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

That's right - no GCSEs is not the end of the world.
my own DD16 might have a low 'IQ' but she has a high 'EQ' and is v good at getting on with people.
She has a BTEC Science award and a D in Art

ISN'T not is!

I know a lad who had no GCSEs because of learning difficulties has become a tree surgeon.
Agree

Several of my clients are illiterate - no academic qualifications -
but they earn enough to hire an accountant

DS1 got C in maths, C and B in science at that was it! He got a college course to do furniture making and had to his English GCSE again. He got it after two further attempts. However he is now unemployed and looking for apprenticeships and had had three interview so far.

Oh BTW my DS is special needs just spectacularly lazy

In my area there are a range of college courses depending on quite how severe your son's special needs are. It really sounds like your son needs an educational psychologist to advise him of his next steps and help secure funding. Some severely disabled teens concentrate on learning basic life skills as they will never work. Other teens with less severe disablities are able to enrol on a level 1 course and just take that bit longer to get a vocational qualification. Often challenging behaviour is more of an issue than lack of qualifications.

Kids with moderate learning difficulties can become independent and employable adults with the right advice and help. I know a lad who had no GCSEs because of learning difficulties has become a tree surgeon.

Hi OP, do yo mean level 2/3 at KS1 because the other level 2/3 is GCSE/ Alevel. unless there are others I don't know about.

If it's the former then there isn't a problem honestly.
Maybe the academic GCSE's and A levels are out of the question or your ds may struggle but there are so many alternatives.
Vocational qualifications are far less academic and colleges often offer entry and level one courses that don't require GCSE's and in fact can lead to the equivalents if that makes sense.
The school should be explaining all of this to you, I'd make an appointment for a meeting tbh.
What subjects has your ds chosen?

Lupins
Your school are being useless.

They know full well what happens.
They will get marked down massively for not getting him through the GCSE English and Maths ( those are the two that matter ) if he has not already been exempted from it with a statement or SA+ type classification.

What courses is he doing?
Are they appropriate for him?
Is he on the vocational college track where he goes to college one day a week to do BTEC rather than GCSE
if not, why not?
Which FE college will he be going to for year 12 & 13 ( as school / college / training is compulsory to 18 ) ?
Go and talk to them about what he enjoys and is good at.

Basically he'll keep retaking the Maths and English GCSE till he scrapes them
but in a good supportive college environment, will build up a portfolio of other skills and certificates that will give him possible routes into work.

There are different levels of college courses (vocational) so he might be able to do level 1 or even entry level. Have you considered an apprenticeship? There are loads out there in all sorts of lines of work.

TBH the school sound a bit rubbish. Why no statement? What help are the school providing?
What does he want to do?

She was also unstatemented with learning difficulties...
What does level 2/3 actually mean?

well my DD16 has just started a college/training course in which she can resit her Maths and English. So there are opportunities out there, do not despair.