Secondary education

Poor GCSE result - school removed offer of 6th form place, what next?

22 replies

notjustme · 26/08/2013 23:01

6th Form offered a place on the basis that she needed to get B in two writing subjects (but she didn't share this with us and told us that two other subjects were the problem so of course we concentrated on those!). She got one B and one C (both in English), and one A (Religious Studies), and the rest were D or below, including Maths and Science. The 6th Form retracted the offer of a place on the basis that she had chosen 4 writing subjects at A Level and that she had not proven she had the ability to cope with lots of writing subjects.

She put very little work into her GCSEs, revised for a grand total of a few hours, was very over confident despite all this and was shocked when she received the results she did.

She, in typical teenage fashion, will not consider doing any courses other that the ones she had chosen to do, won't consider going to half the local colleges (because they are for 'dumb people'), only the colleges which require far above what she has achieved and only to do the courses she wants to do (all of which are heavy writing subjects that ask for more than she has achieved).

In also typical fashion, on results day she refused to tell us what had happened, spoke to the school herself without telling us what they said, and now will only say that they told her to try elsewhere but that they weren't taking her. I can't believe that this is correct as the school are normally very good and must have had more to offer on the situation, so I am waiting to hear back from the school but Bank Holiday has made it difficult.

I'm stuck not knowing what the options are - I understand that she is meant to stay in education for another year, but I am beginning to get less hopeful that she will get a full time education place - mainly down to her inability to be flexible or consider other options aside from her chosen topics, I can imagine a college can offer her courses still even with such a short time till the beginning of term, but she wouldn't accept any course other than her chosen subjects, which isn't going to happen!

Has anyone got any advice - who to contact or where to look? You would think there was a wealth of advice for failed gcses but I'm struggling to locate it. Also have a million questions - under the new laws she can work full time and do a part time course - but can this be online learning? Is online learning funded for under 18s? I'm trying to think of all the options, though I can see even less success with her getting a job since she has sat on her backside since exam leave started and is not at all bothered about the lack of money :(

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hellsbells99 · 26/08/2013 23:10

Our 6th form (which I believe is typical for a state comp) will only accept pupils with a minimum of 5 Cs and above (incl maths & english) - most individual subjects require a B to be taken at AS level. Your DD needs to realise she has limited options. I hope you manage to sort something out.

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notjustme · 26/08/2013 23:23

I know, the problem is the dangerous loop where if we tell her the results were poor and her options are limited, we get the 'you're telling me I'm stupid/thick/useless' argument, but her options truly are stuffed :( The annoying thing is that the only thing she is really bothered about is that she didn't get in to 6th Form - not bothered about the bad marks in reality only pissed off that it ruined her plan and now she has to put more effort into the 'useless crap waste of time' that is her future Angry. Tbh I think she would be happy if she could sit on her arse for the rest of her life.

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longingforsomesleep · 26/08/2013 23:39

I suspect the school wouldn't have much to say on the situation. If she didn't meet the sixth form entry requirements then I doubt they will feel any obligation to advise her on her options. At our school when students collect their gcse results they have a slip in the envelope which either reminds them to enrol for sixth form or tells them they haven't received the required grades to enrol. ie 'goodbye'. Brutal but not sure what else they can do.

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hellsbells99 · 27/08/2013 00:03

Could you persuade her to go to a local college and redo the year?

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PurpleGirly · 27/08/2013 00:10

Sadly it is reality check time for her. She is obviously capable with getting an A and B along with the C. But she didn't work and has to suffer the consequences. It is really sad and I have dealt with it many times over the years. Would the sixth form let her redo GCSEs? If not take her to look at colleges, she may change her mind when she has been,

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cory · 27/08/2013 00:18

"I'm stuck not knowing what the options are - I understand that she is meant to stay in education for another year, but I am beginning to get less hopeful that she will get a full time education place - mainly down to her inability to be flexible or consider other options aside from her chosen topics, I can imagine a college can offer her courses still even with such a short time till the beginning of term, but she wouldn't accept any course other than her chosen subjects, which isn't going to happen!"

I would be brutally honest here: "the law requires you to stay in education, these are the colleges/courses that will allow you to stay in education, you have to contact them and come to a decision as to which you like best, but breaking the law by doing nothing is not an option." Make sure she has an idea of the wide range of options, e.g. apprenticeships and various kinds of vocational courses, as well as the option of doing an extra year and retaking her GCSE's. It may be that a FE college would actually be a good environment for her, as it is a more grown-up atmosphere in many ways than a school Sixth Form.

Don't let yourself be guilted by self-pitying accusations about calling her thick. It isn't a question of whether she is thick or not: the school made a deal (put the work in to get x results and we will offer you a place) and she did not live up to her part of the deal. Too late for recriminations now, but you don't need to apologise to her either; those are just the facts.

iirc she has to be in education (including apprenticeship) for 20 hours a week, so a short online course on top of a fulltime job isn't going to cut it

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Ericaequites · 27/08/2013 02:19

Certain grades were required to take her chosen subjects at A level. She seems to have not worked, revised little, and did poorly. The school withdrew their offer. She needs to accept the consequences. You can help her research options, but staying home and pouting is not an option. If she wants her help, she also needs to be truthful with you about what is going on at school.

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LIZS · 27/08/2013 08:09

I think a lot of 6th forms would demand 5 gcses at C or above as a minimum entry requirement and at least a B in any potential A level subjects . She will probably just have to hear it from any she applies to if she won't listen to you . To be honest she should resit all those below a C including Maths as otherwise few employers or colleges will consider her application further. If she hasn't got self motivation online learning won't really be a viable option.

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canitgetanyworse · 27/08/2013 08:45

Feeling your pain, same situation but at least your daugher did achieve some grades unlike my son.
Very frustrating schools have dished out results and closed the doors for 2 weeks. This for me has been the worst part, no one to talk to about it and feeling totally out of my depth, as you say there is actually very little online to offer help if they don't pass. I'm feeling like we are the only ones and I don't even want to step outside in fear of someone in the village asking me how he did!

We did not even look at 6th form at the current school as we were so glad he could move on. Now I find myself longing for them to contact me as what to do to try and salvage some grades.

This is going to be a long week and a half.

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hellsbells99 · 27/08/2013 10:14

sorry for your situation canitgetanyworse.
School are not going to be much help now I wouldn't think, as he has officially left. You need to look round at the local colleges and see what courses are available. What does you DS want to do? What interests him? He needs to do some sort of qualification that would allow him to move in the direction he wants. Is he capable of 5 gcses at C and above? If so, may be redo the gcses at college. If not, find out what else he can do that may be more suited.
Good luck.

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longingforsomesleep · 27/08/2013 11:43

For what it's worth, DS1 (18) has just finished his A levels with miserable results. He met the minimum requirement for sixth form (which is 7 Bs) but part of me wishes he hadn't. I can think of 2 or 3 of his friends who didn't get back in and are now really sorted. He was never really suited to sixth form and his heart wasn't in it. I wish he'd bitten the bullet two years ago and looked around for something else to do.

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WorrySighWorrySigh · 27/08/2013 12:34

Is there anyone such as family friend or aunt/uncle who can lay the facts on the line for your DD in a calm and unemotional way?

The big fact is that your DD has run out of automatic passes to the next stage. She is also running out of people who are contractually obliged to give two hoots about what she does next.

This is a very harsh lesson to learn and will probably come best from someone she cant be too rude to.

If she does absorb this then she could look at resitting the all important maths alongside some more vocational qualifications. It will be a hard slog to then go on to A levels and university but if it is what she wants then it is possible.

This isnt the end of the world but it is the end of a world.

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LazyMonkeyButler · 27/08/2013 12:39

Is spending a year retaking her GCSE's an option? As she sounds like she has the ability I think it would be well worth it in the long run.

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lljkk · 27/08/2013 15:20

Real problem is her reluctance to do anything but her Plan A. Anything is possible if only she will shift from that vision. Sorry, OP, I don't know how to fix things either.

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bigbluebus · 27/08/2013 15:43

Don't suppose there is a Connexions Advisor (or whatever name they have in your area now) who can go through her options with her and maybe talk some sense into her.
I have been wondering who will pick up the pieces when 16 year olds have failed to achieve Plan A and there was no Plan B. Its OK the Govt saying that the children have to stay on in school or be employed and in part time education until they are 17, but who is overseeing it of they don't get a place at their chosen college and have no other plans. I would hope that Connexions/Youth Service are geared up for exactly this sort of situation.

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WorrySighWorrySigh · 27/08/2013 17:22

I think that this is why she needs someone to explain the facts of life to her.

Up until now for OP's DD something, in terms of another year at school, has always turned up. This year while there is a theoretical obligation to be in education there isnt the same onus on individual institutions to take on OP's DD.

If she wants to achieve anything at all she is going to have to shift herself and ask nicely.

Undoubtedly OP has explained all of this to her DD but sometimes these things come better from someone uninvolved.

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Dreamer23 · 11/09/2013 15:09

Have you considered your daughter re-taking her GCSE's at home through an independent home college? That is what we are planning on doing.

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Kez100 · 11/09/2013 19:18

It's a pity she sees local colleges as for the thick because they are currently full of students who worked hard, did their best at school and - possibly - even came out with the same results as she did. However, their work ethic and choice of appropriate course to fit their strengths will mean they are now happy and progressing well towards their future.

She needs to decide - do a course which she qualifies for or spend a year actually working, revising and doing her best resitting GCSEs to then move onto her original choice.

Moaning about no options when she didn't work. Well, that is life.

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Quisby · 04/01/2019 14:17

So I have a 16 year old that is not likely to pass her GCSE's (based on her mock exam results) - if she does, it will be 1 or 2 subjects at Level 4 (which is a low C). She revises at a minimal level if at all sometimes and dislikes school.

Her only interest is gaming. No interest in creating games or illustration of a game. Just playing.

She hasn't applied anywhere for College or Sixth Form as she feels overwhelmed by new people and situations. For the same reasons, she doesn't want to find work etc as she struggles a little with social and communication …

I looked at some sixth form and 2 colleges, they want 4/5 level 6's (B's) - does this mean I shouldn't apply at all?

Does anyone have a similar situation or have any ideas? I am at a complete loss as to what to do and am extremely worried about my child's future prospects.

What happens to kids in this situation? Does anyone know?

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LIZS · 04/01/2019 14:29

Quisby, you really need to start a separate thread as this one is years old! However, without 4/5 gcse or equivalents many colleges will not accept her or , even if so, at entry, level 1 or to retake level 2 qualifications, in Maths and English as a minimum, perhaps alongside a btec or nvq. Realistically many other students in a similar situation will have additional needs and/or behavioural issues. Even an apprenticeship will require resits.

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Quisby · 04/01/2019 14:30

I've now started a new thread for this … sorry first time posting

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Quisby · 04/01/2019 14:34

Thanks LIZS

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