Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

A level 'aspiration' grades

31 replies

IrianofWay · 14/10/2015 10:36

DD had just started A levels at college. She is working flat out already, worried about how much she has to do and basically getting herself into a flap. She is doing Maths, Physics, Biology and Geography. She knows what she needs to get to get on to her university course. She also knows that she has to keep up with her weekend voluntary work because she needs this as well.

She decided that she wanted to give up physics. DH and I went to her first parents evening and explained to her tutor who flat out told us she can't do that. Full stop. Not allowed.

Then told us that her expected A level grades were B - calculated from her GCSE grades. Her GCSE grades were 5A* 3A and a B. Seems a bit odd. She needs to get ABB. She doesn't know about this yet but I know it;s going to freak her out - she will instantly think it means she has to work harder.

Her tutor is getting her an appointment with a college counsellor to help her 'manage' her workload.

What can we do to help her? Any advice?

OP posts:
Brioche201 · 14/10/2015 13:13

Unless she is doing med or vet, then I would kill the voluntary work.I would totally disregard the grade prediction at this stage-they have only been at it a few weeks! It means nothing.

IfItoldyouIdHavetoKillYou · 14/10/2015 12:51

Presumably not medicine if she's not doing Chemistry.
Does she really need to do voluntary work? Unless she is applying to an over subscribed course I doubt it is essential.

Ricardian · 14/10/2015 12:11

She knows what she needs to get to get on to her university course.

She needs to be slightly careful. At the moment, the published prospectuses are for 2016 entry. The standard offer will not be set until the 2017 prospectus is published. Assuming that you can predict the grades for 2017 entry now, especially for STEM, is somewhat risky. Changing the subjects required is more serious, but the grades can change right up until the publication of the prospectus.

She also knows that she has to keep up with her weekend voluntary work because she needs this as well.

Could I ask what course she is applying for which is (a) ABB entry and (b) requires weekend voluntary work? Something medical, presumably?

titchy · 14/10/2015 11:45

Blimey - at dd's college students are positively encouraged to only do 3 A levels - they think just doing 3 will be the norm in a year or so, with exceptions for Further Maths and the EPQ for high achievers.

Original poster
IrianofWay · 14/10/2015 11:40

He reckons she might change her mind about another subject later and then be left with just 2. But she won't. I know her too well to worry about that. Apparently if we are really determined we can speak to the HoD but it's all very irregular apparently Hmm

We will have to see how it goes.

OP posts:
Anotherusername1 · 14/10/2015 11:00

Push back at the tutor. Why is it not allowed? 3 A levels should be adequate.