GCSE 2019 support thread 6

Hello very new to this thread and the system. My dad school has allowed her to take GCSEs before year 11, so she took 2 las year ( Spanish and Latin) and 3 this year (History, English Language and Art). Her worst one was Art although she did spend all the time on it ( and I feel the outcome was great work that I will treasure forever...)
Somebody told me that Universities and Sixth Forms do not like the fact that GCSE are not taken all at once: anyone knows why?

I was asked about FM by @SolitudeAtAltitude several pages back this is what happens when I paint outdoor furniture instead of MNetting

Ds LOVES maths and got a very secure 9. He also did statistics for GCSE and got an 8. As part of statistics they did FM but not enough children had grasped the statistics course meaning the teacher had to drop the FM bit and concentrate on the statistics.

For A level, they do maths for the first year and then FM in the second year and take both A levels at the end of year 13. He won't be doing a EPQ because of the 4 A levels.

As I am usually about 1-2 years ahead in planning stuff for Ds (he directs me, I am an English Lit degree person, he loves maths/physics/computer science) so if I remember correctly if he wants to take physics for degree they spend the first year covering FM stuff. Lots of colleges don't offer it so it is not down as a requirement but is seen as beneficial.

But Ds is very motivated eg he completed his sixth form "homework" that they set just after they got it, he is teaching himself guitar and he loves learning new stuff. He took German for GCSE and got an 8, Ds2 is doing French so Ds1 is learning that "for fun" he is also learning a bit of Spanish hence why we think he can handle the 4 A levels.

We looked around his sixth form in both year 10 and 11 and enquired about FM at the time.

Have a look at this site:

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk

I use it all the time with my students.

Thank you
I’m forgetting my manners

Haven’t read the full thread.
My grandson got excellent results all A stars and As
He wants to do engineering
I think he’s taking maths, computer science and chemistry at A Level

I want to help him get an see apprenticeship to put him through a levels and or uni

Is there such a beast and if do how do we go about it

Gym history, sociology, politics, English etc. Anything which doesn't require numerical answers.

Hello, new to this thread, just having a really of others DC's A level choices which is very interesting and quite reassuring.

Ds1 wants to do Maths, Further Maths and Physics and is thinking about engineering of some sort at University. I hope he isn't limiting himself too much. Bottom line is, I have no influence over him so just have to let him make his own decisions anyway🤣

He did exceptionally well at his GCSE's (he got an 8 and 9 x 9's) and he has very high aspirations at present.

He's been a bit odd since he got his results, almost embarrassed and uncomfortable with the praise he has received but he is a quirky boy anyway so I'm hoping once he gets settled in to 6th form, he will be happier.

Hi
It’s been great to read this thread
Well done to all your dcs

What is an essay subject? (Sorry, didn't go to school in UK)

@gym also no expert but my DS is off to Oxford with those, but he also has economics which is considered an essay subject. Really depends on your end game as to whether an essay subject is required. For DS who loves Maths the further maths was an easy add on!

Just noticed this thread. Anyone know if maths, further maths and physics are good choices for A level?

@fortyfifty thank you- on to it!!

@Darbs76 that’s really interesting thank you will look into it! We are English but Dd has grown up in Shanghai and India . We came back to the UK for GCSEs but have to travel back constantly. Due to our work she speaks fluent Mandarin and basic Sinhalese and this what has inspired her career path as I think she wants a career where she can be based overseas. We met by chance a foreign office diplomat at the airport who spoke to her for about an hour an now she is convinced this is what she wants to do !

ROZ12 there is absolutely no issue with English Language A level on my DD's application for Oxford, Durham etc for an incredibly competitive degree course. It includes a lot of analysis of styles, language development, diversity and change. It is not a soft option. Admissions tutors seem perfectly happy with it.

arewedone she could look at degrees in International Relations

Hi, my DP is fairly senior in the foreign office. The staff who work there for a variety of degree’s and some no degree’s. The foreign office is notoriously more difficult to get into than other government departments. For my DP he joined the Home Office and then transferred in via an internal job. He has a law degree - but says many there are from RG university’s - certainly not essential though. Dp has travelled the world and is going to be based in Asia for the next few years

Really would love advice for my Dd. She wants to enter the diplomatic service sector. I have no experience of it, she is taking maths, economics, Spanish and French. Any ideas of Uni courses?
Hoping Mumsnet has the answers!

How lovely, my Dd has just been speaking to me about her circle of friends.
Regardless of results attained, last night all had a brilliant night of sleep - something that hadn’t happened for many of them for a long while.
In paticular a lad who has been suffering awful night terrors since June. Last night he slept through, uninterrupted like a baby , couldn’t believe it when he woke up just before lunch today.
Shows how much stress the whole process brings I guess.

If my shared experience of my Ds’s sons experience with apprenticeship/BTEc’s /plan B etc help anyone - it’s my pleasure.

I strongly believe that all children have their own special gift to give. Especially at results time, those children who’s gift is not brilliant academic success - can easily be made to feel not so special & celebrated. Which is just such a shame.
Sometimes those that work the hardest, are rewarded the least with scores.
I do feel no child should feel themselves as a fail at age 16.

I am in danger of sounding like a hypocrit because of course I am celebrating my Dd’s great results from yesterday at the same time.

I would get English checked. My Ds went up 2 grades 2 years ago when we were only hoping for one grade higher.

Aqa Geo expecting a 6 dd scored a 5, 17 marks off a 6. Is geo subjective ? Especially paper 3 - case study paper . Is is ridiculous of me to ask for a remark? Anyone has experience of a Aqa geo paper being remarked and going up?

AQA English

Ds had a 3 in his last mocks, and was awarded a 6 in his exam. The thing is, he is one mark away from a 7. Would you risk asking for his papers to be reconsidered? Ds said no. He doesn't need a 7 for his chosen A levels.

Thanks so much for sharing that @onaroll - your son is absolutely flying and I'm going to copy your comments to my son as inspiration! We are in Merseyside. The workshop facilities at the college he's going to are incredible, industrial scale. Thanks again.

Why is English language not recognised as a good a level
And not accepted at many unis?

ROZ12 my dd1 did state 6th form after single sex private school. She went mad for partying and boys, ploughed her ASs then took an extra year to get same as your dd, a BTEC and 2 a levels. I can't pretend it was easy, but shes now off to a top 12 uni for her course.