To think that 4 G.C.S.E's needed to do business studies is ridiculous

Not everyone is academic. Not everyone is a racist bully.

To take business studies you need to have good GCSE to show you are committed the work. At my child's college which covers A levels, btec etc the courses are so vast that a topic is covered once in class then they move a on to the next topic. Students are then expected to work on the topic in their own time called independent study to get good grades. After the high school fiasco it wouldn't be a good idea to put your child through a course like this.

I think you both maybe need a reality check… my brother had no GCSEs (smoked weed and played x box all day) and he left thinking because he was street smart and had good chat he would be able to blah his way through life. Not the case. Ended up sitting his GCSEs as an adult (about 21 I think when he finished them) and it was much harder. He’s very successful now, he actually makes more money than me, but you do have to jump through the hoops and get your GCSEs. It’s better to get them when you’re young, with your peers. He pushes his kids so hard to do well in school now, he is actually stricter than me about school which is funny.

Rightly or wrongly, if you want to access further education in most cases you need your GCSEs. Functional skills will open some doors, but realistically it’s not seen as the same by employers.

Maybe his side hustle will take off and he can be one of them online gurus who say stuff about how the education system is a waste of time, but that’s unlikely so best have a fall back.

Good grief, didn’t realise they had already accepted him! The thought of handing a gun to a guy like that is scary

Maybe they will keep him in catering or something else where he can’t do too much harm ??

I have non academic children. BUT I still know that reasonable passes at GCSE are essential to financially secure work and hence a reasonable quality of life. And I hammer the homework and am involved in it. I HATE having to do it. But I still do it.

The idea that you can sit back, be totally hands off, with a teenager and expect them to do what they need to, to pass exams is a recipe for disaster.

I’m Scottish. I’ve got very very used to mumsnetters saying UK when they actually
mean England. Scotland is also in the UK and we do not have GCSEs.

She obviously meant England and Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, you just have to get used to English people on here who cannot understand that England is not the only country in the UK and that other countries within the UK do things differently. They will continue to say UK when they are talking about England.

No she specifically referenced UK Vs Ireland, and since NI is in the UK......

If he is your eldest how are other dc behaving and coping at school? Are they also with their father in UK?

She obviously means Northern Ireland.

Ireland doesn't have GCSEs or BTEC, what are you talking about?

DH works in programming. It's a serious job. It's not pissing about on a computer. Running a hobby Minecraft server even if it's for money is not comparable and most definitely is pissing about on a computer.

DH interviews. Pissing about on Minecraft doesn't actually looking great on a CV for someone wanting to work in computers. It just looks like pissing about on Minecraft. He wouldn't dismiss someone who has applicable skills that are relevant to the workplace and can demonstrate a work ethic and knowledge. How is your son going to acquire these?

DH taught himself to programme. He didn't learn it at uni or college. He went through a good number of shit jobs on the way. Your son could learn via various online sources how to do something worthwhile rather than pissing about on Minecraft. He doesn't even have to be in education to do this. He's at college part time so it's not like he doesn't have the opportunity. He just needs to apply himself and prioritise it over pissing about on Minecraft.

He won't want to because that's 'boring' and he'd prefer to piss about on Minecraft and Mum won't give him a reality check.

Poor kid.

Since you asked, part-time job, helping out with volunteer activities and teaching myself the national curriculum because my school was so rubbish. Apart from 1C I got all A's or A* despite my school being in the worst half a dozen in the country in terms of results. School didn't teach me so I did it myself.

Even though my school is terrible and actually got shut down being so bad, results as low as your sons would have been unusual. Very few people (like less than 15%) got the 'magical' 5c plus, but one or two C's and D's and E's were the norm.

But this isn't about one incident for your son, or even him mucking around for a couple of years. The gradings he got in his gcses indicate he's functioning at the level of a 10-year-old!

No.

But think about it. How many young men like gaming and would happily spend all day on their computers or gaming systems, and how much call do you think there is for people to work in that field?

I don't know what setting up a server involves, but I do have some idea of what's involved in coding. It's very mathematical, involves very high level problem solving skills and logic. There's no way that a child who is capable of that is not also capable of passing maths and science GSCEs, if they apply themselves.

I am involved in the hiring process for technical roles and we also assess educational background. Someone with no GCSEs and no degree wouldn't be considered, because there's no evidence that they are capable of the types of attitudes and skills required. If they couldn't be bothered to do any work for their GSCEs then why would we believe they're going to do any work for us?

The same applies to higher education, why would they waste funding on a child who has shown no evidence of being able to work hard or succeed, and on top of it has gone out of his way to make life hard for his teachers and his peers throughout his education?

Would you want him in your class?

Have you looked up what running a Minecraft server involves? It’s great for your son that he’s earning some money from it, but it’s also not especially difficult or complicated - there are a huge number of them. Neither is moderation. These are activities that many people in IT are going to see as lightweight hobbies. If your son is genuinely interested in an IT apprenticeship then he’ll need to either resit some of his GCSEs or develop additional IT skills that will set him apart from other more qualified applicants.

He will need help and support so if he can explain to you what it involves, then you could help him break it down to form a portfolio and CV.
Screen shots, a write up of how he developed it.
Which skills are involved with moderating users? Can he give an example of a tricky scenario that he handled well etc. that sort of thing
Being able to explain is going to be necessary for any interview he might get.

Why is it you think he might not pass if he finds the course too easy?

Why are you enabling his attitude?

If he goes for the IT apprenticeship he needs to realise that it's a much sought after position. It will be very competitive and apprenticeships usually require high GCSE grades. He will also need a good CV and they will look at his high school reports. He will also need to pass an interview. Having a server won't cut it, 12 year olds do that. Round here apprenticeships usually go to 18-19 year olds after they have competed college/6 form and got good grades so they don't have to release them for college so staying at college and getting qualifications will work in his favour.

This isn't about being academic or not though.

You don't have to be academic to avoid getting expelled for racism. You don't have to be academic to avoid being persistently late and rude to teachers. You don't have to be academic to have parents who give a shit and don't make excuses for your shit behaviour. You don't have to be academic to understand that you sometimes have to do boring stuff you don't want to do in order to progress through levels of training to get to where you want to me.

The problem is he's lazy, entitled and unpleasant because Mum and Dad haven't been bothered about his education.

Another suggestion. Will any of his online work be useful to form a portfolio.

If he is able to demonstrate his analytical skills, problem solving, coding, creativity etc by means of portfolio then that may help with this apprenticeship.

What is his business plan for making a living from gaming?

I do work (mostly) online, as do most of my DC and several of their partners. One of my DCiL actually makes their living from content creation in this exact space.

So what’s his business plan from turning his hobby into a business rather than a displacement activity or excuse for not working at school/college?

I quite agree, but I assume he talked a good game in his interview???? He is not the sort of person I'd want defending my country. Not a team player and not fond of effort unless he thinks it matters.

Perhaps they will keep him in training until he gets the right attitude???

Don't most kids get 9 or more?

But he should pass college because it's too easy for him?

He should fly, then once he gets through it he will have more options.