Y11 2023/24 thread 5 - results!

Thanks for that Waspie - really interesting to see.

I've posted this on a previous thread but this document is very interesting. It analyses the A level grades based on the GCSE grades (Table 2 pg 10) Progression from GCSE to A Level, 2018 – 2020. Statistics Report Series No. 129. (cambridgeassessment.org.uk)

So, for example, with a grade 6 at GCSE a student has a 52% chance of getting an A Level graded C or higher in Maths. In History a grade 6 student has an 85% chance of an A level C grade or higher. (Picking on history as it's the subject before maths in the table). This is why schools/colleges want 7+ for Maths A level students. The only lower % is Double Physics to A Level physics which includes all grades 6 and under so not really comparing like for like.

We have a large sixth form college not too far away to which the majority of DS' friends are going in September. It has an amazing result average at A level (B), and is Ofsted outstanding, despite a PAN of 1,700 in year 12. Their published requirement is grade 5+. So that uplift to A level results seems incredible. However, speaking to other parents, the college is known for monthly "mock" exams and if a student is not felt to be capable of a C or higher they are quickly (and quite ruthlessly I am told) shifted to BTechs or other courses. This is how they maintain their high results.

A popular school in an urban area with 150 places can afford to have high entrance requirements. It will lead to generally higher results and a more consistent ability cohort making teaching easier.

A large college can allow students more likely to end up with C to E grades, may be able to set subjects, or mix with BTEC certificates etc.

100%. I'm not even meaning just something as hard as Maths, there are loads of differences between colleges/sixth forms and their requirements.

Just checking in. DD has had a bumpy time at school. Started to turn things around in yr11 but I think it was all a bit late. Constant friendship struggles too. Then ill at the start of exams, good middle phase of them, then ran out of steam for the last few. She's not feeling very optimistic. I just hope, if it is a mixed bag, that there are some nice surprises (looking at you English lit!). Went through this last year with other DD. She wanted me there when she opened the results. DD2 adamant she wants to do it alone.

DD is one who got all 9s (except for maths 😂) in her mocks and I’m certain she has not replicated that in the exams and it’s frustrating that she went into them with that expectation. So disappointment feels inevitable. She is very focused on college now thankfully and seems to have got the message that it’s mainly about a step to the next stage so hopefully she will bounce back quickly from any upset. I am only really worried about history as that’s her top subject and I’m sure she misunderstood one of the essay questions. It would have been a good essay but possibly not answering the question properly so I’m not sure if that would have pulled down her grade. If history is ok, I think she will eventually be ok with the others regardless from an emotional perspective, which obvs is all I care about .

School will have them tomorrow.

To complicate things here I am on the SLT at DD's school so all my colleagues will know her results 24 hours before me - for obvious reasons I'm not involved in results analysis this year

Schools find out results the day before.

Do we know when schools find out the results? Is it the same time as us?

@YellowphantGrey gosh that all sounds stressful and completely disorganised of the school! It is inevitable A level choices will change once results are out.

I really sympathise with those having friendship issues right now. My DD has never been great with friendship groups (part of the reason she wants a new start at different 6th form). She has worked quite a bit this summer so not much 'hanging out' with other friends thankfully as I fear she may have been in a similar situation. I too am hoping for new positive friends doing A levels.

DD is very snappy now if we mention doing any bridging work. I am just keeping quiet until after Thurs but goodness knows what motivation will be like if things don't go her way.

I was chatting at work yesterday about the well meaning comments from others (who don't have y11s right now) that 'it really doesn't matter what they get, things always work out'. I have to bite my tongue when given this snippet, as 1. I've already done this with older DD so do have a bit of experience and 2. To them, at this time, it really DOES matter. They have spent the last 5 years being told by school how important GCSEs are. Dealing with their emotions is our concern, not necessarily that they don't get all 9s 🙄.

Getting nervous now. Ds wants to check his results at home, talk to us about his A level options, then go in to enrol.
He did quite poorly in the mocks, pulled his socks up so results are anyone's guess.
He had to enrol with some random subjects due to mock results so we're hoping he's done well enough to do some chosen subjects.

Under 50 hrs to go 🙈.
Wishing good luck to everyone. Hope they all get the support they need to help them with the next steps whatever they are.

@Countrylife2002 Same issue with my DD and friends she has been left out whilst her friends go out. A great falling out just what DD needs before results! I have said the same that there will be lots of different students from different schools to form friendships with at college. I just feel for her that at this point she is on her own. So instead of the friends to go with to collect results with I am there to support her. Well waiting in the car whilst she nips in to get her results.

Mine has been flip flopping too. Wanted to do Geog, and at uni. Now wants to do Econ instead. We'll have to see what the results are and go from there. Sixth form discussions/registration are in the afternoon so not long to wait to see if they're ok.
Definitely a disparity about expectations/grades when comparing. College is the fall back as they want 5s. Sixth form want 6/7s.

Maths A-level is not for the faint-hearted! At my school they need an 8 to study it as we find that with less than that they do not have the algebra skills necessary.

With a grade 6 in maths GCSE you are really asking for trouble at maths A-level. The teachers there must have the patience of saints!

Good to hear I ain't the only one dreaming about results day!
DS is definitely getting nervous doesn't seem to like being on his own as starts worrying about results!
He has had his appointment come through for registration for city 6th form. They seem to do a whole week of inductions freshers day etc. Really wish they had better transport there
@BlackBean2023 hope she has a great first day at work
@YellowphantGrey thats awful to send it out now. DS school let us know from the beginning though left it till late to tell us core maths was oversubscribed!

Thinking of you all. I’m so worried as DD needs a 6 to do biology as a minimum and will not even think of a back up plan! don’t know if it’s her way of coping 🤷‍♀️…

@stopscrollingandgettowork lol, I know what you mean about maths tutor... we're £900 down on maths tuition and hoping for a magical 5...

Hi I have come to join your thread

dd is due to get her results on Thursday, then we have an appointment with the local college she wants to go to (whatever her results) to discuss options/ enroll.

she needs 5 5s to get on to her t level in mental health nursing.

its a tall order for her , but I have my fingers crossed. I keep waking up panicking about them - she seems to be doing ok at the moment.

I keep reassuring her that it doesn’t matter, she can do the level two course for a year then do the t level , resitting any that she needs to.

side note , I have paid £30 a week for a maths tutor for the last two years so if she doesn’t get that five I might have some sort of break down.

she’s tried so hard this last year - after a horrific year 10 where I was very worried about her staying in school, she pulled her socks up and all her teachers were impressed with the turn around. I just hope it was enough.

so much stress for the kids

my son is not saying a lot about his results. I’m not holding out that much hope though. More than capable but not enough effort. He has a few options, though none seem very appealing.

His sister has just got her A level results and done very well just to add to the stress!

So he applied to do Geography, Law and Btech Sport level 3. Got a conditional offer.

They had an open evening to showcase the subjects after offers had been made and said it was would be a good opportunity to look at the course in a bit more depth. He was encouraged to swap to Combined English as he preferred the sound of the course and his Teacher said he would excel.

We asked multiple times and were sent several emails in response saying he can change but if he needs to swap on results day, because he has already made one change, he goes onto the wait list.

He needs a 5 in Maths to do Geography. Got a 7 in the first mock and 5 in the second but everyone dropped two grades. It turned out that all the students got all the same questions wrong and teachers said they'd only briefly covered what appeared to make up most of the paper.

DS said he found the second mock really hard but the actual exams he found easier.

Don't get me started on the school declaring anything lower than a 5 is a fail!!!

DD has finally been offered a job... her first shift starts at 10am on Thursday so we'll be picking up results at 8 and then getting ready for work in either a very good mood or a very bad mood...

DD says she isn't worried about results, but seems very anxious and wound up. She's still struggling her way through The Handmaid's Tale for English bridging work.

@YellowphantGrey How awful - that sounds utterly chaotic and illogical. Perhaps they have disastrously overoffered and only realised late in the day? I am sure you and DS could do without the added stress. Our 6th form has demanding thresholds (that crucial 8 in maths) but has made clear that those who miss an 8 can switch to non-quantitative A-Level subjects rather than lose their places altogether.

Haha I was actually hoping this too 😂