Maths GCSE resit - how does it work?

If she is currently getting a 2 then this is concerning.

It would be sensible to have a number of options lined up for her that you are sure will take a resit student as it is very rare for a student to go from a 2 to a 4.

Given how her school is reacting I'd suggest it is likely that they don't want to run a resit class next year with the new funding conditions. So if you really want her to go there she'll need a very good tutor.

So each school runs resits slightly differently but there are some things that are common.

If she does not get a 4 she has to keep taking it until either she does get a 4 or she stops studying or she ages out. I think it is 19 but I could be wrong.

Some sixth forms don't like running resit classes (they take up a whole teacher for very few students) so some sixth forms will not admit you if you have failed either maths or English. This is getting more and more common.

She can do resits alongside a levels but only at the colleges that will accept her.

From 2024 colleges and sixth forms have to provide 4 hours of in person lessons for maths resit students per week. This is expected to lead to more sixth forms refusing to admit resit students. (It'll be hideously expensive).

www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-maths-and-english-condition-of-funding#:~:text=To%20meet%20the%20condition%20of,rata%20for%20part%2Dtime%20students.

"The go through the paper with her and see what she would have scored and where she dropped marks. It seems unlikely to be a processing issue or poor timekeeping if she is doing OK in other subjects. Eng lang for example is very fast paced and demanding in those terms.

So where can she pick up marks? Are there gaps in terms of specific maths topics? Or is it about how she is tackling the questions in general? Does she need to practise the basics? Is she floored by the word questions and struggling to see what the sum is?"

This, also look back at any previous paper she has sat including any year 10 ones and look at where she "lost" marks, actually you start every paper at zero and gain marks so where could she gain more marks? Hopefully they will have gone over the paper in class so she will have the correct full mark answer usually written in a different pen colour. Give her that same question again, can she now get full marks? Is she learning from it? Identifying what she is missing knowledge on is a great strategy. Best to nail that 5 than have to worry about resits.

Some schools will deny entry to those who haven't got at least a 4, so that they don't have to run a resit class.

The govt requirement is that she needs a 4 not to have to resit. That the school says a 5 is down to their choice and it seems like it would be odd to restrict entry to those A-levels based on her maths result.

Generally a pupil resitting maths would do this alongside their A-levels, not before. Resits are in November but results aren’t till January. There are normally resit classes for sixth form, not with Y11. If she doesn’t get the grade she can resit again in June.

The school can, however, deny admission to sixth form completely if they have specified a 5 as the entry requirement.

I would not worry too much about what sixth form will do and instead focus on your DD’s maths GCSE and how she can gain a 4 at least – as doing so will make a big difference to her life.

If she is taking A levels she is clearly bright – what sorts if grades is she getting in English and history? If she is at about a 6 or 7, then in a general way a 4 in maths should be achievable. I mean in terms of general intelligence. I hope no one with a DC who has dyscalculia takes offence at this. You say she is working hard – but what is she doing as she works? How well is her work targeted? She must be hitting massive stumbling blocks if she is basically bright but achieving a 2 in maths.

(I am assuming you have looked into specific difficulties with numbers, such as dyscalculia mentioned above).

So what I would do is this:

Sit down with her and a foundation maths GCSE paper – get her to do the paper while you time her, under exam conditions. If you can, observe how she is – does she panic? Does she spend ages on one question? Does she skip about in the paper? Does she leave a lot unfinished?

The go through the paper with her and see what she would have scored and where she dropped marks. It seems unlikely to be a processing issue or poor timekeeping if she is doing OK in other subjects. Eng lang for example is very fast paced and demanding in those terms.

So where can she pick up marks? Are there gaps in terms of specific maths topics? Or is it about how she is tackling the questions in general? Does she need to practise the basics? Is she floored by the word questions and struggling to see what the sum is?

I realise you are not a maths expert (I assume) but I am sure you can tackle an F maths GCSE paper, especially as the mark scheme is online too.

I know this all sounds a bit helicopter and some DC (mine!) were not fans of this approach, but for targeted intervention it is valid She has two months to turn this around. That’s doable if she is bright and keen. Best of luck.

It’s weird that the school aren’t telling you as it’s quite useful information to know!

Most schools will run a GCSE resit class just for 6th formers (staff permitting!) and will enter students for the November resit. Results come out in January and if they still haven’t passed would sit again in June.

With your DD’s choices I’m surprised she needs a 5 in maths. Most schools will want a 4 or above for general entry to sixth form. A 6 or above for science / maths related courses.