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Original poster

Celebrating GCSE results

31 replies

GSCECelebrations · 19/08/2025 19:45

Dd isn’t sure what she’d like to do to celebrate. She’s expected to get top grades. She’s hoping some family members will give her money as a reward. I’ve bought her some jewellery. I remember from previous years some parents were giving their child x amount for x grade adding up to hundreds of pounds. That’s beyond my budget.
Dd is hopefully going out with her dad and did want me to take her on a shopping spree but we’ve just come back off holiday and I simply can’t, plus, I’ve bought her a gift that she chose, will take her out for dinner, get her a card and possibly a Starbucks if we go out the day after.
Back in the mists of time I got a helium balloon and a rose from my mum. No acknowledgment from anyone else. I was very ill during my high school years so it was a miracle I passed anything but back then I don’t think people really celebrated or maybe my family were just crap. I wouldn’t have wanted a fuss anyway but Dd does.

What are you doing/did you do for your child’s GCSE result?

OP posts:
Bufftailed · 19/08/2025 22:19

Not keen on cash for grades, it’s all about the effort. DS is expecting a mixed set and I’ll be proud whatever. He has asked if we can go for a local meal and that sounds great. Whatever I achieved my mum always made sure I knew she was proud and that stayed with me. She did write my GCSE grades on a champagne cork so that was v sweet. I might get a small bottle and write on it ! Hope everyone has a good day whatever the results.

clary · 19/08/2025 19:59

I think you are doing more than enough @GSCECelebrations - especially if that is the limit of your budget.

For my 3 DC – we just went out for a meal, venue of the GCSE student’s choosing. I don’t think I even bought them anything specific, tho maybe I offered new trainers if needed or similar. To be totally honest and I hope not harsh on your DD, I think it’s a bit cheeky to hope for cash gifts from family – unless grandma has promised your DD £££ in which case fair enough.

While I am always happy to celebrate hard work, I think it’s not the best idea to start with the notion that it receives a cash reward. Great results should be an end in themselves.

As a parent of a DC with SEN, I particularly dislike the notion of ££ for a 5 and £££ for an 8+ that I have seen before (not you OP!). No way DS1 was going to get any high grades and we were all delighted with his Cs and Ds tbh.

Hope your DD has done well and can go forward to the post-16 destination of her choice.

TurkeyTwizlers · 19/08/2025 19:52

I don’t know. DD deserves something, she has ASD and went from school refusing to going back and doing the best she could.
She isn’t very interested in money or things though. I would have bought her the Switch 2 but she’s not bothered about the games available.

thedenialishere · 19/08/2025 19:51

My mum drove me and 4 friends to the beach including my best friend from next door, had a bbq, listened to music went in the sea, then later on when more of our friends came she left and came and picked us up late evening. Then the girls slept over and we did kareoke until stupid O’clock in the morning. Luckily my best friend lived next door so her parents didn’t mind the noise. In the monring she made us a fry up and chilled out all day. Then that night we all went out with fake I.d. It was a great two days.

boysmuminherts · 19/08/2025 19:49

Nothing at all. He didnt do very well. But I am sure if he had done better then a small celebration would have sufficed. The reward is the results.

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