Y11 2023/24 thread 5 - results!

Goodness @YellowphantGrey they sound intractable. This current year 11/12 group nationally are very large but it sounds as though there isn't enough spaces to allow decent flexibility in your area. Also, I thought sixth forms, whether school or college, were their own admission authority, so not to allow applications from outside of the area is very limiting.

5 of the 6 sixth forms DS applied to were outside our local authority and he still got offers - they're all competing for the same children after all. It sounds as though your area doesn't have enough spaces which has caused those schools/colleges who offer A levels to just bring down the shutters and become stupidly rigid.

Referring to a grade 4 as a fail is simply insulting, and incorrect. Poor kids, they don't need that stress on top of everything else.

Yeah that's not good from the 6th form, a 4 is a pass, way to make them feel not enough 😩. Sounds like he his a smart lad if he has achieved 7s in mocks so I'm sure he'll smash it!

DS sat the higher paper.

Predicted Maths is a 7. He got 7 on the first mocks and 5 in the second mocks but everyone dropped two grades.

The worry is dropping again. Apparently a lot of the class came out of the second mocks and were upset because there were quite a few questions on the paper that they had no idea about and the Teachers put on extra revision classes as everyone got the same questions wrong or left them blank.

I know there needs to be a cut off but there's definitely a lot of stressed 16 year-old right now! Doesn't help that the Sixth form constantly refer to anything below a 5 as not passing

No, I did ask this and they don't do resits.

If students get a 5, they can do Geography but still have to do core maths. If you get 6 or above, you don't

@YellowphantGrey it's so much pressure on 16 yos, half of them don't even have a clue what they want to do at that age or change their minds often so this is so rigid for them. Hopefully he'll get a 5!!

DS2s school put them all in for foundation Maths in November if they are not likely to get above a 7 (those do the higher paper early). It takes a massive amount of pressure off those who struggle like my DS. They can then take the higher on June to improve on a 5 if they wish.

@YellowphantGrey our school will.let you resit Maths or English on a 4 whilst doing A levels. Is that an option?

It's definitely changed from my day!

Offers from colleges and sixth form came out end of February. All conditional.

It's frustrating because if he gets a 4 in Maths, he won't be able to go as the entire sixth form and both colleges are 5 minimum to do any A Level.

He can apply to the college to do a Maths resit but the college were not very forthcoming about what else he can do as they won't accept less than a 5 to do any other courses.

Im hoping this is all irrelevant and he gets his 5. It's frustrating as he's desperate to do Geography and even his Teachers said he is a natural at it but they can't make an exception if he misses this 5.

Not rural, about 20 mins drive into the nearest city. Our sixth form is 400 places. They open up to other pupils from other schools. There are 7 secondary schools, all have sixth form but we can't apply to ones out of catchment. Ours you can apply out of catchment.

To do A levels you need to get 5 in Maths and 5 in English to get in. You then need 6 or above in gcse to do the A Level. There's no wiggle room. They offer places to existing students, then outside students then waiting list. Those are then admitted in the same way as school, so looked after children, special needs and distance from school.

The other sixth forms are 200 places and don't accept outside the catchment.

Our catchment is 0.8 miles and we live 0.6

The colleges require the same entry requirements for A Levels. They've sent offers out, DS got turned down from both, despite being on track to get nothing less than 5.

The next nearest college is an hour by bus into City Centre then 45 min bus ride out without traffic.

The Sixth form are also very strict. They are still in uniform, can't leave school premises during the day, still get detentions, still get praise points etc. The colleges seem a bit more relaxed but are also full.

He needs to get a total of 50 points to get into Sixth form (minimum) which has to include a 5 in Maths, English Lit and English language.

We just need the Maths to be a 5. First mock was 6 and second mock was 4 but everyone dropped two

We don't have option of portal either, really annoying as I don't think DS particularly is bothered about going in and would have probably not wasted a day's leave to get them.

@YellowphantGrey that must be extremely stressful, I just assumed all areas were same as ours, whatever results you get you make an appointment at college to go in from lunch time on results day, you either register on the course you want if you have the right grades (or register on the course plus maths or English if they agree) or if you don't get the grades you can register on a different course/Foundation/L1 or 2. It's very relaxed. At 16 this is a lot to deal with, also stressful for you too. I have my fingers crossed for your DS.

We only have 1 mixed 6th form in the area and it's a super selective expensive private school, the other is a girls private 6th form. The rest are regular colleges, some do A levels only then their other campuses do vocational only. There are some great technology style colleges also locally.

Thank you @AIstolemylunch - great post. I remember A Levels being really hard but I chose the wrong subjects. I'm really trying to get DS to understand that he's better off taking subjects he loves for A Level than those he thinks will look best on his UCAS form.

@YellowphantGrey double awful if there is no alternative for your son. Are you very rural?
It's certainly different all over the country. Many on these threads have said that their schools want the students to start with 4 A levels and drop one - that's not the case local to me. In fact taking four is frowned upon. My son's school doesn't have a sixth form so he's had to apply elsewhere. His first choice is a super selective state grammar and the grade requirements are high, but their results are fantastic. That's why there is such a lot of transition work. Although all schools and colleges around here set transition work. A teacher friend says it's to try and get the students back in the swing of education as soon as soon as term starts.

No results portal here either @Countrylife2002. If the student doesn't collect in person they could have opted to have them posted out, but they had to have requested this before the end of term.

This was completely my personal experience and I tried to relay this to dd yesterday and I think she sort of took it on board. Eg some jobs are hard work but that doesn’t mean they’re not interesting and enjoyable. Plus she never has to do maths science or languages ever again!!

We don't have the option of a back up, the two colleges in the area also have the same grade entry requirements and there is no wiggle room, I stupidly assumed all colleges and sixth forms in England were the same, yet on here, ours seems to be different. There's no transition work and if you don't meet the grades for the subjects you've chosen, you can't swap to a different subject. Both colleges also require a 5 in maths to any A Level. We didn't get an offer for either college because of being full.

The next nearest college would mean a house move as its 2 hours away so we are literally relying on Sixth form else he's screwed

Love this! Hoping to experience the same

My DS1 found A levels way better than GCSEs, and did much better. Remember, its only 3 subjects and its ones they have chosen and like. Plus they know the inporatnce of keeping up with work and revising from GCSEs, and are more mature. They have chosen to do A levels remember and can choose not to. Everyone is forced to do GCSEs, including in subjects they hate or just don't get. A levels are more work for sure but my anecdotal observation is that the kids doing them enjoy them a lot more.

I wish dd could get her results on a portal. She’s going to go to a toilet cubicle to open them! And yes I shall be in the carpark. She’s gone from saying she’ll be upset if she doesn’t get mainly 9s to being in a state of panic over physics and maths, particularly maths which she has to get a 6 in (she got a 6 in both mocks )

She’s also stressed out of mind over how much work A levels will be after seeing lots of tik toks about this. I’ve pointed out she worked hard for her GCSEs throughout and a lot of people didn’t, so working hard is not an issue for her but it probably comes as a shock to those who could coast during GCSEs.

@Panic71@Panic71thank you he gets upset easily and is in a group of mates that are high achievers.
He applied with his school 6th form he needs a 5 in English he had 3 4 and a 5 in mocks for. Also city college 6th form had unconditional offer unsure how only condition they stated was a 6 to do core Maths. School 6th form is walk away and outstanding has great results. College one could take nearly 2hrs to get there due to buses till he can drive then only 30 mins.
No idea why tagged twice won't let me delete one.

@WhereAreWeNow DD’s school have said parents aren’t allowed in school when they get results so I shall be sitting in the car 🙂

Ours see their results first on the school portal and then decide if they want to go in or not, i dont think its mandatory. Lots of people are on holiday so you can always use that as an excuse of she doesn't want to go in.

We were away for older DS for GCSEs but went in for A levels (after he knee what he'd got and that had got uni place). I found it a bit ritual humiliation for the kids that hadnt dont well enough and were swept into a room to do clearing. DS2 has to get certain grades to get into sixth form at his school. I dont think he will be going in if he hasnt got in ..

DD is starting to worry and has been reflecting on whether she revised hard enough (answer is no!).

Do parents usually go in to collect results or do kids go alone? DD's school is just round the corner so she doesn't need a lift. I'd like to be with her if the results are a disappointment. Maybe I should walk down with her and wait outside/nearby. Or do I just wait at home and hope she texts me the results quickly?

Morning 😃

Yesterday was the first day DD started to talk about her pending results. It seems the longer she has waited the less sure of any grades she is but I don't think this is unusual.

She is going to her friends today to do some chem transition work for her new 6th form but has been reluctant to do any until now, I think it makes it all too real!

She is still adamant she wants to do maths, (unless she gets lower than a 7) even though she knows it will make things more challenging in the next 2 years. I just want this over and done with so we can move forward the next stage now. Once the stress of results are over there is a very exciting few weeks of a new school and new friends to look forward to and it can't come soon enough!

I will be waiting outside school whilst she collects her results, whether we hang around or not is entirely dependent on the grades 😂.

Morning, I am trying not to mention anything to DD. She struggles academically so she is not expecting good results and that’s okay. I hope she gets a 4 in English just so it is one less to have to repeat. Maths will be a definite re-take but she will do functional skills instead. Plan on the day is I will drive her to school for 9 so she can dash in get results and then open them in the car and then will drive her to college so she can get enrolled. She is going on to do health and social care level 1 then maybe after that 2 year course a level 2 apprenticeship maybe. Anyways I am there on results day regardless as back up. She may decide she doesn’t want me around but I will be on standby.

I’m are your son will be fine! Has he signed up for any college courses or 6th form?
My DS has decided on 6th form and luckily they are flexible with grades etc

I am in same position expecting quick getaway if bad results. He still hasn't decided where he really wants to go so unsure if I need to be trying to get a parents appointment with school.

Hello! I've not been looking in here for a few weeks, we've been trying to focus on R&R and not think too much about the 22nd, but ... here we are. I think A Levels day brought it home.

DS's school invites them in between 9 and 10 to collect in person, but emails are sent out to everyone at about 11.30. They then have until midday on 23rd to confirm their places on the school's 6th form (if that's where they're aimed at). DS is aiming to meet with friends an hour or so after they've all collected their results. I'm not really sure how we'll manage the logistics - school isn't a handy bus ride away and I was always going to give him a lift, so I think I'll be in the car park along with other parents!

That's a crazy amount of summer work @Waspie DD has about 2 hours worth for each subject.