What to do if DD doesn't get the grades she needs?

As a fellow parent with DD with ADHD just embrace the positives. We caught it a bit earlier but expect an uphill battle re help as it's masked so teachers don't realise the struggles

OP massive well done to your DD and I am glad her school of choice have accepted her.

I would push back on the maths retake tho - assuming she is not planning to take maths A level or anything mathsy (psychology, biology) I can't see the point of wasting time and effort retaking when she has got a perfectly acceptable pass grade. But anyway, she has done really well in a challenging situation and should be proud.

Well done to your daughter I’m so pleased and wish her lots of luck with her future studies

Another vote here for applying for an EHCNA (and going to appeal if necessary). Please don't be put off by the school saying she won't get one - it's very common for teachers to say that, but it doesn't mean it's true! You can get good advice on the IPSEA website, or the SEN board - or you are welcome to PM me.

@flexiblebenefit
Im really pleased for you both

I agree with those who say those requirements are relatively high - as in, the need to have that number of grade 6s.

Asking for a 6 (or a 7 for some subjects such as maths or MFL) in the chosen A level subjects is standard; but a whole series of 6s, less so IME.

My DCs' school (as an example) just asked for a 4 in maths and Eng lang and then a 6 in the chosen subjects. Even then there was some flexibility.

It's getting late in the day to ask the school about flexibility esp bearing in mind your DD's medical history, but I would hope they would offer it; and if they would not, I would certainly be less enthusiastic about her staying there, tho I do hear your good reasons for wanting that.

Certainly I would pull a list together and see if you can contact and local possible places tomorrow to see what there is.

Have you thought about home education? If she is bright she could even study alone or you could enroll her on an online programme.
she can then work at her own pace and you will probably find she flies if she is bright.

DS has autism and ADHD - struggled massively in school. His needs prevented him from learning and he was miserable.

He left school at the end of Y10 with predictions of only 1 pass!

He sat IGCSEs privately (there are centers where HE kids can take their exams) and got all 8s and 9s.

Most importantly he is happy. Has also acquired great independent study skills.

Maybe an option worth thinking about.

Those are both very high requirements. If you're in West London you should have lots of choice - get a list together today as others have suggested, schools and sixth form colleges within an hour. I'm not familiar with W London, but Richmond college, Esher, Hammersmith maybe feasible? I'd have four back up in my pocket for her. One very low that offers similar to her desired A levels but with perhaps a BTEC or two thrown in, up to five grade 5s to do the A levels she wants. It's very late to be finding back ups but hopefully websites will tell you if they are accepting applications.

re EHCP. Does she still have SEN that school aren't managing? If so she should in theory qualify for an EHCP. Did you get as far as applying or were you blocked by the school? You can apply for a needs assessment yourself and you 'just' have to show SEN & school not managing. The SEN board were very helpful when we applied for DD (anxiety & other issues) a year ago. But she was, I think, possibly worse than your DD is now.

Huge sympathy for you and your daughter.

I would look at 6th form colleges seriously and see if the journey is viable. I traveled 80 minutes door to door for 6th form college. Often their timetables are freer or they start later so it's not comparable to school hours 5 days per week.

My DD went to a 6th form college and the pastoral support is amazing. She didn't need it but the teachers are free to teach and they employ separate pastoral staff who become experts in the 16-19 age group. There's drop in counseling and a tutor who has your back.

If she has no flexibility and neither does the school, then potentially you have a problem.

If she's as bright as you say, I hope the school will know that and let her in even if she doesn't meet all her grades (although potentially that leaves them in trouble with others they kick out ie. "@flexiblebenefit 's daughter was allowed to stay on with those grades; why isn't mine?".

If they don't show this understanding and kindness I would question whether it was the right environment for a teen recovering from mental health crisis.

One thing you should prepare for: at schools I know well currently, they'll often let kids with less good grades back into 6th form only by specifying the subjects they will offer them, so that is something you need to think about.

If it's a very academic school they might look at her best grades and offer her places on those subjects only, regardless of preference. Or they might let her in only for subjects where they want to fill up classes.

In a more inclusive school, they often try and steer low-achieving students away from sciences and traditional academic subjects and towards gentler ones - textiles, sociology, RS were favourites for these kids at DD's school.

Good luck on Thursday. Have some alternatives up your sleeve. There are a lot of positives about going to college vs staying at school - much more freedom and independence, fewer rules, being treated like an adult. It might suit her better and do her good to meet some new people.

I don't think those entry requirements are high. It's because as everyone says, A levels are significantly more intense.
Your daughter is a special case, though not unique and I'm surprised that the school, if they are confident she will succeed at Alevels (and has done very well in mocks for two of the subjects), that they don't treat students that have had issues like hers on a case by case basis. Have they not made any suggestions or have they said flat out if she doesn't get the grades she's out?
Alternatively, could she resit? I don't know how that works as an option, and it would put her a year out.
If the school rejects her then you must have a plan B. Even if she rejects the idea now, do some research about those alternatives you think may suit her, and look at any other schools/colleges that she may be able to go to.
I knew my son would not get the grades he needed to stay on for A levels, and there was a very obvious (to me) alternative. He had physically transformed himself from a chubby 13 year old to a sporty fitness fanatic, was great with people, and a fitness instructor/personal trainer seemed to fit his interests and personality. But it took a long time to get him around to the idea. Not sure what in his head was stopping him - he didn't want to stay at school, but maybe it was all he knew and couldn't picture what it would be like elsewhere.
Good luck. In the end all you can be is supportive, but having a few ideas already mapped out will help.

Have you considered applying for an EHCP for her? She has a confirmed diagnosis that impacts her ability to learn and develop. This should be recognised formally with a documented plan including support strategies in order for her to achieve her full potential.

It will be too late to have one in place for September but it may be worthwhile starting the process.

I'm in Hants. It isn't unusual here for kids to travel 45-60mins to college, whether for A levels or BTECs. (We don't have school based 6th forms.) I'd have thought you could get quite far in an hour door to door in London.

Have you looked at a Buiness BTEC? (a level 3 Extended Diploma is 3 A levels equivalent and she could go on to do a related degree with this.)

Speak to someone in person at her current school too if that’s what she wants most - don’t just discount it on the basis of what a friend of a friend has told you.
They might have flexibility for a student that they know, especially if they saw the improvements and focus once her meds were sorted.

If the classes have space they might well be flexible. If they are very popular full classes eg English then perhaps not.

local colleges can be amazing at a levels and pastoral support so do check them out for your own peace of mind.

Op they do seem high, certainly compared to the local schools here, (SW England), many of which - state and private - have non-selective sixth forms. My dd has had MH issues over lock down and has totally taken her eye off the ball. She'll be lucky to get the five passes required for her leafy comp. 😫

I hope your dd is ok. If she's been assessed and diagnosed then can her school make allowances for her? She sounds really bright - history is hard and given the circumstances a 5 is brilliant!

I would suggest speaking frankly to your current school in the first instance. If they know she is capable and underperformed due to other factors, they may be inclined to be lenient in terms of entry criteria.

How supportive and understanding are the school with regards girls' presentation of ADHD and mental health in general?

Your daughter is diagnosed and medicated and predicted to get high enough gcse grades in the subjects she will do at A level. I would expect the school to make an allowance for your DD given the circumstances and her diagnosis. Have you contacted them to specifically ask the question?