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Original poster

Is it worth it applying for sixth form if gcse's are not great?

63 replies

jennybba · 17/03/2023 20:48

If you are predicted mainly 4's, 3 5's and a 2 and 3 is it worth it applying for sixth form (sixth form will accept dc as long as average grade is 4 or more)? Is there any hope of possibly getting decent a-levels? What kind of a-levels can we expect with these grades? And if a-levels are not great can dc still go to university?

OP posts:
titchy · 17/03/2023 22:08

Possibly D or E grades depending on subject. Science A level from a grade 5 could well be a fail, Media or Sociology could be a D. Ballpark obviously.

Does the sixth form only offer A levels? Applying elsewhere as a back up should be something he does anyway. Never have all eggs in one basket.

Dodgeitornot · 17/03/2023 22:08

There's plenty of sixth forms that do vocational courses. Your child will be miserable in A Levels and is very unlikely to pass with those grades, in any A Level.

Original poster
jennybba · 17/03/2023 22:03

dc wants to go to sixth form though, but I'm not too sure. Anyone knows what kind of a-level grades dc is likely to get with these gcses grades?

OP posts:
Rummikub · 17/03/2023 21:54

I’d ask how hard are they working to achieve those grades. If at near full capacity then potentially A levels will be harder for them.

If cruising through and getting these grades then yes capable of A levels but would need to up their motivation to work.

Any ideas as to what they want to do? Uni is an option with average grades. See what’s out there.
BTECs are a good option and can give a route into uni still.
Apprenticeships are great too.

T levels are new and unis are beginning to state their requirements from these.

Oblomov23 · 17/03/2023 21:50

Probably not. Depends on school, ours was particularly competitive and only very good grades would get you in.

Bobbybobbins · 17/03/2023 21:26

Agree that Btec are worth looking in to and often you can do a mix of both.

titchy · 17/03/2023 21:25

Look at other colleges for BTEC courses as well. You can apply for both.

HarrietSchulenberg · 17/03/2023 21:24

What does your DC want to do long term? My DS2 was predicted 5s and 6s with 1 x 7, actually got 1 x 8, 1 x 7, 3 x 5s, 2 x 4 and 1 x 3. Did A levels, got A* (subject he lives for), A & B, and now studies the subject he loves at university.
Having an end goal helped him massively as he really hauled his socks up to get to uni.
It's do-able with the right effort.
Youngest DS is doing GCSEs this year. Has mainly 4s and 5s predicted and has sights set on BTEC at college followed by apprenticeship in the field he loves.

Choconut · 17/03/2023 21:23

DS got 8's and 9's and is finding it a big step up, so I wouldn't do A-levels with those grades, there are lots of other options.

Nesoi · 17/03/2023 21:20

At DSs 6th form you have to have a 6 at GCSE to study a subject at A Level, they wouldn’t have allowed anyone on A Levels with 3s and 4s or 5s.
A Levels are a big jump up from GCSE and many students struggle, DS has found it hard.
i think you would be better off looking at BTECS.

Dodgeitornot · 17/03/2023 21:08

There's so many amazing vocational qualifications that are suitable for kids like this. A Levels is really a difficult route and not the only route into university. I think a child with grades like this would find A Levels miserable. Lots of Sixth Forms offer BTECs though, have you looked into that?

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/03/2023 21:03

There are lots of vocational routes, have a look at those. Scraping into a second rate university and getting into a load of debt for a degree that won’t be worth much is not a good plan.

Do they have an idea of what they might be interested in?

underneaththeash · 17/03/2023 21:00

No, I’d look at alternative qualifications. There are loads. You can still get to uni with other qualifications.