What happens to kids who don't get any GCSEs - experiences appreciated

How did your DS turn out?

The school should be providing support, but if he doesn't get any A*-C grades he could obviously get an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Lupin
I'm sure that Naice fee paying Truro school will never forgive me,
but here is a link about a kid who failed to get his English GCSE at 16
but seemed to do OK ...
www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/13874219.Teacher_visit_for_Olympic_legend_brings_memories_of_prediction_flooding_back/

There is hope OP. My DB finished school with only GCSE English. He got a job as a clerk in local government and has been there for 25 years. He's loved by visitors to his department as he remembers their file numbers just by glancing at their faces, pulling out the files before the computer can retrieve them. He was assessed back in the day by a very astute advisor, who said this sort of repetitive clerical work would suit him well (he has suspected, but never diagnosed autism due to my parents living in denial).

DS1 is at college studying catering - he needed D in English and Maths to get on his course (NVQ L1). He actually got C in maths but Es in English, but they still took him.

His back-up place was a similar but easier course at another college for which he needed Gs in maths and English, so there may be courses to suit yr DS. When you say fail, do you simply mean not get any Cs? DS only got 2 Cs but he still passed 8 GCSEs. Would yr DS get Gs/Fs? What do his teachers say?

Should add that if you don't get C you have to keep working/retaking. DS is continuing with English at college.

You are welcome Lupin, we are all out there on this forum, you know MN is not all wall to wall A stars and RG unis

I've met a couple of young people who had graduated from a top 10 university and were working as in one case a cleaner and in the other a canteen assistant. Masses of graduates are not getting any kind of work, or only work that in no way makes use of their qualifications. So in a sense not getting qualifications doesn't make that much of a difference these days, and he won't have wasted all that money on getting higher qualifications.
I would focus on maths and English, maybe if possible getting extra help with that, and on finding out what kind of work he is likely to be good at and enjoy, and look into apprenticeship or something he can learn on the job.

wonders if OP will come back?

OP.

I only have a level 2 Literacy and numeracy, in fact no GCSE's or A levels.
However I do have a HND Distinction, B.A Hons 2:1, PgCE, and M.A cert plus more and an exceptionally low IQ.

There are no limits to you reaching your potential when you find the suitable route into further education.

Please don't worry, just visit local colleges and speak to inclusive learning.

as others have said, does he have any interests which could be developed? for example with my DD it was the horses that grabbed her, and she is now doing Equine Studies on a work based diploma (with opportunity to resit Eng and Maths as I said before).

My DS (LD, ASD but fully statement) left in the summer with entry level 1 in english, entry level 2 in Maths. All colleges offer entry level/level 1 courses, but you need to get the prospectus and be proactive in applying for them. They tend to be mainly generic, with them covering literacy, numeracy etc, but there is usually the option of some specialism , for example sports, drama, basic engineering etc.

DS attends a FE which is only for LD (the courses at the colleges weren't suitable for him as he is very vulnerable socially)

They can continue with courses at entry level /level 1 and even some level 2 while working towards a level 2/gcse in maths and English. Check what your local college offers in terms of vocational courses and apprenticeships at this level

One thing - do all you can to encourage the things he is good at - be they in school or outside. Keep his self esteem and attendance up. There is nothing worse than going through the indignity that is year 10 and 11 knowing all the time you are not going to get those precious C or A* grades. If the child knows they are good at something then its a whole lot easier.

Then look through college prospectuses for courses he probably will be able to do and that might spark his enthusiasm.

Oh & friends sons...

Run a successful night club

Become a quite famous musician

A friend's DD with no grade A* - C GCSE grades went to college to do nursery nurse/childcare training. She did though have to carry on with the maths and English.

In my experience they...

DB - End up working in & then running his own betting shop for a few years, followed by a career change prompted by a move to another city, which saw him working as a sales rep in a carpet shop, after a stint working in a warehouse he ended up running. He move on to be area manager fr anther flooring company, after he was head hunted - he now runs his own flooring firm with his old boss who s a partner.

Cousin - (who sounds exactly like your DS, though these days may have a AS spectrum diagnosis) Ends up working as a gardener for years, managing the gardens of stately homes etc etc . Becomes heavily involved wth conservation work, takes over gardening firm when his boss retires & continues dong a job he loves whilst saving our red squirrels amongst many other things.

Thank you for this thread. We are in a position that dd is looking at getting D or Es.
She wants to be a doctor. That realistically isnt going to happen , shes also looking at technical theatre. The course at sixth form shes seen needs 5 x Cs so im using the years we have to get some RL experience and trying to find a lower start course.

My understanding is that children with Sen study maths and English, but aren't forced to do exams that they have no hope of passing. in fact this has been the position for children with severe Sen for years.

TalkinPeece, my understanding of the new rules is that pupils who haven't passed a GCSE in maths or English have to continue studying them if they are on a funded course until they are 18. They can take a stepping stone qualification, rather than a GCSE, so in fact they can study at below a Functional Skills certificate level. They only have to retake a GCSE if they got a grade D at GCSE/iGCSE in that subject previously.

An individual institution can of course determine its own rules, but the government isn't forcing students to retake GCSEs until they pass, unless they are already capable of getting close to a pass.

Lupins, you may find that there are some fairs aimed at current year 11s in your area around now covering colleges, apprenticeships etc such as this one. If not, then you could contact your closest 6th form college to see what they have to offer.

DS was offered both a L2 and L3 on Art and Design at our FE college, on the strength of his portfolio but conditional on 4 D or C grades. He got terrible GCSE results and is now on the Level 1 course instead. He too has a specific learning difficulty and an Ed Psych assessment. (However, I'm not convinced that the Learning Support people have been doing their job in, you know, supporting him as he's apparently spent 4 weeks hiding his face behind his hand and doing the absolute minimum. If they'd read his assessment they might have spotted the bit about severe social anxiety!) But, back to the OP, Level 1 courses generally don't require GCSEs, just an interest in the subject area. Depending on the GCSE grades they will either need to do Functional Skills or re-sit the exams. And good completion of an L1 course (no exams, just coursework) gets entry to a L2, then L3 etc etc. HTH

Peter
ask them what they'd offer to a 16 year old without GCSEs
They have been forced to make the kids keep retaking those two GCSEs till they pass : hiding to nothing does not come close.

But they will have lots and lots and lots of courses for non academic types.
Here are a couple of my local colleges that welcome kids like OPs son ....

www.sparsholt.ac.uk/qualifications-explained/
or
www.southampton-city.ac.uk/courses/?term=

I would also look at this from the other side and get in touch with some local FE colleges and ask them what they'd offer to a 16 year old without GCSEs - could he still do an apprenticeship, for example. What interests does he have that he might be able to build on?

My ddis unlikely to pass any GCSEs but is being set up with a supported internship at the local Uni librar. she will be fab at filing books and will love the quiet ( she is autistic). I have lots of hope. School have been fab though. Don't despair. Does he have any strengths or interests that could be developed?

when I say 'low IQ' I should say she is far from 'stupid' just that she would score low on a Standard IQ test