Worried about GCSEs

Op these comments are unfairly dismissive

It's not at all true that failing mock GCSE's at 15 years old means you aren't cut out for further study. People mature at different ages - and more importantly I think - some kids are not genralists,. I wasn't.

I did very poorly at GCSE - only passed 5 in the end thought I was very good at one subject - so that pulled me through perhaps.

It was a poor load of results though - D's C's and an A. I just about scraped into doing A levels - where i did MUCH better because I could drop all the subjects I struggled with. I really kicked myself into gear at about 17 and did well - I went on to university where I also did well.

I am in a professional job now that you would need a degree for -

Please don't give up on your daughter as everyone here seems to suggesdt - does she have interests in particular subjects? could she focus a bit more on those and you can look at how she can go on to study them later?

Of course UNi is not for everyone but i'ts also wrong to write kids off at 15 as not academic. Because of our boring far to wide and dull cirriculum.

I agree with this, it sounds like this is all about you and what you want, not what she wants. Just because most of your family have been to university doesn’t make her a lesser person if she doesn’t go.
Presumably she’s already looked into sixth forms or colleges in the last few months? Here where I am you won’t get any kind of sixth form offer if your mock grades aren’t good enough so she would already have applied for a college course. That doesn’t mean that she can’t do well and still go on to uni in future as long as it’s what she wants not what you’re pushing her into.

If she failed her mocks she should absolutely not do A levels. I got mostly A*s at GCSE and if it wasn’t for one incredibly patient teacher dragging me over the line I never would’ve finished.

There’s so many other options. Don’t make her have to deal with that.

Also, what do you mean about failed her mocks? Failed as in U or got 3s and 4s?

Why does she need to do A Levels and go to University?

Like others have said, A levels and Uni aren’t the only route in life. Apprenticeships backed up by a college (so she can still get qualifications) are an excellent option. Don’t panic it’s not worth it (and she will sense it), and it’s important for her to know you’ve got her back no matter what her results are.

Depending on results she may be much better off doing a Level 3 BTEC (or T-Level) or starting at Level 2 or even Level 1. You can go to uni with BTECs.

I hope she has plans B and C in place as well as your plan A.

What does she want to do? Is she more worried about taking a different path or disappointing you?

I was the least academic in my family and my parents felt that university was the only option and were really snobby about those who didn’t go that way. The pressure was immense and I had to choose an ‘easier’ degree to make them happy. If I had my time again I would have gone down a vocational route.

So many people don’t go to university- it’s not an issue.

A child that fails all their mocks (unless there is known good reason) is not going to be going on to do A Levels at this point.

This is your DD's future. It is not yours. She doesn't need the weight of your expectations on her - it's not for you to "expect" that she follows a certain path.

You can't do anything about the exams now, so wait until the results come out and make a considered plan (with DD leading, and you supporting) based on that. Do not push her into A Levels if that isn't what she wants.

Why is this all about you? Does she want to do A levels? Does she want to go to university?

she tried her best that’s all anyone can do. When she gets the results you can help her decide what she wants to do next.

Take her to your local college and let her enrol on a course in something that interests her, at the appropriate level.

Well really that's all you can ask. Try to manage your own anxiety, and know that there are many paths to success, not all are academic. She can retake at college maths and do a level 2 or 3 course in something she enjoys. If she struggles academically then a-levels may not be the most appropriate next educational step.

Theres more to success than Alevels abd University.
There are loafs of different options available at 16 these days.

Why do you think uni is the best route for her?

Theres increasing evidence it isnt worth the cost for many students. Someone struggling to pass GCSEs is likely to end up on a low value course at a poorer institution and then be paying the debt back for 45 years.

University is expensive and shouldnt really be the default unless you are very academic & looking at courses that really pay back, like medicine and engineering.

There's nothing you can do about it now. If she has failed her GCSEs then she's clearly not cut out for university so it's a waste of time thinking about it.
University is only worth it for academically able children. Otherwise it's a huge waste of money with no tangible benefit and the person would learn and earn far more going into an apprenticeship.

Why did she fail her mocks?