GCSE Support - the results are in

goodness, a 5 does seem low. DC's college ask for at least a 6 plus 7 other GCSEs at 4 or above.

I think it's one of the lowest in the area and only requires 5 GCSES at grade 4 to take A level courses but then individual subjects have (very) slightly higher requirements. But it's huge and does over 30 subjects that can be taken in any combination so I guess it has to get bums on seats!

Maybe we should start a Year 12 thread for when everyone is ready and dc are sorted.

Also many years ago, but I did AS German alongside my main three as that was just language without the lit!

Yes, predicted A level grades come from GCSE grades.

I really hope so. Its a fresh start for everyone, I did see on the online portal a space for 'predicted results' do they take their gcse grade a predict an A level result? Hopefully its not like school again.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees goodness, a 5 does seem low. DC's college ask for at least a 6 plus 7 other GCSEs at 4 or above.

@Dancerr I would hope that all DC start afresh at A Level and aren't prejudged by the lecturers. All DC should be given a chance to prove themselves at the next level.

Is anyone's DC taking A Level German? DC got a 7 but I'm not sure!

My DD is doing Spanish with an 8 but she only needed to get a 5! (But the entry requirements were pretty low for everything, Maths needed a 7 but a lot of the subjects including Geography and Business only needed a 4.) The college seems to get good results though. A friend's DD is also doing Spanish but at a 6th form in school with much higher requirements and that needed a 7 so I think your DC should be OK. But I'm not a teacher - we need a graph like Noblegiraffe's maths one.

@Soundofshuna I think my DC could've got a higher grade if he'd bothered to do any revision....

@BonjourCrisette I would hope a 7 is ok, I've read that it's a big step up from GCSE.

@handmademitlove from the spec it looks like they study one book and one film. DC is not a big reader so that could be tricky!

I think part of the reason he's chosen it is because they get to go on a week long trip to Germany!

Sorry lost my reply that should say doing German!

my DD is. She got a 9 however and is passionate about it! We have wondered whether she ought to do French too as her other best mark but she isn’t as keen.

I think obviously they say 6+ for Alevel but I'm sure someone with a 6 can do really well at A level. My ds really struggled with family bereavement and other things the last couple of years but has had help from camhs and feeling much better. His results aren't a true reflection of what he's capable at I don't think. I hope the A level lecturers don't automatically predict him a certain grade because of it and write him off getting a high grade.

@closethedrawer I did A level German many years ago.. I was quite surprised that it contained so much German literature - I hated English lit and German lit was just as bad for me! So maybe check the syllabus just in case it hasn't changed and that is an issue...

DD isn't doing German but has made a last-minute switch from Philosophy to French. She looked at the summer reading for all the A Levels, did the Philosophy reading, and decided she couldn't bear two years of it. She started reading the book they'll be studying in French next year and loves it so think she has made the right decision.

I think a 7 is fine for A Level, surely?

Is anyone's DC taking A Level German? DC got a 7 but I'm not sure!

I took ds on the bus today to the town where he's going to sixth form college. It's only about 8 miles but he has some additional needs and needed to be shown where to get on and off the bus in both directions and how to scan the ticket before he has to do it on his own. It's starting to feel very real now!

@mrsnjw he was 4 marks of a grade 6 in geography but that didn't seem to be the issue, it was the chemistry grade. Different colleges have different criteria I guess and he really wants to go to this college. I have the feeling he wasn't as passionate about geography as we first thought but it frustrates me that the college don't involve the parents in the discussion.

@Neversaygoodbye my son is doing an a level in geography and didn't need chemistry. They asked for a six in gcse geography

So no Geography A level for DS, not because he just missed the "ideal" geography grade but because he got a 4 in Chemistry - annoyingly they refuse to talk to parents and insist on holding these discussions with the just turned 16 year old. So he's chosen to do BTEC criminology which I think he'll find interesting and goes well with sociology but I'm not sure about further education/career prospects compared to geography. Hopefully it will work out ok.

@Hellocatshome I'm not entirely sure dd has left the sofa more than a dozen times since June!
She's very excited and has had to give her uniform size so that should be waiting for her Monday.
She's very excited about the wages.

Hope your ds enjoys his apprenticeship.

We have been told these would be available in December to collect from school.

Oh thats fab is she excited? DS was supposed to be starting 25th September but they have bought it forward to 18th. He is doing 39hrs a week. He hasn't been out of bed before 11 since they broke up 🙈🤣

Dd starts her apprenticeship on Mon. They did suggest this Friday first.
830am till 5pm, 40 hr week, unpaid breaks.
Going to be a nasty shock to her system!

Great to hear it's coming together now for everyone. Is there a Yr 12 thread in another section? It's probably time for me to leave the secondary ed board behind. For good this time as DS is the youngest. Sorry not sorry to leave school days behind. 😂