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

Year 12 woes

30 replies

Bovrilly · 07/06/2021 18:15

My DS is about to get his AS level grades (we are in Wales). He has struggled all year with physics, partly due to lockdown but also it's just so difficult. He's sure that he has failed it.

Has anyone's DC been in this position? Did they cut their losses and give up one of their A levels after year 12? What did they do instead? Is it possible to do something else in a year alongside the Y13 syllabus for his other two subjects, maybe privately if not in school? Or maybe people start a new subject but do it over two years, so ending in Y14? I have no clue what the options might be, but it would be good to get some ideas ahead of the inevitable chat with his teachers if they feel that giving up physics is the best way to go.

The good news is that this year the AS level grade doesn't have to count towards the A level, so he could in theory continue with physics and start Y13 with a clean slate, but a) I'm not sure how successful that would be given that he found Y12 difficult and b) I don't think he will want to do that. He might be persuadable though, and we could find a tutor to support him.

Any advice / uplifting stories of success after having to drop an A level grateful received!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
Bovrilly · 15/06/2021 21:07

Could be, Mearemart. DD has the same teacher as DS and neither of them like him. DS has probably not helped the situation by being reluctant to admit that he's finding it hard, and he hasn't asked for help when he should have, but of course all that was much more difficult over lockdown. I talked to his year tutor earlier in the year when he got a disappointing mid year report. She said ordinarily they would be offering extra sessions and mentoring, but all impossible over lockdown. When he did knuckle down and catch up with work he hadn't done, they wouldn't even mark it Confused

He needs a big dose of confidence, a lot of love, a few home truths and a massive kick up the arse. Which he will receive! But ultimately it's up to him, I can't do it for him. (Literally, I can't do physics to save my life Grin)

OP posts:
Original poster
Bovrilly · 15/06/2021 20:57

@VorpalSword

Do you have his actually grades yet rather than his feeling on how he got on? (Which can be widely off the mark at times.)
Yes Vorpal he got Maths B Biology C Physics D

So physics better than feared but the other two not as good. He was expecting AAU. But at least is allowed to stay for Y13. I think he'll continue with all three and we will need to look at some help from a tutor, and see if with a lot of hard work, he can manage ABB or something. He is not very forthcoming at the moment...

OP posts:
VorpalSword · 14/06/2021 18:20

Do you have his actually grades yet rather than his feeling on how he got on? (Which can be widely off the mark at times.)

Mearemart · 14/06/2021 17:54

We"re in England and my DS is doing his y12 mocks at the moment. He got a 9 in physics in the y11 CAG's but has found A level a step up. He's mentioned a couple of times that he doesn't rate his new physics teacher, and I know that schools generally struggle to find good physics teachers. Is there an element of that do you think?

The issue for my DS has been that teaching has been fairly cursory and then they've been bombarded with problems to solve for homework via an online app (home-made by the teacher) which doesn't help them to see where they're going wrong, and it has undermined his confidence. At some point I realised he didn't have a text book and was relying on (bad) lesson notes and googling. I pointed him to Isaac Physics, which for some reason he didn't take to. Much more recently I realised there's actually an official text book for the course, so I bought him that, which he seemed grateful for. Fingers crossed it will help!

I actually have a physics degree myself, and tried to mark one of his past paper practices the other day I struggled a bit with the marking scheme, so it was a bit approximate, but somewhere between a high C and low B I think. He was disappointed with that, but I was able to explain how he could have gained marks for exam technique - basics like writing out the equation before plugging the numbers in, and underlining the answer. It worries me that that hasn't been baked in by now - probably because of the online nature of the homeworks he's been doing. Hmm

Original poster
Bovrilly · 12/06/2021 21:28

Thank you Treacle, yes he is going to have to face whatever happens, whether he likes it or not. It's not going to be fun but hopefully one day he will be happily at the next stage, whatever that may be, and kinematics will be like a bad dream 🙏

OP posts:
NotATreacleTart · 12/06/2021 20:47

@Bovrilly Ds got 9,9 in science but said physics A level was less mathsy than GCSE. He found it hard to stay motivated for it but saw it as a means to an end, ie getting a good grade to get into uni. He just steadily ploughed at it.

I know it is difficult when he says he doesn't want to talk about it but sadly he needs to face up to his options. There is a funding issue with repeating a year so only the specific sixth form can advise as to whether it is possible with the same subjects. Re the BTEC he needs to look at specific university entry requirements to see what they will take. This may help to make a decision too.

I think wait until his results are in on Monday but just remind him how much you love him and this isn't the end of anything. He is 17 and there is time to retake or work at his studies. But decisions will have to be made soon and he needs to know how this will impact his UCAS predicted grades.

Original poster
Bovrilly · 12/06/2021 18:38

One thing I haven't even thought about is poor results in his other subjects, but he assures me those will be fine 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
Bovrilly · 12/06/2021 18:16

That's heartening thanks @menotastic

We get results on Monday and then will have to talk to the school. I had a chat with his year tutor the other day and she said their usual policy is if you actually fail AS they won't let you carry on to A2 but would expect him to pick up another AS or Btec. Btec in a year sounds like a great option. He will definitely not want to join a class in the year below him, but may have to I guess.

OP posts:
menotastic · 12/06/2021 17:34

Not sure about physics, but I know of several a level biology people who switched after year 12 disasters to a btec in some sort of science subject. They covered the 2-year btec syllabus in a year and came out with top marks - and lots of useful UCAS points. Along with the 2 A levels they kept going with, that seemed to be fine for getting into good unis for the courses they were interested in. Might something similar be an option?

Original poster
Bovrilly · 12/06/2021 07:18

Thank you @mumonthehill and kudos to your DS for such a mature decision. I hope mine would be brave enough do the same but do worry about that...

OP posts:
Original poster
Bovrilly · 12/06/2021 07:12

@VorpalSword
Just curious - do lots of kids find the step from physics GCSE to A level difficult?

I am not very physics minded but it seems like you can get through GCSE with a reasonable ability in maths, but A level physics seems much more difficult conceptually. I do wonder whether it's just too hard for him. Or maybe he could do it, but only with a lot of work, motivation and self-belief, and that part might be too hard for him iykwim.

I think he is slightly in denial at the moment and thinks that somehow this is going to be fixed without any discomfort on his part, so there may be a rude awakening ahead... my job will be to try to make sure he doesn't chuck away what he wants long term (which he says is university) because he doesn't fancy doing the hard work that physics will involve, or the other option of AS in another subject with the year below. Ugh.

OP posts:
mumonthehill · 12/06/2021 07:11

It was not an easy choice however my ds had a goal in mind and the maths results were the kick he needed to take positive action to get where he wanted to be. He did find it hard but it was worth it in the end!

Original poster
Bovrilly · 12/06/2021 06:58

Thank you @VorpalSword that is really helpful. We get his grades on Monday so will find out more then.

Thank you @mumonthehill
I actually think this would be a good solution for DS, dropping physics and adding chemistry. He could either resit the whole of Y12 or do AS chemistry alongside his other subjects in Y13, and then finish A level chemistry privately as a sort of Y14. I suspect the problem will be that he will refuse point blank to be in classes with the year below him. But if that's what it takes then he will have to suck it up! Did your son stay at the same school, was he worried about 'going down a year' (or however teenaged male pride thinks of it)?

OP posts:
mumonthehill · 11/06/2021 20:13

Ds bombed in maths in yr12, he resat year 12 dropping maths and adding in geography. He had good AS results in his other 2 subjects but resat the lot. Came out with good a level grades. We are in wales as well.

VorpalSword · 11/06/2021 20:06

Physics teacher here. This is a really tough question, it has been a rough year but unpicking why/where he has been struggling will help with his decision whether to continue or not.

Also speak to the teachers, do they think he is capable with the work or maybe not the right fit? Continuing doing a subject you are really struggling with is no fun. Sometimes it does click into place later but going from failing to a higher (>C) is tricky.

If he does decide to continue then my top 3 things would be:
Isaac physics to get the maths questions and concepts - they have workshops you can sign up to.
Seneca learning is good for definitions and more word concepts. Not sure if they have the Welsh exam board. It has a basic free version but there are premium features with a summer booster programme.
Use the textbook! There are normally end of section question on most pages, get answering them, all of them, self marking and reflecting.

One option might be to do a blitz over the summer then sit an AS paper and see where he is then and using that to form the decision.

Original poster
Bovrilly · 08/06/2021 20:09

Thank you Sprouts. Yes he's doing maths and we hope that grade is going to be ok 🤞

He says mechanics is like physics, only easier 😁

Thanks for the link to Isaac - I know school sometimes use it for setting work etc but I have never really looked at what it offers.

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 08/06/2021 19:27

This was recommended on the other thread a while ago isaacphysics.org/

If he got A* at gcse then he has a great chance of turning this round into a good A level result. Is he also doing maths as the mechanics element is almost like extra tuition?

BunnyRuddington · 08/06/2021 18:36

Come over to the Year 12 thread.

Have you got a link please? I could probably do with joining as well Smile

Original poster
Bovrilly · 08/06/2021 12:58

Thanks Lost. I think he'll need AAB or something like that if he wants to do earth sciences / geophysics or something like that. I just missed a call from his year tutor so hopefully will get to talk to her today. I am a bit concerned if he gets a U for instance, that it will have to go on the UCAS form and wondering if there's a way around that. I believe the school can withdraw him but it has to be done this week and I don't know if that means withdrawing him from the whole A level or just the AS.

Anyway I'm a bit at sea, not helped by his reluctance to engage apart from "don't want to talk about it". Angry Hopefully all will become clear later on. I have found a private tuition place which comes recommended. They do evening tutor groups as well as part time or full time school lessons for those who aren't at school for whatever reason, so he could have support with physics, or finish his other two subjects at school while studying physics privately. Not sure what that's going to cost Shock but we will try to find a way of making it work.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bovrilly · 08/06/2021 12:41

@ChristopherTracy

Come over to the Year 12 thread!
Thank you, I will!
OP posts:
LostInTime · 08/06/2021 10:58

As to what school will do, well I'm afraid you need to have that conversation with them- they're all different and take different approaches.
He needs to be absolutely honest with himself and consider how much he would hate to carry it on next year, or whether he still likes it and can knuckle down to catching up over the summer. His target grade will be pretty high, I'm guessing? And this he's aiming for top universities? They'll not take him with two A Levels, but that doesn't mean struggle on with something that's not right for him. Restarting with a different subject in September could be a good compromise, if school will let him- depends on the school. There is an issue for funding in English schools if pupils take three years for A Levels, sorry, I don't know if that is the case also in Wales.

ChristopherTracy · 08/06/2021 10:28

Come over to the Year 12 thread!

Original poster
Bovrilly · 08/06/2021 09:23

Thanks Treacle. I hope school will let him stay on, it seems quite harsh if they kick him out after everything that's happened this year.

Good point about using the summer wisely. He is typically sleepy but usually amenable to being turfed out of bed. The difficulty will probably be trying to persuade him that all is not lost and it's still worth working hard. He has always thought of himself as clever so is now struggling a bit with the idea of failing I think. The next few months will be really important.

OP posts:
NotATreacleTart · 08/06/2021 08:17

Ds used www.physicsandmathstutor.com/ and www.youtube.com/c/PhysicsOnline/playlists to help with physics in year 12.

Re dropping it/continuing it this comes down to several factors, if he fails it completely will the sixth form let him continue it to year 13? He has the whole of the summer holidays to turn this around and catch up and he could argue that. 2 AS levels won't be viewed the same by all universities.

I would look into which unis he is interested in and see what their entry requirements are and what subjects they are looking for. Over summer he needs to engage in something that shows his love for the earth sciences so he has something to put on his personal statement ie I read something/watched something/did online course about X which led me to look into Y, what I found interesting or learned was...

How many hours is he awake for on a typical holiday day? For my two sons that is about 14 hours. That is a lot of free time to concentrate on pulling a grade up. Getting an A* at GCSE means that his foundation knowledge for physics should be good.

Swipe left for the next trending thread