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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Anyone else child failed their GCSE's??

60 replies

bigknickersbigknockers · 22/08/2019 15:13

My DS has just been to get the results of 2 early entry GCSE's and has failed them both. He has mild-moderate autism and has worked extremely hard to do his best by attending extra tuition at school, revising and reading. I am now extremely worried about next year when he will do the rest of the GCSE exams. Will he be able to go to college or get an apprentiship if its the same next year? He deserves to pass for the effort and work put into it alone IMHO

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BelulahBlanca · 22/08/2019 15:15

What was his actual grade? What subjects were they?

TipTopAllOverTheShop · 22/08/2019 15:18

Sorry to hear this OP. As harsh as this sounds it is a measure of abilities not effort. As long as your child knows there are other things that matter more like being kind etc that's the main thing xxx 💐

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 22/08/2019 15:20

Yes, mine.

It's been okay, though. I've dusted him off, we've been to the college and enrolled him on a different course - lower level (didn't have the points for a L3 course - and he can retake his English (his maths was okay).

He's happy with this. He can do the course he wanted next year.

Took him out for lunch then to Wilkos where we stocked up on cat toys.

Think I've manged to turn today into a positive experience.

Lonecatwithkitten · 22/08/2019 15:23

I sorry he has not achieved pass grades, but I see this as school failed him. He should have never been entered early, a year can make a massive difference in maturity and attitude.

Shimy · 22/08/2019 15:25

Sorry to hear this OP. Very impressed to see you have quickly resolved the situation and found a way forward which must be a relief to your dc. #Supermum!

bigknickersbigknockers · 22/08/2019 15:30

The subjects were RE and English literature. We knew English Lit would be a struggle but decided he would go into the exam and have a go, nothing ventured nothing gained and all that. He got a grade 2.
For RE he got a grade 3 and he felt quite confident about this one.

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PristineCondition · 22/08/2019 15:31

Mine
He was predicted much higher and was signed up to do psychology , sociology and biology A-levels at the college but obviously cant now
I sent him to the college to get advice hoping he would sign up to retake his GCSES. But he's signed up to do art and design, cant lie I'm a-bit thrown by it all buy hey ho
We are off out to the cinema to cheer him up.

Anyone else child failed their GCSE's??

bigknickersbigknockers · 22/08/2019 15:31

He has a helper in some classes

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User10fuckingmillion · 22/08/2019 15:33

Is he in year 10?

bigknickersbigknockers · 22/08/2019 15:34

Sorry to hear this pristine

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bigknickersbigknockers · 22/08/2019 15:35

he has just finished year 10 and is starting yr 11 in september

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IndianaMoleWoman · 22/08/2019 15:37

What was the school’s thinking in entering him early?

OtraCosaMariposa · 22/08/2019 15:38

Disclaimer - I'm Scottish and a lot of this talk about GCSEs is like a foreign language to me.

However, why on earth would a school take a child who has additional needs, has a helper in classes and put him through exams a year before he has to? Where's the benefit? And why as a parent did you agree to this?

summerdown · 22/08/2019 15:39

Sorry to hear he’s not done well. In my opinion the schools has failed him. He shouldn’t have sat the exams a year early- many pupils don’t have the maturity to sit early and it often results in low grades

Disfordarkchocolate · 22/08/2019 15:40

Was the aim to give his less work/exams next year?

TellySavalashairbrush · 22/08/2019 15:44

I failed all but one of my GCSEs back in the late 1980s ( when they first came out) I eventually went back to college in my 20s and University at 30. Now have a decent job- point being there is life after failed exams. I still hate exams!

bigknickersbigknockers · 22/08/2019 15:45

Yes disfordarkchocolate I think it was to reduce pressure next year

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Disfordarkchocolate · 22/08/2019 15:49

My son is about to start year 10 and I couldn't believe how many exams he will be sitting in 2 years time. I think there are far too many for a lot of children. Surely he would have been better of only doing 5 GCSE's instead of sitting some early.

bigknickersbigknockers · 22/08/2019 15:50

I feel so sad for him, I cannot do any more for him.

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bookmum08 · 22/08/2019 15:51

To be honest those two subjects aren't that important unless he wants to work within a religious community or a English teacher or something? Everyone needs knowledge and to understand and be aware of the wider world - but they don't necessarily need to have a grade or certificate in it. Does he have any idea what he would like to do in his life after school? If yes then he needs to focus on just those subjects that are relevant to the next stage. Generally all colleges/jobs want Maths and English (language not lit) so they are important but how many of the rest of his subjects actually are to get to his final goal. English lit and RE are a lot of analysing and personal interpretation rather than facts. Maybe he would be better at subjects that are facts. Or practical subjects that are more about doing.

Michellelovesizzy · 22/08/2019 15:54

I failed all mine..... i was fine dont hang everthin on exam results

maiafawnly · 22/08/2019 15:57

My son failed some we expected him to pass, but passed others we expected him to fail. His results are bizarre for his strengths! He is over the moon with them and although he didnt get on to his first choice college course, he has enrolled on the level 2 course which is an extra year and to resit his maths. Im proud of him, but still very baffled at his results!

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slingthegin · 22/08/2019 16:03

My DS didn't do well. Not totally unexpected. Best results were 2 level 4s and he will have to retake English and Maths which he thought he was secure on (3s in both).

He had a level 3 course lined up but I'm guessing he'll be looking at level 2 foundation course.

College enrolment is tomorrow. My only concern is what the workload will be on a level 2 course with two resits. Anyone know?

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 22/08/2019 16:03

Sometimes, having to do an extra year, or go in to a course at a lower level, or even change your intended path altogether, can be a positive thing.

It shows that there is more than one way to get to where you want, that it’s OK to change your mind, can build resilience and sometimes is a blessing in disguise.

There are courses these students may not have thought of, opportunities they might not have considered, particularly in vocational terms. Maybe a door has closed. Others will open.

LynetteScavo · 22/08/2019 16:06

@slingthegin I think with the level 2 course they only go to college two days, so they have three days for retakes....but I bet they only have to go in for a day, so will probably have only 3 days in college .

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