To do my daughters GCSE course work?

My daughter has struggled with Art this year and it was such a relief when she finished her exam last week.
She worked so hard on her projects, staying at school late and redoing stuff.
My daughter is also neuro divergent and it was tough, but I never felt the need to do her actual work for her.

Hearing you did that for your daughter, well I'm not sure how I feel as I know how much my daughter struggled and challenged herself, but did it.

Tbh I’d just do it and then she can move on with her other stuff, and I’d bet many of the mums who have read this and not commented too would as well !

You’re protecting her from a really important experience - failure. You’ve even said it’s not that important. So let her not hand anything in, or something rubbish that SHE’S done, and get an appropriately lower score that accurately reflects her input. That’s real life. And she can focus on her more important, core subjects. Very common for kids to have a ‘forget about that one’ subject. You’re not helping in the way you think you are by not allowing her to fail at something, and for that to be ok. And also to learn the consequences of not getting something done.
These experiences before adulthood are useful.

Yeah, this I’m afraid. And what others have said about rescuing. If it’s not an important grade, why does it matter so much. Her best is her best.

I ended up submitting something else entirely. I got a lower grade than I hoped for but it was my own work. Or submit it as it is.

OP, I understand completely where you're coming from. My AuDHD DD is currently in Y9, and has just opted for art as one of her GSCEs. One of her biggest needs is help with organisation/time management as she lacks executive/cognitive function. I can already envisage the frustration, tears ("it's not how I want it to be") and meltdowns that will be coming my way, and like you, I shall find as many ways to help as I can without actually doing the work. You sound like an ideal, understanding parent to your DD. Hope you find some baking parchment!

I know someone who did something similar for their child’s A level equivalents. The child received stellar results and got into a great university to do the degree they wanted, but without their parent’s help, they were lost, and it didn’t go well for them in the end. Twenty years later, they are fine and have recovered their equilibrium and even got their Master’s, but their parent’s kindly intentioned cheating actually had made things much worse for them. I’m not saying this is at all the same thing as for the OP and her daughter, but I do agree with those who say it is probably better to try and teach your child resilience and accept the possibility of “failure”, rather than expecting great things and being disappointed, if you see what I mean.

Was it entirely course work? How is your cousin fairing now?

My aunt did my cousins entire degree for her. This is nothing by comparison.

Cheating in Art Gcse coursework routinely happens, money usually changes hands as well.

If you don't sort it yourself, there's an argument that your DD will be at a disadvantage as a result.

I really have to assume that you are not serious. Teaching your kid that cheating is OK? That someone else will always fix everything for you when you give up? Absolutely despicable behaviour.

I have no issue with all the logistical support. Our DC is autistic and easily overwhelmed. We did a lot of list making and planning what needed to be completed each day. Also got the prit stick out and stuck things down in the layout she wanted. Typed some titles up for them stuck them down. I did intervene on some paintings and said weren’t good enough, needed more detail/depth/ contrast whatever. Helped them choose what to select to put in the portfolio. All advice like a teacher would but this was over Easter hols.

We did not do any of their drawings, studies or paintings. That oversteps the mark. The stylistic difference will be noticeable. Better to drop a few marks, unless this is THE ART submission. Then she is stuffed.

This

If it’s not for the actual exam, I wouldn’t be too worried. I’m sure you’re not alone.

I know a mum who wrote her daughter uni essays as she was qualified in the same field.
it happens. Make the best of your opportunities and luck. Let’s face it plenty of people embellish skills at interviews

Just help her as much as you can. I have Dyslexic children and one with ADHD. It’s one exam like you say she not even going into highest level art. Plenty of private schools give much more help. It’s a gcse not a doctors exam. Give her the best chance you can to get a grade. Life is hard evough for these kids. Some kids get private tutors etc,
so what if you drawn a face does it matter ? Like you say you aren’t fantastic at art so not like she jumping from level 2 to level 9. The final grade based on the whole portfolio.
I’ve spelt checked a number of coursework’s for my kids. The French teacher at my school wrote out answers to the recorded verbal test with cues to pause and everything. Yes she should be sacked but it goes on. It’s one drawing ignore the setting her up to fail people

No judgment here . I have a daughter with adhd , one of the most intelligent girls I meet in my life , absolutely fails if working under pressure .

I totally get it!
My son has dyslexia and was getting no help whatsoever in school. In English they were all reading a book, then had to answer questions and write about it. He couldn't read or understand the book at all so I read it.. then helped him with the questions. Not answering them but reading the passage and explaining the scenario to him and then him figuring it out from there.
I didn't feel bad about it at all. I didn't answer the questions. I just helped him understand the book and what was required from him.

I’ve been in a similar boat recently. With the upcoming exams and the additional stress it has exacerbated her issues. She’s definitely struggling with ADHD, but she’s possibly on the spectrum too (multiple neurodiverse in family). So I completely get where you’re at. I’ve had to give a lot more help than I thought I would - organising her, keeping her on track, encouraging etc. with her subjects though I can’t get involved as they’re all crazy difficult and I never did that stuff in school 😭

all you’ve done is draw a picture like you said could have been traced by her. And if it gives her the motivation/eases the pressure to get through the rest then it’s been worth it. I can tell you from experience with AuDHD, it is so difficult to start a task, we strive for perfectionism and won’t accept anything but, it’s exhausting and stressful and I wish I had had a Mum like you when I was growing up to guide me and keep me on track.. and just so I wasn’t going through it alone. I handed no coursework in at all (undiagnosed at that point). The lower grades severely affected my confidence etc and if I had just had someone to help me it would have been different.

You’re giving your child the support she needs, nothing more. Good luck for her exams x

Unending of course

If she is copying the drawing from a picture, try turning the picture upside down and see if she can copy it then. Apparently, our brains get hung up on trying to make perfect copy of what we see and we get frustrated when we can see its not working. Unending it makes it something the brain doesn't recognise as a person so it is much freer in reproduction. This technique for everyone. Its called Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.

As an adult with ADHD who flew under the radar as a child, I’ve always found that individual projects with that had to follow a prescribed process as part of the grade to be completely foreign. People with ADHD need a high level of stimulation in order to shift and maintain attention to the task at hand, so shorter deadlines that add pressure tend to be more doable. I wonder if the drawn-out nature of this project has caused her more issues than the task itself!

Excellent post.

I was going to point out the advantage many students accrue from the resources parents are able to throw at their academic progress all through their school years - tutors, enrichment, extra and co curricular activities - to say nothing of the ability to buy a house in an area where schools are good.

I'm very surprised so many voted you were being unreasonable. How many of the 70% wouldn't think twice about hiring a tutor?

OP I posted earlier on your thread but talked to my DD, who did both GCSE and A level art. I wanted to know how she felt about it.
Her response was: if you are going to help (whatever form that takes) then just do it and do not ask on the internet about it.
Further, you are either trying to get support to justify your actions or will get vilified. She says one drawing is not going to make any difference to the overall grade and will have no impact on her future endeavours. While I know of a few parents who have written the odd essay for their child (and one of my closest friends boasts proudly of the A her son got for a paper she wrote), this is hardly the same.
I hope she can put it behind her now and concentrate on her other exams.

Lovely update OP