Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

DS not doing great in Y12 - not sure what to do

29 replies

WinterFollies · 27/02/2026 12:14

We've always had trouble with DS and school. He's a nice quiet kid who always got the lower end of average results - GCSEs were 5s and 6s with a few 7s. Teachers said he could do better if he studied harder but he didn't.

He's doing A levels now and his predicted results (I'm not sure what this actually means) are DDC. I mean - that's not going to get him into a university is it?!

We're suggested over and over that - as he doesn't like studying - he might not be cut out for uni and he could look into other options. He isn't interested.

He refuses to talk to us about studying, refuses help, refuses to ask his tutors for help, refuses to do any extra curricular stuff that might help him out with applications, or just knowledge/engagement - I'm not sure what I should be doing.

It's at the point where any mention of school results in huge arguments. Since last year I've just left him to it, hoping without us going on at him he'd work it out - but I just got his report and not only is it the same as the last one (DDC predicted) but he's now being flagged as of concern.

What can I do?! What should I do?

OP posts:
Original poster
WinterFollies · 27/02/2026 12:55

Unomum21 · 27/02/2026 12:47

Hi, just commenting as I work at a university. He would be fine and university and even potentially thrive. I work at a post 92, where there is wide diverse cohort of Learners. Yes some courses (medical/STEM) may require higher a levels, but foundation years are common for those who don't get the grades then they join the degree course. Don't rule it out or have him thinking he's not good enough.

Thank you - all is not lost! I will have a look at foundation courses - I don't really know anything about them as I didn't grow up here (another thing that I worry is disadvantaging him).

OP posts:
Original poster
WinterFollies · 27/02/2026 12:52

Thanks for replying @clary x

He wants to study psychology - which makes me want to bang my head against a wall! It's very widely offered - I guess he'd probably get a place somewhere but it would just be throwing money away. There's almost no way he'd progress unless he has some kind of epiphany - which we've been waiting for for years now. He's been a bit vague about what he ACTUALLY wants to do - I think clinical psychologist but it's just so so unlikely at this point.

A levels are Philosophy, Geography, and Psychology.

I will look into apprenticeships but he is set against it - and I'm not sure if there's anything that's suitable. I guess he needs a wakeup call but this doesn't seem to be it. He's looking for a PT job - he's working at a charity shop as a volunteer atm which is good - but again he does the bare minimum there!

OP posts:
Unomum21 · 27/02/2026 12:47

Hi, just commenting as I work at a university. He would be fine and university and even potentially thrive. I work at a post 92, where there is wide diverse cohort of Learners. Yes some courses (medical/STEM) may require higher a levels, but foundation years are common for those who don't get the grades then they join the degree course. Don't rule it out or have him thinking he's not good enough.

clary · 27/02/2026 12:38

Hi op sorry that you are dealing with this.

To start, PGs mean just that - what his teachers think he will get in year 13. DDC is not great but he could go to uni with those grades. It’s whether you and he think it is worth it.

Does he want to go to uni? To study what? If he doesn’t enjoy study it’s probably not a good idea tbh.

What A levels is he taking? What did he get in those GCSEs? A levels are a big step up so if he gained 5/6 at GCSE there’s a lot of work to get B+ at A level.

If he is keen he can still work and improve. But it sounds like he isn’t. I would suggest a serious chat about his future. Does he have a pt job? What does he want to do eventually?

Have you looked at apprenticeships? That might be a better way for him to- earning and learning too.